AGITATE

DOOM - Tour Dates

2012-02-22T15:07:00.000-08:00

BURIAL - Cardigan Arms, Leeds 17/02/12

2012-02-21T14:34:00.000-08:00

GIFTGASATTACK - Final Poison Attack England

2012-02-21T13:50:00.001-08:00

LAUTSTÜRMER – Man Föds, Stämplar In, Och Hoppas Att Man Inte Blir Särskilt Gammal 7”

2012-01-15T14:38:00.000-08:00

LAUTSTÜRMER – Man Föds, Stämplar In, Och Hoppas Att Man Inte Blir Särskilt Gammal 7” Sweden’s dirty metal punks LAUTSTÜRMER have been playing rocking metallic d-beat crust since 2008. This new three song 7” from the Malmo based band who consist of one current and two former members of DRILLER KILLER see’s the band continue with their quality rocking DIS-crust as their debut “Audioplague Outbreak Alert 7” and more recent “Depopulator” album. Total fucking MOTÖRHEAD worship going on here mixed with the classic Swedish raw punk style of ANTI CIMEX and of course DRILLER KILLER. Two songs in English on the A-side “Gruesome Ways” and “Out Of Mind Out Of Luck” which follow a more traditional Scandi d-beat crust style and one song in Swedish on the B-side “Maskin Nr.2” which is a much longer and more rocking crust’n’roll song with rock riffs and catchy guitar leads. LAUTSTÜRMER sound great on this 7” really fucking solid and driving hardcore crust. Fans of MOTÖRHEAD and DISCHARGE will fucking love this. (Not Enough – Poststugan 144, 211 65 Malmo, Sweden. www.notenough.se).

FEAR OF EXTINCTION - Interview 2012

2012-01-15T06:50:00.000-08:00

FEAR OF EXTINCTION are a raw d-beat crust band from Prague, Czech Rep. Formed in 2009 the band recently released a fucking awesome S/T 7“ on Phobia Records and Riotstarter Records. The band are currently working on a forthcoming 12“ LP and are about to embark on their first European Tour. The following interview was conducted with Mirek aka Carrot and Bruce via email at the beginning of 2012.

Can you introduce the band? How did FEAR OF EXTINCTION get started and what brought you together?

Bruce: So current line up is Mrkev “Carrot“ (known as Mirek too) vocals, Proof and Petersson do guitars, I´m on bass and Pepi is drumming..... we are around 30, our main hobbies is booze, loud music, booze again and some more personal specialities..... Mirek have his wife and kids, Proof like motorcycles and polish powder, Petersson is collecting glasses and plaid shirts, Pepi is pepper lover and he´s biggest fan of mighty Horst Fuchs - the teleshopping king and I play water polo and I love fetish gay erotic magazines.
Band started in 2009 with Rich on drums, Proof and me, we know each other for a years of destroing brain and liver cells.... F.O.E wasn´t serious band at begining, first rehearshal happened just because our other bands (ANGRY BRIGADE and JONESTOWN) doesen´t practice too often and we was little bit bored of doing nothing.......so we made 3 songs at first practice, give them stupid names (Suicide Donkey, Lazy To Walk, Carrot Is The Enemy, Leak In Fire etc....) and our point was to made a fun from “serious“ people.... but then Mrkev comes on board and he starts to do a serious lyrycs and the band change course little bit.....

Carrot: As Bruce wrote… we started in the beginning of 2009 when I lived in Prague. I run label and I know guys (Bruce, Proof and Rich) for a long time from shows & parties (and Bruce has good and solid marriage agency…) so they decided to ask me if I want to practice with them. It tooks a few month when I showed there, because I refused all their invitations .. I had a lot of excuses like that I´m too old to start play in band, I have no time or I´m bashful.. But as I said, one day I showed there and the saga begun…..

What bands have influenced FEAR OF EXTINCTION the most? I can hear a strong Scandi D-beat influence in the bands sound? Did you start the band with this sound and style in mind?

Bruce: Had to admit that ripping off Swedish way how to play d-beat was one of the main point, especially that there (Czech) is not so many bands producing that kind of noise. We want to keep it as much distorted, dirty and pissed off as we can... ..... my personal musical influences are 3-WAY CUM, LOUDPIPES, SKIPLICKERS, JEWDIS, NO SECURITY, DOOM, KONTROVERS, millions of Sylen´s (D-takt och rapunk) bands, DISGUST, SKITSLICKERS, DISCHANGE, MOMENT MANIACS and many more.... that list will never finish... maybe DISCHARGE little bit aswell hahaha and ELECTRIC SIX of course....

