Dismember - A Swedish Death Metal Story

Dismember were a Swedish death metal band, quite a legendary in the genre as well. When death metal fans speak of Swedish death metal, which usually is considered split-up on two different scenes - the Gothenburg scene / sound, and the Stockholm scene. Dismember were from Stockholm and formed in 1988. Unfortunately, they called it quits in late 2011, before I ever had the chance to see them live. Or chance or chance, as I am Swedish, I guess there were at least a couple of occasions where I could've attended, but I probably didn't have the cash, ride or whatever just then. It fucking sucks, big time.

Dismember around 1991-1993, the "classic" line-up, from left to right ...

Matti Kärki - Vocals
Richard Cabeza - Bass
Fred Estby - Drums
David Blomqvist - Lead guitar
Robert Sennebäck - Rhythm guitar

Beginning as teenagers in the rising death metal underground scene during the late 80's, Dismember were along with Nihilist and the grindcore act Carnage, some bands to form the Swedish sound of death metal, particularly the Stockholm sound with its trademark buzzsaw guitar sound and heavy approach, rather than the ultra-melodic Gothenburg scene. After a couple of well-known demo tapes each in the tape-trading universe, both Dismember and Nihilist split-up in 1989. Nihilist's split was done because they had fired their bass player, Johnny Hedlund, who would form another important band in Unleashed. David Blomqvist was briefly a member in Entombed, being credited as the bass player on the band's last demo before their debut, though he didn't really play on it. Later on he, along with Fred Estby, would join Carnage with future Carcass and Arch Enemy guitarist and leader Michael Amott. They did one album which was released in 1990 called "Dark Recollections". While the album didn't achieve too much attention, maybe because the band broke up before it was released, and being in the shadow of Entombed's legendary and groundbreaking "Left Hand Path", it has gone on to have a cult following of dedicated fans of Swedish death metal.

After Carnage split, David and Fred, along with Carnage growler Matti Kärki, reformed Dismember and released their last demo tape in 1990. In 1991, the now full band recorded and released its legendary debut album "Like An Ever Flowing Stream" (due to a misspelling error, there are different versions with "Ever Flowing" being written as one word, as well as having a bar in between, as without). The album would go on to create debates whether it was Entombed or Dismember who "ripped off" the other, particularly the guitar sound. It would also gain media attention for the song "Skin Her Alive" in England, where the errand was even brought into court. There the band's music was called "indecent and obscene".

In 1992 the band released their debut EP in "Pieces", a release which saw a very raw sound with very much distortion, as well as a graphic cover art showing the band's beheaded heads tied together in their hair, making the same shape as that of a pentagram. It was successful and also included "Soon To Be Dead" from the debut album, which had been granted a music video. In November and December, the band went back into the legendary Sunlight Studios to record their second LP. This time around they used their media attention and decided to name the album "Indecent & Obscene", which was released in 1993. The album brought yet another graphic cover of a man's body whose stomach has been ripped open, and on top of all bloody intestines lies a Dismember belt-buckle. The album was another great success for the band and produced a video with the song "Dreaming In Red" that received heavy rotation on MTV's Headbanger's Ball. The band went on a worldwide tour in support of the album.

In 1994 the band began work on their third album. As time had passed on, things had changed in the death metal scene, particularly the Swedish "commercial" scene. Entombed, always being the kings, had in 1993 released their third album "Wolverine Blues" which had changed in style. The speed was gone and instead the the music was more swinging, yet very heavy. That album would create what fans call "Death 'n' Roll", which path Entombed has pretty much continued on since. With it turning into a hit album, for the death metal genre at least, Dismember's record label Nuclear Blast wanted Dismember to walk the same path - make a commercial record.

Dismember released another EP called "Casket Garden", which was the new album's lead single. It was granted a video and became a minor hit as well. The album, 1995's "Massive Killing Capacity", saw Dismember walking very much in the same direction as Entombed had done two years earlier. If there were any debates in the early days about who ripped off who, this was certainly not a good proof in favor for Dismember. The album was well-received, though reactions were mixed amongst the fans, just as it had been with Entombed and "Wolverine Blues". Sound-wise, Dismember kept its new direction more true in sound to their older material, with the riffs being clearly trademark Dismember riffs, and mostly the tempo / drums being the big change.

In 1997 the band would return to its original death metal sound, releasing an EP called "Misanthropic", whose title-track would act as the lead single for the new, fourth full-length album simply called "Death Metal". Nuclear Blast did not like the decision to go back to the old sound, even if it was now more melodic than before, taking large influences from the Gothenburg sound. The band also saw a new big change in the band with rhythm guitarist Robert Sennebäck leaving, apparently to be more with his family. The bands new tour in support of the album also wasn't very successful, with Nuclear Blast pretty much doing nothing to promote it nor the album. With many things suddenly going down the shitter, and death metal overall losing its popularity, bassist Richard Cabeza ultimately gets tired of the whole business and leaves in 1998. Now having lost two original band members, the remaining guys lay low for a while.

