Flame On! by Swedish instrumental noise rock duo Lindblom & Lindblom is a tightly wound noise rock rager, with a clear influence from the post-hardcore, math rock and weirdo punk scene of the 90’s, bands like Slint, Jesus Lizard and Don Caballero, but also more contemporary bands like Metz. The B-side is a slow building punk jam that plays out like a sprawling epic. Listen for yourself.
Flame On! is a tightly wound instrumental noise-rock banger. It’s one of the faster numbers on the album, and definitely the shortest and most direct. The two guitars playing the opening melody in loose unison over a disco beat that’s been run through the Touch & Go catalogue of the mid-90’s sets the tone as the song takes off and goes through parts of muted chugging and big open chords toplined by fluttering synthesizers before giving way to the B-side, The Dead Rail, a slow-building punk jam that plays out as a multi-part epic.
Comments the band:
Our new song Flame On! is built around a busy guitar line, played in loose unison by both guitars over a sort of hurried disco beat, and also features a fluttering synthesizer toplining the chorus, in as much as we have choruses in our songs. This was the first song we wrote for the album, and it ended up being the fastest one on there. The B-side is a slow-building punk jam that plays out as a sprawling epic going through a wide range of different moods and parts.
We tried to make the album a dynamic and vital collection of instrumental noise-rock songs, and recorded in such a way that it is enhanced by actively listening in good over-the-ear headphones to catch the layers of percussion, synthesizers, toy pianos and manipulated glockenspiel sprinkled throughout.
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ก๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐, ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ , ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ก๐ค๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ .
As brothers, we’ve been playing music together in one form or another forever. Starting with showing each other riffs of punk and hardcore bands on the couch in front of re-runs of sitcoms, to deciding to write original music and put a band together around that, to recording albums and also getting to play it live on stages every now and then. We originally attempted to have the music consist of just bass and drums (which is apparent on some songs on our first album), but soon realized that we both like to play guitar too much not to do it in the band also.
We released our debut album Sturm und Drang in 2014, on which we established a basic template of our sound, from the rhythmic riffing of Strom, via the duelling lead guitars on Weltschmerz to the feedback-drenched bass and drum track Durmstrang. For the follow-up, Obducenten & Allmรคnlรคkaren, we went more experimental and conceptual, recording two songs in three different versions, all designed to be played simultaneously as either or both of the other versions, creating a disorienting and overwhelming multi-dimensional experience when played on separate sound systems in the same room.
๐๐ โ๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ค ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐, ๐๐ข๐ก ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐โ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐ก๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐.
So weโre mainly trying to do our part, keeping good hygiene, not unnecessarily travelling and hoping that our music could make someoneโs time a little easier at this moment. The situation for musicians that rely on regular touring is undeniably a tough one. We can only hope that we all come out on the other side of this sooner rather than later. But people will continue to make music to process their thoughts and experiences, thatโs not going to change.
To celebrate their new music, we have teamed up tp give you a special Spotify playlist of influences and inspirations that will open your mind to new musical directions.
LINDBLOM & LINDBLOM โ FLAME ON! MIXTAPE
Lindblom & Lindblom โFlame On!โ – Flame On!, 2020
The first single from our second album! A tightly wound noise-rock rager built on a busy guitar melody played in loose unison by both guitars over a hurried disco beat. The shortest song on the album (well, I guess there is a shorter one, but thatโs kind of part of something else, youโll see) and one of the faster numbers.
Svenson โHรถgsta Prioritet โ Sista Anhaltโ – See You In Earth, 2002
In the early 2000โs, one of my main ways of discovering new music was staying up on Thursday nights listening to P3 Rock with Hรฅkan Persson. This song is one I learned about on that show, ordered the CD and 2โ4 weeks later I was surprised to learn that this was the only instrumental song. The whole album is cool, but this is hands down the best song on the album.
