Carbonized was conceived as an experimental side project in the late '80s by certain members of death metal band Therion and some of their friends from within Sweden's incestuous extreme music scene. Looking to have a little fun outside their ultra-serious and depressing main bands, Therion vocalist/guitarist Jonas Derouche and drummer Piotr Wawrzeniuk were joined by future Serpent, Therion, and Entombed bassist Lars Rosenberg and guest vocalist Matti Karki from Dismember to jam on a few ideas for a psychedelic/grindcore hybrid. Their wild, probably drug-fuelled musings resulted in 1991's bizarre For the Security opus, which repulsed as many listeners as it attracted with its quirky aural creations. And yet, it only hinted at the bizarre death jazz the group would concoct in the next year's even more "out there" Disharmonization album -- generally considered to be their finest hour. Commitments to their regular bands kept the musicians busy in years to come, but Carbonized reconvened for a final freak-out in 1996, resulting in that year's Screaming Machines. Part pisstake, part revolutionary landmark (you be the judge), the LP delved ever deeper into psychedelics and progressive metal experiments, quoting the music of everyone from Pink Floyd to Sonic Youth to Black Flag to Voivod. One can only imagine what boundaries they'll cross should they ever record again. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia