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Witnessed

Tortyr, Principles of Existence, Massgrav, 2006-18-11

07/12/06  ||  Global Domination

This review was written by ex-staffer/maneater Tash.

Location: Kafé 44, Stockholm, Sweden.

To those who have never experienced Kafé 44 in Stockholm, it’s basically a tiny, anarchistic cement hole in the ground that, despite its size, has been host to some pretty big names in the past, like Napalm Death, Entombed and Nasum. Hell, practically everyone’s played there. You can’t buy alcohol, but you can delight in soda pop and cinnamon buns freshly baked on the premesis by the owner, Tompa (who often brings out a huge plate of buns for the bands setting up), and during the evenings, the place is only open from 19:00 – 22:00. By that time, all bands must be done, and people have to piss off.

Tonight, as people entered, they were greeted by two rather disinterested girls who took their 50 SEK and stamped their wrists, hardly pausing their conversation with each other. Opposite them stood two proud merch tables. The first, for Massgrav, was run by all three members of the band, who took turns in entertaining each other (and me), making jokes about the wild display of shirts, most of which were but remnants in weird sizes and keeping their money in an empty “Fletch” VHS box, while I (in part) manned the merch table for Principles of Existence, who had printed their own T-shirts for the first time. I mean that in both senses of the word. It was the first time the band had T-shirts, and the first time that they did it themselves. Or rather, the drummer did.

“Tash, you might want to check the prints on the red ones before they go out. Especially the small ones.”

“Nah..can’t see anything wrong with them. Besides, people will be drunk…” (pause) “… oh wait… no alcohol.”

(worried look from Totte)

“But fuck it man, these things look straight to me! Don’t worry!”

And they looked great. All bias aside. I might as well get this bias shit over with immediately. I’m personally very fond of Principles of Existence. I think of them like brothers, except for the one I share my bed and life with. But, be that all as it may, these facts to not cloud what my ears perceive. I’ve no problem telling my loved ones they make poo, if need be, just like I’ve no problem admitting when I make poo. So there really is no need for any eyeballs to roll just yet.

My saviour for the evening manifested in the form of Jon Lindqvist (Victims, Sayyadina, ex-Nasum) in a Baroness shirt and huge inverted pentagram around his neck, who shooed me off to go watch Tortyr as they started playing, saying he’d relieve me whenever the bands were up, while he sat there reading anarchist pamphlets, and a copy of Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea” that someone had left behind.

First up was the pride of Finspång, Tortyr, who delivered punchy punk/hardcore in a decently catchy manner. Every now and then the vocals got a bit lost in the mix, but that didn’t detract from the show the band put up. From the times I’ve been to Kafé 44, the crowd response to the first band up was rather typical. What people could fit into the stage area tried to press themselves up against the very back wall, as no matter how many times you go to the venue, each time, you’re slapped in the face by how loud bands can get in that small area, and how quickly you run out of oxygen once it fills up, which is does quicker than a Texas cattle auctioneer can rattle off your address. But three punks didn’t seem to care, and pulled and pushed one another through the entire set, which included: “Dö”, “Bland de Levande”, “Inga Mirakel”, Ingen Kommer Undan”, “Svarta Kedjor”, “Döden Ler”, “Torstar Efter BLod”, Startskott till Slakt”, (and here’s where the set list looks weird, hopefully I haven’t fucked up the deciphering thereof) “Idag”, “Känns det Hopplöst Är Allt Svart” (the previous 2 either being two songs, or one song in two handwritings), and it all ended off with “Gwar”. I can’t pretend to be familiar with their music, as this was the first I’d heard or smelled the band. But I’d definitely check them out again.

After a short recess, Stockholm’s Principles of Existence were up with their quite unique blend of hardcore, punk, tinged with metal, rock and…other elements, which are more prevalent live than on record (which you all haven’t heard yet. Ha!). The live area filled up for this act, and the odor of stale breath was met “The Kinski Spiral”, an instrumental opener which was followed by the cheeky, pissed off and yet horribly catchy “Regression”. By the time the band had finished the following two songs in the set, namely “Down and Out” and “Burn the Flag”, the live area was sardine-packed with people, oppressively hot and sweaty. But people were loving it, and with each song, I felt the warmth of pride in my belly, adding to the general warmth of the room of bobbing heads and bodies. “Seconds Away”, “Activate” and one that as yet has no title, but which is sung by Pulko were met with huge applause in so little a room, with the latter compelling the crowd to shout “Samma låt en gång till!” (same song again!). But alas, they did not, instead launching immediately into “Decisions”, after which the already fast “Dark Soul” became insanely fast as Totte just took off like a bolting horse. But the band kept up amazingly well, and ended their set with “Your War” and “Precedent”. All in all, a great show that was enjoyed by everyone who attended.

Last up were Massgrav. Jesus Fucking Christ. This shit is dangerous. I shit you not. Three guys, playing punk/hardcore so fucking fast I struggled to catch my breath. And both Pulko and I couldn’t stop laughing – not because it was bad, but because it was so ridiculously fast, sharp-witted, and they had such a visually odd…presence on stage it’s actually hard to describe. But I couldn’t help laughing from utter enjoyment, and the thrill of something that fucking fast, showing that much middle political finger, without lifting said finger from their instruments. Most of their songs were played in sets of three ans two, only four were presented as single stand-alone songs. Now unfortunately, only those of you who understand Swedish will get the humour dsiplayed in some of the titles on the set list: “Alla Punkare e Horor”, “Rösta på Vadå”, “Göran Perssons Lögner”, “Power Violence”, “Ett Korståg mot Långsam Käng”, “Varför Ska Vi Lida?”, “Utan Trosor i Tyrolen”, “Livlös och Lurad”, “Hatfylld & Nerpissad”, “Spräckt Skita i Piketen”, “Sur & Jävlig”, “Napalm Över Stureplan”, “Kuken Står”, VI Skiter i Persson”, “Å Va Fan Gör Polisen”, Nu Blåser vi Snuten”, “Falsk Security”, Blåst på Kenfekten”, “Såssialdemokraterna”. Great energy, really good performance, entertaining interaction, and really, they get a huge thumbs up from me. And fuck were they loud! A trio like I haven’t heard in a very, very long time.

I don’t want to give each band an individual score, but rather give the entire evening a solid 8.5 kängor out of 10.

Witnessed