Avskum

Avskum is a hardcore punk and d-beat group from Kristinehamn, Sweden. It forms in 1982 and remains active, with an anarchist approach and lyrics that focus on nuclear war, capitalism and related political themes.

History

The group begins when members from Kristinehamn discover the Swedish punk underground through trips to nearby towns and encounters with bands such as Anti Cimex and DNA. Its sound takes shape under the influence of Discharge, Varukers, Chaos UK and Disorder, and it develops as classic Swedish hardcore punk with a crust punk edge.

The original line-up includes Nisse, Håkan, Pyri and Gunnar. In the late 1980s the band moves towards heavier metal-influenced material, Nisse leaves, and Carlen replaces him on guitar. The group then stops in 1988.

Avskum returns in the early 1990s after Finn Records asks Pyri and Håkan to prepare a compilation of older material. A new recording of “Bleed” is made during those sessions, though it is not used on the planned release. The group reforms seriously in 1994 with Gunnar on vocals, Pyri on drums, Håkan on guitar and George on bass, later joined by Henke on guitar. Henke leaves after In Spirit of Mass Destruction, and the current line-up includes all original members except the original guitarist.

Recordings and style

Avskum releases a third full-length album, Punkista, and records it at Sunlight Studios in Stockholm with Tomas Skogsberg engineering. The group describes that record as a return to the faster, more direct sound of its early 1980s material. The songs mentioned include “Blodrod”, “Girigbukar”, “Svinens song”, “Slå tillbaka”, “Ingen människa är illegal”, “I hate your fucking war song”, “Children of war” and “Loosers union”.

The band’s writing also includes a split-record project with the Canadian band Hellbound, and it has a track called “United states of war”.

Live activity

Avskum performs sporadically across Europe and plays a two-week tour in the United States in 2004. It is known for intense small-venue shows and prefers close, crowded gigs over large festival settings with barriers and distance from the audience.

Political themes

The group identifies as anarchist and treats punk as a grassroots movement without stars or authorities. Its lyrics and comments on its work stress opposition to war, racism, state power, corporate control and exploitation, alongside support for human rights, democracy and anti-capitalist politics.