‘Miserere Mei’ out 25th February
DEBUT ALBUM OUT 4th APRIL
As the countdown to the release of their highly anticipated debut album miserere mei approaches, Sweden’s Isolated Youth tease fans with the release of the album’s bold title track. With production and mentorship from The Horrors’ Faris Badwan, the gothic quartet are a rising force within the post-punk landscape.
As the final insight into their mind blowing debut, ‘Miserere Mei’ erupts with jagged, razor-sharp guitars and a driving bassline, anchored by the icy tones of vocalist Axel Mårdberg‘s distinctive delivery. Musically, the song draws inspiration from Nina Simone’s ‘Sinnerman’ and Arvo Pärt’s ‘Miserere’, translating those influential works into a visceral gothic/post-punk soundscape. Beneath the track’s sonic intensity lies a narrative of deep personal transformation, emerging from a pivotal moment experienced by guitarist William Mårdbarg during a freezing wait at a bus stop. After temporarily relocating to his parents’ home, William faced the necessity of reaching Stockholm, which demanded a grueling trek across a snow-laden field. Fierce winds whipped across the expansive landscape, bordered by a dense, ‘Bauer-esque’ forest, nearly sealing his eyes shut as deep snow muffled his steps and icy gusts tested the limits of his endurance.
“I sat down in the small wooden shelter at the bus stop. I had a strange feeling when I started writing lyrics inspired by ‘Sinnerman’, so much so that despite being very cold that winter day, I forgot to step out to show myself when the bus arrived, and it blew past,” William recalls “I based it similarly on the bass line I couldn’t get out of my head, and wrote each part in my head in the cold. However, for the life of me, I couldn’t come up with the final bit of lyrics, so Axel wrote something different much later, I don’t think I ever would, so it was probably for the better”
The track weaves together intricate themes of guilt, spiritualism, and familial dynamics, representing what William calls “a broken and incomplete” exploration of personal history. Following the song’s creation, a conversation with filmmaker Gernot Wieland in Berlin would later illuminate the universal threads woven into its fabric. “We are secularized in Sweden, but also Protestants,” William reflects. “When Gernot spoke about his Catholic upbringing in lower Austria, I could really relate to the themes of guilt, spiritualism, family dynamics – it felt like the answers were there, waiting to be processed through the various works I write.”
Drawing from Swedish poet Werner Aspenström‘s reflection that “It is not you who travel forward, it is a darkness that travels towards you and past you,” the song captures a sense of spiritual searching. The phrase ‘Miserere Mei’ (translating to “Have Mercy On Me”) – tattooed on William’s arm before the song’s conception and featured in the album’s cover art – serves as both personal talisman and the upcoming record’s guiding spirit, embodying the environment they grew up in.
What distinguishes Isolated Youth within the alternative scene is their ability to produce not only introspective tracks but also danceable, instantly recognisable post-punk anthems. Hailing from the remote coastal town of Norrtälje, Isolated Youth’s upcoming debut album miserere mei is deeply shaped by the atmospheric Nordic landscape they grew up in. From the icy hooks of ‘Ghost Town’ inspired by the desolate streets of Stockholm to the ghostly ‘Psykosoma’, conceived in a studio nestled between a forested graveyard, the band channel the play of light and darkness of their region through a gothic, distortion-fueled lens. Formed by brothers Axel and William Mardberg, along with drummer Andreas Geidemark and bassist Elmer Hallsby, the band channels a raw and atmospheric style that draws influence from icons like The Chameleons, The Gun Club, and Siouxsie & The Banshees. With Axel’s piercing falsetto and William’s intricate, Johnny Marr-esque guitar lines, Isolated Youth have crafted an album that feels both nostalgic and deeply contemporary.
Faris Badwan, who discovered the group during a live stream, was immediately captivated by their unique blend of post-punk urgency and emotive vulnerability, becoming what William describes as “a lovely, weird gothic uncle we never knew we had.” Joining as both producer and mentor, his input helps to expand Isolated Youth’s distinct dynamics into a simultaneously expansive and intimate sonic world. Described by co-producer Max Hayes (Primal Scream, Rolling Stones) as “an actual real rock album”, Isolated Youth have masterfully translated the electrifying energy of their live shows into studio recordings, crafting a gothic post-punk/alternative rock sound reminiscent of icons like Nine Inch Nails or Joy Division. The album’s title, which translates to “Have Mercy On Me’”, speaks to the challenges the band faced during the recording process, including health issues, pandemic-related obstacles, travel difficulties, and personal trauma. However, their strength shines through and their resilience is evident in the close bond shared by all members, contributing to an album that resonates on many levels.
‘Miserere Mei’ is available across all streaming platforms from February 25th – whilst their debut album miserere mei is hailed for release April 4th.
Formed by brothers William and Axel Mardberg in the remote, coastal Swedish town of Norrtälje, Isolated Youth has fast become a force in the subterranean goth scene. Joined by drummer Andreas Geidemark and bassist Elmer Hallsby, the band’s early EPs on legendary darkwave label Fabrika captured a raw, uncompromising sound, with Axel’s unbroken teenage voice soaring tearing through cavernous ambiance, interrupted by violent jolts of distortion.
The band’s debut album ‘miserere mei’, coming via Memorials of Distinction and Birthday Records, marks a pivotal moment for the band: a new era with Faris Badwan of The Horrors as mentor and co-producer. After finding himself enamored with the band’s earlier work, he reached out and became what William describes as “a lovely, weird, gothic uncle we never knew we had.” His collaboration with Isolated Youth pushed them beyond their post-punk underground origins and towards something audibly bigger and bolder. Badwan brought in co-producer Max Heyes (Primal Scream, Rolling Stones), who describes the resulting record as “an actual, real rock album.” While retaining a dark edge, this is a record that sounds widescreen, ready for a bigger audience and larger stages. “With miserere mei, we had the freedom to explore and make choices we couldn’t before,” says William. “The collaboration with Faris and Max let us reshape ourselves.”
Isolated Youth began as an escape—a means for William, a former football player, to channel his energy into something different after an injury. “I just assembled the closest people around me,” he recalls, “and we started performing.” That small, intimate beginning has evolved into a profound, visceral expression of creativity and camaraderie. The sense of necessity filters through to the music. Axel, who was just 14 when the band played their first shows, often had to lie about his age to perform. He describes the experience of stepping on stage as transformative—a place where he and his brother reveal sides of themselves that remain hidden in everyday life. The album captures Axel’s evolution as a vocalist, which William notes has transformed not only the sound but also his approach to writing music. “Axel’s voice has clearly changed, and overall you can feel that the band has morphed into something different,” he explains. “Just finding our own voice as a group but also for Axel to find his new voice.”
The band’s early releases—Warfare (2019) and Iris (2020), both on Fabrika Records—helped establish them throughout the European underground, gaining praise for their intense style and lyrical depth. These releases put forward Isolated Youth as a band capable of delivering powerful, distortion-heavy sounds with a gothic edge. ‘miserere mei’, builds on those foundations, delivering an LP that is deeply shaped by the atmospheric Nordic landscape they grew up in, but projecting them towards new frontiers. Growing up in a small town with no real music scene, the Mardberg brothers were first exposed to music through their father’s car stereo, where they absorbed the sounds of David Bowie, Iggy Pop, and The Stooges. This early exposure laid the groundwork for their instinct-driven sound. The band play with the light and darkness of their home region; from the icy hooks of ‘Ghost Town’ inspired by the desolate streets of Stockholm to the ghostly ‘Psykosoma’, conceived in a studio nestled in a forested graveyard. Throughout the album recording, they experimented with industrial elements, drum machines, vocoders, and even found metal percussion sourced from a nearby construction site. ‘miserere mei’ draws from an eclectic mix of influences, with more obvious touch points such as Nine Inch Nails, Iceage, and Joy Division rubbing shoulders with references to the likes of Nina Simone.
For William, the project intertwines with his current life as an artist. The album’s journey began with a large, personal painting that became the cover art, setting the tone for the music that followed. He describes the process as a kind of autofiction—a way to capture personal reflections and emotions visually before they became music. This layered approach brings an added depth to ‘miserere mei’, making it both an artistic and musical experience for listeners. The artistic experience extends to their live performances, which bring a confrontational energy; the band becoming an installation piece that challenges and immerses the crowd. For Isolated Youth, performing is an act of vulnerability and catharsis, a space where they are free to express themselves fully. As Axel describes it, each performance is “like telling all your innermost secrets to a large group of people, and then vanishing.”
With ‘miserere mei’, Isolated Youth continues to carve out their place in the post-punk landscape. This album is a testament to their growth, authenticity, and commitment to raw expression, ensuring they resonate with audiences seeking music that is both deeply personal and powerfully evocative.
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