TOTALITÄR from Hudiksvall, Sweden return with their fourth record, “Totalitär”. Nine tracks of authentic hardcore punk, pulled straight from the spirit of the late-80s, with their fury and d-beat signature intact.
Country: Sweden (Hudiksvall)
Genre: Hardcore Punk / D-beat
For fans of: Mob 47, Avskum, Anti-Cimex, Discharge
The story
The band formed in late 1984 and quickly became a name in Swedish hardcore punk, being one of the most common references in the development of the kängpunk/d-beat sound. The original four-piece retired around 1989, until drummer Jallo (No Security) convinced them to reconnect — and he has stayed with them ever since. The debut LP “Sin Egen Motståndare” was released in 1994, and since the late 90s they operate exclusively as a studio band.
The listening
Their material remains consistent with their reinforced ideal: most tracks run at 1-2 minutes and bark with fury against injustice and corporate control, with the characteristic d-beat. There are more melodic moments (such as “Vi Är Eliten” from 2007), but here the record is authentic in its entirety: the guitar howl on “Vad Är Det Ni Vill Ha?”, the choral bursts on “Stolta Barbarer” and the wall-to-wall vocals on “Följ Din Diagnos” offer some of their boldest moments in recent years, while “Älskade USA” shows their broader punk rock range.
D-beat and Swedish hardcore punk are an endless protest movement of brilliant minds, and for good reason Totalitär are always cited, even with two-decade gaps in their discography. “Totalitär” is fast, furious and true to itself — a record that deserves the attention of every fan of the genre.
