The hard hitting EBM duo Spetsnaz
was formed in Örebro, Sweden
in the autumn of 2001 by Stefan Nilsson
and Pontus Stålberg. With powerful
vocals, frenetic pounding bass lines
and a relentless rhythmic assault,
Spetsnaz has the aggression and the
melody to be the missing link between
the heavy scene and the pop scene.
Being fans of the Electro genre for
many years, both Stefan and Pontus
felt there was a void left in the
EBM scene when the classic bands were
replaced with newcomers performing
a more Techno-laden version called
“Futurepop.” The old school
style was direly underrepresented
and the new school didn’t exactly
excite the boys. Having performed,
both together and separately, in different
projects, Stefan and Pontus decided
to form Spetsnaz and give it 100%
of their resources and time. Inspired
by pioneering artists like Nitzer
Ebb, Front 242, Die Krupps, and DAF,
the duo started to work in their own
“Downstairs”-studio and
after a few months, the first four-song-demo
was presented to Swedish labels and
promoters. At the same time, Spetsnaz
launched their official website and
interest in the band began to grow.
They performed live in some of the
major cities of Germany and Sweden,
including Gothenburg and the Scandinavian
Alternative Music Awards (SAMA). The
group´s live show has been reported
to be as intense and energetic as
the music, with Pontus jumping over
the stage like a maniac, screaming
at the top of his lungs, and Stefan
fiercely beating his drum pads. The
duo’s debut album "Grand
design" - managed to cause quite
a stir in the scene. A little more
than four years, one major tour supporting
Mexican Industrial-legend Hocico in
2004, one EP, one limited single and
myriads of shows across the globe
later, Spetsnaz have become a household
name for tough, old-school-inspired
Electronic Body Music with a capital
“E”. In early 2006, they
returned with a bang with “Totalitär”,
their long-awaited second long player.
The album played out all the group´s
strengths and took their unique aggressive
and melodic style to a higher level,
to worldwide critical acclaim and
praise. Now, in late October 2006,
they are releasing the limited single
“Hardcore Hooligans”,
providing us an energetic outlook
at where they will be heading on their
next album. It is another showcase
example of their intelligent and modern
approach on classic Electro. The end
of 2007 not only saw the release of
Spetsnaz’ new album “Deadpan,
which sports a more versatile but
not any less relentless sound –
they also played the Out of Line Festival
Tour.. A band like this one does not
take prisoners! You can sum it up
in one easy sentence: if this music
doesn´t manage to move your
ass, probably none will!
