I spent much of 2008 semi-coherently raving about how Afgrund may be the new Nasum, but the band’s sophomore slab and Willowtip debut, Vid Helvetets Grindar, tells me I was catastrophically wrong. Afgrund may very well be Sweden’s answer to Kill the fucking Client. The Nasum influence still looms (particularly in the Miezko/Anders-style vocal tradeoffs), but Afgrund (now trimmed to a...Read More

Afgrund’s debut Svarta Dagar was a ripping piece of textbook Scandinavian grindcore, and despite its obvious influence from more established bands, was one of the most promising releases of 2007 for me. I remember thinking back then that adding more of their own stylistic touch to their excellent existing sound could really elevate the band’s status in their genre, and two years later...Read More

Apparently, the Swedish grind/death tank isn't empty yet because here comes another solid Swedish grind album called "Vid Helvetets Grindar" by a savage little trio called AFGRUND. I guess that should surprise no one, as Willowtip knows how to pick 'em. Rarely are poor choices made, so expectations are always high for new label releases. The easy thing to proclaim is that if you like...Read More

The aspect of Sweden’s Afgrund I like the most is their ability to lay down an infectious hook, forcing one to either nod or bang their head in agreement. Sure, the thick, meaty sound of Vid Helvetets Grindar (or, At the Gates of Hell) is great, as is the musicianship, but give me a groove like the one from 0:40-1:03 in ‘No One Gives a Fuck Anymore’ and I’m good. This,...Read More