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All Hell Breaks Loose: A tribute to The Misfits and Copenhagen DIY

Leather jacket, rockabilly ’60s hair, a passion for B-horror movies and underground music: when Rune told me he was producing a tribute album to the Misfits, I knew it would be an unmissable event.

At the end of January, Rune gave me a pre-listening of the tracks: 15 groups from Copenhagen’s alternative scene reinterpreting 15 Misfits songs, all unedited prepared for this album. This LP is now available in vinyl, tape and digital version (link).

Translation in italian / Traduzione in italiano QUI

 

 

The music bin is full of Misfits covers, but this work is entirely distinct. Similar to Rune’s prior production, “This is Copenhagen: a punk rock manifesto” it plunges us into the current styles of Danish alternative rock, narrating the story of this subculture.

The Misfits serve as the framework for the artists; the artwork is a snapshot of Copenhagen’s alternative music scene from 2020 to 2024. The influence of American-inspired hardcore, along with diverse elements like glitter-pop and indie-disco, seamlessly blend together. It’s a freely curated production, a project that might seem puzzling in 2024, yet surprises with its freshness and blend of styles that reflect the essence of the city where this work was born.

No need for ratings and stars for this work. Let’s get to the point and capture the true richness of this album through the voices of the artists who gathered for the launch party.

 

We get started with our 5 minute tesaer

 

The Release Party

I arrive early to set up the interview boot for HeavyMetalWebzine.it. There are just two hours left until the start of the acts, but the atmosphere at Beta2300 is already electric. Rune is running around like crazy, finalizing the event preparations. Some artists begin their sound-check in the room next to the bar.

Among the familiar faces, I spot someone I know. What’s the walking rock music encyclopedia doing at the garderobe?

Nicolaj: The Scanners of rock music

Nicolaj (a.k.a. Rockolaj), undoubtedly the embodiment of musical temptation in physical form.

He works at SoundStation, the Scylla and Charybdis of vinyl in Copenhagen, where anyone who enters is stunned by the best selection of vinyl, CDs, and tapes in the city. There’s an abundance of local and niche music, and Nicolaj is like the sirens’ chorus for the lost music lover faced with such opulence. Anyone who asks him for advice gets sucked into this biological music library, ending up adding numerous records to their wishlist. Outside of the Needful Things store, Nicolaj seems harmless. I take advantage of his extensive knowledge of local music to give you a brief introduction.

On impulse, I seek recommendations. The “Mindflyer” scans me, detects a hint of a metalhead beneath my deceptive attire, and betrays me by suggesting Halshug, the black pearl I have yet to conquer. Their sound is hardcore, marked by distorted guitars in continuous chainsaw-like riffs, and a darkening voice, making their music easily associable with metal sounds.

I challenge Nicolaj’s detector with a difficult target: Ivan, our editor-in-chief, a thousand kilometers away. Without hesitation, Nicolaj adds the socio-dystopian depressive metal of Solbrud and Afsky to Ivan’s wishlist. Now we await confirmation from Ivan regarding this prediction.

 

Rune: The Producer and Motorsav’s voice

Almost escaping the conversation with Nicolaj, I grab Rune by the neck and force him to tell us about his work with “All Hell Breaks Loose.” Rune is the soul of the Elektriske Plader label, which has produced some interesting local bands, including Pestigor, Big Mess, and his own post-punk group, Motorsav.

 

St. Digue: Kasper a neverending discovery

I seize the opportunity to chat with Kasper, not yet in stage attire, in the calm before the concert. St. Digue offers a darkwave version of Hatebreers. It’s an unreleased song that he often includes in his live performances and has a special connection with, a topic we’ll delve into in our interview.

 

 

The Lost Loves: Pink, Blue and Black

Less than half an hour before the concert begins, and we interview The Lost Loves, the group that perhaps surprised me the most during the pre-listening of the album.

Their sound is heavily influenced by indie-pop and punk, but for this album, they decided to take a risk. They chose “Hybrid Moments,” one of the Misfits’ most famous and complex songs, and turned it into a vintage indie disco-pop version. The gamble paid off: the carefree beat serves as a backdrop to female vocals that enhance the lyrics. It’s a radio-friendly song with a dark and sensual touch that creeps into the ears and lingers. An earworm.

Some might raise an eyebrow, but this interpretation fully reflects the pink, blue, and black hues of the album’s graphics. In its eccentricity, it perfectly tells the playful transgression of this city.

 

 

The concert begins

Beta2300 is almost full, and the staff is working at top speed. There have been cancellations, and the setlist was changed last minute: Rebecca Lou will not perform tonight. The The Lost Loves will be the first to take the stage, followed by Archangel, one of the most anticipated bands of the night. Among the performances we won’t describe but want to mention are Big Mess, Kold Front, Motorsav and Dust Bugs. We invite the curious ones to watch their performances on Lasse’s YouTube channel. Especially Big Mess convinced us with an excellent recorded track and a solid performance.

