When the infamous 2004 tsunami claimed Mieszko Talarczyk’s life, one of the key figures of the hardcore punk/grind scene was tragically silenced forever. On one hand, Nasum could no longer continue its existence, while on the other, golden-value bands like Genocide Superstars and Krigshot were left orphaned. In the case of Krigshot—which, funnily enough, was born from a Mob 47 song—it's fair to say they were one of the deadliest weapons launched by Stockholm’s underground hardcore/grindcore movement into Sweden and the world. With Nasum’s late vocalist Mieszko Talarczyk and drummer Anders Jakobson (also an occasional Nasum member) in the lineup, Och Hotet Kvarstår (“And the Threat Remains”) 7" EP strikes like a hammer to the head with a barrage of old-school HC, anarcho punk, grindcore, and thrash. It's a fast and furious expression of political rage and fury against a broken, dictatorial system—leaving a short and shocking impact like a sudden punch to the face.
Tracklist:
Fredsavtal/Fredsfördrag
Spöad (Av Snuten)
Krossa Eliten
Världspolitiken Är Åt Helvete
Knullad Av Knarket
Inför Valet I Östtimor
Förvisad Ut I Skiten
Outro
This EP, released in 1999 by the legendary label Sound Pollution—also known for releasing records by Massgrav, Assück, Uncurbed, G-anx, Spazz, and many more—contains 8 tracks. The original Soundlab Studios session in Örebro actually yielded 12 songs, but 4 of them were contributed to a label compilation, leaving 8 on this record. None of the tracks exceed two minutes, and in terms of rawness, it's exactly what you’d expect: an unpolished, outrageous wall of sound.
With just three members—Talarczyk on vocals, Jallo on guitar and bass, and Jakobson on drums—Krigshot once again proves just how much noise a trio can make. The shrill, uncut guitars, brutal hardcore/thrashy riffs soaked in the Swedish tradition, machine-gun d-beat drums keeping a consistent barrage throughout, and filthy, screaming grind vocals all combine to create an anarcho-noise cocktail perfect for maximum moshpit carnage. Jakobson’s furious drumming, already known from his work in Nasum, is once again a highlight.
The 16-second opener Fredsavtal – Fredsfördrag is more than an intro—it’s a wildly fast-paced blast of rage aimed at the façade of diplomatic peace treaties and their ineffectiveness. The following Spöad (Av Snuten)—a 45-second grind eruption in classic brutal hardcore fashion—channels pure fury at police brutality. Krossa Eliten is equally relentless, a punch in the face of dictators, corporate overlords, and the rich elite that torment humanity.
Tracks like Världspolitiken är åt Helvete—filled with sharp riffs and a mix of d-beat and raw grind—deliver scorching anger at global political games. Knullad av Knarket hurls furious riffs and breakneck speed at the issue of drug abuse. Inför Valet i Östtimor references the historic 1999 elections in East Timor following years of Indonesian genocide. It features a classic '80s Swedish hardcore-style solo and doesn’t break the record’s aggressive and suffocating atmosphere. Interestingly, the final track Outro stands out by slowing things down. At 1:41, it’s the longest song on the EP and features the record’s most memorable main riff and drum/guitar interplay—still raw, still Krigshot, but with a heavier, more deliberate pace.
As we entered the 2000s, Och Hotet Kvarstår was a brutal reminder that the energy of the '80s hadn’t gone anywhere. With raw old-school HC punk, d-beat aggression, and early thrashy grindcore viciousness, it’s an anti-everything masterpiece that never slows down and wastes not a single second. A Krigshot classic through and through—and one that anyone into real underground political hardcore absolutely must hear. And in truth, this applies to all of Krigshot’s discography.