Dråp - Swedish crust

Dråp is a crust band from Sundsvall, Sweden. They've just released their debut album "En naturlig död". It's available as CD (EMF Records) and as an LP (own release). To get in touch with Dråp, check out their Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/DR%C3%85P/305747579538779

Dråp - Preparat

Releasefest: Svintask (Swedish)

Den 28:e Februari finns det bara ett val att göra. Att bege sig till KGB-bar. Det är releasefest där för nya Svintask-skivan. På scen kommer ni att kunna njuta av Hyrda Knektar. Kanske spelar Svintask ett par låtar också. Sprid den här flyern.

Review: Agent Bulldogg

Agent Bulldogg - Vi är tillbaks... (7")
agentbulldogg1986@hotmail.com

One of the best Swedish punkband are back. This 7" was released in spring 2013. And I must say that some songs of this 4 tracks EP belongs to their best ever. Just listen to the structure in the vers before the chrous in "Vi är tillbaks..." it's amazing, and then comes the chrous and blow your brain out. The Perssons Pack cover "Det liv jag älskar" really fits to Agent Bulldogg and everything Oi! stands for. This is a DIY-release and that will always give some extra bonus points in my book. There is one thing that bother me, but it might be some wrong with my record player, it sounds like it spins too fast which disturbs the sound, in particular the vocals. But I hope it's just my player who spin too fast. My favorite track on this 7" is "Den jag är", which is an amazing punk/Oi! song, it's only Agent Bulddogg who manage to do this.

Reviews: Gråsuggorna

Gråsuggorna - Skyll inte på oss (CD)
www.facebook.com/Grasuggorna

This is my first proper acquaintance with Gråsuggorna from Rättvik. There is 9 tracks on this CD and it's all covers. A record filled with covers isn't always too fun. But that depends on which bands they want to cover. And to start with Abrasivev Wheels makes me interested. Exploited has never been a favorite band for me, so it's fun that Gråsuggorna make their song Class War, and in my ears is it better than the original, and I feel the same with Iggy and the classic song I wanna be your dog. Gråsuggorna make it better than the original. When it comes to GBH is it hard to match them. And both "Sick boy" and "Slit your own throat" are fantastic songs. Motorhead have some really good punksongs, like R.A.M.O.N.E.S, I think Gråsuggorna make it good, but Lemmys' voice are one of a kind. The last cover is by the Swedish band Perverts, and I guess you understand which song they do... yes that's right, Ronka. A classic song, but it's the cover they do worst. All in all is this a fun and interesting cover album.

Review: Sörlings Svinstia (2xLP)

V/A Sörlings Svinstia (2xLP)
http://sirling.blogspot.se/
turistbloggen@gmail.com

Is it even possible for a new released album to be on of the most important album for Swedish punk through the years? Yes it is! This double LP is like a documentation of the Swedish punk in the 90's. Mikael Sörling wrote demo reviews in his column "Sörlings Svinstia" in the big rock magazine Close-up. The 44 tracks on this compilation belongs to the best from his reviews. I will not review each and every band, but I will write about a bunch of them. 

The opening band is Svintask with their song "Rage against new age", a song that sounds like the lovely Blitz song "Razors in the night", and that's a good reason to like Svintask. One of the best track all over this compilation must be Nervös Reaktion and their song "Discotönt", it's some kind of KBD-punk, it sounds so much like the first wave of punk. Victims is one the best bands in the hardcore genre and I like that their song "This fear" are so distinct.

Pass Out is my old band, and I feel honored to be on this fantastic compilation.  Wildcat Strike are probably the only real  streetpunk band, and I love their "Save the whiskey for the boot boys". Chaotic Disorder kängpunk are a bit mixed up with grind/one beat, and the song "Krossa staten" is short and soaked of the lovely 90's. Yes, it's fun that Heffa Klump participate on this compilation, if you didn't know is Heffa Klump the band we call Randy today. It's cool to hear them with Swedish lyrics. Total Assbreakers also have that classic 90's kängsound (not so strange since all the bands hails from the 90's) and I really like their song "Snutas".

