Yes, I could thank the late Tomas “Tompa” Lindberg for all he did for metal. And having seen At The Gates twice confirmed that he had one hell of a presence on stage. But my most precious memories of him are from when he curated part of the line-up for Roadburn Festival in 2019. That year was a blast and showcased just how much of a range Tompa had in terms of music knowledge. And how he supported even the smallest of acts. He was very metal. But he also breathed pure DIY punk energy. And Live The Storm is one of the key albums to remember him by.
You are most welcome to hear his ravishing screams in Swedish as he collaborated with the legendary crust punk act Skitsystem on the album Enkel Resa Till Rännstenen. But Tompa’s true punk lovechild was Disfear and Live The Storm was the band’s last record. An airtight crust punk album that will grab you by the collar from the get go and throw you into a whirlpool of catchy-as-rabies riffs, powerful D-beat drumming, and of course the passionate, revolution-inspiring screams that could only come from Tompa.
Rest in power, Tompa. You surely lived one hell of a storm.