Album review: Borgerlig Begravning “Gör Vad Du Vill”
Borgerlig Begravning pays respect to the original Swedish punk rockers of the 70s and 80s on its terrific new album. The teenagers build on the past to create punk music for today.
Sweden has a proud tradition of shout-along poppy punk rock. The formation of the domestic Swedish punk scene can be traced back to 1977 when the Sex Pistols and the Ramones both toured Sweden. The two legendary punk bands had a material impact on the local youth. That same year, the two heavyweights of the first wave of Swedish punk, Ebba Grön and KSMB, formed in Stockholm’s suburbs. Since then, the Swedish punk scene has continued to produce some excellent punk rock bands, including Asta Kask, Attentat, Grisen Skriker, Dia Psalma, Strebers, Charta 77, Coca Carola, The Kristet Utseende and my personal favourites, Köttgrottorna. The Swedish punk scene soon spilt in two – the poppy punk rock which housed the most bands, but also an excellent hardcore scene with bands such as Totalitär, Rövsvett and Mob 47. Borgerlig Begravning is part of the latest wave of great Swedish punk bands of the poppy punk rock kind where catchiness is combined with in-your-face social commentary. Borgerlig Begravning, whose line-up consists of teenage brothers Eddie Rudström (guitar) and Frans Rudström (drums) and their even younger cousin Julian Rudström (bass). The band was formed in Uppsala, Sweden at the end of 2018 at a time when none of the Rudström boys had even turned 16.
For someone who likes Swedish style punk rock, “Gör Vad Du Vill”, the band’s debut full-length studio album, is a welcome addition to the old classics. Songs such as “Pengar”, “Herregud”, “Dum”, “Kapten Knogjärn”, “Ju Mera Man Har” and, not least, the exquisite “Superhjälte”, earn this young band a place bang in the middle of the high-energy Swedish punk scene. They may not have been born when punk first invaded Sweden, but they sure as hell know their punk history and Asta Kask discography. Now they are busy claiming their own place in Swedish punk history with some excellent fresh punk rock.
Borgerlig Begravning’s new album “Gör Vad Du Vill” is out now via Wild Kingdom Records/Sound Pollution Distribution.
