SHARP TONGUES

1. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions! Would you please introduce yourself and what you do in the band? 

Sure, I am Carl, and I do vocals and write most of the songs.

2. For readers who may not be familiar with you, would you be so kind as to provide a quick snapshot of the band—where you’re from, how you’d characterize your sound, any of the essentials folks should know?

We’re a hardcore band from Gothenburg, Sweden, formed in early 2022. Our music is heavily inspired by the classic hardcore wave of the ’90s, with bands like Carry On and In My Eyes being major influences, but we also mix in modern elements to keep our sound fresh and relevant. In 2024, we released our debut full-length album through New Age Records, and we’ve just put out a follow-up EP with six new songs, also via New Age Records.

3. Can you tell us a little about the band’s origin story—how you came together as a unit, why you wanted to go in this sonic direction, etc.?

In the first year, it was just me writing songs and working on the project as a personal creative outlet. It was something that gave me a lot of energy and focus, especially during a time when I really needed a project to pour my creativity into. When I released the first EP, it caught some attention and started generating buzz. This led to people reaching out and asking us to play live shows. Seeing the positive response, I reached out to some close friends and invited them to join the band. Our first show was in September 2022. Since then, we’ve had the opportunity to play a lot of shows.

4. What about your personal hardcore origin story? What attracted you to the genre and made you not just love the music but feel like you had to make it yourself?

I was just a kid when I discovered bands like the Sex Pistols and Swedish punk band Ebba Grön. I fell in love with their music right away; the feelings they stirred in me were something new and exciting. As I grew older, I found my way into hardcore, and it felt like a natural progression. I was drawn to hardcore because of its raw energy and the real emotions it expresses. Growing up, I loved punk for its spirit and DIY attitude, which led me naturally to hardcore.

The first hardcore record I ever heard was Chain of Strength - The One Thing That Still Holds True. The first hardcore show I attended was one we organized ourselves, a local gig in my hometown with local metal and old-school hardcore bands. When I was around 15 or 16, I started going to shows in Gothenburg and eventually traveled to other cities for them. Great times!

5. What have been some of the major highlights of the band’s career so far?

First of all, getting to release our music through New Age Records has been just crazy. We’ve put out one full-length album and now a new EP, and working with Mike has been fun! He’s genuinely supportive and really passionate about the music. It’s inspiring to have someone like him in our corner.

Second, we recently completed a mini European tour, playing some really exciting shows, including Unreal Tournament in Prague and Edgefest in Munich. Sharing the stage with incredible bands, meeting old friends and new, and feeling the energy and love of the hardcore community at these classic venues was definitely a major highlight for us.

6. Tell us about your EP Dead Weight. What was the writing and recording process for the EP like? What themes do you explore on it? What can listeners who haven’t heard it yet expect?

For the first time, we recorded all the instruments live, and we think you can really hear that energy on Dead Weight. The EP has a more dynamic feel, and we found a sound we’re really excited about. It’s still melodic hardcore, but you will also notice some heavier, more intense moments. We recorded the EP at Welfare Sounds here in Gothenburg with Per Stålberg (who’s worked with Division of Laura Lee, Pablo Matisse, and others). He’s such a cool guy, and having a solid plan before we entered the studio really helped us capture the EP how we wanted it to sound.

7. Who are some other bands in the scene we should be paying attention to?

There are so many cool young bands coming out of Gothenburg. Most people have probably heard of Sidestep, but we’d also recommend checking out Spitball and Ceaseless, two really promising up-and-coming acts.

On our tour, we met and saw some amazing bands as well. If we had to highlight just one, we’d say check out Mindgaze from Prague. We got the chance to see them live twice, and they were so so good. They’ve definitely got something cooking, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you start hearing a lot more about them soon.

8. Last question: For Americans, we usually frame the following as the “Mount Rushmore of…” but that doesn’t always translate. The Big Four of Thrash (Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer, Megadeth) does. Who do you think are the Big Four of Swedish Hardcore?

Ohhh… hard question! But here we go: first off, you can’t leave out Refused. They’re a cornerstone of Swedish hardcore. Then I’d say Speedway, for representing the current hardcore scene and really carrying the flag for Swedish hardcore today. Outlast, an important band for me and for the kids who were in the scene during the ’90s. To complete the big four, I will throw in Nasum into the mix.