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All Music Guide:
The Norwegian industrial band Apoptygma Berzerk is actually one Stephan Groth, sometimes known as Grothesk. Groth released his first single as Apoptygma Berzerk in 1991 and got his international break with an appearance on the Sex, Drugs and E.B.M. compilation. He signed with Metropolis Records, which issued a career summation in 1998 entitled The Apopcalyptic Manifesto, a collection of early singles and tracks from the Norwegian album Soli Deo Gloria. The full-length, all-new 7 followed later in the year, and in early 2000 Apoptygma Berzerk resurfaced with Welcome to Earth. Kathy's Song followed a year later.
Wikipedia:
Apoptygma Berzerk (commonly abbreviated to APB or APOP) is a Norwegian musical group. They have achieved success with a brand of synthpop, and ballads backed with electronic rhythms, commonly known within the scene and referring to themselves as "futurepop". Apop has won awards and top-10 spots in Germany and Scandinavia. Apoptygma Berzerk has toured Europe, North America, South America, Israel and Australia with bands such as VNV Nation, Beborn Beton, Icon of Coil and Unheilig.
The band was formed by Stephan Groth and Jon Erik Martinsen in 1989. Together they wrote several songs, one of them "Ashes To Ashes" would later be released as a 12-inch single on the Norwegian label Tatra Productions in 1991. Jon Erik left the band shortly afterwards feeling uncomfortable with the direction of the band's music.
Members
Current members
Stephan Groth (STP a/k/a Grothesk) – Vocals, Programming, Guitars, Samples (1989–present)Thomas Jakobsen – Drums (2009–present)Brandon Smith – Guitar (2009–present)Former Members
Geir Bratland – Keyboard, backing vocals (1995–2009)Fredrik Brarud – Drums (2002–2009)Audun Stengel (Angel) – Guitar (2002–2009)Anders Odden – Guitar (1992–1999, 2003–2006)Jon Erik Martensen – Keyboard (1989)Per Aksel Lundgreen – Keyboard/manager (1991–1994)Fredrik Darum – Producer, live guitar (1999–2001)Ted Skogmann – Drums and guitar (1999–2002)Live Members
Leandra Ophelia Dax – Live keyboards (2010–present)Jonas Groth – Live keyboards, arranging (2010–present)Other collaborators
Vegard Blomberg of ViewPål Magnus Rybom of Echo ImageClaudia Brücken of PropagandaBenji Madden of Good CharlotteAmanda Palmer of The Dresden DollsEmil Nikolaisen of Serena ManeeshHåvard Ellefsen of MortiisKurt Ebelhäuser of BlackmailAnneli Drecker of Bel CantoStyle
The first two albums, Soli Deo Gloria and were a similar style of electropop and EBM. Welcome to Earth included a few tracks that sound experimental, getting away from the band's roots slightly. Harmonizer featured a softer, more synthpop-oriented direction when compared to previous albums, and their 2007 album, You and Me Against the World, represented an almost complete change in style for the band. It featured a more mainstream, indie rock-oriented sound, and the complete departure from the band's traditional electric synthpop and EBM roots that started with .
Many albums feature a hidden track that can be accessed by fast forwarding through many minutes of silence on the last album track. For instance, on , one can hear a remix of Nonstop Violence after Love Never Dies (Part II).
The band also features cover songs on several of their albums. For example, on the American version of a cover of OMD's "Electricity" is featured; similarly, on Welcome to Earth, the band has a cover of Metallica's "Fade to Black". You and Me Against the World has a cover of "Cambodia" by Kim Wilde and "Shine On" by The House Of Love. They have also made a cover of Depeche Mode's Enjoy the Silence, Keane's Bend And Break, Kraftwerk's Ohm Sweet Ohm and Marilyn Manson's "Coma White". With the release of latest album Rocket Science apop still going on the rock vibe while keeping close with synthpop sound like its predecessor YAMATW.
Line up changes
In July 2009 Angel, Geir and Fredrik departed from the Apoptygma Berzerk lineup. The coming tour in the USA is going to happen with a yet unknown lineup along with only remaining member, Stephan Groth.
In August 2009, Brandon Smith (frontman from the electronic rock band The Anix) confirmed that he was joining the band on guitar for the US and Canada legs of the upcoming tour. source- www.theanix.com
Brandon writes on the forum saying, "this is just going to be a test run type of tour, to see how well Apop does in the US, Canada, and South America. I will be playing guitar for them on this tour."
On September 3, 2009, Stephan wrote on the official site:
Name
The name "Apoptygma Berzerk" either has a secret meaning or does not mean anything. The name is reminiscent of the word apophthegm, which means a statement that speaks one's mind - which would make the title mean a berserk manifesto. Frontman and founding member Stephan Groth claims that it was randomly picked out of a dictionary (apoptygma being derived from the Ancient Greek word ἀπόπτυγμα meaning "piece of a tunic"). The first word of the name is pronounced a-pop-tig-ma.
