A Dream Of Reality by Convinced: A Raw Punk-Hardcore Blast from 1996 Sweden
Alright, let’s get straight into it. A Dream Of Reality by Convinced isn’t your polished, radio-friendly rock album. Nope. This is a raw, unfiltered punch to the gut that screams punk and hardcore with zero apologies. Released in ‘96 via Words Of Wisdom Records, this Swedish gem hits hard—and sometimes misses—but when it connects, you feel it deep.
First off, the tracks "Unwanted Knowledge" and "How Long Can We Live" stick out like sore thumbs for different reasons. “Unwanted Knowledge” kicks off with Jessica Johansson’s vocals slicing through layers of distortion like a chainsaw through plywood. Her voice ain’t perfect, but damn if it doesn’t rip right through you. Backing her up are Amir Tehrani and co., adding these haunting harmonies on the chorus that make you wanna scream along even though you don’t know all the words yet. The bassline from Joakim Johansson (no relation? Who knows) groans under the weight of Martin Magnusson’s relentless drumming—it’s chaotic, messy, and absolutely magnetic. You remember this one because it feels alive, like it could fall apart at any second but never does.
Then there’s “How Long Can We Live.” If Unwanted Knowledge is chaos, this track is pure rage bottled up and shaken until it explodes. Christina Sundqvist’s guitar work here deserves its own paragraph—her riffs hit harder than most bands’ entire discographies. It starts slow, almost teasing you, before slamming into a wall of sound so thick you can practically taste it. The lyrics? Bleak as hell. But they hit home, especially if you’ve ever felt stuck in life or just pissed off at everything around you. By the time the last note rings out, you’re left breathless, wondering what just happened.
The rest of the album keeps the energy high, though not every song lands perfectly. Tracks like “Believe” and “To A Friend” have moments of brilliance, but they lack the same raw intensity as the first two bangers. Still, props to Convinced for mixing their own stuff—it adds to the DIY charm, even if the production sounds like it was recorded in someone’s garage (probably was).
Now here’s the kicker: despite being over 25 years old, A Dream Of Reality still feels fresh today. Maybe it’s the anger, maybe it’s the authenticity, or maybe it’s just that we haven’t learned shit since then. Whatever it is, this album reminds you why punk and hardcore mattered back then—and why they still do now.
Oh, and fun fact: Pasanen did the photography. No idea who he is, but whoever shot the cover nailed the vibe—gritty, dark, and kinda haunting. Perfect match for the music inside.
So yeah, give A Dream Of Reality a spin if you want something real. Just don’t expect perfection—this album doesn’t care about that crap. And honestly? Neither should you.
