For the last couple of decades, MASSGRAV has been a constant of the Swedish extreme music scene. Mixing roots in the scandinavian hardcore tradition of the 80s and early 90s with a deep-seated love for rock n’ roll, the band has steamrolled forward to stake out their very own path to glory.

PIZZA SPEZIALE sees the band return once more to work with top forces Robert Pehrsson in Studio Humbucker for recording and mixing, and Dan Randall of Mammoth Sound for mastering. Another contributor on this album is the Baboon Show’s Cecilia Boström, who adds vocals to the track “Vilken del av dra åt helvete är det du inte förstår”. Moving even further into rock territory, this album still maintains the speed and nastiness of previous releases, causing De:Nihil label boss Larzon to dub MASSGRAVs current style “Raggarmangel”.

The album title has little to do with pizza – it is derived from the use of “Pizza special” as a derogatory term for someone who is different, and the title track encourages anyone who is mocked for being odd to wear the insult as a medal and take pride in not being like everyone else.

Over the years, MASSGRAV has played venues from Russia in the east to the Americas in the west and shared split releases with bands like Yacopsaë, Diskonto, Blood I bleed and Widespread Bloodshed as well as a long line of albums and EP:s.

After years of severe drummer problems – with several band members being rendered incapable of ever playing drums again from the sheer physical abuse of drumming for the band – the line-up finally stabilized with the arrival of current drummer Fenok in 2010. In 2018, Jesper Liveröd joined the band to add a second guitar to the mix to further increase the intensity and aggression.

The core of MASSGRAV will always be full tilt, ferocious scandi thrash mixed with rock, and the lyrics will always deal with problems like bosses, right wing politicians, cops, rich people and the so called “scene”. MASSGRAV live will always be a fist to the face, one that still leaves you with a smile. MASSGRAV will always be faster, better and more good looking. Hearts are broken. Enemies are crushed. Forward ‘til death!