ALARM! - This is NOT a Test ! (Sweden - HardCore - Interview with Gareth & Henrik).

Hello ! Can you introduce yourself and tell us how it all began for you - your encounter with this musical universe, what appealed to you, what fascinated you and what made you want to get into music?
Gareth: It started for me when I was young, like 10 years old. My dad was a huge music fan and had loads of LPs at home. Stones, Beatles etc.. But even Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd. Growing up obsessed with football (I’m English), all of sudden my dad’s records just started speaking to me. And like that I was obsessed. Just all of a sudden music went right into my bones, like a feeling. And I couldn’t be without it. Then some friends at school introduced me to Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax etc when I was about 12, and at 13 I started  my first band. I’ve been in bands ever since.
Henrik: I only remember connecting for real with music when punk and hardcore entered my life. I guess I was around 11-12 years old when Suicidal Tendencies and Ramones were my favourites. Me and my friends had actual fights arranged around the time to establish if Ramones or ST were the best band in the world. I was team ST, but I probably lost the fight. I started skateboarding around that time, my older brother got me into it, and then the music followed. I joined my first band when I was 13 years old. I was hanging out with my friends who were looking for a singer, and I just said that I could sing. That was Kalle from Outlast, and a year or so later Jon joined. From there it evolved into listening to Dead Kennedys, Bad Religion and later Minor Threat and Gorilla Biscuits, and we started playing hardcore. Outlast broke up in 1999, and played maybe 10 shows after that. I had bands on and off, but when the last effort folded I took a break.

Tell me about the band... How you met - the current line-up - past experiences - and above all - WHY the need to form THIS band?
Gareth: I met Andy and Jon through Johan (Victims vocalist). Johan and I worked together at a music venue in Stockholm, became good friends and then I worked on persuading them to let me join Victims after my old band from the UK (Raging Speedhorn) had disbanded. I met Henke for the first time when we all travelled together to Fluff Fest in the Czech Republic. Victims were playing, as were Jon and Henke’s old band Outlast. I took a liking to Henke straight away. Just a really good, mild mannered guy like myself, and a great vocalist. Victims played together for a long time and we toured all over the world. We had some amazing experiences together. When Johan told us he was leaving Victims (right after the time of the pandemic), Andy and I decided to keep on playing hardcore together. We had another band at the time, A\\VOID, which was playing instrumental post rock/jazz. But hardcore punk was always our main love, and after Victims there was no question that we’d continue with a new band. Then it was natural to ask Jon if he wanted to carry on with us. And a while later Henke got in touch and asked us if he could try out singing. He hadn’t been in a band for a long while. We were delighted! 

Why this band? Because we had to, is the simple answer. I can’t imagine not being in a hardcore band. It’s just something I have to do. My life would have a big hole in it without it.
Henrik: So I had a break from bands for ten years, and the bands before were short lived. I admired Victims longevity, felt inspired from what they achieved, and found myself thinking a lot about being in a band again. We had met at Fluff, and throughout the years at different shows, I knew they were solid guys. Then I saw that they formed ALARM! and was looking for a singer, and thought I’d give it a go. I’ve enjoyed being in a band again, it is such a privilege. 

Describe your sound and explain why I should listen to YOUR band at all cost ?
Gareth: At all cost is maybe a bit of a stretch haha! There are thousands of bands out there. We just do this thing since it is part of who we are. If other people like it then that’s a wonderful thing to me. Some person from California just ordered the tape version of our first record the other day. That’s amazing! That someone on the other side of the globe wants our tape! But if you like intense, d-beat infused hardcore with something to say, then yeah, you should check us out!
Henrik: I guess whether or not you do, we’ll still play. I do believe ALARM! is diverse, and pushes boundaries. We are exploring our own sound of hardocre and punk. I’ve never been in a more diverse band. A song can crush a d-beat, culminate into a mosh part and then the next one is a slow sludgy song full of basslines. I enjoy that. Maybe you would too. 

Lyrical and musical inspirations/influences ? How important are the lyrics for you ? Are there any specific messages or thoughts you try to develop and share through your lyrics ? Gareth: For me Black Flag and Totalitär are two constant sources of inspiration. Although I try not to just rip off their riffs completely, because that wouldn’t be worthwhile. Then on the last record we wrote I was listening a lot to Kreigshög, Xiao, Bulls Shitt, Catharsis, Dropdead, Bad Breeding, Converge, Herätys, Poison Ruin...
Henrik: Yeah, lyrics are important to me. I try to delve into questions that might be a product of  living in our war mongering times, trying to navigate the ego-centered culture and not losing sight of the privileged position we have. I also enjoy being free to express myself, trying to find both a certain style and play of words, without hiding everything in just words. I sneak in literary references, homages to some of my most valued artists and authors. One aspect of the lyrics that is recurring is the feeling of having hope, mostly fueled by recent hardcore bands inspiring me to push on. Musical inspiration comes from the classics, and recent Swedish bands such as Vidro, Hard Pass, Akimbo, For Dinner, Feels Like Heaven, Nowheres, and Speedway.

