One of my favorite parts about Sweden Rock Festival is checking out lesser known bands that are the local flavor in Sweden. Each year Sweden Rock Festival gives a limited number of bands a spot on stage to perform in front of the internation audience throught the New Music In Sweden program through Studiefrämjandet’s. The bands are unsigned and up and coming within Sweden. The 30th anniversary of the festival brings the 16th anniversary of this particular program.
Several hundred bands applied to play Nemis this year, and the selection process has been focused on finding exciting new artists and on keeping the stage as gender equal as possible. Geographically the bands come from Skåne in the South all the way to Östersund in the North. The Nemis acts will be schedules for the second festival day, Thursday the 8th of June. The bands for 2023 are: Children of the Sün, Dahlia, Karmanjakah, Liar Thief Bandit, Modesty, Running Cooper, Sanctrum och The Overthrone?.
If you won’t be making the trip to SRF this year, check out these bands where you stream your music. For those who will be attending, see you at the NEMIS stage on Thursday of the festival!
ABOUT THE BANDS:
Children of the Sün
From the Western Swedish forests come Children of the Sün, whose sound takes its atmosphere from love of the open nature, and its influences from the rootsy scene of the 60s and 70s, as well as contemporary peers like Greta Van Fleet and Rival Sons. They have made two albums thus far, “Flowers” (2019) and “Roots” (2022), and the latter in particular has made waves even in a wider context.
Dahlia
Western Swedish act Dahlia released their first album, with the single “Gravity”, in 2017. Since then they have produced two more singles, “Bullshit” (2019) and “Cut me” (2020), and currently have more music in the making. The sound of Dahlia is both dark and melodic, containing elements from both prog metal and alternative metal but also pop, and with thought-provoking lyrics by lead singer Rebecka Haak.
Karmanjakah
“The sound of an abandoned metropolis, reclaimed by nature.” That is how Karmanjakah from Stockholm described their sound. They can also be described as brutal, yet atmospheric prog metal in the same ballpark as Animals As Leaders, Periphery, Tesseract and Meshuggah. Karmanjakah’s eponymous 2016 EP and their full-length 2021 debut “A book about itself” both met with positive reviews, and in 2023 another EP is planned to see the light of day.
Liar Thief Bandit
Swedish powertrio Liar Thief Bandit play rough garage rock’n’roll ripe with high speed dirt. They are productive too: since forming in 2015 they have done no less than ten European tours as well as releasing three full-length albums, one split single with Grande Royale, and most recently the mini album “Diamonds” (2022). For fans of the Hellacopters, Kiss, Turbonegro and “hold on to your hats”-rock in general.
Modesty
Modesty are four ladies from Southern Sweden who in a short time have made quite an impression on the regional scene, with their debut EP “Don’t tell me” (2021) and relentless gigging, for instance opening up for Hardcore Superstar and appearing at several festivals in Sweden and also in Germany. Their next release is soon to be released, sporting more of that tough, forthright, contagious rock sound that is Modesty’s own.
Running Cooper
Since 2015, Running Cooper from Northern Sweden have produced one EP, a radio hit with “Light bricks” and the 2019 album “Are we having fun yet”. Their live credentials include Croatia’s INmusic Festival, and they are currently also in the process of making new music. The sound of Running Cooper could be described as riff-based rock with a blues- and 70s’ feel Thin Lizzy style, topped with a little Muse-modernity.
Sanctrum
Sanctrum from Uppsala, Sweden so far have four releases to their name: “In harms way” (album, 2008), “Autumn” (EP, 2013), “Rot” (album, 2015) and “Walk with vermin” (EP, 2018). Plus the single “Beacon in the light” (2020). Their sound is a melting pot of brutal thrash riffs, epic choruses and electronic elements – among other things. As a live act Sanctrum boast plenty of routine and their concerts are known for being just as intense as the music itself.
The Overthrone
The Overthrone from Stockholm uphold the proud Swedish melodic death metal tradition, counting In Flames, At The Gates, Dark Tranquillity and Arch Enemy among their influences. Following lauded EP “The plague” (2018) and full-length debut “Bloodmoon” (2021), 2022 saw The Overthrone do their first European tour and perform at Wacken. With new lead singer Gustav Holmberg, the band begin the next chapter of their history.
