Skambankt was founded in Klepp, Rogaland, Norway in the year 1994. The line-up consisted of Ted Winters (Terje Vinterstø) on guitar and vocals, Don Fist (Tollak Friestad) on bass, and Hanz Panzer (Hans Egil Løe) on drums. In this configuration, the group played sporadic shows in Klepp and local areas, and some demos were recorded. Interest quickly waned and the band dissolved in 1996. Some of the songs written during this period, such as "Demoattakk" would be recorded upon the band's re-formation.
Ten years after its formation, in 2004, the original Skambankt line-up met at a stag party where there was a stage with full backline. Some time after midnight, a decision was made that the band was to be revived. They recorded some basic demos and gained some exposure through Urørt, a Norwegian radio showcase for unsigned talent. Some changes were made to the line-up; Hanz Panzer switched to the guitar and his brother, Tom Skalle (Tom Egil Løe) became the new drummer. They eventually signed a record deal with Dog Job, and recorded their first album, the self-titled Skambankt, which came out in 2004. As Winters was also a member of Kaizers Orchestra, a small number of that group's fan base embraced Skambankt as well, fueling their rising underground popularity.
Subsequently, Skambankt earned a reputation of being a live band to watch after playing at many prestigious festival shows in Norway, Denmark and Germany. Their first notable rise to fame was their concert at the 2005 Roskilde Festival, where they played for 20,000 people. In 2005, they recorded and released Skamania, an EP containing six new songs and two videos, for "KKK!" and "Me sa nei!", respectively. The style of the EP's music and lyrics is considered a transition between the band's original style and the hard rock style they would later adapt. Shortly after the release of Skamania, Tom Skalle quit the band, and was replaced by Bones Wolsman (Børge Henriksen).
On 29 January 2007, the band released their second studio album, Eliksir. The album received positive reviews and even made it as far as the 8th place on the Norwegian album charts in its first week. The band toured throughout 2007 and played a small number of shows in 2008, despite the fact that Winters performed as an active member of Kaizers Orchestra for most of the year.
That fall, the band booked a studio from September through October, where they went on to record what would become the band's next album, Hardt Regn. The album was released on 26 January 2009, with a subsequent release party and tour following shortly thereafter. The album received many positive reviews and stayed on the Norwegian album charts for six weeks, peaking at the #5 spot. Three singles were released; "Malin", "O Dessverre" and "Kom hell", the latter two of which had music videos shot for them which were played in heavy rotation on music video shows on Norwegian television.
The first single from their then-untitled fourth studio album, "Mantra", was released digitally on 17 May 2010 - the Norwegian Independence Day. The album, Søvnløs was released on 6 September 2010. A limited edition remastered LP box set (whose version of Skamania contained three bonus tracks) comprised of all their releases up until Søvnløs, was released on 8 November 2010.
In 2014, all of three years after their last album, Skambankt released Sirene in late January. So far, it is the most critically acclaimed album of theirs, having amassed glowing reviews from more than ten reputable Norwegian publications, including Dagbladet, one of the "Big Three" of Norwegian newspapers. The first single from the album was "Voodoo", released earlier that month.
Mantra
Skambankt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
før eg brått, før eg brått fant veien ut av klørnå
en bankers idé, en nøkkel te sukksess
eg har lenge misforstått men det handler kun om en ting
det vekker følelser sorte som natt
det vekker følelser som eg feier under teppet og tar fart
heilt uten skrupler
ta det en vil ha
mantra - mantra
ikkje del, nei ikkje del for då får du bare mindre
bare stjel, ja bare stjel - alt tilgjengelig er bare ditt
i min nye bibel står det skrevet svart på kvitt
dette gildet, dette gildet har eg for meg sjøl
det vekker følelser sorte som natt
det vekker følelser som eg feier under teppet
ja det vekker følelser, men det skal bli godt
det vekker følelse, men eg tok bare en fakkel som du tente på
en må ta og ta
heilt uten skrupler
ta det en vil ha
mantra - mantra
en må ta og ta
heilt uten skrupler
ta det en vil ha
The lyrics to Skambankt's "Mantra" tell a story of a person who has been walking without finding the door, struggling to find their way out of their struggles. They have been holding onto a flawed idea of success for a long time, but now they realize that it all boils down to one thing. This realization awakens dark emotions in the person, emotions that they usually hide away and ignore.
The lyrics then proceed to talk about a new philosophy that the person has embraced. They now believe that in order to get what they want, they must take it without any guilt. The idea of sharing is discouraged, as it only makes one end up with less. The person now considers this new belief system as their personal "bible", and they revel in their newfound sense of power and control.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "en må ta og ta, heilt uten skrupler, ta det en vil ha, mantra - mantra" ("one must take and take, without any scruples, take what one wants, mantra - mantra"). This repetition emphasizes the importance of the mantra, and how it has become the guiding principle in the person's life.
