Millencolin

ByLets Go Punk
Millencolin are a Swedish punk rock band from Örebro

Millencolin are a Swedish punk rock band formed on October 12, 1992 in Örebro, Sweden by Nikola Šarčević, Mathias Färm, and Erik Ohlsson. Drummer Fredrik Larzon joined in early 1993, locking in the long-running lineup that carried the band through decades of records, touring, and skate culture crossover.

How The Band Got Started

The band began as a trio with Šarčević on vocals and bass, Ohlsson on guitar, and Färm on drums. They recorded their first demo tape, Goofy, in early 1993. Soon after, Larzon joined on drums, which shifted Färm to second guitar. That same summer, the band recorded a second demo, Melack, and sent it to Burning Heart Records, a newly formed Swedish label. Burning Heart signed them for a CD single, leading to Use Your Nose in November 1993, a release that helped set the band on a path toward full-length albums.

Early Releases And The First Albums

With momentum from the single, Burning Heart signed Millencolin for a full album. In 1994, the band released Skauch, which was initially intended as a single for the upcoming album, but it grew into an EP when the band decided to add four cover songs. That same year, they released their first major album, Tiny Tunes. The original version later ran into legal trouble connected to the title and cover artwork, which led to a 1998 re-release under the name Same Old Tunes.

In 1995, Millencolin followed with Life on a Plate, and their touring expanded beyond Scandinavia. Toward the end of 1995, Epitaph wanted to release Life on a Plate in the United States, and the band agreed. Their touring widened even more after that, with dates in places like Japan, Australia, Brazil, and Canada, plus a spot on the Warped Tour in 1997.

Pennybridge Pioneers And A Bigger Profile

Millencolin continued releasing records through the late 1990s, including For Monkeys and the compilation The Melancholy Collection. Their profile jumped again in 2000 with Pennybridge Pioneers, an album that leaned further into a rock direction compared with their earlier skate punk and ska punk-leaning material. After the album’s release, the band toured broadly, with early dates in New Zealand and Australia, which also led to an earlier release window in those countries.

While out touring, they wrote material that became Home from Home, released in 2002. In 2003, the band received a Best Swedish Rock award from the Swedish Hit Awards.

Kingwood, Machine 15, And The Later Era

Kingwood arrived in March 2005 and steered back toward faster, more traditional punk rock while still carrying the band’s later rock-side instincts. The album debuted at number 2 on the Swedish chart and was followed by a world tour.

On October 22, 2007, the band entered the studio to start writing and recording their seventh album, Machine 15, which was released in 2008. Over the years that followed, they kept active with touring and releases, including True Brew in 2015 and SOS in 2019.

Skateboarding And Örebro

Skateboarding has stayed tied to the band from the start, including their explanation for the band name, which is derived from the skateboard trick “melancholy.” They also hosted their own skate contest, the Millencolin Open, at their skatepark in Örebro. The band has described skateboarding as the thing that originally brought them together, and the event became a way to invest back into their hometown and the local skate scene.

In 2009, they released a single called “Örebro,” dedicated to their hometown football club Örebro SK, and it was played at the club’s stadium, Eyravallen.

Millencolin 20 Year Festival

In 2012, the band celebrated 20 years with a two-day outdoor event in Örebro called the Millencolin 20 Year Festival, held June 8 and 9 at Brunnsparken. Millencolin closed both nights with two exclusive sets that pulled from across their career, using different songs each night. The festival also included other bands, a skate contest, and a nearby camp area for attendees.

Members

  • Nikola Šarčević – bass guitar, vocals (1992–present)
  • Mathias Färm – drums (1992–1993), rhythm guitar (1993–present)
  • Erik Ohlsson – lead guitar (1992–present), rhythm guitar (1992–1993)
  • Fredrik Larzon – drums (1993–present)

Discography

  • Tiny Tunes (1994), later re-released as Same Old Tunes (1998)
  • Life on a Plate (1995)
  • For Monkeys (1997)
  • Pennybridge Pioneers (2000)
  • Home from Home (2002)
  • Kingwood (2005)
  • Machine 15 (2008)
  • True Brew (2015)
  • SOS (2019)

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