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.
Nemesis
Skambankt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
du fløy rundt der og bruste stolt med ting du stjal fra meg
og du blei slått te ridder i ditt lag
holdt så tett te brystet kem som va ditt opphav
stakkars nemesis du e en ravn
du visste men du skjulte kem som fekk deg i havn
du vett eg vett men du holde maskå på
nå e eg ferdig med de helvetes årå
nå e eg ferdig med å slikka det såret
det her e endelig
du va ei plaga og det blei ei bør
det fjerna meg fra søvnen og eg følte meg skjør
eg blei bitter og lite rasjonell
eg blei bitter og du hadde ting på stell
når eg nå endelig har kommet meg der
og alt har kommet på avstand
det ser ut som det skjer
du blir avslørt som den parasitt du e
det vil gje meg evig sjelefred
nå e eg ferdig med de helvetes årå
nå e eg ferdig med å slikka det såret
det her e endelig
bitre bitterhet eg sverge og love
bitre bitterhet din tid den e øve
det her e endelig
du e din egen nemesis
nemesis, nemesis
du e din egen nemesis
The lyrics to Skambankt's song "Nemesis" appear to be referencing a specific person who has caused the singer a lot of pain and frustration. The title "Nemesis" implies that this person is seen as an enemy or opponent, someone who has caused the singer to suffer in some way. The first verse describes this person as "fåkkings nemesis" (fucking nemesis), suggesting a strong negative emotion towards them. The singer accuses Nemesis of stealing things from them and holding them close as if they were their own, and becoming a "knight" in their own team. This may suggest that the person has taken credit for the singer's work or achievements, or has somehow manipulated them in some way.
In the second verse, the singer appears to sympathize with Nemesis to some extent, calling them a "raven" who knew who helped them succeed but kept it hidden. However, the singer claims they are done with this bitterness and are moving on from the hurt and frustration caused by Nemesis. They assert that they have finally found peace after years of suffering, and Nemesis will be exposed as the "parasite" they are. The repetition of the phrase "du e din egen nemesis" (you are your own nemesis) suggests that the person's actions have ultimately led to their downfall, and that they are the cause of their own problems.
Line by Line Meaning
fåkkings nemesis du gjorde meg gal
You, my damn nemesis, drove me insane
du fløy rundt der og bruste stolt med ting du stjal fra meg
You flew around showing off things you had stolen from me, proud of your spoils
og du blei slått te ridder i ditt lag
And you were hailed a hero in your own group
holdt så tett te brystet kem som va ditt opphav
Clinging tightly to whoever was backing you up
stakkars nemesis du e en ravn
Poor nemesis, you are a crow
du visste men du skjulte kem som fekk deg i havn
You knew, but you hid who helped you reach your goals
du vett eg vett men du holde maskå på
You know, I know, but you keep up your façade
eg vett du vett men eg e ferdig med det nå
I know you know, but I am done with it now
nå e eg ferdig med de helvetes årå
Now I am done with those hellish years
nå e eg ferdig med å slikka det såret
Now I am done licking that wound
det her e endelig
This is finally it
du va ei plaga og det blei ei bør
You were a pest and a burden
det fjerna meg fra søvnen og eg følte meg skjør
It kept me up at night and made me feel fragile
eg blei bitter og lite rasjonell
I became bitter and irrational
eg blei bitter og du hadde ting på stell
I became bitter while you had everything under control
når eg nå endelig har kommet meg der
Now that I have finally moved on from that place
og alt har kommet på avstand
And everything is at a distance
det ser ut som det skjer
It seems like it's happening
du blir avslørt som den parasitt du e
You will be exposed as the parasite you are
det vil gje meg evig sjelefred
That will give me eternal peace of mind
bitre bitterhet eg sverge og love
Bitter bitterness, I swear and promise
bitre bitterhet din tid den e øve
Bitter bitterness, your time is up
du e din egen nemesis
You are your own nemesis
nemesis, nemesis
Nemesis, nemesis
du e din egen nemesis
You are your own nemesis
Contributed by Sophia M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.