Carrot: What can I say? I love d-beat, I love Scandinavian d-beat bands and I always wanted to play this style of music. I suppose that the plan was to play loud and noisy crust punk. ANTI-CIMEX, MOB 47, 3 WAY CUM, WARCOLLAPSE, new wave of old school death metal like MIASMAL, BURIAL INVOCATION, KRYPTS, DOOM, DISCHARGE, old DISFEAR, WOLFPACK, CRUDE SS, NO SECURITY, SkitSylen´s neverending list of bands etc. Etc. So influences are clear right?

Your debut 7" received positive reviews. Were you happy with the response to it? Is it sold out? Any plans for a repress?

Bruce: Well it was a big suprise to me, I really didnt expected that positive feedback, especially as there is shitload of things at 7“ which can be done little bit different way.... as far as i know we still have some copies left so guess repress is not necessary.....

Carrot: One word - surprising. We expected reviews like... “oh another band which is playing the same as million other bands“. But hell, it´s true... we want to play like that, because it´s the way how we like it. Noisy and primitive. And maybe it´s the reason why the reviews are so positive. In these days where all the hardcore bands around the world are trying to be another copy of dark emo crust band like TRAGEDY or FROM ASHES RISE. Or to play kinda trendy 80´s hardcore like REGULATIONS etc. I have nothing against those bands, but I feel sick everytime when I listen another bad copy of TRAGEDY….

Bruce: So we just hope that we are not so bad copy of MEANWHILE hehee

How do you go about writing the songs? Do all the members contribute to the song writing? How does it work?

Bruce: Depends, we dont have reguler schema, guess we give it nature way... which means that everyone from us comes to practices with some ideas and then we are putting it together..... then Mirek (mostly) or me wrote some lyrics.....

Carrot: I don´t play on any instrument, so I´m only listening and from time to time I have some comments how the riffs should be long etc. To be honest I´m generally thinking how to fill lyrics into the riffs than to create something new from musicians point of view. But guys know very well how to do it without my smart jaws.

What about the lyrics? Are they written by one member or is it a collective effort? Where does the inspiration come from?

Carrot: Everyday life. Some lyrics are done by Bruce, but the main part is my job. Maybe out lyrics are full of cliché, but if there´re war conflicts around the world - we´ll have lyrics about and against wars, if there´re nazi scums around the world - we´ll tell people the truth, if there´re class differenecs - we´ll still want burn the capitalist cunts etc,etc. And there´re many “cliche“ themes we can use - blue pigs, stupid people, sick society…

What prompted the song "Network of Jerks"? I'm I right in thinking the song is about social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace?

Bruce: Well lot of people think thats song about social networks, but no, I wrote the lyrics considering to few circumstances which I saw at gigs.... Main point of this song is that being or calling yourself punk is not doing a good person from you, there is tons of idiots like everywhere else and its just a patethic to think that if someone´s wearing Conflict patch can´t be such and asshole. Name of the song is Network Of Jerks cause im not and I dont ever want a be a friend with those kind of people,even they are or wanna-be part of this movement.

Idiot will be Idiot whatever he looks like or whatewer subculture he comes from. Maybe we can do a song about FB, I‘m litlle bit sick of all this anti FB attitude,everyone hates it, but lot of those people use it.... Personally i think its just another way for comunication and its just up on you how you use it..... everything have a dark side....

The song "Is It Punk" talks about punks been too lazy to support their local scene by going to gigs etc? Why do you think that is and is it a problem within the Prague/Czech Rep punk scene?

Bruce: Main problem here is that for some people is 20 minutes travel by public transport to venue which is not located at their hood such a pain in the ass so they will rather sit at bar nearby and talking shits about nothing goes on.... Prague starts to be same like other big cities in western europe....sometimes there is more people from smaller towns around then from Prague....... fucking respect goes to them.... cheers to Beroun, Kladno and Sázava crews......
Carrot: People are choosy. I don´t know how to argue them to visit local hardcore punk show and support touring / playing bands. Maybe live gigs in their living rooms? Oh no, too complicated - just direct download link for video in HD quality should be enough. For money they saved on entry they can buy another wasted thing. Internet punks suck!

Do you get to play many gigs in Prague/Czech Rep What type of places do you usually play? What other Czech bands do you get to play with a lot?

Bruce: As a last squat was evicted 2 years before, there is not so many options where to set a shows... now in prague remains just a pillar of the scene - 007 Club (from 1969!!!) where we played some shows,and Cafe na Půl cesty - small coffee-bar runned by nonprofit organization supporting people with mental problems which was infected by punks so most of the shows is done there...... lot of the shows in czech are in clubs or in pubs, somewhere its good, somewhere its terrible..... more bellow by Carrot...

