#1: “A bag full of memories”
– BREACH –

This is my first article for CVLT Nation. I’m stoked to be part of this now. As a European citizen I will try to bring articles on European bands that deserve attention. Not only brand new ones, but the essential ones. This is a very subjective matter, but maybe I match your taste at some point. Who knows. In case you don’t know: my name is Ralph and I sing and play guitar in a band called PLANKS. This very band has been compared to a bunch of others. Some of them actually were some sort of influence on our work, others weren’t. The one that matters most and thankfully a bunch of people could hear that: BREACH. And yes, to me, they are indeed THE most important and influential heavy band of all times.

Founded in Luleå, Sweden in 1993, they started out as a regular hardcore band playing a mix of old-school and the soon to be popular new-school/mosh hardcore. They joined the roster of BURNING HEART records along with bands such as MILLENCOLIN, SATANIC SURFERS, REFUSED, ABHINANDA etc. By that time, bands on the label either sounded like Sick Of It All or NoFX. You could already hear what later on in their career became a trademark of Breach-sound: the bass as the most significant instrument alongside the significant vocals.

Sometime between 95-97 a “wind of change” found it’s way to the Swedish scene. A shift away from a narrow frame given by a scene unwilling to progress. The result were outstandingly creative acts with scene-defining records. The most important three of them (in my opinion) being:

1) ABHINANDA (their Album “The Rumble” saw them taking on Turbonegro-esque Deathpunk and
adding intellectual flavor with highest musical ability)

2) REFUSED (who started their reign with “Songs to Fan the Flame of Discontent” to manifest a prototype of what hardcore eventually became with “The Shape of Punk to Come”)
and…well…

3) BREACH

Breach were often compared to NEUROSIS and ENTOMBED. I always wondered why. The simple answer must be another question: “Who should you compare them to?”. There simply isn’t any band that ever sounded like this. Neurosis might come to your mind because of the drumming, but where Neurosis had this tribal drums going, Breach had a very distinct, special sort of drumming close to those rhythms, but played by one drummer. It can’t be the “darkness”, because let’s be honest: When was Neurosis really “dark”? Esoterical yes, but dark? Breach had a death punk kind of uptempo part now and then, but unlike Entombed. So again: Which band could you compare it to? There simply is none.

Over the years and through their EPs and records Breach formed and transformed their style. With their 1999 full-length “Venom” they claimed their face and became everything Breach is, in retrospect. Dark, gloomy, groove ridden, open structures, a bass and drum foundation with great vocals and matching lyrics.

The records had a minor impact on any scene they dealt with. In their history of f falling behind what Refused did, Breach never got the acknowledgment they deserved. Like Refused, Breach were “in between chairs” (a German saying) and hard to categorize, but Refused had the haircuts and the message going, so everybody fell for them. Don’t get me wrong, I still think that “Shape of Punk…” is a fantastic record, but they became role models. The cool Hardcore kids disliked Breach for their complexity, for the Doomsters they were too Hardcore and for Metalheads they may have looked too regular. Who knows. Fact is, they had a base of committed fans, but lacked brighter attention. Maybe more of a blessing than a curse.

Anyways. “Venom” found a US release on RELPASE and had promotional video for “Diablo” that had airtime on MTVs “Headbangers Ball” or the, by that time worthwhile, Metal TV Show called “Metalla” on VIVA TV (Germanys answer to MTV).

After they found their face they recorded the “Godbox” EP. I will get to that in a second. But first, the end: “Kollapse”. Their final record . It came out in 2003 and only saw a CD release in very unsaying packaging. Still it was the completion of their task and transformation. It was perfection. They dared even more, played with sounds and vocals. You even hear Thomas Hallborm imitate wolves cries. Unbelievable. 9 Minute instrumentals change into 2:30 Minute death rock neckbreakers. At this point it is hard for me to find the right words to describe it. One needs to hear to believe. When this record came out, it literally changed everything for me. Looking back I think for 6months this record was the only heavy record I listened to, day in – day out. I won’t talk more about this milestone, because I want to encourage everybody to get this record if possible.
Yes, it is THAT DAMN GOOD!

They broke up shortly after the release of “Kollapse”. In 2007 as gift for a wedding of a friend they decided to perform one song (“Deadheads”) at the corresponding party. See it here:

On that day the band decided to play that “Final Show” they never played. The idea was there prior to the wedding, but then it was official. On December 6th of 2007 they played a last show in Stockholm, Sweden. I still hate myself that I couldn’t be there.

After their demise various projects came to life. Guest vocals or guest musiciansships on other records (for example for The Ocean from Germany) took place. But no real band that came as an aftermath until 2011 saw the release of TERRA TENEBROSAs “The Tunnels”. Feat. founding members of Breach it took the whole approach to another level. It lacks the trademark vocals but you can still hear to a 100% the roots of the protagonists. It is the first proper record for people that love(d) Breach for all they were. The record was released by TRUST NO ONE Records/Sweden and APOCAPLEXY Records/Germany and is still available on CD and Vinyl.

Now back to that missing “link”: GODBOX.

Breach found themselves in a final state of metamorphosis between “Venom” and “Kollapse”. In 2002 they released this 5 song EP on German label CHROME SAINT MAGNUS. 5 Songs recorded after they found their true face and before they reached perfection. A bridge and a transition, a thing of beauty. Like Kafka’s Gregor Samsa a day before he accepted his destiny. The 5 songs show a torn Breach, unsure where to head to: Back to the roots or further away from their last state. You find all the parts you want to hear from Breach, yet it sets a strange mood and therefore a very intense record. It starts with weird noises and woman screaming. The drums kick in, this gnarly bass, this groove, these melodies. Audible darkness, 98% darker than most Black Metal bands claim to be. The important thing: This is unique, untouched by cliches and timeless.

All Breach releases are sought after items. Even the CDs bring shitloads of money on eBay and Discogs. Now, on this very day, January the 13th of 2012, the almost impossible comes back to life: GODBOX sees a re-release on Vinyl. APOCAPLEXY Records wrote lots of mails, checked legal agreements, contacted all original members and labels to come to this point: A vinyl reissue of this gem in a remastered version. In cooperation with SERENE Records (www.serenerecords.net) from Sweden APOCAPLEXY brings “Godbox” remastered and available for the first time on ltd. 180gr. Vinyl. 500 copies. 200 on clear vinyl with special packaging, 300 on black. Feat. new artwork by original Breach artist Pierre Johansson. Screenprinted art, clear coat special print on top. This is this thing of beauty I spoke about.

If you want to score your copy don’t miss this one-off chance and head over to:
Apocaplexyclick one RED!

Here you can listen to the whole EP. Note: These are the original versions, not the remasterd.

I think this text here hardly shows how much this band means to me. I feel fortunate I can say “I was there” when Breach happened. I am sorry to say I never saw them live. You should feel happy in case you haven’t had the chance to check this unbelievable band, because you won’t find things as unique as this very often these days. Go find their releases on blogs, download, listen, love or buy it, if you can.

Eps:
− Outlines. (1994)
− Godbox. (2002)

Full-Length:
− Friction (1995)
− It’s Me God (1997)
− Venom (1999)
− Kollapse (2001)

Web:
http://www.burningheart.com/bands/index.php?id=136
http://www.relapse.com/label/artist/breach.html?show=biography
http://www.creative-eclipse.com/file/interviews26.htm