Victims formed in 1997 in Nyköping, Sweden. The original line-up consisted of Johan Eriksson on vocals, Andy Henriksson on drums, Andy Söderström on bass and Marcus Strandberg on guitar. With this lineup in 1997 the band recorded a seven songs demo, reissued in 1999 as an EP titled Harder Than It Was Meant to Be, a split EP with Acursed in 1999 and their debut albumNeverendinglastingin 2001 on German label Yellow Dog Records. Shortly after the release of Neverendinglasting, guitarist Marcus left the band and was replaced by Acursed guitar player Jon Lindqvist. In 2003 they released a split LP with American crust punk act From Ashes Rise and in 2004 their second album, ...In Blood, both on Havoc Records. After the Release of ...In Blood, Victims embarked on their first US tour. Their third album, Divide and Conquer, released in 2006 on Havoc Records, is described by the band as rougher and trashier. This is the first album not being produced by Mieszko Talarczyk, frontman for the band Nasum, who died during the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. They subsequently toured in the US and in Europe with Another Breath. Divide and Conquer is also the last record that features original bass player Andy Söderström. After the departure of Söderström, vocalist Johan Eriksson started to play the bass, handling both vocals and bass duties, transforming the band into a power trio. In 2008 the band released their fourth album titled Killer. To promote the album the band toured extensively both in the United States and in Europe, sharing the stage with bands like Coliseum, Rotten Sound, Trap Them and The Ocean. During the tour British Gareth Smith joined the band as their second guitar player. With this new line-up Victims got back on the road and toured the US with Trap Them and Black Breath. They also toured Europe with Municipal Waste and appeared at some festivals such as Obscene Extreme. In 2008 Victims recorded an EP titled Lies, Lies, Lies and in 2009 a split EP with Kylesa. Before touring for the Killer album was completed, a new member was on board. Englishman Gareth Smith, long time acquaintance of Johan, had recently split up his band of ten years, Raging Speedhorn. After two rehearsals together, the guys in the band decided they wanted to go back to being a four piece, although this time with two guitarists. This version of the band was soon back on the road in the US, with Trap Them and Black Breath.. In 2011 the band released their fifth album A Dissident, produced by Nico Elgstrand of Entombed. That year they performed at Fluff Fest in Czechia for the third time after 2007 and 2009.