Carrot: Another good places / cities / people I can recommend: Ostrava (Sheeva Yoga guys), Brno (United Crusties crew), Slavonice (March Of The Hordes guys), Podebrady (Boss Bar Boss venue), České Budějovice (Garaz venue / Hiroshima Nightmare band), Liberec (Pivni Azyl venue), Stribrna Skalice (Na Marjane pub) etc etc. It seems that we have a lot of good places around the Czech right now, but always it depends on current situation. I think good info you can get from http://www.czechcore.cz/ and http://www.periferia.cz/ (shame on me .. self promo bastard). Bands we usually play with are MÖRKHIMMEL, PROPAGANDA, MARCH OF THE HORDES, BARREL, RABIES, SEE YOU IN HELL, SANITÄR, LIBERA IN CAUSA, KRUEGER, KOMPLEX VINY … and many more.

Can you tell us about your forthcoming Winter Extinction Euro Tour? What countries are you playing? How any dates?

Carrot: It´s our first tour ever. For me it´s for the first time when I´m traveling with band for more than two days. We´ll hit with our noise Slovakia, Slovenia, Italy, Austria, Germany and Poland. First show is on 3.2.2012 and the last show is in Poland on 12.2.2012. If someone from that countries will read it and wanna see us face to face, more info you can find at http://www.fearofextinction.blogspot.com.

Mirek, Tell us about your label Phobia Records? When did it start? Any future releases in the works?

Carrot: I was young, I was bored, so I decided to start the label because I want all the records for free or from trades. Hehe. The label started in 2001, so now it´s more than 10 years of bringing the noise to czech people. The business plan is to release good selling records like Swedish crust / d-beat (thanks Sylen!) with non-good selling releases by Czech bands. Future plans for 2012: FILTHPACT / DEBACLE split EP (co-release), RAPSÖD / STOLEN LIVES split EP (co-release), JONESTOWN / ADACTA split LP (co-release), FEAR OF EXTINCTION - Tour EP (just 120 copies by band members), BROTTSKOD 11 debut EP (another Jocke´s band? Unbeliavable..), PROPAGANDA debut EP (great crust / punk from Czech!), TUMMO / TOMORROW´S HELL split LP (co-release), HELLISHEAVEN LP (co-release), FEAR OF EXTINCTION 12“LP.

What bands are you currently listening to? What have been some of your favourite records this year?

Bruce: My last package from Phobia records contians LAST LEGION ALIVE / HELLSTORM and ACEPHALIX - Interminable Night, T SJUDER, MIASMAL S/T, KRYPTS, KROMOSOM, then AMEBIX - Sonic Mass, CRY HAVOC - Feast For The Crows, BULLETRIDDEN CD, downloaded AGNOSY (can‘t wait for the regular recording).... favourite recording? Jeez, dont know... really... but CRY HAVOC are on the top......

Carrot: ČAD - Ťažký kov LP, AMEBIX - Sonic Mass, CRY HAVOC - A Feast For The Crows LP, CONTORT tape, BASTARD PRIEST, CRUCIAMENTUM, USURPRESS, VOCO PROTESTA, AGRIMONIA, GIFTGASATTACK, ELECTRIC FUNERAL, GO FILTH GO, KROMOSOM, BULLETRIDDEN, MIASMAL, STENCH OF DECAY, KRYPTS, DOOM new EP. Right now I´m listening BOLT THROWER - The IV. Crusade. Today´s plan is to listen a lot of crust / death metal albums mixed with old good US hip hop albums from 90´s. My musician taste is really wide… The best album of past year is maybe CRY HAVOC and new AMEBIX.

What does the band have coming up next? Are you working on new material? Any plans for a full length album?

Bruce: If we survive WINTER EXTINCTION we want to record a new songs of course and about future? Who knows...... as Mrkev will be less busy with his family duties, want to do short UK trip which was already was planed and which Iceland volcano finished before it started.....

Carrot: We wanna record new songs for 12“LP. And because I have 2nd child on the way, who knows how many shows we´ll able to play this year, but I´ll try to figure out and make the pause with live shows short as I can do. UK trip would be nice as we wanna see old fart Rich Palmer again. All UK promoters … feel free to make us offers. Hehee.

Thanks for your time. Any last comments? Anything else you want to say?