About the band's discography... Imagine someone who doesn't know your band at all and wants to get interested in.. Which release would you recommend to start with, and why?
Gareth & Henrik: We released a self-titled LP in 2024 through Armageddon (Dropdead’s label). In 2025 we released a 7” EP “Heavy on the Heart” through Svensk Hardcore Kultur, and now in 2026 we have our 2nd LP “Failure By Design” through De:Nihil Records. I could suggest listening to Scare Game or Ancient Cycles from our first 12, if you wanna hear our more melodic side, or our slower moments. Otherwise check out the 7 inch for total hardcore mangel. That record was the first where we had Henke in from the very beginning of the writing process, and for me that’s where we really start to make the progression to our new album.

About your latest release ?
Gareth: We’ve recorded all our records with our dear friend Linus Björklund in his Ryssviken Studio in Stockholm. I hope he continues to wanna work with us since it really feels like he’s part of our journey. Our other friend Brad from the band From Ashes Rise/Deathreat has mastered all our records. The new album is out on vinyl, and shortly even a small amount of CD, due to demand. That quite surprised us. You can order it straight from the label De:Nihil Records, or buy it from us directly at one of our shows. The artwork for the new record was done by the incredible artist Morgen Sorensen, AKA See Machine. It’s amazing, and an honour that we could use his work.
For me this new album is far harder, faster, angrier than anything we’ve done before. But still with the odd tempo mix up and Henke’s vocals are stronger and more meaningful than ever.
Henrik: I played in lots of bands, and realised some things during this process: (1) I have never been in a studio before that is not also a rehearsal space. Being in the studio with Linus was a lot of fun. I tried to learn something about the sound, and Linus is so nice to work with. (2) Recording is intense and for me about being extremely present in the moment. I think I have been thinking too much about the future, already at the point of recording. (3) Hardcore is the ultimate form of music.

Future plans ?
Gareth: We have been playing shows in Scandinavia and have some more Swedish shows later in the year, as well as shows booked in Croatia, Hungary, Holland and Germany. The plan is to play a bunch more shows in 2027, far and wide, and keep writing songs. We aim to keep banging records out with this band. We also have a a couple of split 7”s on the way out: one with Hard Pass from Malmö, and one with Life Abuse from the States. We also have a song coming out on a tape compilation on our friend Mattias label from Linköping (Henke and Jon’s home town).

Your most insane dream with the band would be ?
Gareth: To play Japan. I’ve been there before with my old band. I’d love to go there with Alarm! I also love Eastern Europe and would love to play there as much as possible.
Henrik: I agree, Japan would be great. I have no insane dream I’m chasing, but playing some cool festivals around Europe would be cool. 

Your BEST & WORST concert - as a band - and why ?
Gareth: Worst concert was our 2nd gig. It was Skitsystem at a nightclub in Linköping. The gig wasn’t particularly bad, but the nightclub PA was comically bad. It sounded like a wet fart. Our best show, in my experience, was probably the appearance at Dunderfest at the legendary Skylten, also in Linköping, or the first time we played Barcelona with our friends Enchastre, at a fantastic squat called Los Blokes Fantasma, right up by Park Guell. It was a great night!
Henrik: Honestly, I’ve only had good experiences. Hard to rate the best, but playing shows is the whole package with traveling, hanging out and having coffee, and I had so much fun playing with Hard Pass three dates around Sweden. 

Next live-appearance(s) ?
Gareth: Next two shows are Budapest on July 17th, and then the SAWA Fest in Croatia on July 18th. After that, four shows in Sweden, Holland, Germany with our friends Hard Pass, around the time the split 7” comes out.

Some words on your local scene - bands you're friends with and you'd like to name ?
Gareth: Hard Pass, as mentioned. Xiao. My best buddies in Prisão. Jon’s other band Svart Samtid are great! Kohti Tuhoa from Finland are great. Helena from KT is one of my favourite vocalists. There’s a lot going on in Sweden at the minute. Lots of young hardcore bands. There’s a really lively and happening scene again. Makes us old guy happy.
Henrik: A massive shout out to the local hardcore scene in Linköping. They are crushing it, booking amazing shows with Dunderjorden (contact them if you’re looking for a show), doing creative and amazing things. I want to name local bands that are up and coming: Bitter, Lost Faith, Viggen, XSerenityX, the Second Act, Full Circle and Useless Efforts from the Linköping region. Go find them where music is found. I hope more bands will follow. 

Last word is yours..
Thanks for inviting us along for a chat. Enjoyed it. Hope to see you somewhere along the road sometime!