Hardcore
Avskum – En Annan Värld Är Möjlig
Formed in 1982 in Kristenhamn, Sweden, Avskum emerged as early disciples of Discharge’s searing sound, pushing the sonic envelope with raw aggression and intensity. Standing side-by-side with acts like Shitlickers, Anti-Cimex, and Crude SS, they carved their name into the totem pole of Swedish d-beat—a genre known locally as kängpunk—that has since inspired a global […]
The post Avskum – En Annan Värld Är Möjlig first appeared on DIY Conspiracy – International Zine in the Spirit of DIY Hardcore Punk!
Artist: Avskum
Title: En Annan Värld Är Möjlig
Release: LP / Digital
Year: 2023
Label: Prank, Skrammel Records
Formed in 1982 in Kristenhamn, Sweden, Avskum emerged as early disciples of Discharge’s searing sound, pushing the sonic envelope with raw aggression and intensity. Standing side-by-side with acts like Shitlickers, Anti-Cimex, and Crude SS, they carved their name into the totem pole of Swedish d-beat—a genre known locally as kängpunk—that has since inspired a global legion of uncompromising acolytes.
Avskum’s initial run between 1982 and 1985 produced some of the most classic and enduring kängpunk we know today. Their resurgence in 1998, however, brought a renewed political vigor and a sound that amplified their foundational aggression. While 1984’s EP Crucified By The System stands as an iconic d-beat manifesto to genre purists, it’s their post-1998 material—particularly their 2008 album Uppror Underifrån—that resonates with me the most.
The 15-year hiatus since Uppror Underifrån did nothing to dull Avskum’s razor-sharp ethos. Their latest album En Annan Värld Är Möjlig—which translates to the leftist rallying cry ‘Another World Is Possible’—brings 17 tracks of relentless kängpunk anthems with lyrical themes in both Swedish and English ranging from support for refugees, indigenous rights, and calls for self-determination to attacks on fascism, militarism, misogyny, and social injustice of all kinds. Far from the vast sea of d-beat bands content with heralding apocalypse and annihilation, Avskum champions a resilient, hopeful message of resistance.
Still adhering to their Discharge-inflected, käng-hardcore blueprint, Avskum haven’t wandered far from their ’82 origins. Their rock-imbued heaviness melds with singer Günnar Larsson’s recognizable shouts and scream-laden vocals, ripping guitar work, and pounding drum rhythms. Guest appearances from Swedish icons like Tompa of At The Gates and Disfear, Tommy of Asocial and Uncurbed, and Mattis of Makabert Fynd only amplify the album’s fervent strengths.
As they gear up for a United States tour with indigenous punk stalwarts Resistant Culture, Avskum prove that they’re not simply reformed legends riding a wave of nostalgia. They remain one of the most politically committed bands in the d-beat scene. With En Annan Värld Är Möjlig, it’s evident that the old dogs can still snarl, howl, and most importantly, bite back.
Source: diyconspiracy.net