Bruce: Thank you for interest and interwiew, want to say Cheers to all who helps us with winter extinction tour too and my personal fucking big thanx and cheers goes to our former drummer Mr.Rich Palmer for doing this shit with us - without him this band will never exist.Miss you there you cunt!
Carrot: Thank you for interest and your support! Hope someday we´ll see Agitate zine on paper again! Big thanks to my family, guys in band, Rich Palmer and his family. See you on our shows on winter tour …

fearofextinction@centrum.cz

http://www.fearofextinction.blogspot.com/

LEBENDEN TOTEN - Interview 2006

2011-11-30T14:05:00.000-08:00

LEBENDEN TOTEN are from Portland, USA and play distorted to fuck noisecore punk heavily influenced by bands like CONFUSE, GAI and DISORDER. Formed in 2001 by ex-members of ATROCIOUS MADNESS the band have since gone on to release numerous 7"s and 12"s. The following interview was conducted with Frank by letter in 2006 and was originally published in Agitate #7.
Can you give us some band history? How did LEBENDEN TOTEN come about? Who plays what?

Frank: LEBENDEN TOTEN started sometime in 2001 while Chanel and I were still in ATROCIOUS MADNESS. We wanted to have a band that was more DISORDER/CONFUSE than what we were doing. Randy had a drum set and Brie had a bass, so that's how it started. Chanel switched to vocals and me to guitar.

What's the story behind the name? What does it mean?

Frank: All it means is "living dead". It's from the German poster for "Night Of The Living Dead". I thought it sounded good and I love zombie movies. It could mean something more profound, but really that's all it is. It's grammatically incorrect in the German language though. Oh well.

How would you describe LEBENDEN TOTEN's sound? When you started did you have a set idea on what you wanted the band to sound like? What bands would you list as influences?

Frank: Oh yeah, we knew exactly what we wanted to sound like. As I said above, DISORDER and CONFUSE were and are main influences, but all the bands that could be called "noisecore" can be included. Mainly Japanese ones like GAI, DISLIKE, STATE CHILDREN, EXPOSE, DUST NOISE, SCUM etc... but also CHAOS UK. When people ask what we sound like I usually say it's faster noisier DISORDER, which is a bit accurate. I like the term "noisecore" but sometimes it sounds like you are an experimental noise band with computers or something.

What other bands have you all played in? Are any of you currently playing in additional bands now?

Frank: Chanel - ATROCIOUS MADNESS. Randy - BACTERIA. Brie - MIDNIGHT. Frank - ATROCIOUS MADNESS, FUNERAL. None of us are doing anything else right now.

Can you tell us about your latest EP "Dead Noise"? What kind of response have you been getting?

Frank: I guess we got a good reponse since it sold out. The two pressings were actually done at the same time, but one version (green vinyl with lyric translation sheet) was only available in Japan through Overthrow Records. That was 400 copies, but only 350 were for sale. I heard they sold out in two weeks, which sounds pretty quick. The other version was black vinyl and there are 600 copies. We are basically sold out of those as well. Some people said it was better than the first one, but others say the demo is the only good thing we did. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. Really there is only a small amount of punks that would probably like it. I don't think we have a universally appealing sound, and some people just think we suck.

What are the lyrics to the song "Dead Noise" about?

Frank: Chanel wrote those and she is unavailable for comment, so I'll take my best shot at it. It's actually about a couple of things, which is surprising since there are only five lines in the song. The most obvious is the use of subliminal messages in the media. But not only the use of hidden sounds or images that are buried underneath what's put forward. It also means the use of symbolism and trigger words that activate a comprehension of what you are seeing or hearing that is on a different level than what your processing. I don't exactly mean subconsciously though. It's more of a different mindset that has been "programmed" to respond when activated. A very simple example is that when you become aware of "product placement" in films, you notice much more and break it down as such. That is on a very base level, and part of what "Dead Noise" is about is something much more subtle. Go see Videodrome for an understanding of how we are processed, "Time to change the program". But the song is also about a continous agenda from the past that is based on mass control. With the changing of leaders the agenda from the past that is based on mass control. With the changing of leaders the agenda stays the same, even if their public faces and pet causes differ, they are still playing out roles and goals set down by men long dead.

What about the song "Vacant Stare"? Can you go into more detail about that song?

Frank: Again, this is Chanel's song, but here goes. It's talking about how we are living in a reality defined by external influence. People living a zombified life who's basis of thought is made solid by what they are exposed to daily. The theme of which is that we are kept in a state of mind that is designed to keep us docile and moving like worker ants. Also, that world events can be the product of fabrications and disinformation, but are made reality by the majority of people believing the story. This effects everyone, even those not plugged in to the consensus reality. Even if you don't believe that men walked on the moon or the official story of Sept 11th, that is the world you live in. "Vacant Stare" is also about how people react to living in this falsified reality. That we are kept in a state of panic and fear and that people who live this way are acting it out on others. We are Orwells "Big Brother".

Do you get to play many gigs? What bands have you played with? Any plans for a European tour?

