Hypocrisy is a Swedish melodic death metal band formed in October 1991 in Ludvika by Peter Tägtgren. The band has released thirteen studio albums.
History After three years in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1990, founder Peter Tägtgren returned to Sweden to form a band. Critics noted that Hypocrisy's early releases were well-executed but not particularly innovative death metal. That criticism waned as the band cultivated a distinctive sound and employed introspective lyrics. Later releases have an atmospheric sound and lyrics that explore aliens and abductions.
Tägtgren's experience as a producer may have led to the band's change in musical direction. He is closely involved with many other bands while producing their albums.
They appeared at the Wacken Open Air music festival in 1998, 2002, 2004 and 2022.
After twice cancelling a U.S. tour in 2009, Hypocrisy confirmed a North American tour for 2010. Scar Symmetry, Hate, Blackguard and Swashbuckle joined them on the "Long Time, No Death" tour. From January to March 2010, they toured Germany, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, finishing in Moscow. Their North American tour took place in May 2010.
On 14 October 2011, Hypocrisy released the DVD Hell Over Sofia - 20 Years of Chaos and Confusion. It contains a full concert from the "Long Time, No Death" tour. The DVD contains a one and a half-hour documentary. On 10 November 2011, Mikael Hedlund announced writing material for a new studio album during an interview with Metal Shock Finlands chief editor, Mohsen Fayyazi. Hedlund told Metal Shock Finland:
In early 2012, the band began to writing a follow-up to A Taste of Extreme Divinity. On 21 December 2012 Hypocrisy announced that the title of the upcoming album would be End of Disclosure. It was released on 22 March 2013.
Hypocrisy's thirteenth studio album, and first in eight years, Worship, was released on 26 November 2021. The album was preceded by a music video for first single "Chemical Whore". Loudwire elected it the 32nd best metal song of 2021.
On 5 April 2022, via the band's official Facebook page, the band announced Horgh's departure. He was replaced a week later with Henrik Axelsson of The Crown.
Musical style and lyrical themes Musically, the band started off with a traditional death metal sound on their early albums, but soon turned into a melodic death metal band."On the road at the New England Metal Festival: part 2 (continued)". Dailycollegian.com. 10 May 2005. Retrieved 2012-01-04. Their early lyrics – written by original vocalist Masse Broberg – dealt with anti-Christian themes and Satanism. The band later focused on themes such as the paranormal and extraterrestrials. Their tenth album, Virus, contains themes more typical of death metal such as violence, the horrors of reality, insanity, torture, war, drug addiction, and emotional strife. Their twelfth album, End of Disclosure, explores conspiracy-related themes, including secret organizations, government secrecy, surveillance, and extraterrestrial disclosure. Worship, their latest album to date, combines the conspiracy and extraterrestrial themes of End of Disclosure with the darker human-centered themes of Virus, including social decay, addiction, manipulation, and emotional suffering.
Band members
Current Peter Tägtgren – guitars, keyboards (1991–present), vocals (1993–present) Mikael Hedlund – bass (1991–present) Tomas Elofsson – guitars (2010–present) Henrik Axelsson – drums (2022–present)
Former Magnus "Masse" Broberg – vocals (1992–1993) Lars Szöke – drums (1992–2004) Jonas Österberg – guitars (1992) Mathias Kamijo – guitars (1995–2000) Horgh – drums (2004–2022) Andreas Holma – guitars (2002–2006)
Live Klas Ideberg – guitars (2006)
Timeline
Discography Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales GER SWE AUT FRA SWI FIN US HeatPenetralia Released: 5 October 1992 Label: Nuclear Blast Formats: CD, CS, LP, DL — — — — — — —Osculum Obscenum Released: 12 October 1993 Label: Nuclear Blast Formats: CD, CS, LP, DL — — — — — — —The Fourth Dimension Released: 25 October 1994 Label: Nuclear Blast Formats: CD, CS, LP, DL 66 — — — — — —Abducted Released: 13 February 1996 Label: Nuclear Blast Formats: CD, CS, LP, DL 86 — — — — — —The Final Chapter Released: 11 November 1997 Label: Nuclear Blast Formats: CD, CS, LP, DL 76 — — — — — —Hypocrisy Released: 22 June 1999 Label: Nuclear Blast Formats: CD, CS, LP, DL 85 — — — — — —Into the Abyss Released: 22 May 2000 Label: Nuclear Blast Formats: CD, CS, LP, DL 64 — — — — — —Catch 22 Released: 19 March 2002 Label: Nuclear Blast Formats: CD, CS, LP, DL 78 — — — — — —The Arrival Released: 16 February 2004 Label: Nuclear Blast Formats: CD, CD+DVD, LP, DL — — 71 — — — —Virus Released: 5 September 2005 Label: Nuclear Blast Formats: CD, CD+DVD, LP, DL 76 58 75 — — — —A Taste of Extreme Divinity Released: 23 October 2009 Label: Nuclear Blast Formats: CD, LP, DL 62 — 66 184 — — 23 US: 1,400+End of Disclosure Released: 22 March 2013 Label: Nuclear Blast Formats: CD, LP, DL 35 29 56 151 53 30 12 US: 3,000+Worship Released: 26 November 2021 Label: Nuclear Blast Formats: CD, LP, DL 16 — — — 16 12 — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
EPs Title EP detailsPleasure of Molestation Released: 13 March 1993 Label: Relapse Records Formats: CD Inferior Devoties Released: 1994 Label: Nuclear Blast Formats: CD, DL Maximum Abduction Released: 25 February 1996 Label: Nuclear Blast Formats: CD Too Drunk to Fuck Released: 2 August 2013 Label: Nuclear Blast Formats: LP
Compilation albums Title Album details10 Years of Chaos and Confusion Released: 21 August 2001 Label: Nuclear Blast Formats: CD
Live albums Title Album detailsHypocrisy Destroys Wacken Released: 2 March 1999 Label: Nuclear Blast Formats: CD Hell Over Sofia - 20 Years of Chaos and Confusion Released: 14 October 2011 Label: Nuclear Blast Formats: 2CD+DVD
Video albums Title Video details Peak chart positions SWEHypocrisy Destroys Wacken Released: 14 September 1999 Label: Nuclear Blast Formats: VHS —Live & Clips Released: 17 April 2001 Label: Nuclear Blast Formats: DVD —Hell over Sofia - 20 Years of Chaos and Confusion Released: 14 October 2011 Label: Nuclear Blast Formats: DVD 15 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Music videos Year Title Directed Album1992"Left to Rot" Penetralia"Impotent God" 1993"Pleasure of Molestation" Osculum Obscenum"Inferior Devoties" 1996"Roswell 47" Abducted1997"The Final Chapter" The Final Chapter2004"Eraser" The Arrival2005"Scrutinized"Mike AdelicaVirus2010"Weed Out the Weak" Denis Goria A Taste of Extreme Divinity2013"End of Disclosure"End of Disclosure"Tales of Thy Spineless"2021"Children of the Gray"Worship
References
External links