Well, there is one more streetpunk band than Wildcat Strike, and that is The Mockingbirds, and "No one is innocent" is a good song to have in the background while you're drinking beer. Kontrovers is probably the best hardcore/crust band, really heavy and brutal. Moralens Väktare would probably give their left hand if they could be Räserbajs for one day but they are far from that class, but this is a typical song for the Swedish 90's punk, a genre we call Trallpunk. Absolute Bastards is the last band that make impression on me, really good crust/grind. GOOD WORK Sörling!

Review: Kronisk misantropi

Kronisk Misantropi (7")
(oppositionrecords.blogspot.com)

Kronisk Misantropi is a new Swedish d-beat band. This 7" contains 4 tracks and I like it a lot. It's very noisy and it feels like we're back in the 90s. Just classic käng without any unnecessary stuff. The distorted vocals fits perfectly to the raw hardcore. This 7" is the first release of Opposition Records who runs by one of the member - Joel, the other part of the band is Andreas who plays guitar in Passiv Dödshjälp. Kronisk Misantropi hit it straight on, this is the kind of käng/crust that I like most. It feels like a mix of Disclose and State of fear. Who needs innovatory shit when it's works perfect with käng like this? And who needs a fancy studio when music can sounds like this? I will recommend Kronisk Misantropi for everyone I know listen to kängpunk. And an interview in the future doesn't seems to be impossible.

Reportage: Swedish Punk

I am going to write a big reportage about Swedish punk. I will write about different periods, genres and bands. I will try to interview/talk to around 25 bands. It will be 8 parts and total 26 episodes. It's not possible to write about everything, but this will be a pretty big document over the Swedish punk scene from 1977 to present.

It's not a secret of which bands I will interview, but I will wait to expose anything now. I can just tell that it will be something for everyone. And I really look forward to do this big project. If you have any suggestion that you want me to write about, just let me know. It's not sure that I will use it since all parts and episods are already written, but there is always possible that I have forget some important part.

Follow the work here: http://schizofanzine.blogspot.se/p/reportage-swedish-punk-77-to-present.html

schizodistro@gmail.com

Review: Djävulen Möblerar Om - Universum i en kub

Djävulen möblerar om - Universum i en kub (7")
www.facebook.com/DjavulenMoblerarOm
(jerrykobramusik@gmail.com)

I had never heard of Djävulen Möblerar Om before I got this EP. And I guess it's a pretty new band since I can not find much info about them. And I'm not sure if it is a band, I think it's a solo project by Malte from Malte X which is another band that I know nothing about. Anyhow, there are two tracks on this 7" and none of them make me happy. The anti-religious song on the B-side "Årtusendets skämt" is a bit better than the title track on the A-side "Universum i en kub". I get some Coca Carola vibes, and i wouldn't be surprised if Beat Butchers Records will release a Djävulen Möblerar Om album in the future because this is Swedish punkrock just in that school. I will not give too much of bad criticism, because this is the first release and just two tracks, therefore is it not easy to get the right opinion. 


Djävulen Möblerar Om - Universum i en kub

Review: Pastoratet - Sexpack (CD)

Pastoratet - Sexpack (CD)
www.pastoratet.se
(Idiot records)

Pastoratet from Sweden is a new acquaintance for me, and a really positive one. They sounds pretty much like Cosa Nostra which is a Swedish band some of the members from Asta Kask had in a period when Asta Kask wasn't active. There is 6 tracks on this CD and that's good, I have started to prefer when it's not too many tracks on a record. Pastoratets music style was very popular in Sweden in the 90's, and well, Pastoratet was formed back in 1992 and was called Väs at that time. And the music is well-played punkrock in a pretty fast tempo with lot's of meldies. I can't really explain why but I can also hear some very weak fragment of NOFX especially in one of my favorite tracks "Enligt säkra källor". There are many bands who've attempted to play this kind of punk through the years and without any doubts will I consider to place Pastoratet among the best band in this genre.


Pastoratet - Enligt säkra källor

Review: Vånna Inget - Ingen botten

Vånna Inget - Ingen botten 
(www.heptownrecords.com)
I had only heard a few songs with this wonderful band before, and I love their contribution on the compilation-LP Turist i tillvaron 3. Vånna Inget released their first full-length in 2011 and now they are back with this album. Their melancholic punkrock have a touch of the legendary Swedish pop band Broder Daniel, something that just are positive in my opinion. Karolina, the vocalist, have a perfect voice which fits perfectly to the music. And the music is filled with melancholic guitar lines while the organ create a really good ground. The lyrics are in Swedish, and they are very sensitive, sometimes almost emotional. I can not but pay tribute to Vånna Inget. I have a feeling that everyone who are just a bit open-minded are going to love this album. But it's not traditional punk, so don't expect anything you won't get. Even if I like all 11 tracks on this album is it something that doesn't satisfy me completely. I get bored after a while. 5-6 songs is okey but after that does it feels like it's just one long song. All in all is this album very good, and my favorite tracks is: "Vart tar du vägen", "Gamla" and "Kungar"

GIG: Eskilstuna, September 6 HARDCORE

Den 6 september är det spelning i Eskilstuna, Balsta Musikslott. Det är Eskilstuna Hardcore som arrar och det är nyktert som gäller, det kan ju så vara. Förhoppningsvis kommer Schizo Distro vara där och sälja skivor. ALLA som kan borde komma, för så ofta är det ju inte spelningar i E-tuna. Banden som spelar är Spiknykter (GBG), Hårda Bud (Örebro) och Låt Dom Hata Oss (Stockholm).

För mer info: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eskilstuna-Hardcore/201468516546064

Interview: Striktlickers (Sweden)

It was 3 years since I sent the questions for this interview to Viktor who do the vocals in Striktlickers and run the War and Hate festival as well. Striktlickers doesn't exist anymore, but I am pretty satisfied with this interview so read what Viktor have to say... 

1.Where comes the apathy from? And is Striktlickers your way to convey your feelings?

Borlänge are the poison of God, and will soon be destroyed for the sins that have been going on there and also my another home.

2. You Viktor, arrange the festival War and Hate, and said in Schizo #6 that whats happen in Borlänge stay in Borlänge, but what the fuck, let us know what really happend?

If you wanna know, buy one issue of the book: Det dödliga svärdet nr 6.

3. Who are the members in the band?

Striktlickers was me, A, L, and N.
4. You have record a bunch of new songs, and what I've heard of them must I say that it's your best songs so far. I think the sound of everything is better. Have you got any good or bad critics and what will happen with the songs now?

Probably it will rot in the “worlds” of the underground scene, or maybe released of someone that are dumb enough. Some of the new songs are on Youtube nowadays. And some cassettes will maybe be released for the chosen ones, which have fully supported us from the beginning. We where never accepted of collective in the scene, but we created our own world, instead. When one door are closed, another are widely open.

5. Well, I know you said something about a Malaysian label. How did you got in touch?

Contacted thru Myspace, but we they never got in touch again. I can understand why. I don’t see this “labels” as serious.
6. What do you think of the PC-Maffia and the PC-police? Is the world already to ruined that it's better to don't care? I think the cover of your new record will provoke tons of people. I also think that's the reason since the punk cannot provoke the society but you have turned it to provoke the punx... is that a sensible thought?

Political correctness have always been a slavery for the mind of “punks”. I thought in the beginning of my travel in the punk scene it was about extreme nihilism, individuality and madness. But in the end, it’s all about alcoholism, decadence and feeling sad for themselves. And listen to bad records, and of course they are some bands that I can fully respect. But they are not many, Återfall nowadays are one of those. And I will always have feelings for band such as Anti-Cimex, Driller killer, Wolfpack and so on. And some other primitive kängpunkbands that are not destroyed of the political correctness and have the right energy within like Dismachine. And it was just not provoking, we showed them the truth, it wasn’t no joke at all.

7. When did you formed the band and what have you released before? Any gigs you wanna talk about? Namedrop some bands that have been important for you? And I guess that the name is consolidated from a few bands? Is it to honour them or what's the deal?

