The Skull Defekts

Swedish experimental post-punk group the Skull Defekts formed in 2005. Clamorous and atonal in nature, the original lineup featured Daniel Fagerström, <a href="spotify:artist:2X2FACMpMgm8uWLGUDnYZo">Henrik Rylander</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3iPZdIPENIcwSmesnVuH3I">Jean-Louis Huhta</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:4w3hQtyx7t6ULytAbNYA30">Joachim Nordwall</a> for 2007’s Blood Spirits & Drums Are Singing and 2009’s The Temple. In 2011, former <a href="spotify:artist:2aeccL0hsJAfsP56dRdrBI">Lungfish</a> vocalist <a href="spotify:artist:0yYqHH7etiOBZdGdJNXfvr">Daniel Higgs</a> was brought into the fold as the fifth member and frontman. Peer Amid was released later that year on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Thrill+Jockey+Records%22">Thrill Jockey Records</a>, the same label that put out <a href="spotify:artist:0yYqHH7etiOBZdGdJNXfvr">Higgs</a>' avant-garde solo work. The group entered the studio in 2013 with a few loose ideas, ironing them out into their sprawling-yet-catchy fourth album Dances in the Dreams of the Known Unknown. After a handful of live dates in support of the album, the band entered a new phase, marked by Huhta leaving the band and <a href="spotify:artist:0yYqHH7etiOBZdGdJNXfvr">Higgs</a> fading out as well to focus on his solo material. In 2016 the band began work on a new album, knowing by the time they entered the studio it would be their final recording. Wildbirds & Peacedrums member Mariam Wallentin joined on as a fourth member for the recording sessions, which were realized as a cathartic and explosive self-titled album in early 2018. ~ Jason Lymangrover