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Apoptygma Berzerk

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Apoptygma Berzerk

Apoptygma Berzerk 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 (abbreviated to APB or Apop) 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 an old Greek word 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.

Members

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

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

Other collaborators

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

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.

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.

Discography

Demos

Full-length studio albums

Live albums

Compilation Albums

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)
  • Green Queen Promo (2008)
  • Apollo (Live On Your TV) (2009)

DVDs and VHS

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

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.

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.

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