Apoptygma Berzerk

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Apoptygma Berzerk

Apoptygma Berzerk performing in Leipzig in 2004
Background information
Also known as APB, Apop
Origin Fredrikstad, Norway
Genres Electro-industrial/ EBM (early)
Electronic Rock (now)
Years active 1989–present
Labels Columbia Records
Tatra Productions
Gun Records
Metropolis Records
Website www.apoptygmaberzerk.de
Members
Stephan Groth
Former members
Geir Bratland
Fredrik Brarud
Audun Stengel (Angel)
Anders Odden
Jon Erik Martensen
Per Aksel Lundgreen
Fredrik Darum
Ted Skogmann
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 This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (April 2009)

Apoptygma Berzerk (commonly abbreviated to APB or Apop) is a Norwegian musical group. They have achieved success with a unique brand of upbeat, danceable synthpop, and haunting ballads backed with electronic rhythms, winning awards and top-10 spots in Germany and Scandinavia. Apoptygma Berzerk has toured Europe, North America, Australia and Israel with bands such as VNV Nation, Beborn Beton and Icon of Coil.

The name "Apoptygma Berzerk" either has a secret meaning or does not mean anything, depending on which interview you read. Front-man and original member Stephan Groth claims that it was randomly picked out of a dictionary (apoptygma being deived from the Ancient Greek word ἀπόπτυγμα meaning "piece of drapery"). The band's name is pronounced a-pop-tig-ma.

The band was formed by Groth and Jon Erik Martinsen in 1989. They recorded a few demos, including Victims of Mutilation. Jon Erik left the band shortly afterwards feeling uncomfortable with the direction of the band's music.

Contents

[edit] Members

  • Stephan Groth (Grothesk) – Vocals, programming, guitars and everything 1989 - present

[edit] Former members

  • Geir Bratland – Keyboard, backing vocals 1995 - 2009
  • Fredrik Brarud – Drums 2002 - 2009
  • Audun Stengel (Angel) – Guitar 2002 - 2009
  • Anders Odden – Guitar 1992 - 1999/ 2003 - 2006
  • Jon Erik Martensen – Keyboard 1989
  • Per Aksel Lundgreen – Keyboard/manager 1991–1994
  • Fredrik Darum – Producer, live guitarist 1999–2001.
  • Ted Skogmann – Drums and guitar 1999–2002

[edit] Other collaborators

  • Vegard Blomberg of "View"
  • Pål Magnus Rybom of "Echo Image"
  • Jonas Groth - Stephan's brother
  • Benji Madden of "Good Charlotte"

[edit] Style

The first two albums, Soli Deo Gloria and 7 were a similar style of electropop and EBM. Welcome to Earth included a few tracks that sound experimental, getting away from the band's roots slightly. Harmonizer featured a softer, more synthpop-oriented direction when compared to previous albums, and their 2007 album, You and Me Against the World, represented an almost complete change in style for the band. It featured a more mainstream, Indie rock-oriented sound, and the complete departure from the band's traditional electric synthpop and EBM roots that started with 7.

Many albums feature a hidden track that can be accessed by fast forwarding through many minutes of silence on the last album track. For instance, on 7, one can hear a remix of Nonstop Violence after Love Never Dies (Part II).

The band also features cover songs on several of their albums. For example, on the American version of 7 a cover of OMD's "Electricity" is featured; similarly, on Welcome to Earth, the band has a cover of Metallica's "Fade to Black". You and Me Against the World has a cover of "Cambodia" by Kim Wilde and "Shine On" by House Of Love. They have also made a cover of Depeche Mode's Enjoy the Silence, Keane's Bend And Break, Kraftwerk's Ohm Sweet Ohm and Marilyn Manson's "Coma White". With the release of latest album Rocket Science apop still going on the rock vibe while keeping close with synthpop sound like its predecessor YAMATW. the band is currently on The Rocket Science Tour promoting the album with the track Apollo (Live On Your TV) the first single.

Apoptygma Berzerk's newest single "Green Queen" will hit the stores this Friday November 13, the track is taken from their latest album Rocket Science. The band has compiled an EP rather than a single, with remixes of "Green Queen" and a remix of "Apollo"

[edit] Line up changes

In July 2009 Angel, Geir and Fredrik departed from the Apoptygma Berzerk lineup. The coming tour in the USA is going to happen with a yet unknown lineup along with only remaining member, Stephan Groth.

In August 2009, Brandon Smith (frontman from the electronic rock band The Anix) confirms that he will be joining the band on guitar for the US and Canada legs of the upcoming tour. source- www.theanix.com

Brandon writes on the forum saying, "this is just going to be a test run type of tour, to see how well Apop does in the US, Canada, and South America. I will be playing guitar for them on this tour."

On September 3, 2009, Stephan wrote on the official site:

After we let you know that Geir, Angel and Fredrik are going to have a break from APOP many of you have written us, asking who is going to join Stephan on the US tour in September, so here is the news, directly from Stephan himself:

"I am very proud to announce that my brother Jonas is going to play keyboards on the US tour", Stephan says. "Over the years Jonas has been a part of APOP's inner circle. He has been producing, arranging, remixing, and recording together with me on all APOP albums since "WELCOME TO EARTH". Jonas has also been co-writing several APOP songs and, most important, has been my "vocal coach" the last many years. Im sure you all remember his amazing acoustic version of UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD that was featured on the HARMONIZER/UNICORN DVD, the BLACK EP and the soundtrack for the German movie "Lauf Um Dein Leben" in 2008."