Overall, the lyrics to "Mantra" convey a sense of darkness, desperation, and a lust for power. The person in the song has been struggling for a long time, and has now seemingly found a way out of their troubles, even if it means resorting to unscrupulous means.
Line by Line Meaning
Eg har gått, eg har gått, eg har gått uten å komma te dørå
I have been walking for a long time without reaching my destination
før eg brått, før eg brått fant veien ut av klørnå
Then suddenly I found a way out of my difficult situation
en bankers idé, en nøkkel te sukksess
A certain idea or method is the key to success
eg har lenge misforstått men det handler kun om en ting
I have been mistaken for a long time, but it is only about one thing
det vekker følelser sorte som natt
It ignites emotions as dark as the night
det vekker følelser som eg feier under teppet og tar fart
It brings up emotions that I tend to ignore but now I am embracing them
en må ta og ta
One must keep taking or grabbing
heilt uten skrupler
Totally without scruples or morals
ta det en vil ha
Take whatever one wants
mantra - mantra
Repeating this philosophy like a mantra
ikkje del, nei ikkje del for då får du bare mindre
Don't share, no don't share, as you will only end up with less
bare stjel, ja bare stjel - alt tilgjengelig er bare ditt
Just steal, yes just steal- everything available is all yours
i min nye bibel står det skrevet svart på kvitt
In my new bible it is written clearly
dette gildet, dette gildet har eg for meg sjøl
This treasure, this treasure is only for myself
ja det vekker følelser, men det skal bli godt
Yes, it brings up emotions, but it will feel good
det vekker følelse, men eg tok bare en fakkel som du tente på
It brings up emotions, but I just picked up a torch that you lit
Contributed by Alice Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Njet Vahly
@J MG I have walked, I have walked, without getting to the door
Quickly before, quickly before, I found my way out of the claws
A nailed ide, a key to succsed
I have long misunderstod, its only about one thing
It awakes feelings, dark as night
It awakes feelings, and I sweep them under the rug, and speed away
You have to take and take
With out mercy
Take what you want
Mantra Mantra
ART BY
I've walked, I've walked, I've walked without ever reaching the door
før eg brått, før eg brått fant veien ut av klørnå before I suddenly, before I suddenly found a loophole out of the claws
en bankers idé, en nøkkel te suksess a sure-fire idea, a key to success
eg har lenge misforstått men det handler kun om en ting For so long I have misunderstood, but it's all about one thing
det vekker følelser sorte som natt it arouses feelings, black as the night
det vekker følelser som eg feier under teppet og tar fart it arouses feelings that I sweep under the carpet and gain momentum
en må ta og ta one must take and take
heilt uten skrupler without any scruple
ta det en vil ha take whatever one wants to have
mantra - mantra mantra - mantra
ikkje del, nei ikkje del for då får du bare mindre don't share, no, don't share, because that would make you get less
bare stjel, ja bare stjel - alt tilgjengelig e bare ditt just steal, yes, just steal - everything available is only yours
i min nye bibel står det skrevet svart på kvitt in my new bible it is spelled out in black and white
dette gildet, dette gildet har eg for meg sjøl this feast, this feast is just for me alone
det vekker følelser sorte som natt it arouses feelings, black as the night
det vekker følelser som eg feier under teppet it arouses feelings that I sweep under the carpet
det vekker følelser, men det skal bli godt it arouses feelings, but this will be good
det vekker følelser, it arouses feelings,
men eg tok bare en fakkel som du tente på but I only picked up a torch that you lit
en må ta og ta one must take and take
heilt uten skrupler without any scruple
ta det en vil ha take whatever one wants to have
mantra - mantra mantra - mantra
David Lopez Alvarez
Que buena banda de rock. Saludos desde México
hhegehagen
Can't stop listening to it! Love it <3
MultiSmokeit
Jææævligt bra guttar, detta falt absolutt så jævligt godt i smak på morgenkvisten :) Dokker e skamgoe dokker, glede meg te å se dokker på scenen igjen :) STÅ PÅ!!!
TheFutski
Both bands are awesome. Skambankt because it's just badass rock, Kaizers because it's skummelt and gypsy-like.
JVS
Sjefs låt :) gleder meg til å se dem i Stavanger igjen nå i November :D
glenngeeful
I have no idea what they"re saying and it does not matter... I love this
hazwin the betrayed
same
Njet Vahly
@J MG I have walked, I have walked, without getting to the door
Quickly before, quickly before, I found my way out of the claws
A nailed ide, a key to succsed
I have long misunderstod, its only about one thing
It awakes feelings, dark as night
It awakes feelings, and I sweep them under the rug, and speed away
You have to take and take
With out mercy
Take what you want
Mantra Mantra
Tom Ruud
.Norwegian. I can translate if you wish..
Ida Kvam
Just loving it : )