Frank: We play pretty often, mostly with other local bands. It seemed we played at least once a month, but that increases and decreases as well. We've played twice in California and couple of times in Seattle, but mostly just local shows. REALITY CRISIS, DISCLOSE, GORILLA ANGREB, DSB, FORWARD, RIISTETYT, DESOLATION... are some of the out of town bands we've played with. No plans for a European tour, but it would probably happen sooner than a US one.

Can you give us a brief Portland-City scene report? Any cool bands, zines etc we should know about?

Frank: As brief as possible. There are lots of cool bands, and minimal scene divisions. Of course if you talked to someone else they would say something completely different. DEATHCHARGE, HELLSHOCK, DOG SOLDIER, ASSASSINATE, DEADLY ULTRA SOUND (ex BOMB HEAVEN), ROTTEN CADAVER (ex RELIGIOUS WAR / BLOOD RUNS RED), THE CHAOTIC, WAR CRY, TRAGEDY... those are the bands that are more "hardcore" or "crust" or "anarcho" or whatever. But there are bands like THE CLOROX GIRLS, OBSERVERS, FLIP TOPS, TRIGGERS, ANTI-WORLD, DISGRUNTLED, TWENTY TO ONE, REJECTED DEAD and probably thirty more I can't think of. Most bands play shows together and there are a lot of younger punks coming to underground / DIY shows now. Of course there are still the older bands like POISON IDEA, SADO NATION, DEAD MOON...

What is it like living in Portland as far as the scene is concerned? What do you like and dislike about the Portland-City punk scene?

Frank: The things I don't like are the same things that every scene has a problem with: lack of all ages spaces, idiots ruining the few we do get, crappy people... that kind of thing. For the most part I really like the bands and the scene as a whole. A lot of punks have moved here in the last few years, which has been good and bad, but in the end it doesn't really matter. All my favourite US bands are here and it's an easy city to live in with lots of forest around it, good record and book stores, and great vegan food. I wouldn't live anywhere else in the US.

What fucks you off the most about the current political climate in the US? What do you see happening next in Bush's "War Against Terrorism"?

Frank: Well, what pisses me of the most is that people see Bush as an actual decision maker, and leader. He is neither, merely a puppet with very long strings. The longer people see this country and this world led by these faces the more fucked we become. I hate Bush too, and he's easy to make fun of and a perfect stand in for criticism of the disease of politics. But we also need to start recognizing the fundamental corruption of the system, democracy included. It doesn't matter what party or person is in control, because they are just forwarding an agenda and furthering the idea that we need someone in CONTROL. The sad fact is is that too many people do need to be controlled, even crave it and beg for it. So few people are willing to be responsible in their lives and slip into the reality of debt, work, and living without being alive. As for the war on terror... I see it continuing in a stream of tricks, lies, and set ups, followed by the sowing of fear and distrust, and then solutions benefiting law makers, corporations, and war profiteers that are friendly to world government. Expect more "liberties" and "rights" to be completely destroyed and more engineered disasters to decimate the population and leave us begging for help.

What's next for LEBENDEN TOTEN? Any new releases planned? What about a full length album?

Frank: Our 12" just came out on Wicked Witch from Holland. There is also a 4 way split 12" of Portland bands DOG SOLDIER, LEBENDEN TOTEN, ASSASSINATE and HELLSHOCK that is available from Hardcore Holocaust. Somewhere down the line is "Portland vs Tampere Part 2" with us, DOG SOLDIER, DEADLY ULTRA SOUND and more.

What's on your turntable at the moment? What bands are you currently listenning to?

Frank: Right now is the RUTHLESS "Metal Without Mercy" 12", a classic. The stack of records next to the turntable consists of SISTERS OF MERCY, RAINBOW, IRON MAIDEN, DISORDER, VELOCET, 1919, DEATH IN JUNE and AGENT STEEL. Oh wait! I mean DISCHARGE and CONFUSE...

DISCLOSE or FRAMTID?

Frank: Ha! Uh...

Anything else you want to say or feel needs to be addressed?

Frank: Despite rumours, we have not broken up! But we can't really do anything while our singer is in Russia and our bassist is in New York. More to come in 2006, if there is a 2006. Distort Truth Distort Minds!

LEBENDEN TOTEN c/o PO Box 40113, Portland-City OR, 97240-0113, USA.

