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Skraeckoedlan Premiere “Kaktus Galaxus” Remastered Demo from Äppelträdet Anniversary Edition LP

Posted in audiObelisk, Reviews on May 25th, 2021 by JJ Koczan

skraeckoedlan

Skraeckoedlan will release the 10th anniversary edition of their 2011 debut, Äppelträdet (review here), on June 11 through The Sign Records. Ten years ago, Äppelträdet (“apple tree” in English) was an electrified blend of heavy elements, bringing together weighted fuzz and the impact of progressive metal’s rhythmic turns, like a spliced-gene monsterlizard crafted by pulling together elements of Mastodon and Truckfighters, and it remains precisely that. Led by the clarion riffing of “Världarnas Fall,” it was prone to even more massive ready-to-be-called-“slabs” of stomp like the instrumental “Chronos,” and as “Arise the Sun” or the title-track or the duly careening “Universum” demonstrated, there was always more to the Norrköping, Sweden-based outfit’s approach than tonal novelty. Even at their outset, they were songwriters first, and the fact that they had such a clear idea of what they were doing only furthered their cause.

The 3LP edition of Äppelträdet is duly huge, and you can see the details below. If you’ve been keeping up, the band — now comprised of guitarist/vocalist Robert Lamu, guitarist Henrik Grüttner, bassist Erik Berggren and drummer Martin Larsson — haveÄppelträdet 10 årsjubileum been posting re-recorded tracks from Äppelträdet ahead of the release of the box set. They’ve unveiled two of three intended thus far, with “Arise the Sun” (posted here) last month following “Universum” (posted here) in February, but also included in the comprehensive offering is a remastered version of Skraeckoedlan‘s two demos, Flykten Från Tellus and Världarnas Fall, both originally released in 2010. And it was a different Skraeckoedlan before they hit the studio with Truckfighters‘ own Oskar Cedermalm to record the debut full-length. By and large, the songs are longer, dirtier, and rawer, with “Skräcködlan” and “Från Havet Dom Kommer” forming a one-two of surging low-end and spacey melody that presages some of what the band would soon become, but still presents it in nascent fashion, bolstered by the energy of the band’s youth and the sheer excitement of playing that comes from the fact that, at the time, what they were playing was new to them as well as to the listener.

“Kaktus Galaxus,” which would become “Cactus” on Äppelträdet proper, is in its Flykten Från Tellus form a blast of fuzzy push and cymbal crash, its chugging verse and nuanced drums allowing the vocal melody to come through in a ready showcase of potential furthered by the chorus. These demos were compiled together on a tape in 2012, but the remaster brings new clarity to the speedy development that took place going from Flykten Från Tellus to Världarnas Fall and finally into Äppelträdet, and as a way to mark the passage of 10 years since the latter first arrived, the totality of the release is more about telling the story of who Skraeckoedlan were and how they got their start than it is simply putting a record back into print — although between you and me, even if it was just about getting Äppelträdet back out there, the album holds up now as it has seeing periodic represses. I actively remember when it came in the first time around and I’d still be stoked to have it show up as a brand new outing from a brand new band. A decade after the fact, I can’t think of anything more to ask of it. It tells the story it wants to tell and puts emphasis on the early growth of the band, which, if you’ve followed the course of their career — their most recent LP was 2019’s Eorþe (review here) — you know has not abated in the time since.

So, as a lead-in for Äppelträdet‘s 10th anniversary edition, let’s go back to the start with the demo of “Kaktus Galaxus” mentioned above. You can dig into the track on the player below, and Lamu was kind enough to offer some words about it beneath that.

Please enjoy:

skraeckoedlan appeltradet

Robert Lamu on “Kaktus Galaxus”:

You are riding along in your space craft through a sandless desert, the world is coming to an end and everything seems lost. That’s when you see her. A giant space cactus, your savior.

“Kaktus Galaxus” is without a doubt our most important recording to this date. Both the writing and recording of that song showed us our sound and a way to play together. That demo made us re-record it for our debut album, and the song “Cactus” was born. That song has become our anthem.

