"If you undermine the music of a society...you undermine the society!" Take your basic hard hitting rock band, add to this the darkness of bands like The Misfits and Motörhead, throw in the raw energy of punk rock and the brutality of death metal and there you have the ingredients for Lucien. Lucien were born when Guitarist/Singer Greg Hell first moved to Stockholm from Bristol, UK in 2004 and hooked up with guitarist Vic Hemgrem. The line up has been completed with the addition of drummer Stefan 'S.S' and via two ex-members, 21-year-old Johan on the bass. Between them, Vic and Greg are quite veterans of the underground scenes in their own countries with Greg playing for bands MR.ZIPPY (Golf Records/PHD) and infamous grindsters ANGELFUCK. While Vic has played for SORG, CONSTRUCDEAD (Black Lodge) and MAZE OF TORMENT (Black Lodge). ****** ****** ****** Lucien started when Singer/Guitarist Greg Hell was sat in the back of a van on tour around the UK for the 101th time, dreaming up the concept for LUCIEN, later on he left his UK punk band Mr.Zippy behind and bought a one-way ticket to Sweden. Seeking for passion, truth and good music he ended up in Stockholm. Before long he had thrown out a search for gunslingers for the posse and hooked up with guitarist Viktor Hemgren who had just been playing with the Örebro rawk band SAWED OFF but transpired had also done stints in other brutal black and death metal notables playing guitar and singing in SORG, singing in MÅNEGARM and played with MAZE OF TORMENT and CONSTRUCDEAD. Vic knew drummer Stephan 'S.S' who had been playing for several Metal and Hardcore bands before, originaly he was just to stand in while they tried out for a different member but impressed with his ruthless drumming style and he was the obvious choice to form the solid backbone of what was to become. In mid 2006, original Lucien bassist Ekwe Nordin sadly moved away from the band and started a new life for himself. During the UK tour of 2006 good friend Cloffe Caspersson (from Maze Of Torment) filled in. The latest addition to the clan is the 21-year old four-string muthafucker Johan whom Vic found fronting the band Ohwebe. "Lucien punk metal out fit from Sweden, I say punk metal band as its hard to put a name to this . Fast punchy guitars speeding out of control at times giving more a metal feel, but at times don’t give that impression more a punk feel so who knows. This 10 track offering is excellent so who cares punk metal be the same for now. I really have nothing bad to say about Lucien just there very talented with some very special guitar work on offer. The twin vocals had just another dimension expressing the band even more. Led zeppelin type vocals for sure but a more modern sound and some classic guitar riffs just in case you get bored. Sweden be proud, from the ashes are born a top band of pure energy rock n roll, and even speed metal, or may be just punk, none the less a belter of a cd." - punk & oi in the uk These Dirty Rock Swedes seem like they stand with one foot firmly in Black/Death metal, at least thats what you would think from the dark, black and white art work, skulls, band posing by an angel etc. The music stands however completely clearly in the turbo-rock tradition. Clean, tight, fast and full of energy. Total full on rock and roll at work here, one hears the band really getting into what they play and great musical intricacy and talent (also a reference to their Metal past?). Keep an eye on these guys, for your own unholy sake! (8/10) (Simon Loidl) - OX-FANZINE (Germany) Full on melodic dirty rock 'n' roll and punk fight side by side against the establishment. Charming - like mooning your neighbour at the dinner table and stealing his wife. Think the earlier HELLACOPTERS with influences from IRON MAIDEN, MOTORHEAD, ZEKE and something brings to mind the long forgotten MARY BEATS JANE. Something about this also brings to mind THE SONICS. LUCIEN includes members that have played in SOMBER, ANGELFUCK and SORG and a band that releases an EP called "DIY ELLER DÖ" (DIY or Die) deserves respect. The song "Destroy The Ark" is great, Ola Salo can always do with a good kick on the way down. - CLOSE UP MAGAZINE(Sweden) Another release from Ireland based label Dead Lamb. This time its by a rock n roll band from Sweden called Lucien. Lucien certainly does know how to rock. On this cd you get 10 tracks of rock n roll mayhem. Complete with all the things that make a rock n roll band a rock n roll band. Good vocals, guitar solos, a good fast beat and lots of energy and pasion. One thing though these guys actually are on the verge of metal. You can hear small signs of it in the music and if you read the lyrics they are more metal then anything. Perhaps on their next album a more metal sound will come out. After all isnt metal just rock n roll turned up to the next level? Regardless of how you clasifie these guys the album is solid and worth buying. Rating: 4/5 - MASS MOVEMENT (UK)