HUVET โElektrisk kandelaberโ – EP2, 2020
I almost wrote that this is a new band, but theyโve going for a couple of years now, releasing two EPโs so far. I think a third one is on the way alter this year or so? Old friends from our hometown, holding it down on the dumber end of weirdo noise-rock (weโre more on the smart-assy side of the noise-rock spectrum).
Glenn Branca โLesson No. 2โ – The Ascension, 1981
To say that Glenn Branca was ahead of his time is an understatement. The Ascension is a master class of combining no wave, noise, punk and math rock, and before pretty much anyone else did it. The two sequels released in 2010 and 2019 are excellent as well.
Uran GBG โStraalskadadโ – Uran, 2010
I donโt know anything about Uran GBG other than that they are from Gothenburg and that this album is awesome. I think theyโre still going? Are there fun facts about Uran GBG? Are you in Uran GBG? Let us know!
EL-SD โRepeating Patternsโ – Repeating Patterns, 2012
Very good friends making very good music. We miss you, Martin Senter.
Lindblom & Lindblom โSturmโ – Sturm und Drang, 2014
One of the first songs we wrote, and Iโm happy to report, still enjoy playing! We canโt have every song start with a lone bass line over a steady drum beat, but we wouldnโt mind if we did!
Rome Is Not A Town โBlood & Secretsโ – Blood and Secrets, 2016
When Rome Is Not A Town played Malmรถfestivalen 2019, this guy came up to me and said we should totally get in the pit and โstart a grunge fightโ. I couldnโt hear him too well over the music but he continued talking about โgrunge fightsโ he had been in earlier, the optimal venue settings for โgrunge fightsโ and decided the people in the audience wouldnโt be able to handle a โgrunge fightโ. After a while he leaned in again and blurted out that โgrunge sucksโ and disappeared into the night, leaving me both puzzled over what a โgrunge fightโ is, and a bit disappointed that I now had no way of finding out. โGrunge fightโ guy, if youโre reading this, let us know! Anyway, this song rules because of the extended instrumental part that goes for over half the song and just keeps on going. It is a highlight in their live set for me! Makes me want to start a โgrunge fightโ!
The Price Of Ink โAaโ – Kodak Supra, 2001
When we decided to start making music we said that we should sound like The Price of Ink, specifically the Lovesick LP. It is not on streaming services, so go look for it in the CD bin at your local Myrorna.
Care โNot Not, What Whatโ – Kassetten, 2015
I stumbled upon Care a few years ago and was delighted to discover that theyโre also based in Malmรถ. They do this particular indie-math-post-labyrinth-rock extremely well, and weโre looking forward to hearing the album I hope theyโre still working on.
Lindblom & Lindblom โThe Dead Railโ – Flame On!, 2020
Us again! The B-side from the Flame On! single. This is a slow building punk jam that plays out like a sprawling epic. Our attempt at writing Play it loudly!
Alarma Man โFell In Love With A Woman Twice My Sizeโ – Alarma Man, 2005
We first became aware of Alarma Man in 2003 when both they and Traktor played a show at a youth centre in Gislaved. I think we were outside when we heard that the next band had gone on stage, and as we made our way inside we were completely floored by the energy. Three guys wielding aluminum guitars all over the place, the drummer smoking cigarettes while playing. In other words, they had โitโ. I think they opened with this song that night. It is from their first, and only completely instrumental, album and it is great! Wait, Iโm probably conflating two memories. The smoking doesnโt sound like it would fly at a Swedish youth centre, more likely in Germany or possibly Switzerland.
Blonde Redhead โFuturism vs. Passรฉismโ – Fake Can Be Just As Good, 1997
Blonde Redhead has had so many signature sounds over the years, most of them being really great as well! But the early, more noisy, era and this album in particular is probably our shared favourite of theirs. The last one with a bassist!
Dialog Cet โNew (Ancient) Metalโ – Ny Metall, 2001
The turn of the millennium was a cool time for Swedish music. Maybe Iโm saying this because it was around this time I started going out to shows and was probably more excited to hear .