Striktlickers was formed as a allience back in 2006 of me, Pk-Johan and Alice, and was ended in the summer of the 2011, in july. Because we walked different parts, but they are no hard feelings against each other – we just moved on different paths. All our gigs was pretty chaotic, and maybe it’s best to let that sort of things disappear in the dust. The nail in your eye. And also: Rupture and Warcollapse was also two important band for us as inspiration.

8. Since you live in Borlänge, what do you think about the major festival Peace and Love?

When Peace and love disappeared in Borlänge, something interesting happened. A feeling of emptiness was floating around the town, like grey dust. And it will be interesting in the future, to see what will happend.

9. How do you spend your days? It would be a shock if you say; Wake up in the morning, breakfast, Days of our lives on TV etc..

“I” was 16 years old when Striktlickers started, so then we where into the gymnasium and raised hell. But we wen’t out better then the most. Alice now have his exam in engineering, from the university. I am doing my studies and training, and nightly activities. L are now working, and have his own world, and N have moved on, doing studies and a power electronics-project called Marritt. And the rest are secrets, that you will have to be told in person.

10. Alcohol, drugs...? Malmö call themself Crime City, But Borlänge doesn't have a good reputation either. Is it just misery?

All towns are all the same, so fucking lame. But alcohol and drugs are poisonous for some people, who become slaves of it, and others that can’t handle it. But I don’t think that is really important, and if you can’t handle it: Suit yourself.


12. What do you think about the swedish punk scene nowadays? And what is punk for you?

A mental prison, with their barriers that you have to destroy. I would see it as active nihilism for some, and slavery for others.

13. What makes you to carry on with Striktlickers? And what about the future, when it comes to the band, you will hopefully release this new record, what will happen more?

Striktlickers are now forever dead and the crown, you never can carry. And wil be like salt in an open soar.

14. Are you satisfied with this pretty short interview? Otherwhise, ask me a better question if you want. Well, end this now just how you want. Cheers!

No, I am not. But just wanted to have the last nail in this coffin. And let it sink. And my last words are: Death to Paulus Invictus! 22:th july, 13.

Interview: Slaktrens

Here's a part of the Slaktrens interview that will be published in Schizo Fanzine #9 which will be out in a few weeks. It's Johan, the guy who formed the band who answer my questions. If you want more info about Slaktrens, visit their blog here and Rawby Records on Facebook here
 
Hey Johan, what's up? Please start to introduce the band. And how has the band developed since you released Ur Balans 7" 2010?

 Hi Micke! Here's the story of the band: first it was only me that recorded a pretty shitty demo (mangelattack), then Stefan joined and we did the ur balans 7", the strålande tider 12" and a bunch of tracks for comps. Then Befa and Tobbe joined, Stefan quit and Joel joined. We did our first recording as a full band this spring. It's not released yet but sooner or more probably later those songs will be on a split lp with Stick & Brinn. (Update: it will be a Slaktrens 7" insted of the split)

I like the titles of your songs, they are fun but also smart and directly, what is your lyrics about and which of your lyrics are you most satisfied with?

Generally just stuff that gets me annoyed or pissed off. I dont think im very good at writing lyrics and i dont have any favourites really.

You also run Rawby Records, what is the future plans? And you (and Masken) have just released Utanförskapet, what can you say about that LP?

No big plans really. Im still waiting for the Freaknation/Violent Headache split that i took a little part in paying for, to be released. I have really high expectations for that 7", especially the Freaknation side. The spanish version of Hellnation! I just hope it gets released sometime... Sometimes it feels like DIY = delay it yourself haha. Yeah the Utanförskapet 12" is really fucking great! Best record 2012 if you ask me, but i guess im a little biased hahaha. I guess i will also be involved in the Stick & brinn/Slaktrens split release.

Slaktrens, Nödslakt, Slaktattack, Skitslakt... ?

Slakt is a good word to put in a band name. 

