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AMON AMARTH
"Deceiver of the Gods"
Deceiver of the Gods


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"One of Us is the Killer"
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"Circle"
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"The Last Spire"
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"Ultraviolet"
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Last Updated: June 19, 2013 6:42 PM




Swedish Man Who Got 'Sick' Benefits For His Love Of Heavy Metal Claims He Is 'Still Addicted' - Jan. 12, 2013
According to The Local, the Swedish man that achieved worldwide fame five years ago by having his love of hard rock classified as a disability and being granted social security benefits for his affliction says he remains addicted to heavy metal music.

"I'm still very addicted," Roger Tullgren, 47, told The Local this past week from his home in Hässleholm in southern Sweden. "I listen to heavy metal music 24 hours a day."

Because heavy metal dominated so many aspects of his life, the Employment Service agreed in 2007 to pay part of Tullgren's salary as a part-time dish washer — an amount of "a few thousand kronor" a month (1,000 kronor = $155). In addition, his boss gave him a special dispensation to play loud music at work.

"I have been trying for ten years to get this classified as a handicap," Tullgren told The Local at the time. "I spoke to three psychologists and they finally agreed that I needed this to avoid being discriminated against."

From time to time, Tullgren's remarkable story would resurface in international media, with articles surfacing last month on the Huffington Post and NME web sites, both of which reported the facts from five years earlier as if they had just occurred.

"It's really funny," Tullgren told The Local. "I'm not really sure why the story popped up again, but I've had a lot of people emailing me about it from all over the world."

According to Tullgren, he hasn't been receiving benefits since January 2012, because he "took a new job as a janitor. I work four hours a day and then spend most of the rest of my time with my band, PAPA MIDNITE," he said.

"Metal controls my life," he added. "I need to have my music with me wherever I go.

"I'm taking medication that makes it hard to sleep, which leaves me with even more time to listen to metal."

Photo below courtesy of PAPA MIDNITE Facebook page

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COMMENT | Damit sweden!
posted by : CTdrums
1/12/2013 11:44:54 PM
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..I want to be this guy when I grow up.


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COMMENT | 'RE: Damit sweden!'
posted by : kreosplus
1/13/2013 7:35:48 AM
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Wanna be a metal handicap?


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COMMENT | #
posted by : Corroman
1/12/2013 11:56:15 PM
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I wonder if I can receive benefits for needing to breathe 24 hours a day. It really is an addiction.

At least my boss has also given me a special dispensation to breathe at work.


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COMMENT | When you`re lazy…you`re lazy...
posted by : frank_the_poet
1/12/2013 11:58:36 PM
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Funny, but it just proves that it`s to easy to get away with NOT working :-)


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COMMENT | #
posted by : fishman3226
1/13/2013 12:20:09 AM
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Ah....the welfare state....

Supporting the idle forevermore.


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COMMENT | #
posted by : TheManInBlackFledAcrossTheDesertAndTheGunslingerFollowed
1/13/2013 12:54:56 AM
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This is fucking hilarious, and a bit retarded.

Either way, this would make a great movie. Somebody pay this guy a shitload of money to capture his story on film.


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COMMENT | 'RE: #'
posted by : nancyboy
1/13/2013 9:25:21 AM
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Yer-bugger!


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COMMENT | #
posted by : HORRORHOLIC
1/13/2013 12:59:22 AM
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I think I can honestly say I've pretty much heard it all now!!


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COMMENT | *facepalm*
posted by : nileecoyote13
1/13/2013 2:42:18 AM
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That's freakin' brilliant, why didn't I think of that???


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COMMENT | #
posted by : I_See_Black
1/13/2013 2:53:57 AM
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Like a boss!!
At least he looks real. Most metalheads in Sweden rather look like rich-kid wanna-be's who listen to shit.


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COMMENT | #
posted by : MrMcThrasher III
1/13/2013 2:55:53 AM
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I'm fucking addicted to Rock and Heavy Metal too. Where's MY money?


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COMMENT | wow
posted by : graemed
1/13/2013 2:58:40 AM
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Scam of the century


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COMMENT | #
posted by : exhalingscarlet
1/13/2013 3:26:43 AM
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Les Claypool is swedish????!!?!?


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COMMENT | #
posted by : Double Shit-Talkin Jive
1/13/2013 4:33:52 AM
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Yes the man you see in the picture, is actually ME!


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COMMENT | Where's my benefits?
posted by : RicciarelloDeRoma
1/13/2013 4:49:01 AM
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I'm addicted to my MacBook my guitar and my home I need all of this 24 hours a day!!!


