Apoptygma Berzerk
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Apoptygma Berzerk | ||
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| Background information | ||
| Also known as | APB, Apop | |
| Origin |  Norway |
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| Genre(s) | Synthpop, futurepop, EBM | |
| Years active | 1986 - present | |
| Label(s) | Metropolis Records | |
| Website | apoptygmaberzerk.de | |
| Members | ||
| Stephan Groth (Grothesk) Geir Bratland Fredrik Brarud Angel Stengel Anders Odden |
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| Former members | ||
| Jon Erik Martensen Per Aksel Lundgreen |
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Apoptygma Berzerk is a Norwegian synthpop/EBM/futurepop musical group. It has achieved moderate commercial success with a unique brand of gloomy, danceable rivethead synthpop, winning awards and top-10 spots in Germany and Scandinavia. Apoptygma Berzerk (abbreviated to APB or Apop) has toured Europe, North America, and Israel with bands such as VNV Nation , Beborn Beton and Icon of Coil.
All of the band's lyrics are in English.
The name "Apoptygma Berzerk", either has a secret meaning, or does not mean anything, depending on which interview you read. Front-man and original member Stephan Groth claims that it was randomly picked out of a dictionary. Apoptygma is an old Greek word for the fold of a woman's garment. The band's name is universally pronounced a-pop-tig-ma as in Greek language.
The band was formed by Groth and Jon Erik Martinsen in 1986. They recorded a few demos, including Victims of Mutilation. Jon Erik left the band shortly afterwards feeling uncomfortable with the direction of the band's music.
Contents |
[edit] Members
- Stephan Groth (Grothesk) - front-man and original member, largely responsible for the "APB sound"
- Geir Bratland - Keyboard
- Fredrik Brarud - Drums
- Angel Stengel - Guitar
- Anders Odden - Guitar (rejoined the band late 2004 after having left it some years before to pursue his own musical projects)
- Jon Erik Martensen - former member [1989-90s]] & co-writer of some of Harmonizer
- Per Aksel Lundgreen - former member and live keyboardist 1991-1994 & co-writer of "Wrack'em To Pieces" and "Electronic Warfare". Also responsible for the bands booking and promotion from 1991-1994.
[edit] Style
The first two albums, Soli Deo Gloria and 7 were a similar style of electropop and EBM. Welcome to Earth included a few tracks that sound experimental, getting away from the band's roots slightly. Harmonizer featured a softer, more synthpop-oriented direction when compared to previous albums, and the latest album You and Me Against the World represents an almost complete change in style for the band. It features a more mainstream, rock-oriented sound, and the complete departure from the band's traditional electric synthpop and EBM roots that started with 7.
Many albums feature a hidden track that can be accessed by fast forwarding through many minutes of silence on the last album track. For instance, on 7, one can hear a remix of Nonstop Violence after Love Never Dies (Part II). Similarly, on Welcome to Earth, the band has a cover of Metallica's Fade to Black (song).
[edit] Discography
[edit] Demos
- Victims Of Mutilation (Cassette) 1990 Slusk Records. First 20 copies numbered.
