Spoiler alert: it goes very hard.
Stockholm anti-fascist hardcore band Existence are on our radar this week for two reasons: firstly, they're playing Outbreak Fest in Leeds on the 16th, an event we're super-psyched about, and secondly, they're releasing a new 7-inch – titled Into The Furnace – today.
Let's not mess about: if you're into metallic hardcore and ’90s grunge(!), you hate fascists and you've got ears, you're going to be into this record, it really is that straightforward. Have a go right here:
Pretty great stuff, right?
We got vocalist Linus to answer a few questions, because we're into these guys.
Hi Linus! Tell us about Existence!
Existence started taking shape in the fall of 2016. I got together with our
former guitarist Viktor [Ex-Guilty, the best hardcore band Sweden has ever had, basically],
who had a bunch of riffs laying around. I sent the riffs around to potential band
members, and we finally ended up with LK on guitar, Anton on the drums, and Leonardo
on bass.
Just as we were about to record our demo, Viktor quit the band due to other commitments,
and when the demo was finally out we were joined by Simon, who had played in bands
with Leonardo in the past. The rest is history, as they say.
What is the situation with fascism in Stockholm?
These last years we have seen several fascist groups growing stronger once again, posing
both a physical and political threat in a way they haven’t done in some time. Even though
we have also seen large anti-fascist rallies against this, the lack of a progressive day-to-day
working-class movement still leaves the fascists and right-wing populist parties in a
position where they get to set the agenda far too often.
Existence at the Alive & Well Fest earlier this year
What can we do to change the global situation?
Support local progressive initiatives that work towards the same goals as yourself, whether
it’s focused around music, politics or other aspects of everyday life. Dig were you stand!
Are there any links to organisations our readers should be supporting?
As a band, we first and foremost think readers should be supporting their local music
scene. Start a band, go on tour, book a show, do a record label or whatever. We work our fingers to the bone each day to be able to do what we love: hardcore music, and it’s worth every second when knowing that we get to represent this scene as a living and breathing entity in 2018.
Are you guys looking forward to Outbreak next week?
For sure! The lineup is really good this year, and we have loads of friends from all over the
place attending, who could ask for more?
We are also very excited to finally have these new tracks out so that people can finally get
familiar with the songs we’ve already been playing for what feels like an eternity.
To us Swedes, Outbreak Fest is basically seen as the biggest annual happening in
European hardcore at the moment, so it’s an absolute honour that we get to be a part of it
this year. Shoutouts to Jordan and the rest of the crew for making it happen.
Thanks for talking to us, Linus. See you at Outbreak!
Grab a copy of Into The Furnace here if you're in Europe or here if you're in the U.S.! And grab your Outbreak Fest tix here.