CONTORT - Endless Myopic Bastards Tape

2011-11-24T13:35:00.000-08:00

CONTORT – Endless Myopic Bastards Tape After been blown away by their performance at this years Means To An End festival I was really looking forward to hearing this second tape release from Dublin’s finest crasher noise fuckers CONTORT. Much like their debut release “An Island Of Noise In An Island Of Silence” this is an overwhelming assault of ear molesting raw noise punk. The Japanese influence of bands like GAI and CONFUSE is very much apparent in CONTORT’s sound. Totally fuzzed out guitar distortion with rumbling bass and hammered to fuck drums. The reverbed vocals sound fucking great reminding me of “Perdition” era DISORDER but at the same time having a very dark and at times atmospheric feel to them. Nine songs in just under seventeen minutes with the songs “Death Dealing Breath Of The Gods” and “Black Dog” been my personal favourites from this awesome tape. I fucking love CONTORT. “Distorted For Life – Contorted Til Death”. Limited to only 300 copies on green cassette and comes packaged in a great looking plastic box with a double sided fold out lyric insert and secured with a screen printed wrap around. (Distro-Y Records c/o http://www.distroyrecords.com/ or Headwrecker Records c/o http://headwrecker.wordpress.com/).

VARAUS SS - 2003-2007 (RIP) 10"

2011-11-15T15:08:00.000-08:00

VARAUS SS – 2003-2007 (RIP) 10” I couldn’t wait to get my fucking hands on this 10” from Japan’s Finnish punk fanatics VARAUS SS. This is totally raw and stripped down Scandinavian inspired Japanese hardcore punk that pays some major fucking homage to Finnish legends like RIISTETYT, KAAOS, BASTARDS and of course the obvious VARAUS. Out an out Finnish raw punk worship going on here in that obsessive Japanese tradition of bands like POIKKEUS and LAUKAUS. VARAUS SS existed from 2003 to 2007 and only released three demos with this 10” compiling songs from the bands first two demos and their entire unreleased third demo which includes a cover of the SHITLICKERS classic “Warsystem”. Songs like “Vapas” and “Vakivaltaa” from their third demo are fucking full blown eighties Scandi raw shit that wouldn’t sound out of place on say the “Russia Bombs Finland” and “Propaganda” compilations. There’s also some unreleased live takes at the end of each side which capture the band in all there drunken and chaotic raw punk splendour. VARAUS SS were fucking raw as hell perfectly encapsulating both the classic early eighties Scandi punk sound with the intensity and ferocity of Japanese hardcore. Fucking amazing stuff. This is a split label release between Konton Crasher in the US and Narm Discos from Japan. Only 600 copies were pressed, 200 with black covers, 200 with pink covers and 200 with red covers. Comes also with stickers and two badges. Not surprisingly this is now sold out from the labels but limited copies are still available from some DIY distros. (Konton Crasher c/o http://www.kontoncrasher.blogspot.com/ or Narm Discos c/o http://www.narmdiscos.com/).

ENDLESS GRINNING SKULLS - 1in12 Club (Means To An End) 14/10/11

2011-10-26T15:09:00.000-07:00

FEAR OF EXTINCTION - S/T EP

2011-10-26T13:52:00.000-07:00

FEAR OF EXTINCTION - S/T EP After a demo release in 2010 Prague's d-beat raw punks FEAR OF EXTINCTION return with a full length debut 7". Six songs of dirty as fuck raw d-beat crust that's both heavily inspired by early DISCHARGE and the classic Scandi d-beat sound of bands like MEANWHILE, DISFEAR and AVSKUM while still having that raw energy of early Swedish punk bands like CRUDE SS and ANTI CIMEX. This sounds fucking amazing, really filthy and raw sounding dis-crust with raging distorted guitar riffage, heavy pounding drums and pissed off angry vocals from Phobia Records frontman Mirek. Minimalist black and white sleeve artwork and songs about war and genocide only add to the whole bleakness and desperation of FEAR OF EXTINCTION. I fucking love this band and I'm so impressed with this debut 7". Can't wait to hear what this band does next, I can only hope for a full length album. Released as a one time press of only 500 copies by Phobia Records, ABC Distro and Riotstarter Records. (Phobia Records c/o http://www.phobiarecords.net/ / Riotstarter Records c/o ratus.skrat@email.cz / FEAR OF EXTINCTION c/o fearofextinction@centrum.cz or http://www.fearofextinction.blogspot.com/ ).

INSIDIOUS PROCESS - 1in12 Club (Means To An End) 14/10/11

2011-10-19T14:49:00.000-07:00

Means To An End...

2011-09-22T14:34:00.000-07:00

Means To An End 7 DIY Hardcore Punk Festival 14th-15th October 2011 at the 1in12 Club... Full weekend line-up below...

Sunday hangover gig at Wharf Chambers, Leeds (new/old name for the Commonplace) with THE WANKYS, INSERVIBLES, NEKROMANTIKER, LIFE DESTRUCTION and VINEGAR STROKES...

