Umeå hardcore
Encyclopedia
Umeå hardcore is hardcore punk
from Umeå
, a city in northern Sweden
. During the 1990s, the influence of Umeå hardcore punk bands such as Final Exit
, Step Forward
, Refused
and Doughnuts led to the growth of Umeå's hardcore scene. Also significant were the number of straight edge
groups.
During this time, local record companies emerged, including Umeå Hardcore Records. Several of Umeå's hardcore bands were noticed on the international scene, and many toured in Europe and in the United States. This led several hardcore bands from other countries to consider Umeå as a key player in the genre. The New York hardcore
band Biohazard
, at the time seen as a leading band within the genre, started their 1997 European tour in Umeå. Billy Graziadei of Biohazard said:
Veganism
, such as expressed by the band Doughnuts is distinctive of the Umeå scene. It is related to the straight edge movement, which grew in Umeå since the hardcore scene emerged. Many participants in the scene joined or formed protest groups, and some turned to the animal rights
movement. In a series of actions which ranged from firebombings of meat industry facilities to death threats against university employees involved in animal testing
, the radical activists brought a lot of media attention to the scene.
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
from Umeå
Umeå
- Transport :The road infrastructure in Umeå is well-developed, with two European highways passing through the city. About 4 km from the city centre is the Umeå City Airport...
, a city in northern Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. During the 1990s, the influence of Umeå hardcore punk bands such as Final Exit
Final Exit (band)
Final Exit was a Swedish hardcore punk band witch originating from Umeå, Sweden, formed in 1994. The band was a side project made up by the members of Refused and Abhinanda. The band existed from 1994 and broke up in 1997.- History :...
, Step Forward
Step Forward
Step Forward was founded in 1989 in Umeå, Sweden, by Dennis Lyxzén and his friends, Toft Stade, Jens Norden and Henrik Jansson. Step Forward was one of the very first hardcore punk bands in Sweden that held on to the American straight edge lifestyle....
, Refused
Refused
Refused was a Swedish hardcore punk band originating from Umeå, Sweden, formed in 1991. In total the band released five EPs and three albums, before splitting up in 1998...
and Doughnuts led to the growth of Umeå's hardcore scene. Also significant were the number of straight edge
Straight edge
Straight edge is a subculture of hardcore punk whose adherents refrain from using alcohol, tobacco, and other recreational drugs. It was a direct reaction to the sexual revolution, hedonism, and excess associated with punk rock. For some, this extends to not engaging in promiscuous sex, following a...
groups.
During this time, local record companies emerged, including Umeå Hardcore Records. Several of Umeå's hardcore bands were noticed on the international scene, and many toured in Europe and in the United States. This led several hardcore bands from other countries to consider Umeå as a key player in the genre. The New York hardcore
New York hardcore
New York hardcore refers to hardcore punk and metalcore music created in New York City and to the subculture associated with that music. New York hardcore grew out of the hardcore scene established in Washington, D.C., by bands such as Bad Brains and Minor Threat. Hardcore '81 is an album by the...
band Biohazard
Biohazard (band)
Biohazard is a band originally based in Brooklyn, New York. They are acknowledged as one of the earliest bands to fuse hardcore punk and heavy metal with elements of hip hop. The original lineup consisted of Vocalist/Guitarist Billy Graziadei, bassist/vocalist Evan Seinfeld, guitarist Bobby Hambel,...
, at the time seen as a leading band within the genre, started their 1997 European tour in Umeå. Billy Graziadei of Biohazard said:
Umeå is the hardcore capital of Europe. We love the place. I think the bands in Umeå believe in what they sing more than in any other place in the world. And then I'm not just thinking about the Straight Edge bands like Refused, Doughnuts and Final Exit. There is an honesty in the music here that is known in the whole world. They know what they want.
Veganism
Veganism
Veganism is the practice of eliminating the use of animal products. Ethical vegans reject the commodity status of animals and the use of animal products for any purpose, while dietary vegans or strict vegetarians eliminate them from their diet only...
, such as expressed by the band Doughnuts is distinctive of the Umeå scene. It is related to the straight edge movement, which grew in Umeå since the hardcore scene emerged. Many participants in the scene joined or formed protest groups, and some turned to the animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
movement. In a series of actions which ranged from firebombings of meat industry facilities to death threats against university employees involved in animal testing
Animal testing
Animal testing, also known as animal experimentation, animal research, and in vivo testing, is the use of non-human animals in experiments. Worldwide it is estimated that the number of vertebrate animals—from zebrafish to non-human primates—ranges from the tens of millions to more than 100 million...
, the radical activists brought a lot of media attention to the scene.