Sidestep

Photo: Thomas Kofod

Sidestep is the first hardcore band from outside of the Americas that I am writing about. Sidestep hails from Gothenburg, Sweden, and quickly made their way into my favorites the second I discovered them. The band's 2022 release Control Society is chock-full of seven energy-packed songs that make you want to jump around until you can't anymore or the fourteen-minute album ends whichever comes first. The artwork for Sidestep's album has a lot going on. The green statue featured in the upper left-hand corner is of the Greek god Poseidon. The statue is a famous landmark of Gothenburg and was created by Carl Milles in 1931. Poseidon is seen as the protector of sailors which makes sense as Gothenburg is located on the western coast of Sweden. The sharks on the album represent the members of Sidestep as some visual comparisons can be made to the members. Within the trolley car, the caricature from the band's Demo can be seen. Sidestep's Demo is just as amped up as their new album and set the groundwork for the band's sound. Additionally, the band has a song featured on a compilation album. This album features individual songs from hardcore bands that are all from Sweden, the album's title is Flubber World, and was produced by Flubber which is based out of Stockholm, Sweden. Lyrically Sidestep embodies the typical hardcore themes of corruption and a feeling of discontent. Hopefully, the band will someday tour in the United States and I will get the chance to sidestep at the Sidestep show.

3/7/2023