Hypocrisy

Biography

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 Finland's chief editor, Mohsen Fayyazi. Hedlund told Metal Shock Finland: It's too early to say what it's going to sounds like, but all I can say is that it's not gonna be any change of style. It will be a classic HYPOCRISY album without [any] compromises. We already got some material and we're really looking forward to enter the studio again. We don't know yet when it will [be], but hopefully after the summer 2012. Nothing is confirmed yet. We're doing the Metalfest tour [of Europe] in May/June plus some other festivals. That's the plans at the moment.
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×End of Disclosure22 March 2013 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1End of Disclosure4:472Tales of Thy Spineless4:363The Eye5:424United We Fall4:51544 Double Zero4:286Hell Is Where I Stay4:357Soldier of Fortune4:528When Death Calls3:559The Return6:0810Living Dead3:51. It was released on 22 March 2013.
Hypocrisy's thirteenth studio album, and first in eight years, Worship×Worship26 November 2021 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Worship4:432Chemical Whore5:203Greedy Bastards4:034Dead World4:105We're the Walking Dead5:206Brotherhood of the Serpent4:247Children of the Gray5:178Another Day3:119They Will Arrive4:2610Bug in the Net4:5111Gods of the Underground4:48, was released on 26 November 2021. The album was preceded by a music video for first single "Chemical Whore×Chemical Whore10 September 2021 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Chemical Whore5:19". 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. 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×Virus5 September 2005 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1XVI0:162War-Path4:263Scrutinized4:274Fearless4:265Craving for Another Killing3:526Let the Knife Do the Talking4:177A Thousand Lies4:548Incised Before I've Ceased4:319Blooddrenched3:4510Compulsive Psychosis4:1511Living to Die5:42, 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×End of Disclosure22 March 2013 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1End of Disclosure4:472Tales of Thy Spineless4:363The Eye5:424United We Fall4:51544 Double Zero4:286Hell Is Where I Stay4:357Soldier of Fortune4:528When Death Calls3:559The Return6:0810Living Dead3:51, 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.