In 2000 the band returns, with a vengeance. The band have now recruited new guitarist Magnus Sahlgren as well as hired Sharlee D'Angelo as a studio musician, for their new album. Being pist of at Nuclear Blast and wanting nothing but their contract to end, they release their last record for that label, which they in tribute to the label name "Hate Campaign". Failing to create much fuzz around it, as well as getting mixed opinions amongst the fans, the album isn't a great success and the band finally gets dropped by the label. The band keeps touring and recording material for what will eventually be their debut live release, a concert DVD entitled "Live Blasphemies", released in 2004.

Over the years from the band's last album to the live DVD, some things have changed in the band again. Magnus Sahlgren has been replaced with new guitarist Martin Persson, who splits the lead duties with original guitarist David Blomqvist. Richard Cabeza has also returned as the bass player for the band. The band having signed a new record deal with Karmageddon Media, release their returning album in 2004 as well. The new album, entitled "Where Ironcrosses Grow" is a return to the band's quality song-writing and the album is acclaimed by the fans. However, things are soon to change once again. With bassist Richard Cabeza being married to an American woman, Swedish immigration won't let her stay and distance issues start to occur. The band ultimately has no choice but to replace him, adding Johan Bergebäck to the line-up, however, he leaves the following year.

Without a bass player, the band starts working on their next album in 2005. David Blomqvist and Martin Persson handle the bass guitar duties for the album. In 2006, the band's new album "The God That Never Was" is released, to critical as well as fan acclaim. The album continues to grow from where the last album left off, taking up more high speeds and brutal influences, and ultimately becoming the bands most furious work. In preparation for the tour, the band adds new bass player Tobias Cristiansson to the ranks and the band goes out on tour. In 2007, a new big change awaits the band as original member and drummer Fred Estby decides to leave the band, so that he can be spending more time with his family instead. The band replace him with Thomas Daun, whose drumming is somewhat tighter and more strict than Fred's trademark free-drumming.

In 2008 the band announce their upcoming eighth full-length album, which is unnamed, or simply called "Dismember" / self-titled. The album drops some of the speed and aggression from the last album in favor of more melody and the album is yet another well-received release. The album's production duties are also handled by Entombed's then bassist (now current guitarist) Nico Elgstrand. The band goes out on another worldwide tour with lots of festival appearances. In 2009 they also release their second live DVD called "Under Blood Red Skies". The DVD includes a concert where they play "Like An Ever Flowing Stream" in its entirely, as well as a bunch of other songs.

After 2010, not much is heard from the band and its activities. With fans worldwide lunging for a new album, the only thing that is delivered is an official statement in October 2011 by bassist Tobias Cristiansson ... "After 23 years, Dismember have now decided to quit. We wish to thank all our fans for your support." And so there was the end of Dismember, a band that helped pave the way as well as create the Swedish death metal scene and sound. While they weren't the biggest death metal export out of Sweden, they sure were the second or third largest.

 

Dismember's last line-up in 2008, left to right ...

Tobias Cristiansson - Bass

Thomas Daun - Drums

Matti Kärki - Vocals

Martin Persson - Guitar

David Blomqvist - Guitar

Dismember to me has meant a lot. I started listening to death metal in 2007, and while that maybe ain't that long ago, those six years feel like a pretty long time for me. I have grown from a horny teenager to a ... horny dude. No but seriously, a lot has happened during that time, many things and phases in music to go through, pretty much a new one per year. 2007 certainly was my "death metal year", where I discovered all the bands and started listening, loving the music. While I never stopped listening to this music, it sure got somewhat in the shadow of the other styles I discovered, and as I said, the phases I went through. I was reading in some number of the Sweden Rock Magazine, I think it was in 2005 already, and Fred Estby was talking about their new album "The God That Never Was". There was also a conclusion of all their albums, with ratings of each one and some comments, so I checked that out and so one. Then what started it all was a history lesson, "the hard rock history, year 1990" I believe. They talked about how the Swedish death metal was commercially set free that year with Entombed's "Left Hand Path", which also became the first death metal album I bought. During the same time, I also discovered Dismember (I loved their logo!) as well as Unleashed, and I like Dismember the best out of all death metal bands on earth. I became somewhat of a freak about Dismember, I really listened to them a lot! I'm just very thankful for the great music they put out during their career, and I was saddened to see them quit so soon, but at least they did it with a good last album.

Thank you Dismember, for truly opening up my heart to death metal, literally change my life, and giving me countless hours of great music listening!