Review: Torpedo Göteborg - Nu jävlar (CD)

Torpedo Göteborg - Nu jävlar! (CD)
(info@kjellhell.se)

What an amazing flashback I got with this album in the CD-player. Torpedo Göteborg has the classic Gothenburg punkrock sound and could without any problems been one of the participating bands on the excellent "GBG Hardcore Punk 81-85" compilation. And Torpedo had the intention to sound like this when they formed the band, so I must say that they really  succeeded. I love this 77-punkrock style and the Gothenburg accent give the vocals a working class feeling. I like many of the old Gothenburg' bands so it's really fun to hear a new band (well, they was formed 2002) with better sound quality than all bands I've just heard on compilation tapes. Perverts, Troublemakers and GBG Sound are some bands that must have influenced Torpedo Göteborg. My favorite tracks is: "Gatans Musik" with a strong rock n roll feeling. The song "Vad har du för val" is the ultimate punkrock song. There is 12 tracks on this CD, 6 studio recordings and 6 live tracks. There will be a Torpedo Göteborg interview in the future, I don't know yet if it will be on the blog or in the fanzine. This CD can compete for this year's best album in the Swedish punkrock genre. 

Review: Gatans Lag - Från fest till arrest

Gatans Lag - Från fest till arrest (CD)
http://gatanslag.blogspot.se/
(www.kjellhell.se)

This CD will be released in the end of March and I think this will be the best Swedish punkrock album of 2013. When it comes to Gatans Lag you always know what to get, their lyrics always seems to be very honest and they are much more mature now, they use to romanticize heavy drinking, but on this CD is there also reflections about that topic. But they are still filled with rage against almost everything even if I find more joy on this album. I know some people will label Gatans Lag as an Oi! band, but for me is it punkrock just as Ebba Grön or an angrier version of Troublemakers. But of course, a bunch of the choruses have street/Oi! vibes and so has the lyrics, much because of the drinking, fighting and living topics. The way they use the saxophone is just brilliant, more punkbands should use that instrument. Best on this CD: "Från fest till arrest" which is a fantastic punksong. "Turister" is a pure Gatans Lag song against hipsters and sounds much like their earlier stuff. "Norrby Soul" is a tribute song to the local football team Norrby IF. The chrous on "Livet är för kort för sorgliga sånger" is wonderful. This is a great album that grows the more I listen to it. 

Review: Utanförskapet - Vildhjärta

Utanförskapet - Vildhjärta (LP)
http://utanf.blogspot.se/
(http://rawby.se/)
(Fight Back Records - http://bloggasfuck.blogspot.se/)

Nothing can go wrong when you form a band with members from Asocial, Crossing Chaos, Svart Parad and Uncurbed. This must be the most brutal LP I've heard for a long time. Utanförskapet are significant with Swedish käng/rawpunk at it's best. The music is filled with extreme brutal rock n roll riffs, D-beat as hell, TB's lovely vocals and a dirty sound. I don't think I'm the only one to think that Utanförskapet are just as good or maybe better than bands like Wolfbrigade, Disfear and Victims. The Swedish lyrics are just as angry as the music, and TB sounds pissed off as always. When it comes to raw/kängpunk is these 13 tracks the only thing you need at the moment and the best tracks according to me is "Vildhjärta" och "Kängor från rännstenen", but all the tracks are absolutely brilliant. I don't know why they play a Svart Parad cover when they prove that they can write their own songs. Buy this LP today!

Review - Spotlicks - Spott, bett och tårar

Spotlicks - Spott, bett och tårar (10")
spotlicks@gmail.com
(ppprecords@hotmail.com)

Spotlicks from Stockholm, Sweden is one of my favorite bands. Their 77-influenced KBD punk rock is cocky but still full of feelings, especially the lyrics who is very personal. This kind of swedish punk rock is one of my absolute favorite punk subgenre but they have some shortcomings where the biggest probably is the guitar performance. There is nothing wrong with the riffs but I miss some guitar lines and solos. I think it would benefit Spotlicks with an extra guitarist who could spice up the sound. Rikke who play the bass make it fantastic and he works from time to time as a solo guitarist with his bass. The bass lines are really good. Elins vocals fits perfect to the music and Staffans choirs complements her really great. There is 8 tracks on this 10", my favorites are "Pallar ej trycket" and "Jämna plågor", these tracks are of high class. The last track "Tvivlar" is a bit different because of the melancholic pop feeling, but I like that song much. The other tracks do not reach quite as far as "Pallar ej trycket" and "Jämna plågor" but all in all is this a good record. 

