Lärm
Dutch hardcore punk band
Lärm (German for noise) were a Dutch hardcore punk band from Achterveld and Amersfoort, formed in 1982, originally playing under the name Total Chaoz. They are considered pioneers of the blast beat, as well as one of the first bands to be labeled as thrashcore. The band referred to their music as "extreme noise", due to their short, fast, and out of tune playing style. Maximumrocknroll has cited them as "very politically aware and idealistic", while describing their music as "raging, noisy outbursts" and additionally characterizing them as "Holland’s version of a young DRI."
01History
The band was formed by Jos, Dorien, Paul, and Olav in December 1982 after changing their name from Total Chaoz. The name change was due to other bands already using the name Total Chaos, and because of the members' love for Finnish hardcore punk bands such as Riistetyt, Kaaos, and Terveet Kädet. Their lyrics were very social and political, covering themes of fascism, religion, and capitalism, as well as speaking about topics such as the arms race and the third world. Lärm was seen as different from many other bands, as members of the group were part of the straight edge movement, something that uncommon in the crust punk scene at the time.
Lärm disbanded in 1987 and members went on to form Seein' Red a year later. in 1990, members formed the communist straight edge band Manliftingbanner who played in a more conventional hardcore punk style.
They reformed in 2003 and played shows until 2012. Since 2012, the band has played occasional one-off reunion concerts in their home country.
02Trivia
Lärm are considered to be one of the first bands to use the super-fast "jackhammer" blast drum beat, a conventional playing style that became prevalent in powerviolence and extreme metal music later on. Napalm Death adopted the blast beat on drums after seeing Lärm play live in the early '80s.
03Members
04Discography
Studio albums
- Campaign For Musical Destruction / No Secrets - split w/ Stanx (1984, Eenheidsfront Records)
- Straight on View (1986, One Step Ahead Records)
- It's About Time... To Fight Back!!! - split w/ Seein' Red (1997, Axioma Promotions)
- Lärm (2010, Way Back When Records)
EPs
- No One Can Be That Dumb (1986, Self-released)
- Nothing Is Hard in This World if You Dare to Scale the Heights (1987, Definite Choice Records)
- Extreme Noise Terrorism (1995, Left Wing Records)
- Destroy Sexism (1995, Wicked Witch Records)
Compilations
- Extreme Noise (Complete Campaign For Musical Destruction) (1997, Coalition Records)
Compilation appearances
- End the Warzone (1986, One Step Ahead Records)
Miscellaneous
- Lärm as Fuck / Humus - split (2004, Wasted Youth Power Records)
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Lärm”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Larm1.jpg by Pepofen, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Larm2.jpg by Pepofen, CC BY-SA 2.0
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