THEN COMES SILENCE: ‘Like A Hammer’ – new single by Swedish post-punk/goth icons

Like A Hammer’ is the second single to be issued from ‘Trickery’, the stunning new album by Swedish post-punk/goth icons Then Comes Silence that is out on 5th April. It follows the well-received ‘Ride Or Die’, the video for which has received close to 150K views in under three weeks.

“There is a tradition based on an inside joke when I write and we record,” explains vocalist/bassist Alex Svenson. “Each of our albums has an ABBA moment and a Ramones moment or a Judas Priest moment, with either a melody, riff, drum beat or an entire part that has something familiar with one of these artists. ‘Like a Hammer’ was pointed out as the ABBA moment on this album by Jonas, our drummer.”

Stating that the song was actually the first to be written for ‘Trickery’, Svenson further reveals that “the album cover image showing our own custom made upside down Ace of Spades playing card with three drops of blood on it is referred to specifically in the lyric for ‘Like A Hammer’.”

‘Trickery’ itself is the audio definition of triumph over adversity. Backtracking to 2022, on the eve of their first-ever US tour and eager to promote their just released ‘Hunger’ album and its 2020 predecessor ‘Machine’, TCS were suddenly and unexpectedly reduced to a three-piece. Would their famed darkwave wall-of-sound still work in a trio format? Fortunately, the answer was resoundingly positive, so much so that they resolved to continue with this slimmed-down line-up on a permanent basis, a period that has already included further US and European tours, followed by their return to the studio to make ‘Trickery’.

The inadvertent metamorphosis of the band has also led to a different way of creating new music. In order to capture the heart and essence of the trio’s live prowess, ‘Trickery’ was recorded in just three days in Kapsylen Studio in Stockholm. With Jonas Fransson (a band member since 2015) laying down an energetic punk backbeat and sleaze punk fan Hugo Zombie (a 2018 recruit) providing inventive and rhythmic guitar lines, the main focus remains on singer and bassist Svenson, the sole surviving founder member from the band’s 2012 debut album. His velvety croon and solid bass lines are enhanced on ‘Trickery’ by retro synth sounds reminiscent of his recent solo futurist wave project, Neonpocalypse. “The electronic elements are essential to ‘Trickery’,” he adds, “but are also a salute to punk music, the cradle of Then Comes Silence and the cradle of post-punk.”

Founded by Svenson in 2012 and touring frequently to promote three albums released in quick succession, TCS soon found a large audience in Germany. Signing to Nuclear Blast in 2016 for the release of ‘Blood’, their fanbase widened as they shared stages with artists such as A Place To Bury Strangers, Chameleons and Fields Of The Nephilim and performed at festivals all over mainland Europe. Firmly in the vanguard of the new generation of post-punk, darkwave and goth artists releasing high-quality new material, they work hard to promote it and are recognised as a leading live act in their genre.

TCS have also built a significant UK following and 2024 has already seen them play a sold-out London show at the 229 venue. They will return to the capital on 1st November on a trip that will also see them play the Halloween edition of the renowned Whitby Goth Weekend. All upcoming dates can be found HERE.

TCS recently signed to Metropolis Records for the worldwide release of ‘Trickery’.

THEN COMES SILENCE | Trickery album cover artwork

from the album
TRICKERY
LP | CD | digital
out 05.04.24
(Metropolis Records)

pre-order LP | CD | pre-save/add digital

album also includes
RIDE OR DIE
stream

TRICKERY
TRACKLISTING
1 Ride Or Die
2 Like A Hammer
3 Feel The Cold
4 Tears And Cries
5 Stay Strange
6 Stiffs
7 Blind Eye
8 The Masquerade
9 Never Change
10 Dead Friend
11 Runners
12 Ghost House