After their '97 debut, 'Hard Jet Super Flash', which got really great coverage throughout the press (major as well as underground - written as well as aired),
Barcode picked up gigging again (now, what a surprise, huh?!).
Besides shows in their home-turf, Denmark, they suddenly found them-selves on a small UK tour in November '97.
Some of the shows along with soon to become brothers-in-arms; North-ampton non-straight edgers Freebase.
This experience fueled their strong aversion to the selfrightiousness of the sXe scene as most of the shows were one-dayers consisting mostly of sXe bands and their hangarounds. However, they're not on a crusade against this movement - this would only make them look as narrow-minded as the ones they're up against.
Most of '98 went on with what they do best: Partying and supporting AGF (their local football team)+ an occasional rehearsal session and a few shows.
However, by August '98 gravity of reality made them realize that if this band wanted to make it a bit further than just ok, some adjustments had to be carried out.
A real hard decision was to be made. Old time friend and one of the founding members, vocalist Greg Fastrup, was never among this planet's tightest singers, and as Barcode had gradually moved towards a faster pace a split with Greg was inevitable.
A few weeks prior to this decision, guitarist, Kenneth Madsen, had quit the band for personal reasons and moved to another city.
Thus, on their knees, it could turn either way: a total split or a swift recruitment of new blood.
A new guitarplayer, Dr. Jay, was found the day after Kenneth left. This dude was formerly with death metal and crossover bands such as Necrosis, Insult, and Candyflip 666, but has now tamed his death metal defect of character.
After a couple of months' auditioning by September '98 a divine replacement for Greg was in place: Butch, former singer/guitarist of pop-noise act SuperSilent and national silver medallist in a Carlsberg beerdrinking competition. He has added a lot of full throat lungs to the band's approach and obviously; tightness.

By December '98 a 10-song pre-production was recorded over a week-end to monitor their fighting trim, and they raged - to such an extent that Hardboiled boss, Andreas Ludvigsen, was ready to launch the pre-production as it was: "I haven't heard anything this exciting since Discharge's 'Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing' - No comparison whatsoever!". (great to be compared to a band once said to be "the musical equivalent of glue-sniffing"!).

Early '99: intense rehearsing prior to the recordings of 'beerserk', paused by a few club shows. Recordings and mixing took place during
February/March '99 and by May '99 Barcode played their first big international tour, supporting Madball on their "Look My way" european tour.
Barcode also appearred at Germany's prestigious With Full Force Festival in the Summer of 2000, alongside labelmates Disrespect.

December 2001 - Europe's Hardcore act no.1 - None above, none at side!
It's been more than 21/2 years since Barcode's last album "Beerserk" from 1999.

The scene has changed - so has Barcode.

Throughout the hc scene people have asked themselves: "Are they for real or are they just a bunch of metal freeloaders who wanna
profit from the upturn which hc experienced in the mid and late 90s.
Well, they are VERY real!
Barcode's new album is clean cut, no bull, state-of-the-Hardcore.
Thus the title "Hardcore". Indeed, Barcode have risen to the challenge, never before has so much brute energy been packed into 16 songs/31 minutes.
What hasn't changed, though, is the fact that some individuals in the established hc scene(those who apparently feel competent to set forth the
guidelines of "true hc values") still have a hard time accepting the existence of Barcode - a band with a blunt attitude towards the self-proclaimed priesthood of worldsaviours. Barcode don't give a shit - they keep comin' on strong with their extremely painstaking style of hc mixing elements of oldschool NYHC and metallic gut kicking killer riffs.

Over the years Barcode have matured into an utterly potent unit with a musical approach as strong as ever. With "Hardcore" they've reached a level of perfection which its two predecessors ("Hard Jet Super Flash" from '97 and "Beerserk" from '99) certainly pointed towards, but never quite reached.
A level reached through intensive touring - with notorious New Yorkers such as Madball and Skarhead, indoor and open air festivals, and hard work in the rehearsal room.


2000's line-up problems set back album release plans.
Originally, a new album was scheduled for a late 2000/early 2001 release, however, massive bass & drum difficulties forced them to drop touring and songwriting and instead focus on auditioning bass and drum candidates.
Tonnes were tried out, but finding the right persons for the two positions turned out to be a tiresome process. However, the wait was worthwile, 'cuz with new bass player, Snik1, and new drummer, Snick2, the unit is now stronger than ever.
Never before have Barcode felt so much like a solid team - and it sure rubs off on their performance.
Check out "Hardcore" and you'll get the point.
"Hardcore" - an album so massive, so tight, so cut to the bone that it hurts! Once again led by master Butch's lyrical drive-by!

Source: Label Officiel: http://www.nuclearblast.de