Passenger was a Swedish

metal A metal (from Greek μέταλλον ''métallon'', "mine, quarry, metal") is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typicall ...

band active between 1995 and 2004.

History

Passenger was formed in 1995 by Sten and Engelin. Both members wanted to do something that was not

thrash metal Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...

melodic death metal Melodic death metal (also referred to as melodeath) is a subgenre of death metal that employs highly melodic guitar riffs, often borrowing from traditional heavy metal (including New Wave of British Heavy Metal). The genre features the heavines ...

unlike the bands they played in. At its early stages the band was originally called Cliff. Under the name Cliff they recorded two demos in

Studio Fredman Studio Fredman is a well-known recording studio in Gothenburg, Sweden, owned and operated by producer Fredrik Nordström. It is popular among Swedish metal bands, with artists such as At the Gates, Deathstars, Nightrage, Norwegian band Dimmu Borg ...

that were never released. After a break in the band and after Engelin was hired as a session guitarist for

In Flames In Flames is a Swedish heavy metal band, formed by guitarist Jesper Strömblad in Gothenburg in 1990. Alongside At the Gates and Dark Tranquillity, In Flames pioneered the genres known as Swedish death metal and melodic death metal. During t ...

' ''

Whoracle ''Whoracle'' is the third studio album by Swedish heavy metal band In Flames, released on 18 November 1997. The title of the album is a portmanteau of the English words "whore" and " oracle". Apart from "Everything Counts", which is a cover o ...

'' tour,

Anders Fridén Pär Anders Fridén (born 25 March 1973) is a Swedish vocalist, best known as the lead singer of Heavy metal music, heavy metal band In Flames. He was also the vocalist of Dark Tranquillity and Passenger (Swedish band), Passenger, a side project ...

, the vocalist of In Flames showed interest in Passenger and joined the band. In 2000, the band came back from its break and went on to record a demo. In 2001, the band recorded another demo in which early versions of the songs "Used", "In My Head", "Circus" and "Drowning City" were recorded. After a third demo the band finally recorded and released their debut album entitled ''

Passenger A passenger (also abbreviated as pax) is a person who travels in a vehicle, but does not bear any responsibility for the tasks required for that vehicle to arrive at its destination or otherwise operate the vehicle, and is not a steward. The ...

''. A video for "In Reverse" was also released. They did their only tour during New Year's period of 2003/2004, opening for

Lacuna Coil Lacuna Coil is an Italian gothic metal band from Milan. Since their formation in 1994, the group has had two name changes, being previously known as Sleep of Right and Ethereal, and they have recorded nine studio albums, two extended plays, two ...

, with

Moonspell Moonspell is a Portuguese gothic metal band formed in 1992. The group released their first EP, ''Under the Moonspell'', in 1994 and followed up with their debut album, '' Wolfheart'', a year later. They quickly became the most recognizable meta ...

and

Poisonblack Poisonblack was a Finnish gothic metal band led by singer and guitarist Ville Laihiala. History In 2003, the band's first album, ''Escapexstacy'', was on the Finnish national charts for three weeks, peaking at No. 21. They opened for Iro ...

. Sten noted in February 2004 on their official website that they were in the process of recording their second album. However, since then, Fridén, lead vocalist of both Passenger and In Flames has been noted saying that he has little time for the project, due to other commitments, and the group has split up as a result. In an interview with Fridén he stated that as soon as he gets a break from In Flames, he wants to get all the group together to record a second album for early 2010. This however, did not happen as Anders continued touring with In Flames until October 2010 when they entered their studio to record their next album. As of 2013, a decade after the band released their self-titled debut album, there has not been any activity in regards to regrouping. However, an interview with Unsung Melody, Fridén has acknowledged that there has been some minor activity, but nothing solid.

Band members

– vocals * Patrik J. Sten – drums *

Niklas Engelin Niclas Engelin (born 27 December 1972) is a Swedish heavy metal guitarist for Drömriket, Passenger, Engel and The Halo Effect. He previously was the lead guitarist for and Gardenian and the rhythm guitarist for In Flames and has been in and ...

– guitar * Håkan Skoger – bass

Discography

References

External links

Passenger Bio at ''The Gauntlet''
Musical groups established in 1995 Swedish heavy metal musical groups Century Media Records artists Swedish alternative metal musical groups Swedish nu metal musical groups Musical groups disestablished in 2004 Musical quartets {{Sweden-band-stub

History

Band members

Discography

See also

References

External links