“Äppelträdet” will be released as an anniversary vinyl box on June 11 via The Sign Records. The box will be available in 500 copies and includes:

– 3 X 180g Gold-colored LPs in a black box with Gold Foil
– “Äppelträdet” (10th anniversary edition)
skraeckoedlan appeltradet– “Äppelträdet” (Original)
– Demo recordings “Flykten från Tellus” and “Världarnas fall”
– 3x Inner sleeve (black with Gold Foil)
– 2x Posters (size A2)
– Lyric sheet and story from the band

Skraeckoedlan’s debut album ”Äppelträdet” was produced by Truckfighters’ bass player Oskar Cedermalm and released on Transubstans Records in 2011. In 2015 they teamed up with Razzia/Sony for the release of their sophomore album ”Sagor”, and in 2019 they launched their third and latest studio full length, ”Eorþe”.

Skraeckoedlan:
Robert Lamu – Vocals/Guitar
Henrik Grüttner – Guitar
Erik Berggren – Bass
Martin Larsson – Drums

Skraeckoedlan’s website

Skraeckoedlan on Instagram

Skraeckoedlan on Facebook

The Sign Records on Facebook

The Sign Records website

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Skraeckoedlan to Release 10th Anniversary Edition of Debut Album Äppelträdet June 11

Posted in Whathaveyou on May 3rd, 2021 by JJ Koczan

skraeckoedlan

What’s being dubbed the Äppelträdet 10 årsjubileum is in any language a celebration of 10 years since Swedish progressive fuzzers Skraeckoedlan first issued their 2011 debut album, Äppelträdet (review here). The band already has streamed two of the three songs they’ve re-recorded with Swedish lyrics for the forthcoming special-release triple-vinyl-plus-other-goodies box set, and they and The Sign Records have set June 11 as the arrival date for the entire package, which also includes their two demos, posters, inner sleeve art and a lyric sheet with liner notes from the band. I wonder if those are in Swedish too? Maybe Swedish and English both?

I seem to recall June being the release time for the last of the three singles as well, and I’ve been back and forth about streaming one of the remastered demos, so we’ll see if and when that comes together later this month. Either way, Äppelträdet was a killer take on heavy fuzz when it first came out, and even as Skraeckoedlan‘s material has grown increasingly complex in the 10 years since, the debut has held its appeal without question.

Cover art and release info follow, courtesy of the PR wire:

Äppelträdet 10 årsjubileum

Äppelträdet (10th Anniversary Edition) by Skraeckoedlan

As Skraeckoedlan’s debut album “Äppelträdet” turns 10, the band is launching an anniversary vinyl box. The box is telling the story of how ”Äppelträdet” grew from early demo recordings to the 2011 album – and now into something new. The box includes a completely new, 10th-anniversary edition of ”Äppelträdet”. On this edition, the three English tracks featured on the original 2011 album have been re-recorded from scratch with Swedish lyrics. The 10th-anniversary edition of the album has been re-mastered by Magnus Lindberg (Cult of Luna).

A decade has passed since Skraeckoedlan released their debut album “Äppelträdet”, an album that reignited and marked the start of the modern Swedish stoner rock scene. Originally recorded in 2010, in Truckfighters’ Studio Bombshelter, ”Äppelträdet” has grown to become a modern classic in the genre, with the album title-track, as well as the mighty colossus ”Cactus”, being some of the band’s most widely recognized creations until this day.

”Äppelträdet”, translated into ”The Apple Tree”, was originally released with three English tracks; “Universe”, Soluppgång”, and “Doedaroedlan”. Robert Lamu, vocalist, and guitarist in Skraeckoedlan, comments:

“We thought that we might limit ourselves as a band if we only had songs in Swedish. We cowardly wrote three songs with English lyrics, because we simply did not know if it would work to play heavy, groovy rock in Swedish and still be able to get out and play around the world, something we all had as a childhood dream. It has turned out that the Swedish songs have absolutely worked even outside of Sweden. Due to our cowardly decision, we have almost never played any of these three English songs live. We want to change that.”

Celebrating their ten-year anniversary, Skraeckoedlan is re-releasing their debut album “Äppelträdet”. This time with all 10 tracks recorded in Swedish lyrics. The English tracks have been completely re-recorded from scratch with Swedish vocals, making them more fierce and distinctive sounding than ever. All tracks have been re-mastered by Cult of Luna-drummer Magnus Lindberg who’s added a new dimension to Skraeckoedlan’s unique, massive sound.