I keep forgetting how good this record is. Thereโs a lot of little intricacies and other stuff to be found in these winding song structures. Something new jumps out each time. Soundtrack to a long walk!
PJ Harvey โHookโ – Rid of Me, 1993
Super swampy riff on this song from maybe the best PJ Harvey Trio album. Note to self: write more swampy riffs!
Don Caballero โBelted Sweaterโ – Singles Breaking Up, 1999
Don Cabโs songwriting either goes completely overlong, unwieldy and off the rails (in a good way), or they keep it short and to the point. This song falls into the latter category and it rules!
Teleskรคrm โNo More Treesโ – Teleskรคrm, 2015
Marcus Sjรถberg is the genius sound technician who produces, records, mixes and masters our records. Without him we donโt sound good. This is his band with fellow multi-instrumentalist Mattias Greรฉn. Their album is expertly put together and should be known to everybody. Make another album, please!
Lindblom & Lindblom โObducentenโ – Obducenten & Allmรคnlรคkaren, 2017
A few years ago we were going to do a quick recording of two songs. The date we had originally booked didnโt work out in the end and it took a year to reschedule. In that time we accidentally wrote a bunch of alternate guitar lines for the songs and decided to record multiple versions that could be played simultaneously over one another. It ended up being a fun project and a good gimmick to frame the record with. This is the normal speed version of Obducenten. Set up a few speakers and see what happens if you play all of them.
The Festival of Dead Deer โThe Coming of Goingโ – The Many Faces of Mental Illness, 2001
Maybe one of the messiest bands to come out of the San Diego scene? Google the oral history for some incredible stories. Anyway, The Festival of Dead Deer are the best because they manage to write songs with weird drum beats and riffs with an unnecessary amount of notes within them, yet perform them with a tasteful sloppiness, I guess, making it all super cool.
Darkly โPain In Da Whaleโ – Just One More Flower Please Doctor, 2012
Johannes is a good friend and he makes this awesome music under the name Darkly. Sometimes with a band, sometimes just him in his home.
Soviac โOdiscoโ – Trux R Heavy, 2000
One-note riffs are super hard to write without falling into playing a lesser version of this one. This EP is pretty much perfect, the guitar tones are harsh and piercing, the drums are clear and snappy, the bass is heavy and the playing is the right combination of tightly locked-in and loose and sloppy in places. Wonderful!
ร be โTom Wasteโ – In 24 Years When Only Trash Has Survived, 2017
ร be taking it down a bit, doing their usual great bass and drum work. Maybe we should try taking things down a bit here and there. Making a note of that.
Ellis the Vacuumchild โSummershitty Songsโ – Peace by Extermination, 2005
Summersmithy Songs was a one-day festival in Eskilstuna that happened a couple times in the early 2000โs. Ellis played it one year, and I guess they had a good time there? Anyway, I dare you to listen to โSummershitty Songsโ and not feel the sun flooding out of the speakers.
Surmland Sound Science โWert: 19-19-19โ – The Second Thesis, 2019
Our friend Fredrik has been making some highly enjoyable krautrock lately. Keep your eyes on this!
Lindblom & Lindblom โDurmstrangโ – Sturm und Drang, 2014
This is for some reason our most popular song on streaming services. Maybe itโs because people are super into bass and drum songs with screaming guitar feedback over it? Or maybe itโs the Harry Potter reference in the title that draws them in. Either way, look forward to our next album โDumbledore Mumblecoreโ. Also this song, particularly the guitar playing, is fairly influenced byโฆ
Lou Reed โMetal Machine Music, Pt. 1โ – Metal Machine Music, 1975
โฆthis. The story you often hear is that this album is unlistenable or Lou Reedโs lazy way of fulfilling a contractual obligation and just making an album of nonsensical noise. But that is just said out of ignorance and probably without ever listening to the album. Sure, there are no traditional songs or melodies or whatever on here, but you can tell that it has been laboured over quite a bit. It is an album to put on in headphones and get lost in. Isnโt that what music is supposed to be doing?
