There‰’s something going on in Scandinavia and 2013 has seen this to its fullest.åÊ While the Iceage-lead punk/DIY scene of Copenhagen would argue their dominance, miles north is home to Sweden‰’s pride: Holograms.åÊ With noticeable difference from their comrades (Lust for Youth, Sexdrome, VAR), Hologram‰’s profound emphasis on synths grabbed the attention of Brooklyn based label Captured Tracks early.åÊ A 7‰” and two albums later, Holograms have effectively diversified the 80‰’s-revivalists roster.åÊ But their 2013 release, Forever, is as argumentative as it is sentimental; as Holograms returned from tours in complete poverty, their priorities of a band shifted from starving artist to simply starving.åÊ In Forever, Holograms move away from the desperate nationalism of their self-titled for an accepted vision of the impoverished nature of their home; Forever unconditionally perfects the aesthetics of anger.

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But while Iceage‰’s You‰’re Nothing easily made punk charts of 2013, Hologram‰’s American reputation is still debatable.åÊ Until their late 2013 North American tour, Holograms passively sat second to Elias Ronnenfelt‰’s cult status.åÊ But pack a couple stale American clubs with smoke machines, three yelling vocalists, and an epileptic light show and you have quite a foreign experience.åÊ That was the surrounding premise behind the Holograms/ TV Ghost (In The Red) December show: loud, intense, and heavy.

Holograms found the repressed, finals-stricken crowd of DC9 a suitable audience.åÊ Parkas on, Holograms played a set heavily focused on their latest release.åÊ By this, they necessarily skipped early classics such as “You Are Ancient (Sweden‰’s Pride)‰” and “Hidden Structures.‰ÛåÊ But a majority of Forever was well represented and sounded loud but precise.åÊ The highlights were the classic synth repetition “Chasing My Mind,‰” the raw emotionless “Luminous,‰” and Forever anthem “Flesh and Bone.‰Û

Representative of their live acts, Holograms haven‰’t slowed down on their second release.åÊ This second attempt not only marks a significant reach by the Scandinavian punk scene, but also shows the inevitable progression of wasted youth; they return more aggressive and more exposed.åÊ The Bouguereau painting that Holograms plagiarize as their cover appeals to few.åÊ It is uncannily crude and gothic.åÊ But its meaning ‰ÛÒ derived from the naked figure‰’s morbid struggle ‰ÛÒ is traced back to the desperate roots of Holograms.åÊ Forever is an impoverished album conclusive of the collective attempts of Scandinavian comradery.

For more on Holograms check them out here.