by Johnny Loftus
Swedish garage punk quartet Division of Laura Lee emerged in the mid- to late '90s, assembled out of spare parts in the Swedish hardcore music underground. Comprised of vocalist/guitarist Per Stålberg, guitarist David Ojala, bassist Jonas Gustavsson, and drummer Håkan Johansson, DOLL was soon playing shows wherever it could. The band debuted on wax in 1998, issuing the There Is a First Time for Everything EP, and a split release with the American post-hardcore group Milemarker. Another split EP followed in 1999 from Car Crash, this time with Impel. The Division self-released At the Royal Club in 1999, and the collection of singles and odds 'n' sods tracks served as a full-length until its signing with Burning Heart in 2001. The label released the Pretty Electric EP before issuing the Division's proper full-length a year later. Black City found the group infusing nervy musical tradition of Fugazi with rowdier elements closer to Supergrass or its brethren in the Hellacopters. It enjoyed American promotion via Epitaph, and was supported through tours with the (International) Noise Conspiracy and Soundtrack of Our Lives. Das Not Compute arrived in 2004.