Crucified Barbara

Originating in Stockholm, Sweden, the hard rock outfit Crucified Barbara took shape after bassist Ida Evileye and guitarist Klara Force spent years performing in assorted casual groups, eventually joining forces with drummer Nicki Wicked in 1998 and then adding vocalist and lead guitarist Mia Coldheart in 2001. Their early emphasis on punk rock had by that stage shifted toward a heavier, more forceful hard rock sound, and steady live appearances paved the way for a contract with GMR Records; the resulting debut single, "Losing the Game," appeared in 2005 and later peaked at number eight on the Swedish pop charts. The full-length album In Distortion We Trust arrived soon afterward, sending Crucified Barbara on a European touring circuit that featured a high-profile booking at the U.K.'s Download Festival alongside Black Sabbath, Velvet Revolver, System of a Down, and additional acts. In 2006 Liquor and Poker issued the album in America.