[edit] Full-length studio albums and EPs
- The 2nd Manifesto [EP] (1992)
- Soli Deo Gloria (1993)
- 7 (1996)
- Mourn [EP] (1997)
- The Apopcalyptic Manifesto (1998)
- Welcome to Earth (2000)
- Harmonizer (2002)
- 7 (Remastered) (2002)
- Soli Deo Gloria (Remastered) (2002)
- Singles Collection (2003)
- Unicorn [EP] (2004)
- You and Me Against the World (2005)
- Black EP (2006)
- Sonic Diary (2006)
[edit] Live albums
- APBL98 (1999)
- APBL2000 (2001)
[edit] Singles
- Ashes to Ashes 12" (1991)
- Bitch (1993)
- Deep Red (1994)
- Non Stop Violence (1995)
- Paranoia (1998)
- Eclipse (1999)
- Kathy's Song (2000)
- Kathy's Song 12" I. (2000)
- Kathy's Song 12" II. (2000)
- Until the End of the World I. (2002)
- Until the End of the World II. (2002)
- UTEOTW Vinyl (2002)
- Suffer in Silence (2002)
- Suffer in Silence Trance Remixes (2002)
- Suffer in Silence 12" (2002)
- In This Together (2005)
- Shine On (2006)
- Love to Blame (2006)
- Cambodia (2006)
[edit] DVDs and VHS
- APBL2000 (2001)
- The Harmonizer (2004)
- Harmonizer (2004)
[edit] Side projects
- Germ, Ice Eyes on the Stretch (intro) (1992) (One track released on "Sex, Drugs & EBM" compilation. The track was made with Cadaver guitarist Anders Odden.)
- Germ, 3-track Ultra Limited Demo (Cassette only - 10 numbered and signed copies!)
- TB-Moonchild, Divine Penetration [CDS] (1994) ("Hard hitting monotony trance")
- H2O, Dre:amseller [CDS] (1994) ("Chilled out trance/ambient" with Geir Bratland)
- H2O, Fahrenheit [CDS] (1995)
- Acid Queen, Bing [EP] (1995)
- Acid Queen, Tranzania (1998) (DJ Applepie (Christian Grimshei), contributions from Jon Erik Martinsen)
- Total Transformation, In Thru Out (1996) ("techno/trance")
- Bruderschaft, Forever [CDS] (2003) (Futurepop dreamteam with DJ Rexx Arkana, Ronan Harris of VNV Nation, Sebastian Komor of Icon of Coil and Joakim Montelius of Covenant)
- Fairlight Children, Before You Came Along [MCD] (2004)
- Fairlight Children, 808 Bit (2004)
- The Kovenant, Angel joining this band in 2000 and Geir Bratland in 2003.
[edit] Projects from former members
- Angst Pop - Ødipus Rex and Panic At T.C.F. (CD on "Sex, Drugs & EBM Sampler) 1992 (former APB keyboardist Per Aksel Lundgreen)
- Angst Pop - Ødipus Rex (Video Version) CD on "Melt Compilation" 1994 (former APB keyboardist Per Aksel Lundgreen)
- Angst Pop - Viva Ta Vie CD on "Electronic Youth Vol. 3" 1994 (former APB keyboardist Per Aksel Lundgreen)
- Cronos Titan, Brides of Christ CD (1995) (former APB keyboardist Per Aksel Lundgreen)
- Cronos Titan, The Gregoraveian EP [EP] (1996) (former APB keyboardist Per Aksel Lundgreen)
- Chinese Detectives - Situation CD-single 1995 (former APB keyboardist Per Aksel Lundgreen)
- Chinese Detectives - Where Do The Boys Go? CD-single 1995 (former APB keyboardist Per Aksel Lundgreen)
- Chinese Detectives - You Think You're A Man CD-Single 1996 (former APB keyboardist Per Aksel Lundgreen)
- Chinese Detectives - Hit That Perfect Beat CD-Single Promo Only 1999 (former APB keyboardist Per Aksel Lundgreen)
- Chinese Detectives - Are Kisses Out Of fashion? CD 1999 (former APB keyboardist Per Aksel Lundgreen)
- Sweep, Sweepeepee (1997) (Jon Erik Martinsen)
- Sweep, Emptiness, Your Loneliness (2001) (Jon Erik Martinsen)
- Sweep, Miss You (2002) (Jon Erik Martinsen)
- Sweep, Two Players (2003) (Jon Erik Martinsen)
Sources: apoptygmaberzerk.de, the berzerk web, and the official German fanpage.
[edit] External links
- Apoptygma Berzerk Official website
- Apoptygma Berzerk Metropolis Records
- Apoptygma Berzerk German fansite
- Non-Stop Violence American fansite
