MYRORNAS KRIG

One of the strangest and most demanding bands to have existed in the Swedish prog scene, MYRBEIN (means Ant Bone in the band's local Yamtska dialect) was formed in the city of Östersund which sits somewhat in the very middle of the map in Sweden. This band existed from 1977 to 1991 and originated as the trio of Anders Lönnkvist on drums, Johan von Sydow on bass and Bo Lindberg on guitar and keyboard. MYRBEIN began simply as a cover band that indulged in "Larks' Tongues In Aspic" era King Crimson as well as other prog bands but would become competent enough to craft its own demanding prog workouts. The band was heavily influenced by not only King Crimson but fellow Swedes Samla Mammas Manna, Frank Zappa and Henry Cow as well as a steady diet of Canterbury and zeuhl influences.

In 1979 Mats Krouthen (piano, organ, clarinet) joined the the band which officially became a quartet for the rest of its existence. MYRBEIN began to play live and performed three times in Stockholm as well as an appearance in Sundsvall but never engaged in a proper tour. In 1981 MYRBEIN released its one and only album MYORNAS KRIG (The War Of Ants) which was recorded in Östersund and then broadcast on Tonkraft (Sveriges Radio P3). The band's experimental excesses were too much for many to take and these guys have been referred to as the earliest Swedish math rock proggers for their incessant knotty angularities that punctuate otherwise accessible progressive rock motifs. The album originally was only released with 1000 copies pressed making the original vinyl one of those sought after collectibles but the album found a 1993 CD reissue and is now available digitally as well.

The album features eleven wild and unpredictable tracks that taken on all the aforementioned influences and then some. Apparent are the Swedish circus music moments that were made popular by Samla Mammas Manna but the band delivered many moments of King Crimson angular guitar dissonance as well as crazy keyboard runs. It's fair to say that the band did an excellent job of coalescing all its influences into its own little slice of prog heaven. The nerdy abstractness of Henry Cow with the heavier prog of KC along with circus music, symphonic prog and adventurous quirky math rock jitteriness has made this band a true cult legend for its bold and unapologetic roller coaster ride through moody darkness and back to a more upbeat day at the carnival. The band was also notable for its self-deprecating lyrical output although exclusively in the Swedish language thus taking a cue from Zappa and Canterbury whimsy.

MYORNAS KRIG is truly a wild ride as it's utterly unpredictable in its direction. The track "Ur spår!" is the perfect example. It begins as moody dark dreadful, then jumps into some sort of 60s pop song and then a raucous keyboard attack before hairpin turning into a highly syncopated art rock extravaganza. The entire album is chock filled with one surprise after another which is a boon to many but a bane to those of us who crave these brutal prog expressions that don't give a flying fuck about commercial aspirations. After the release of the album the band attempted a tour but after a mere four appearances the band began to disintegrate and soon broke up. There was a short reunion around Christmas 1985 where they played at a local ANC-aid concert in Östersund but would never reunite after that. Overall this is one of the most adventurous albums to come out of the early 1980s Swedish underground and an enjoyable companion piece to lovers of bands like Kultivator. A must for those seeking out the most adventurous musical expressions in the world of progressive rock.