Unicorn

Unicorn was a Swedish progressive rock band active in the early to mid-1990s, notable primarily for being the formative project of Dan Swanö. While Swanö is a titan of the extreme metal scene (Edge of Sanity, Bloodbath), Unicorn represents his deep-seated affinity for melodic, keyboard-driven art rock.

The band's sound is characterized by a heavy reliance on synthesizers, melodic guitar leads, and a vocal style that is light and harmonically dense. Their two primary albums, 'Ever Since' (1993) and 'Emotional Wasteland' (1995), showcase a sophisticated understanding of neo-progressive structures, drawing influence from Marillion and Genesis but filtered through a clean, 90s production lens. Critically, Unicorn is viewed as a cult gem within the Swedish prog scene, offering a rare glimpse into the softer side of a musician known for brutality. The project eventually evolved into Swanö's Nightingale and later Second Sky, making Unicorn the foundational text for his 'clean' musical output. Collector interest remains high due to the limited original pressings and the band's connection to the wider Swedish metal diaspora.