Give Me Beauty... Or Give Me Death! is the debut studio album by Swedish post-rock band EF. It was released through And The Sound Records in the UK and through Thomason Sounds in Japan. The UK pressing comes as a digipak while the Japanese version comes as a standard jewel case.Discogs.com
The album was remixed and remaster by Magnus Lindberg (of Cult of Luna) for a reissue in 2012 (2013 digitally). The re-release incorporated the bonus track "Misinform the Uniformed", which required additional recording in 2011, as it was originally recorded in 2006 but never finished, bringing the track total to seven.
A completely new re-recording was released as the 20th Anniversary Edition in November 2025, with the current band members, plus many additional musicians. An eighth song "Noll" was added, based on an old outro from a song on the original 2006 album, and lyrics that deal with mental illness. "Noll" was also released as a single.
Track listing
Personnel Original release (2006) and reissue (2012) EF The noise and melodies of electric guitars, drums, electric bass, organ, synthesizers, cello, accordion, melodica, effect pedals, trumpet, glockenspiel, bells, acoustic guitars was all made by the members of the band. The vocal parts were made by Tomas, Daniel and Karin Gren. Tomas Torsson – guitar, vocals Daniel Öhman – guitar; additional recording, original mix Jonatan Hammar – cello Mikael Hillergård – electric bass Niklas Åström – drums; cover design
Additional musician Karin Gren (Gréen) – vocals
Production Emanuel Olssen – recording engineer; original mix and mastering (2006 release) Kristian Anttilas – recording engineer ("Ett") Victor Åström – cover design Mikal Månsson – cover design Magnus Lindberg – remix and remaster (2012 reissue)
20th Anniversary Edition (2025) EF Tomas Torsson – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, lead vocals, choir Daniel Juline (née Öhman) – electric guitar, organ, melodica, piano, Rhodes electric piano, accordion, vocals, choir, orchestration Erik Jardestig – electric guitar Kim Ruiz – electric bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, choir; producer, engineer Niklas Åström – drums, percussion, melodica
Additional musicians János Alexander Madaras – cello, glockenspiel, choir, orchestration producer Ron David Alvarez – violin Jonathan Kronevik – trumpet Arno Tri Pramudia – trombone Maja Milner – vocals, choir Jonathan H. Råsmark – choir Aurora Alänge – choir Karin Gréen – poem
Production Björn von Känel – assistant producer, assistant engineer Magnus Lindberg – mixing, mastering Phillip Janta - cover illustration Robert Samsonowitz – packaging design
References