Lackland was formed four years ago by a bunch of "old" musicians, they decided to play punk and the debut record here and you should buy it. July-2025

Antonio Olof (A) and Rickard Alriksson (R)

Tell us how you came together as a group?

A: Rickard and I have been friends for more than 30 years and have both played in different bands since our teenage years, but never before together. I have always played in bands more to punk and Rickard more to heavy metal. A few summers ago I had bought a new garage I was going to have for different music projects and me and Rickard played some Bad Religion and Misfits for fun. Then during sauna and beer the same weekend the idea of a new band was born, a band we ourselves missed and would like, punk with a feeling of Bad Religion but with a little more rough sound with a feeling of Motörhead. We posted a little on Instagram when we played and Martin Westerstrand, who is my friend from before, immediately contacted me and asked if this was the punkband he would sing in. We had loosely talked about starting a punk band at some party. I just replied: "Absolutely, you should sing!" and that's the way it is. Later that year the first singles with videos were released, Rickard had mostly played drums in the band and I mostly guitar, but when it was time to play live the same year we had to decide. I took the bass and Rickard guitar and then we asked Daniel Petri (ex Misconduct and Sir Reg) who Rickard knew, if he had time to drum a little and he was on and also brought Olle Karlsson (also ex Misconduct and Sir Reg) for solo guitar. Everything was right between the five of us and they both joined the band after the first gig.

I know that singer Martin has been in LOK/Lillasyster?

Yes, Martin is of course best known as the singer in these bands that we like a lot. The relationship between the bands is very good. Paolo, who is the producer and drummer in Lillasyster, has mixed everything that has been released with Lackland, and the album has been mastered by Johan Rivéen, drummer in LOK, for us.

I think I hear both Misfits and Bad Religion in your music, what are the biggest influences?

A: I would say some Bad Religion mixed with Social Distortion and some Motörhead. We strive for a sound with weight, melodies and drive.

Which bands are you usually compared to in reviews?

A: Don't really know. Probably the bands I mentioned.

How did it come to be punk, do you all have the background in punk world?

A: This was the music we wanted to play, it ́s maybe punk in parts but in parts a little crossover with heavy metal.

Tell me a little about each member of the group, band before, band next to and what else does each person do when they don't play punkrock?

A: Rickard lives in Gothenburg and works as a freelance producer and technician at the concert hall. Have played in a lot of bands over the years, including Necrony, Nasum and The Accidents.

R: Antonio lives in Stockholm, and has played in several Ramones-scented bands there. Before that, in several bands in the Örebro scene of the 90s, including in Seigmenn.

We have touched on Martin, he plays besides Lackland also which is LOK which has its 30th anniversary this year, lives in Gothenburg and Töreboda works entirely with music. In addition to having played in the bands we mentioned,

Danne and Olle have also played the hardcore band Bloodtrust together and Olle also occasionally plays Country in Northlake Shivers.

How would you describe your music in three words?

A: Drive Gravitational Melody

Your songs, what inspires lyrically?

A: The texts are about social phenomena, break-ups and life in general.

Tell us a little about the following texts

-Re evaluate

R: Some things in society would benefit from being reevaluated. A desperation that some things also take so long to change. Too much talk and too little workshop in general.

-Identity

A: It's a game with identities, who are you in different roles and how important is it for yourself and for others.

-They talk too much

R: There is too much babbling in general. Too much talk and too little workshop.

Politics and music, do you think it goes hand in hand?

A: Not necessarily, music can be political but we don't have a political agenda. I have nothing against lyrics that are about society and provoke thoughts, but the idea is not that Lackland should be a political band.

R: Music can also be an important escape from politics.

Lackland, a name that you can't put in a special box, how did you come up with this name? Was there any other bands as suggestions?

A: Lack has a bit of a double meaning, Stockholm for angry but also the English lack which means lack of something. Land makes it easy to remember and gives a good flow. I came up with the name and only afterwards did I realize that Lackland is also an air base in Texas.

