Throwback Thursday – Parasite (Sweden)

Today, we’re excited to launch a new feature on the website: Throwback Thursday. Every so often, we’ll take a trip down memory lane to revisit some classic heavy metal—shining a spotlight on the bands that helped shape the sound of today’s New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal. We’re kicking things off with a true gem from the Swedish ’80s scene: Parasite!

Parasite was a Swedish heavy metal band formed in 1981 in the town of Karlshamn, Blekinge. Emerging during the early wave of Scandinavian metal, the band quickly gained attention for their energetic and melodic sound. Their early years saw the release of several demos, including Live Recordings (1981), Demo ’83, and a Rehearsal Demo the same year, which helped them establish a growing underground following. In 1984, Parasite released a self-titled MLP through Sword Records in Scandinavia and Banzai Records in Canada, which remains a cult favorite among collectors. That same year, a live VHS simply titled Live was also issued, capturing the raw intensity of their performances.

Parasite’s music reached a broader audience through appearances on various compilations, including the 1985 release Sword – The Best of Scandinavian Rock, which featured “In the Beginning / Burnin’,” and the 1992 collection Bavaria’s Best, which included the track “Nightwinds.” Despite their growing presence, Parasite disbanded in 1985. After the split, members pursued new musical directions—vocalist and bassist Paul Zanichelli and guitarist Anders Holmström went on to form Rebelene, releasing the album In the Middle of Nowhere in 1993. Drummer Johan Billerhag joined the prominent Swedish metal acts Hexenhaus and Memento Mori. Today, Paul Zanichelli continues to perform with the band Crucified Distortion. Though their time was brief, Parasite left a lasting impression on the Scandinavian metal scene with their powerful sound and enduring recordings.