Someone in thrown hates automatic capitalisation. I know this because they are bringing it to my attention on the downlow. Every time I write a sentence I must un-capitalise – if I have been lack-lustre enough to begin that sentence with this newly hatched bands’ name (How many hyphenated words can you fit in one sentence? Challenge accepted). Breathe. Of course, given my literary skills, this situation never arises. Apart from when the very first word I type must be that of the band.
How is this relevant you may ask? It’s relevant because it caught my attention and therefore, it just might capture yours. Remember the time that a certain band allegedly asked, in its rider, for all the brown M&Ms to be removed? Are you paying attention? Is the story even true? Maybe not, but the idea was subtle and effective. It’s also relevant because ‘thrown’ creates music, say their team, which is violent and uncompromising and lacking in empathy. Ah, that sounds good. Then again, these are qualities quite often associated with, well… teenagers. Adults are too mature to want to hear angsty music, all reactive and chaotic, aren’t they? Think again. Music rarely means much otherwise.
Anyway, Swedes are generally thought of as being inoffensive and, God forbid, gentle creatures- but I’m getting none of that from ‘extended pain’, the debut E.P from a band that is comprised of singer Marcus Lundquist (Grieved), guitarists Andreas Malm and Johan Liljeblad and drummer/producer Buster Odeholme. Maybe the cold Swedish climate offsets their innocence, maybe the name of the E.P. should be a hint. In any case the video for first track and single ‘grayout’ kicks any such sense right out of you. While self-hatred and fury is displayed, it has been honed and directed, with vengeance that is intensified by the creative skills of director, cinematographer and touring content creator Lucas Englund (Parkway Drive/ Normadie/ Architects). It’s definitely worth a watch, grabbing your attention the sound setting the hairs on your arms on edge. From the very start you are held. A screaming pain exacerbated by the chugging guitar and vocals, spat out and dripping with derision, create a picture of resentful resignation. Go on, dump me. I’m ready. Fuck it, fuck everything. My world just turns a little more gray.
‘fast forward’ (fucking auto-correct) was premiered on the Radio 1 Rock Show in the ÜK in November 2021, and no wonder. It’s a beast of a song even at a mere two minutes. Starting at pace, first the drums hit. Then the tone of the bass. It’s one of those where if you actually listen to the lyrics, it hits so much harder. The rhythm change into ‘‘This room is nothing but a prison cell, The walls are closing in, It was over before it even began’’ has you holding your breath.
By ‘new low’, released in February of this year, you have to have noticed the quality of the production, the rhythm is foul and the message brutal. About watching yourself decay. Somethings going to give. ‘dwell’, though short and sweet, still stands up and faces down. It has a sick switch in the vocal tone that made me go back and listen again.
The final track is new release ‘parasite’ and given the tone of ‘extended pain’, we knew it was coming. By now all sanity appears to be lost as thrown rile themselves up to chaotic pace switches and overlaid rhythms. Throw your head to this one, just don’t knock anyone out.
So there you have it, and if you still don’t believe the hype, thrown already find themselves touring as support for supergroup END in May 2022. Formed from members of Fit For An Autopsy, Counterparts and Misery Signals to name a few, safe to say they’re already going to grace the stage with punk veterans. Must be doing something right, despite all that self-doubt.
There’s something about thrown. Something low and dark and dirty. I like it. Watch out, they’re going to hit you in the face.
- ‘extended pain’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
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