Why was it in English, you had no thoughts of singing in Swedish?

A: No, we want to play live in Germany and the US. That and more full-length albums is the goal.

Is it completely impossible that there can be any song in Swedish with Lackland?

A: No, you should never say never!

R: Writing in Swedish would be fun because it would be a challenge. To me, it's so easy that it sounds silly when I write in Swedish myself. Is also a matter of habit. Martin is the king of Swedish lyrics so maybe we should use it more.

It seems to be a lot of live gigs for you right now, what is the best thing about playing live?

A: That's what it's all about for us, to come out and test the songs and ourselves in front of an audience. It's always fun to play live, whether a little or a lot of people.

Do you think it is a pros or cons that you are a little older and not a very young new punkband?

A: I don't know, we have experience of music and of life in general, but we were prettier when we were younger! Haha!

R: No one can cheat us out of money now haha

Do you have any nice story that has happened during a live gig with this band or with one of your old bands, something really funny that has happened?

R: When we played with The Accidents in Uppsala, it started to burn behind the mixing desk during soundcheck. The sound engineer, who was no more than 17 years old, was so nervous that even though he saw that there was a fire, he didn't leave the mixing desk. It was only when we pointed out that it was ok to put out the fire first so that we could continue soundcheck after that that he ran away and put it out.

It feels like you come from different parts of Sweden, where are you stationed and how do you rehearse if it is the case that you come from different cities?

A: We rehearse in Örebro sometimes and sometimes outside Stockholm in the garage I talked about. It is mostly in connection with gigs, records - we have no regular rehearsal time.

When you started the group, was it easy to write songs and did everything fall into place right away?

R: In the beginning you had that nice hobby band drive there but kind of don't care. Then it's easy and fun to be creative.

It's mostly Antonio and Richard who do the songs or how is it?

A: Rickard has done most of the work so far, I support a little bit mostly with lyrics and we produce together.

R: I threw together the first five songs in a few days. I've kind of taken on the role of songwriter so far. I don't mind it but I also love the creative process when you are several people building a song. If members come with the "right" building blocks, so to speak haha.

How do you think it is to live in Sweden otherwise?

A: Yes, thank you, yourself?

R: Not so bad

Any good bands from Sweden which are worth mentioning? From abroad?

A: Swedish: The Accidents (discontinued unfortunately), The Gems, Zombie Suckers, Lastkaj 14. We played with Vägskäl, recently also at Bomber Fest, great and awesome to hear Ulke again!

R: Swedish: Trench Rot, Alf Robertson Foreign: Power Trip, Destruct,

Five favorite records of all time?

A: Oh how hard! There are so many of them. I would probably say in no particular order: Motörhead - all the records are good in different ways but if I have to choose I would probably say the first, Metallica - Master of Puppets, one of the Ramones - right now it's Adios Amigos, Iron Maiden - Killers, Tracy Chapman's first record.

R: Iron Maiden - Killers, SIsters of Mercy - Floodland, Judas Priest - Painkiller, Misfits - Walk Among Us, Motörhead - Bomber

The last record you bought and the first?

A: The first one was Motörhead - Another Perfect Day and the last one was one with Jim Reeves, soft and inspiring!

Was it important for you to release the music physically?

A: Yes, I want to be able to hold an album, touch the record. I also like to listen to full albums. It's really old, I understand.

Is there a lot of interviews, is it boring?

A: It can be great fun, you have to think a little, like now.

What is the most common and boring question?

A: They have told a few times how we were formed, but that's ok. We love to play and are very happy that there is an interest in the band!

Futureplans with the band?

A: We want to go down to Germany and play, preferably some festivals next summer. Then we will release new material later this year or early next year.

Future plans with your life otherwise?

A: Play, read and have a good time!

Words of wisdom?

A: It's never too late, work hard and have fun!

Something to add?

R: Today, July 26, it is exactly four years since Lackland was formed, you could say. That's when me and Antonio tore off the "Big Bang" with Bad Religion and put it on the net and Martin saw this.