From my station, I hear the start of “Hybrid Moments” and rush into the hall. Christian’s bass groove fills the space, but when Sarah’s vocals come into the song, something seems off. It’s clear from the beginning that the audio settings aren’t suitable for the vocals and backing vocals of this song. Despite the struggle to play in these conditions, the track is still enjoyable. The Lost Loves don’t lose heart, and in the next track, “Medication,” the singer unleashes an almost shouted punk to overcome these limitations. We notice in the recorded version of this song the participation of Peter-Peter, guitarist of SODS and Sort Sol, two hallmark bands in Danish punk.

Archangel: The show is guaranteed

The wild sound aims to claim a notable victim with Søren Crawack’s Archangel, but these guys are already pros. They kick off with “Sunslayer”, a strong and energetic song to test the sound. Søren’s voice gets buried under the drums, but he’s not gonna take it and ask to raise the microphone, significantly. “Horror Hotel” and “Total Dark Sublime” finally sound as we’re used to, delivering a quality performance despite the limited time available.

 

 

The choice of “Horror Hotel” is unexpected for a group with a dark and gothic inclination. I appreciate how the band adapted well, maintaining the rock’n’roll vibes of the song and the fun Halloween party touch of the track. As with their debut LP (reviewed here), I am impressed by their versatility and how effortlessly they blend rock genres organically and without forcing it. The song Horror Hotel is now available as single and also on streaming platforms.

 

 

During the interview, we start by discussing the The Misfits and Shamain, but I can’t resist making comments with them about their album and future prospects. Archangel was part of the lineup at the Copenhell-freezes over mini-festival and will soon be on tour with Pectora. This summer, we’ll also catch them at Metal Magic. Throughout the interview, we also touch upon the artwork curated by All Things Rotten for this band.

 

Imperial Shark: Hardcore Doesn’t Need Frills

 

During the interview, in the break, I grab Max and pull him in front of the camera. We mention Razor Blades, the pioneers of hardcore in Denmark, Motorsav, Rune’s band, but also Night Fever. The latter had just released their new album “Dead End” (2024) the day before. This album won us over on the first listen for the quality of the tracks and for finally giving space to the incredibly melodic voice of Salomon Segers, as rarely heard in their previous works.

Imperial Shark is one of the live acts that convinced me the most especially as an emerging band, and they deserve a spot in any hardcore events. Keep an eye on them!

 

 

Writhe: when live show surpasses the studio recording

I take this opportunity to highlight the performance of Writhe, a hardcore band with dark and post-punk influences. They delivered a devastating rendition of “Return of The Fly,” perfectly complemented by a heartfelt and physical show. An absolutely fantastic live interpretation that transcends the good recorded track on the album.

 

 

St.Digue Part II: Kasper and Sophie Leave Us Speechless

 We’ve almost reached the end, and only the grand finale remains, presented by Kasper and Sophie (whom we interviewed previously here and here).

Now dressed in their stage outfits, everything changes. They start immediately with their A-game, the synth and drum machine shaking the room. In the performance, Sophie’s chainsaw metal riffs are muffled; the sonic aberration is corrected by cranking up the guitar volume into the sky. Now, we’re ready to enjoy an excellent rendition of “Hatebreeders” and the fans favorite “Countess of the Night“.

 

Kasper is fired up, his restless body moves adds a dynamic element to the performance. Sophie, with her more physically composed yet intensely captivating presence, provides a balanced contrast. The human factor on stage becomes the extra element that catches us into their music. The two artists take control of the room, concluding with a remarkable performance that, in our opinion, stands out as the most engaging of the entire event.

I was ready to put away the camera, but our editor Davide is thrilled. After many concerts together, I know that face. We can’t help but entrust St. Digue into Davide’s clutches to tell the emotions of this performance.

 

 

The Photogallery of the editor

Photo and credits by: Emil Nørgaard Munk

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kold Front, credits: Emil Nørgaard Munk

 

Links to the bands

Imperial Shark:
https://imperialshark.bandcamp.com/
Writhe:
https://writhecph.bandcamp.com/album/awaiting-a-tide
Motorsav:
https://motorsav.bandcamp.com/
The Lost Loves
https://thelostloves.bandcamp.com/album/daddy-issues
Dust Bugs:
https://thedustbugs.bandcamp.com/
Kold Front:
https://koldfront.bandcamp.com/
St. Digue
https://stdigue.bandcamp.com/track/hatebreeders
Archangel:
https://scarletrecords.bandcamp.com/album/total-dark-sublime
Big Mess:
https://bigmessdk.bandcamp.com/

Other grups on the album:

Earn Your Scars:
https://earnyourscars.bandcamp.com/album/this-time-is-mine
Troop Transport:
https://wearetrooptransport.bandcamp.com/album/troop-transport-s-t
Skind og Ben:
https://skindogben.bandcamp.com/album/s-t
Rebecca Lou: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drcMFbFQsX4

 

Acknowlegment

I thank Rune for organizing the presence of HeavyMetalWebZine.it at the event, the artists for their cooperation, and Davide for joining us at this occasion. I apologize for the frequent glances into the camera, background noises, and cuts. Being alone, I had to manage and adjust the audio levels and video shots on the go. The concert videos were provided by Lasse Lund Elmer. Photos and credits go to Emil Nørgaard Munk.