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COMMENT | So.....
posted by : stack6911
1/13/2013 5:02:11 AM
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.....Les Claypool + Al Jourgensen = Papa Midnite!


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COMMENT | #
posted by : Plasmaterial
1/13/2013 5:03:32 AM
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What a legend \m/


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COMMENT | 'RE: #'
posted by : Smashing Blumpkins
1/13/2013 9:18:49 AM
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Or a leech.


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COMMENT | does sound absurd
posted by : baligon
1/13/2013 5:17:04 AM
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but Sweden's never in the news needing any kind of bailout or anything like that. I never hear anything at all about Sweden that isn't related to some sort of killer, new metal CD being released. They must be doing something right over there.


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COMMENT | Sad
posted by : DanJenkins
1/13/2013 6:22:19 AM
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The guy obviously has a psychological problem and would be best to help himself rather than labelling himself 'disabled'. It would be healthier for him to think of himself as just another guy who has a problem he can beat. Rather than identifying with being a 'disabled metal addict', an unhelpful title.


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COMMENT | Funny story
posted by : HOD
1/13/2013 6:27:31 AM
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But this guy obviously have problems that goes deeper than being "addicted to metal". Good luck to him.


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COMMENT | I suffer a similar affliction...
posted by : BiorythmicDrift
1/13/2013 7:03:59 AM
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Except it involves porn.


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COMMENT | #
posted by : Black Anvil
1/13/2013 7:16:02 AM
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So listening to heavy metal is a disability, is it?
Isn't that playing into the hands of those that want to condemn heavy metal as responsible for all kinds of crime?
"Dur, I did it because I couldn't get my metal fix..."

He needs psychological assistance, not an excuse.


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COMMENT | Fucking lame ass sloth
posted by : Sabbathman
1/13/2013 7:51:27 AM
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This guy must be the epitome of living on the expense of the surrounding society. Listening to metal is one thing, that alone doesn't make anyone any better...but surely anyone who I consider to be a real metalhead is a person who lives up to this great music, is worthy of listening to it, trying to be on the same level with the power of the music. Real metalheads listen to metal and they are "metal" in everything they do or try to do.

I don't love work, I don't need work to have something to do or to be able to meet people or to have influence on things and people or to be able to realize myself or some modern day shit like that. Many times I fucking hate the whole concept of work, but still I want to work in order make a decent living for myself and my family.

In the 90's world of stagnation when I was a kid/early adolescent, in the early 2000's when I was a student and summertime worker, I had my fair share of counting every coin I had...I hated that...so I want to work but just and only because I don't want to live on social benefits, I prefer to make my own money.


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COMMENT | Furthermore...
posted by : Sabbathman
1/13/2013 7:54:19 AM
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This guy should look really hard into the history of the bands and artists he's so addicted to. There would be no heavy metal at all without the hard work, resilience and fighting spirit of all the people in the bands and those who have directly helped the bands. This guy isn't living up to his music at all.


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COMMENT | So...
posted by : Sabbathman
1/13/2013 7:58:38 AM
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This guy should find a job where he can actually listen to his favourite music all the time around the clock, with headphones on 11 while driving a truckloader, cutting meat, hauling powder sacks, packing containers, sorting out post, mowing the lawn, filling beer barrels, etc.


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COMMENT | 'RE: So...'
posted by : DTC
1/13/2013 12:18:59 PM
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...or writing C codes. :)


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COMMENT | #
posted by : dallaswillis
1/13/2013 8:44:39 AM
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I have the same problem so I bought an ipod and got back to work.


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COMMENT | #
posted by : Firefly
1/13/2013 8:58:38 AM
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If anything, this guys makes people who listen to any form of rock music look bad. For fucks sake he's 47!!

In response to the post, "atleast he looks real. Most metalheads in Sweden rather look like rich-kid wanna-be's who listen to shit"....that's stupid. You don't need to look a certain way to love metal music. If someone enjoys listening to Creed, Blink 182 or Lady GaGa....more power to them...I don't judge.


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COMMENT | 'RE: #'
posted by : So Sick
1/13/2013 9:35:51 AM
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Let's not be judgmental against those of us who DO judge. It's only human nature to look at those people and immediately think of them as roughly half a person.


