Morlocks (Swedish band)

Lore & Background

Morlocks released their first demo cassette, They're Not Human, in 1991, combining electronic body music and ambient music. The band disbanded in 1993 but re-formed in 1997 with a different lineup. Their 1998 demo Through the Waking World featured a varied sound ranging from guitar-based electronic music to medieval-influenced pieces, orchestral parts, and synth-pop, leading to a record deal with Nangijala Records. Their debut album on that label, ...For Your Pleasure?, was released in 2001 and contained reworked tracks from the demo. Internal disagreements over creative direction and album production led to the band's breakup after the 2002 single 'Non Trigger Man', though the band later reformed, releasing The Outlaw of Fives in 2011 and Praise the Iconoclast in 2023.

Reader's Guide

Morlocks' significance lies in their stylistic evolution and cross-genre collaborations, particularly with KMFDM. After reforming in 2003 with new members including Logos and Innocentius Rabiatus, the band shifted toward industrial rock and metal with orchestral arrangements. Their 2011 album The Outlaw of Fives marked a thematic turn toward Steampunk and Discordian philosophy. The band's collaboration with KMFDM produced a mix of 'Krank' for the single 'Amnesia' (2012) and the co-written song 'The Mess You Made' on KMFDM's 2013 album Kunst. Morlocks' later work included a cover of Bathory's 'The Lake' and the 2023 album Praise the Iconoclast, released on Metropolis Records. Founding member Johann Strauss died on March 1, 2026, marking the end of the band's active period.

Did You Know?

• Morlocks' first demo, They're Not Human, was released in 1991 and combined electronic body music and ambient music.
• The band's 2011 album The Outlaw of Fives marked a thematic shift toward Steampunk aesthetics and Discordian philosophy.
• Founding member and lead vocalist Johann Strauss died on March 1, 2026.