Victims

Victims are a Swedish punk band from Nyköping Municipality, active from 1997 to the present. The band plays crust, hardcore, d-beat and crust punk, and begins as a straightforward hardcore project with a sound focused on precision and directness.

History

The band forms in 1997. Its first release is a demo tape, which later appears on seven-inch vinyl in 1999. The debut album, Neverendinglasting, follows in 2001. At that point the line-up is Johan on vocals, Andy H on drums, Markus on guitar and Andy S on bass.

After Markus leaves, Jon joins on guitar. The band then writes material for a split release with From Ashes Rise and records again at Studio Soundlab in Örebro with Mieszko Talarczyk. The split is issued in the United States by Havoc Records, beginning a continuing relationship with that label.

The second full-length, ...In Blood, comes out in 2004. It receives positive attention internationally and leads to the band’s first tour of the United States. After further touring in Europe, the group aims for a rougher, shorter and more stripped-back record. It writes new songs and records Divide and Conquer at The Dustward in Stockholm in early 2006.

Later in 2006, founding bassist Andy S leaves. Johan takes over bass duties and the band becomes a power trio. In October 2007 the group records Killer, described as its strongest work at that point.

Style and releases

Victims are associated with crust punk and hardcore, with a fast, tight and direct approach. The band’s recorded output includes the early demo and seven-inch, Neverendinglasting, ...In Blood, Divide and Conquer and Killer, along with the split with From Ashes Rise.

Line-up

Named members in the history given are Johan, Andy H, Markus, Andy S and Jon, with Johan later moving to bass after Andy S leaves.