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COMMENT | i thought......
posted by : creem of sum yung guy
1/13/2013 9:02:20 AM
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this was normal behavior


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COMMENT | #
posted by : Fani Dilth
1/13/2013 9:25:08 AM
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That little extra each month will now allow this middle-aged wanker to pay rent for the basement in mom's house.


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COMMENT | #
posted by : rwc1791
1/13/2013 9:30:55 AM
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Brilliant! Lame, but brilliant.


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COMMENT | lol..
posted by : nodeerforamonth
1/13/2013 9:40:31 AM
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hooray for socialism!

Luckily sweden is such a small country, the work of the many can support the laziness of the few.

But it's not working here in the US. Doesn't work anywhere, really. Look at Greece's problems! Spain is falling apart. So is France.


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COMMENT | 'RE: lol..'
posted by : nodeerforamonth
1/13/2013 9:44:53 AM
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from cnn.net: France has the highest level of government spending in the eurozone at around 54% of GDP. That high level of spending goes to support the generous French welfare state, which is funded through borrowing and high taxes. Those taxes are passed through businesses, making French goods very expensive and ultimately uncompetitive on the world market. Today, around half of the gross labor costs in France go to prop up the French welfare state, while it is just 28% in neighboring Germany, according to MEDEF, France's largest union of employers.


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COMMENT | 'RE: ''RE: lol..'''
posted by : DTC
1/13/2013 12:06:38 PM
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Many French who want to start their own business choose to do it in America or China because of the weight of bureaucracy and taxes in France. In that particular respect, France is more communist than China!


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COMMENT | #
posted by : RiotAct666
1/13/2013 9:43:41 AM
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Clearly has some mental issues that need to be resolved.


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COMMENT | what the fuck ever assholes
posted by : vlad.death-o-mat
1/13/2013 10:10:55 AM
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This guy is awesome. Fuck you haters. Disease or not, this cat kicks ass.


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COMMENT | #
posted by : TheEagle
1/13/2013 10:24:48 AM
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What a loser! Everything to prevent him from working! scum!


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COMMENT | Sweden will...
posted by : RicciarelloDeRoma
1/13/2013 11:02:59 AM
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eventually wake up and stop supporting people who are unlawfully claiming benefits, just as lots of other central and northern European countries are doing.

They're throwing so many disabled/sick people out of benefits in the UK it is not even funny, the system is flawed with a rate as high as 40% appeal claims being accepted and ATOS decisions being reversed.

The only BASTARDS who will never be thrown out and keep stealing the money of the many are politicians...


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COMMENT | #
posted by : pigchop
1/13/2013 11:37:30 AM
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well...I like his hat.


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COMMENT | #
posted by : Christonabike
1/13/2013 11:42:25 AM
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Did your chocolate factory close down Willy ?


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COMMENT | #
posted by : Sadistikexekution
1/13/2013 11:56:58 AM
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Get to work lazy bastard.
Another parasite living of the working people.


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COMMENT | #
posted by : DTC
1/13/2013 11:59:59 AM
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If he's trying to prove how stupid the Swedish nanny-state system is, he succeeded 110%. I guess you can call him a smart cheeky arsehole!


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COMMENT | #
posted by : DEVASTATOR
1/13/2013 12:30:37 PM
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This idiot seems to be going through a lot of work just to not work.


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COMMENT | wtf?
posted by : C.I.U
1/13/2013 8:12:03 PM
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Sign me up!


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COMMENT | damn!
posted by : mrpsych0
1/13/2013 8:41:11 PM
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Stupid people like this assl are who give metal a bad name. This guy really needs to do something with his life! what a fucked up guy!


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COMMENT | What a Guy
posted by : RedZombie
1/13/2013 8:51:47 PM
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I need to meet this man and get his story.


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COMMENT | Best Story in 10 Years
posted by : Sloandiggity
1/14/2013 1:36:07 AM
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For all you guys bashing him, I think it's sheer brilliance. There's not a chance in Hell that this guy DID NOT scam Sweden. What a brilliant scam: Convince your government that you are addicted to metal! Behind closed doors, this genius laughs his ass off to himself, "I STILL can't believe they bought this load of shit!" every day of his life.


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COMMENT | I've heard of this,
posted by : ICON666
1/14/2013 11:18:59 AM
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And there is only one cure......MORE COWBELL!


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COMMENT | Made up
posted by : Namnikufecin
1/14/2013 1:46:02 PM
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I'm from Sweden. Pretty shure this is a made up story. At least the reason for his disability payment is made up. I don't think it is about heavy metal at all, but about that this guy is crazy as shit. AND a metal freak.


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