Wolfpack

Wolfpack, later known as Wolfbrigade, was formed in 1995 in Mariestad, Sweden. The band was founded by Jocke Rydbjer (guitar), Erik Norberg (guitar), Marcus “M. Psykfall” Johansson (bass), Frank Johansen (drums), and Tomas Jonsson (vocals), who was also known for his work with the crust punk band Anti Cimex. Rydbjer and Norberg, previously from the death metal band Obscure Infinity, sought to combine d-beat/crust with death metal, a vision that converged with Johansson and Jonsson’s similar aspirations. The band rapidly recorded “A New Dawn Fades” and the CDEP “Bloodstained Dreams,” both released in 1996 on Distortion Records, marking their early contributions to the genre.

The band’s early career included recording the “Hellhound Warpig” 7″ in April 1997 and the “Lycanthro Punk” album in October of the same year at Studio Fredman. In 1998, Mikael Dahl became the new vocalist, leading to the recording of “Allday Hell” in 1999 with Mieszko Talarczyk. A significant turning point occurred in 2000 when the band changed their name from Wolfpack to Wolfbrigade to avoid association with a Swedish neo-Nazi prison gang. This change accompanied a shift to a more politically charged lyrical focus, evident in their album “Progression/Regression” released in 2001.

Over the years, Wolfbrigade continued to evolve its sound and lineup. In 2002, Dadde Stark replaced Frank Johansen on drums, and the band released “In Darkness You Feel No Regrets” in 2003. After a brief hiatus and reformation under the name Today’s Overdose, they officially reunited as Wolfbrigade in 2007, releasing “Prey to the World.” Their commitment to their original sound was reaffirmed with the 2012 album “Damned,” which received praise from Pitchfork Media for its blend of crust punk and melodic death metal. The band maintains an active recording and touring schedule, celebrating their 30-year anniversary in 2025 with new releases and continuous engagement with their fan base.