New video: The Bristles - Bigger than punk

This is a new video from The Bristles new album - Bigger than punk. The Bristles will be interviewed in Schizo Fanzine #9 which will be out soon. They have a few booked gigs which I really wanna recommend you to visit if you will get the chance, they are just fantastic live.

The Bristles - Bigger than punk



LIVE:

26 Jan 2013 - Punk Illegal Support Gig, kl: 19.00, Härden, Göteborg, Sweden
Avfart 33 / The Bristles / Bombangrepp / Vrak
12-13 Juli 2013 Punk Cooperative Festival, Bromölla, Sweden
26-28 Juli 2013 - Force Attack Festival, Tyskland
2-3 Aug. 2013 - Hygget Festival, Sweden

Contact:

www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bristles-Sweden/86716651008

thebristles.wordpress.com
the_bristles@hotmail.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheBristles

Review: Projekt Ekan S/t

Projekt Ekan - S/t (Promo Cd)
www.facebook.com/projektekan
(www.switchlight-records.com)

This is my first real encounter with Projekt Ekan and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. I can never get enough of this kind of swedish 3-chord angry punkrock. I like the pure punk lyrics about our fucked up society, bastard cops and life itself. And those topics really fits the music and it all together form a rough streetish sound. 

Projekt Ekan hails from the southern part of Sweden - Skåne, and it's probably the best dialect for punk music because it has a crude and dirty sound. This LP is limited to 250 copys (red vinyl). The first bands that pops up in my mind that I can compare with Projekt Ekan is Antipati, Gatans Lag and Oxymorron. All melodies are fine right through, just listen to "Köpenhamn", "Frihetssång" and "Jag hatar snuten", three tracks perfect for singalong. 

It is very dynamic and a perfect mix with some fast songs ("Virkat motstånd" and "Hipster"), although most songs are relatively soft. Hm, I think Projekt Ekan might be my new favorite band. The song "I shot the sheriff" is of course a Bob Marley cover, but the Projekt Ekans melancholic version with swedish lyrics is better than the orginal song if you ask me. This album contains 14 tracks at almost 40 minutes and everything is perfect balanced.

Review: Turist i tillvaron Vol.5

V/A Turist i tillvaron Vol.5 (LP)
sirling.blogspot.com
turistbloggen@gmail.com 

This compilation serie is fucking impressive, this is the 5th volume and 80 bands has been introduced so far. And it's ONLY swedish bands, Turist i tillvaron is the proof that the swedish scene are fucking strong. There is bands from north to south and east to west and every volume have lot's of good bands from all kind of punk genres. I guess that everybody knows that we have a b big pile of good hc/crust bands but it's the soft/punkrock bands who have impressed most, like Vånna Inget, Nobelkommittén and Glidslem from the earlier volumes.

On this volume I will put some highlight on Brottsvåg! and The Volcano, two good punkrock bands. Gatans Lag is good as always, their song about hipsters is one of the best tracks this year, I have liked their street-ish punkrock from the beginning. More punkrock will you get from Math and the Blah Blah Blahs, Hjärtattack and Jealous Cowards. There is some good hardcore acts on this volume where Angelpiss is the first band out and probably the best as well, both Fredag den 13:e and Sub Alert has never been a disappointment for me and not this time either. Spiknykter and Utbrott are two new acquaintances and I like their hardcore punk.

UX Vileheads sounds a bit like The Exploited and that can never wrong. Lurken Boogie Band is pretty fun but I think you have to be a swede to enjoy them, or? So who's left... Blåslampa, Vinnarcirkeln and Nedslagsplats. None of them are bad but the standard is high and all bands can't really make it all the way. A big thanx to Sörling who release this compilation serie, Vol. 6 will be out in March 2013.