Immutable Behaviour, the new album from Swedish industrial post-punk act The Below, combines the band’s two critically acclaimed 2024 EPs — Immutable Decay and Behaviour in Public Places — into one devastating and relentlessly heavy LP.
With Immutable Behaviour, The Below offer an immersive journey into their sonic world, which draws from industrial, post-punk, experimental, electronic, and noise rock influences. Both EPs were crafted using a mix of harsh industrial sounds — scrap metal, found objects, and power tools — woven into distortion-driven soundscapes. While their foundation is similar, the two EPs explore distinct creative territories.
Coinciding with the album’s release is the debut of a surreal and unsettling animated video for Behaviour in Public Places’ darkest offering, Hitobito (Only the Shadows). Created by Daniele Arcuri, known for collaborations with Vince Clark and Pixelgrinder, this eighth and final video in the album’s visual series offers a haunting interpretation of the song’s themes.
Immutable Decay — featuring vocalist Aaron Sutcliffe — delivers a raw and politically charged message. 90 Seconds to Midnight, with its intense percussion and unrelenting energy, highlights themes of corruption and environmental degradation, painting a grim portrait of humanity on the brink. Meanwhile, Artificial Lights (Dystopian Haze) captures the harrowing reality of living in bomb shelters during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Driven by the sharp percussive sounds of scrap metal and Sutcliffe’s emotional delivery, the song offers an intense reflection on the human cost of war.
Behaviour in Public Places, with vocals by Jesper Hanning, explores the darker corners of the human psyche. The track Heebie-Jeebies Süssigkeit examines the hidden facets of human nature, juxtaposing eerie harmonies with harsh industrial textures. Hanning’s performance uses the chilling example of John Wayne Gacy to highlight the extremes of concealed darkness. Hitobito (Only the Shadows) reflects on the devastating bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where the shadows of victims were permanently seared into stone. The song contrasts the slow, grinding intensity of harsh industrial sounds with a delicate melodic thread, giving it a haunting and thought-provoking quality.
On Behaviour in Public Places, the opening track Tabla Motors explore themes of ageing and mortality, reinforcing the EP’s introspective and thought-provoking tone. Meanwhile, Immutable Decay closes with the hauntingly gem Immutable Decay (Outro), a track that reflects on humanity’s failure to learn from history, caught in an endless cycle of repeating the same mistakes. Together, these tracks showcase the depth and thematic resonance that define The Below’s work.
Thematically, Immutable Behaviour encapsulates the existential and emotional weight that defines The Below’s music. It challenges listeners with stark reflections on humanity’s fragility and resilience, all underscored by the visceral power of industrial soundscapes.
As The Below explain: “At our core, humans share much with the animal kingdom, with some traits seemingly hardwired into our species. Some of our most destructive tendencies stem from this Immutable Behaviour. Xenophobia, scapegoating, conspiracy theories, and the reliance on violence as a solution have echoed through the pages of history. In these dark times, we are repeatedly confronted with the shortsightedness and self-centered nature of humankind.”
Bo Magnusson, the visionary behind The Below, began his artistic journey as a member of the industrial collective Dr. Evil and The Boys From Below. Emerging from Sweden’s vibrant underground scene during the ’80s and early ’90s, the group earned a reputation for their provocative and boundary-pushing performances. Their shows often featured unconventional props like pig skulls, man-sized test tubes, levitating washing machines, and a cacophony of scrap metal — merging music with performance art the band developed a cult following before disbanding in 1992. Magnusson then stepped back from music for several years.
In 2015, Magnusson returned to the creative fold, launching The Below — a project that revisits his experimental roots while exploring new sonic territory. By incorporating repurposed materials and long-unused instruments, he has developed a distinctive sound that weaves together elements of industrial, post-punk, and experimental music. The Below’s compositions are journeys into the haunting and raw, characterised by the interplay of metallic clashes, distorted tones, and atmospheric tension.
The Below continues to craft music that challenges and provokes, delving into contemporary global issues and the complexities of the human condition. Their unique blend of industrial and post-punk influences remains a testament to their experimental spirit and collaborative approach.”
Listen to Immutable Behavior and watch their videos below, and join The Below on their Instagram and Facebook.