Playlist 17/09/11

2011-09-17T06:29:00.000-07:00

VARAUS S.S. - 2003-2007 (R.I.P) 10" (Konton Crasher)

MOB 47 - Hardcore Attack EP (Hardcore Survives)

KRÖMOSOM / ISTERISMO - Split EP (Hardcore Survives)

V.A. - Propaganda Hardcore '83 LP (Hohnie Records)

V.A. - Russia Bombs Finland LP (Hohnie Records)

GASMASK TERRÖR - Interview 2006

2011-09-01T14:42:00.000-07:00

GASMASK TERRÖR are from Bordeaux in France and play classic Scandi D-Takt/Käng punk. Formed in 2003 the band have since gone on to release a demo, three 7"EP's and two 12" LP's. They recently toured Japan earlier this year and the USA back in 2008. The following interview was conducted with Luc, Fabro and Olivier via email in 2006 was originally published in Agitate #7.

Can you give us some history to GASMASK TERRÖR? When did the band start? Who plays what?

Luc: GASMASK TERRÖR is Shiran (guitar), Fabro (bass), Olivier (vocals) and I (drums). The band started in the fall of 2003, and we played our first gig in January 2004. We released a rough demo, a 7" EP, and played about 40 shows so far.

Why the name GASMASK TERRÖR?

Luc: There is absolutely no meaning behind the name. We were fooling around with cliche "crust" words and "Gasmask" and "Terror" seemed to match well, and sounded great. Stupid name, but is it really much stupider than EXCREMENT OF WAR or SHITLICKERS for example? Ha!

When you started did you have a set idea of what the band should sound like? Did you form GASMASK TERRÖR specifically to play D-Takt punk?

Luc: We were all in different bands before, and Fabro and I had been talking about starting a DISCHARGE/Scandi-inspired band for a while. So yes, the intent was definitely to play this very style of hardcore punk.

Can you tell us about your debut 7" EP? How did you get involved with Plague Bearer? How many copies has it sold?

Luc: I'd been in touch with Jacob of Plague Bearer for a while. He liked our demo and offered to release a 7". There were two pressings of 500 each, and Jacob has been really cool and supportive so we can't thank him enough for all he's done for us. I'm not happy at all with the way the recording turned out, but I have better hopes for the upcoming recording.

Who writes the lyrics? Why don't you sing and write lyrics in French?

Olivier: Hi, I write the lyrics. I play in a few other bands where the French language is used in the lyrics, so I don't feel the need to write French lyrics in GASMASK TERRÖR. I prefer the English language which is more direct and violent. More appropriate for short sentences.

Can you tell us what the songs "Hand Made Disaster" and "Face The Enemy" are about?

Olivier: "Hand Made Disaster" is just a stupid song with classic lines about war and nuclear destruction. There's no importance to explain them. "Face The Enemy" deals with the concept of the "enemy". Who is my enemy and am I not the enemy of my enemy? In this case, who is right and who is wrong? Because me and my enemy both consider our ideas to be the right ones to stand up for. Nothing is certain.

What about the song "Aker Vi Ditt"? Can you go into more detail about that song and why you decided to write it in Swedish?Olivier: I decided to write it in Swedish because it's funny to sing in a foreign language other than English. It deals with homophobia within the anarchist movement and within the punk scene. Two movements that take a stand all the time against homophobia but where we can encounter "real men" attitudes through the glorification of violence and the construction of heroes, or through pogo dancing, or through the near dedication of the band MOTORHEAD that - as good musically as it is - is still a band that conveys fucked up rock'n'roll ideas of women being sexual objects to fuck, or men being real men with big powerful dicks riding their bikes. This is ridiculous.

Do you get to play many gigs? Have you played much outside France? Any chance of a GASMASK TERRÖR UK tour?

Luc: We did a small tour in Spain & Portugal with BALLAST ( Canada), played one show in Denmark... but we play mostly in France. I don't know about a UK tour... Ireland seems more likely!

Fabro: A friend from Nottingham (Hi Jeremie) said he could book some shows in this area for a small tour, so why not? But in the near future there's other countries we want to tour first.

If you could tour with any band past or present who would it be?

Luc: I want to tour with bands whose members I get along with. Sure, having your ass rocked every night by a band whose music you love is great, but if you gotta deal with the same bunch of people every day, and be crammed altogether in a van all the time, it better be people you like! If I had a time machine, I'd go back to 1986 and would offer to roadie for HERESY 'cause that's a band I've always dreamt of seeing live. But I digress...

Fabro: I agree with Luc, touring with friends/people you like is the best. So I would say DECROMBRES (fast crust from Paris), EASPA MEASA, or BALLAST to name a few.