"Thomas Jakobsen, who has been Fredrik's "stand in" on several APOP shows, is going to play drums on the America tour. Thomas is an amazing drummer who has been (and still is) playing in some of the most interesting and edgy Norwegian bands over the years, eg. Bermuda Triangle, Zensor and Mortiis. Last time Thomas was in the US he was playing the SXSW convention in Texas after recording the ground breaking debut album "Pheromones" at Sylvia Massey's RADIOSTAR studio in Oregon, with his previous band ANIMAL ALPHA."

"Brandon Smith from The Anix will be playing guitar. I met Brandon earlier this year when The Anix supported APOP on the European ROCKET SCIENCE tour. When I was first introduced to the band I was so impressed with their songs that I immediately asked them to support us on our European tour. After seeing The Anix live, I was blown away by Brandon's voice and guitar playing, that's why he was the first person popping into my mind when seeking a guitarist for September. We collaborated on some new Anix songs while I was in the states in spring, in preparation for their next album. Brandon has produced and written with some of the most well respected music industry legends, and is no stranger to the stage after sharing it with bands including but not limited to MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, 30 SECONDS TO MARS, CHEVELLE and many others."

"I just wanted to give you all a quick update before we fly out tomorrow! Very excited to see you all again!"

[edit] Discography

[edit] Demos

[edit] Full-length studio albums

[edit] Live albums

[edit] Compilation albums

[edit] Singles

  • Ashes to Ashes 12" (1991)
  • Bitch (1993)
  • Deep Red (1994)
  • Non Stop Violence (1995)
  • Paranoia (1998)
  • Eclipse (1999)
  • Kathy's Song (2000)
  • Kathy's Song 12" I. (2000)
  • Kathy's Song 12" II. (2000)
  • Until the End of the World I. (2002)
  • Until the End of the World II. (2002)
  • Until the End of the World Vinyl (2002)
  • Suffer in Silence (2002)
  • Suffer in Silence Trance Remixes (2002)
  • Suffer in Silence 12" (2002)
  • In This Together (2005)
  • Shine On (2006)
  • Love to Blame (2006)
  • Cambodia (2006)
  • Apollo (Live On Your TV) (2009)
  • Green Queen (2009)

[edit] DVDs and VHS

  • APBL2000 (2001)
  • The Harmonizer DVD (2004)

[edit] Side projects

  • Germ, Ice Eyes on the Stretch (intro) (1992) (One track released on "Sex, Drugs & EBM" compilation. The track was made with Cadaver guitarist Anders Odden.)
  • Germ, 3-track Ultra Limited Demo (Cassette only – 10 numbered and signed copies)
  • TB-Moonchild, Divine Penetration [CDS] (1994) ("Hard hitting monotony trance")
  • H2O, Dre:amseller [CDS] (1994) ("Chilled out trance/ambient" with Geir Bratland)
  • H2O, Fahrenheit [CDS] (1995)
  • Acid Queen, Bing [EP] (1995)
  • Acid Queen, Tranzania (1998) (DJ Applepie (Christian Grimshei), contributions from Jon Erik Martinsen)
  • Total Transformation, In Thru Out (1996) ("techno/trance")
  • Bruderschaft, Forever [CDS] (2003) (Futurepop dreamteam with DJ Rexx Arkana, Ronan Harris of VNV Nation, Sebastian Komor of Icon of Coil and Joakim Montelius of Covenant)
  • Fairlight Children, Before You Came Along [MCD] (2004)
  • Fairlight Children, 808 Bit (2004)
  • The Kovenant, which Angel joined in 2000, and Geir Bratland in 2003.
  • Magenta – Anders Odden's other band.

[edit] Projects from former members

  • Angst Pop – Ødipus Rex and Panic At T.C.F. (CD on "Sex, Drugs & EBM Sampler) 1992 (former APB keyboardist Per Aksel Lundgreen)
  • Angst Pop – Ødipus Rex (Video Version) CD on "Melt Compilation" 1994 (former APB keyboardist Per Aksel Lundgreen)
  • Angst Pop – Viva Ta Vie CD on "Electronic Youth Vol. 3" 1994 (former APB keyboardist Per Aksel Lundgreen)
  • Cronos Titan, Brides of Christ CD (1995) (former APB keyboardist Per Aksel Lundgreen)
  • Cronos Titan, The Gregoraveian EP [EP] (1996) (former APB keyboardist Per Aksel Lundgreen)
  • Chinese Detectives – Situation CD-single 1995 (former APB keyboardist Per Aksel Lundgreen)
  • Chinese Detectives – Where Do The Boys Go? CD-single 1995 (former APB keyboardist Per Aksel Lundgreen)
  • Chinese Detectives – You Think You're A Man CD-Single 1996 (former APB keyboardist Per Aksel Lundgreen)
  • Chinese Detectives – Hit That Perfect Beat CD-Single Promo Only 1999 (former APB keyboardist Per Aksel Lundgreen)
  • Chinese Detectives – Are Kisses Out Of fashion? CD 1999 (former APB keyboardist Per Aksel Lundgreen)
  • Sweep, Sweepeepee (1997) (Jon Erik Martinsen)
  • Sweep, Emptiness, Your Loneliness (2001) (Jon Erik Martinsen)
  • Sweep, Miss You (2002) (Jon Erik Martinsen)
  • Sweep, Two Players (2003) (Jon Erik Martinsen)

Sources: apoptygmaberzerk.de,eyeliners.org, the berzerk web, and the official German fanpage.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Apoptygma Berzerk
Stephan Groth · Geir Bratland · Angel Stengel · Anders Odden · Fredrik Brarud
Former members
Demos
Studio Albums
Live Albums
Compilation Albums
Record Labels
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