“Äppelträdet” will be released as an anniversary vinyl box on June 11 via The Sign Records. The box will be available in 500 copies and includes:

– 3 X 180g Gold-colored LPs in a black box with Gold Foil
– “Äppelträdet” (10th anniversary edition)
– “Äppelträdet” (Original)
– Demo recordings “Flykten från Tellus” and “Världarnas fall”
– 3x Inner sleeve (black with Gold Foil)
– 2x Posters (size A2)
– Lyric sheet and story from the band

“Äppelträdet” (10th anniversary edition) will be available to purchase separately. The album is released on 1000 copies of 180g clear/transparent vinyl with the new cover artwork.

“Äppelträdet” (10th anniversary edition) will be released on all streaming platforms on June 11.

The original version of “Äppelträdet” is re-released on 1000 copies of 180g clear/transparent vinyl with it’s original LP cover artwork. Released as Gatefold.

Skraeckoedlan’s debut album ”Äppelträdet” was produced by Truckfighters’ bass player Oskar Cedermalm and released on Transupstans Records in 2011. In 2015 they teamed up with Razzia/Sony for the release of their sophomore album ”Sagor”, and in 2019 they launched their third and latest studio full length, ”Eorþe”.

Skraeckoedlan:
Robert Lamu – Vocals / Guitar
Henrik Grüttner – Guitar/Vocals
Erik Berggren – Bass
Martin Larsson – Drums/Vocals

http://www.skraeckoedlan.com/
http://instagram.com/skraeckoedlan
https://www.facebook.com/SKRAECKOEDLAN/
https://www.facebook.com/thesignrecords/
http://www.thesignrecords.com

Skraeckoedlan, “Arise the Sun”

Skraeckoedlan, “Universum” official video

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Skraeckoedlan to Reissue Äppelträdet Oct. 12 on The Sign Records

Posted in Whathaveyou on August 7th, 2018 by JJ Koczan

skraeckoedlan

As you can see in the photo above, Sweden’s Skraeckoedlan were really just kids when they made their debut in 2011 with Äppelträdet (review here). Kids who kicked ass. That album, originally released through Transubstans, is set to arrive as a 180g vinyl and CD through The Sign Records on Oct. 12. I have an enduring affection for that record, as it was my introduction to the band, who’ve since grown into a progressive fuzz metal individualism drawing from a number of modern sources and made their own — as heard on their 2015 follow-up, Sagor (review here) — so it’s cool to see it getting back out to public ears and given a due deluxe-ification with new LP artwork and whatnot.

Skraeckoedlan have peppered out a few singles and live outings since Sagor, but one hopes for a third album maybe sometime in 2019. Last I heard, they were picked up by Fuzzorama Records, which seems only fitting since their relationship with Truckfighters obviously goes back a ways.

Info and preorder link from the PR wire:

SKRAECKOEDLAN – ÄPPELTRÄDET -The Second Coming-

Fuzz-science fiction rockers Skraeckoedlan are set to do the international release of their debut album ‘Äppelträdet’ (The Apple Tree), the 12th of October. Since its initial release 2011 in Sweden, ‘Äppelträdet‘ have been a gem hard to find. When the album was first released it reignited and marked the start of the modern Swedish stoner scene. The record will be released through The Sign Records and comes available on CD and vinyl with world wide distribution.

Äppelträdet is available for pre-order HERE

Originally recorded in 2010, in Truckfighters’ Studio Bombshelter, the album will once again see the light of day this fall, when it returns as a 180g transparent green vinyl housed in a single sleeve cover with updated artwork. A CD version with the original artwork will also be available, both versions featuring the ten seeds that grow to be the Apple Tree.

Also emerging anew are Skraeckoedlan themselves. While still singing in their native tongue, telling stories about mythological beings and cosmic wonders, having just come out of hiatus the band recently made the transition from quartet to trio. The as of now three-piece shares the following words concerning the reprint:

“The reissue of Äppelträdet is, in a somewhat allegorical sense, a celebration of what has been and to a certain extent of what still is, but it also serves as a kind of bridge to what will be. These are our roots and they grow deep.”

https://www.facebook.com/SKRAECKOEDLAN
https://twitter.com/skraeckoedlan
https://skraeckoedlan.bandcamp.com/
http://thesignrecords.com/
https://freighttrain.se/en/the-sign-record/skraeckoedlan/

Skraeckoedlan, Äppelträdet (2011/2018)

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