Erik Larsson – Lead vocals, guitars, mandola, cittern
Jonas Lindh – Guitars, mandola, backing vocals
Mikael Lindström – Hurdy gurdy, bagpipes, rauschpfeife, backing vocals
Rikard Jansson – Bass, mandola, backing vocals
Andreas Skoglund – Drums and percussion, backing vocals
Standing with one leg in medieval times and the other in modern metal, Apocalypse Orchestra weaves their own special tapestry of music. The tones of the hurdy gurdy and the bagpipe entwines the heavy guitars and music separated by over 800 years meet.
The band was formed by musical partners in crime Mikael Lindstrom and Erik Larsson, inspired by their love for folk music and slow metal they decided to combine the two. With a foundation of original music and lyrics but also incorporating melodies from as far back as the 11th century, the goal was to create a musical homage to a bygone musical era.
After an initial period of writing music, the band needed to prepare for the stage, thus Jonas, Rikard and Andreas, all long time friends of Mikael and Erik, was asked to join.
The quintet’s debut album, The End Is Nigh, which focuses on tales of the plague, hell, and the meaninglessness of war and suffering, was recorded throughout the latter half of 2016. The drums were tracked at Studio Overlook by William Blackmon (Gadget, Beardfish, Isole) while the rest of the album was recorded at Studio Bordun by the band themselves. Per Nilsson of Scar Symmetry and Zierler mixed the record at Studio Kabyss.
Kicking off with the album’s first single, “The Garden of Earthly Delights,” the band then crashes into “Pyre,”a song about the witch trials, Spanish Inquisition and wrongful accusations. “Flagellants Song” launches an epic tale of self mutilation, blind love of the divine and deluded ideas of salvation whereas “Exhale” gives deep thought about mankinds mortality and fear of death. The albums crescendo, “Here Be Monsters” gazes into the far distant, across the sea, and into the abyss, but is it an epiloge or a prologue?
Since their inception in 2013, Apocalypse Orchestra have become a familiar entity on the Swedish club circuit as well as making the festival rounds. With a live show that features theatrical performances (sometimes utilizing actors and dancers), fire and projected animation, the band has become one of the most talked about acts currently playing out. The band feels the theatrical element can enhance the music, giving it the feel of classic storytelling.
A performance was given with the Gävle Symphonic Orchestra and a chamber choir, melding the philharmonic with metal and folk music during a night of crossover music in a sold out concert hall. The event was instigated by the band Entombed, who also took the stage the same night.
Apocalypse Orchestra always looks forward as well as inward, to seek answers to some of history’s biggest questions, as well as taking a critical look at some common medieval myths. Lyrical themes ranges from everyday toils of the common man in the dark ages, onwards to art, science and literature, all the way to otherworldly views of existence.