Apart from GASMASK TERRÖR do any of the band play in any additional bands? What about other projects like zines, labels etc?

Luc: The local scene is really small and all GASMASK TERRÖR members play in 3 or more bands. Some of our other bands include MONARCH (slowest doom/sludge band around), PROCESSION FUNEBRE (black metal), HOLY FUCKIN' SHIT! (CRUDOS-like HC), FACE UP TO IT! (old-school hardcore), POLICE CHARGED (sloppy crasher crust), LOS COJONUDOS (Spanish punk rock), etc. Olivier and I make occsional zines, I run a small record label (Ratbone Records), and we sometimes help put up shows etc.

Can you talk about the riots in France? Were the riots a direct result of people rebelling because of mass unemployment, poverty, discrimination etc?

Luc: Most of the rioting took place in ghetto suburbs where poverty and unemployment are way too common. It all started when a young black kid got killed as he was chased by the cops... Angry people from his local community started rioting, and it spread to the rest of the country pretty quickly. Those suburbs have been ghettoized for far too long, and young people are sick of poverty, racism and discrimination, so that was their answer. To which the government responded in the worst possible way by sending more cops and voting more fucked up laws that won't help straighten the situation.

Fabro: It's obviously discrimination that brought riots. When you treat people like shit you can't expect them to smile and stay peaceful. White French people always reproach immigrants for not respecting the country/flag/law, or for withdrawing into communities. That's crazy because immigrants live with the constant feeling that they don't belong in this country (even if they were born or have been working here for years), due to the white majority. It's logical that in a country where you're constantly insulted, beaten/arrested by the cops because of the color of your skin or your religion, you may want to live in an area where you feel a bit at home. The craziest thing about the riots is the way the media behaved... their aim was only to scare people and to set them against immigrants. I've never heard so many racist comments on the TV or radio than during those events. And I think that's the main difference after the riots: racist people are even more openly racist now. Riots are a good excuse to openly spread right wing ideas like "hey, they're just savage people who want to steal everything who have and take advantage of our welfare system. We have to get them out!" Recently, a member of the French parliament declared that polygamy was the cause of riots! It's so fuckin' ridiculous! Always the same comments about muslims and immigrants being nothing more than savages... It seems people don't learn from their mistakes. So I think riots may happen again one day or another.

What's next for GASMASK TERRÖR? Are you working on any new material? Any new releases planned?

Luc: We're about to record a dozen songs for a tentative full-length LP. We don't have a label yet so if someone reading this is interested in releasing it, feel free to get in touch.

What's on your turntable at the moment? What bands are you currently listenning to?

Luc: A lot of the same stuff I was listenning to 10 or 15 years ago (DISCHARGE, ANTI SYSTEM, all the usual Scandinavian suspects, BLACK SABBATH, CELTIC FROST...) but lately I've also been playing a lot of CRISIS, WARSAW/JOY DIVISION, WIPERS, DARKTHRONE, HELLSHOCK, PUKE, UPRIGHT CITIZENS, FRAMTID, a lot of traditional Japanese hardcore (old and new), THE BRAT, THE AVENGERS, ESKORBUTO, DISCLOSE, MEANWHILE, NOTA, and many, many more. I listen to music all the time.

Fabro: LEBENDEN TOTEN, TOTALITAR, MARTYRDOD, POISON IDEA, GLOOM, DISCLOSE, HAMMER, JUDAS PRIEST, SUNN O))), TOADLIQUOR, SED NON SATIATA, SACRILEGE, CHAINSAW... the list could be endless. I listen to alot of Japanese pop/rock too like SHIINA RINGO, AIKP or GO!GO!7188.

Favourite TOTALILTAR record?

Luc: Most TOTALITAR post-1995 is flawless if you ask me (earlier records are great too, don't get me wrong, but they just don't compare) so it's impossible to pick one. Lately I've been playing the "Vansinnets Historia" EP quite a bit, but all the LP's and split LP's are amazing, and so are the most recent Really Fast/Dod & Uppsvalld EP's.Looking forward to their next LP on Prank!

Fabro: According to me, the best TOTALITAR record is the "Spella Bort Allt Du Har" EP. The first LP "Sin Egen Motstandare" and the split LP with DISMACHINE are masterpieces too!

Any last comments? Anything else you want to say?

Luc: Thanks for the interview... I've been an avid reader of your previous zines for many years (Noise Fest, Aversion...) and it's an honour to get coverage in Agitate. Radical old punx never die! "Cheers mate"!

Fabro: Thanks for evrything and I wish you the best for your zine...

http://www.gasmaskterror.tk/

nightbrings@yahoo.com

APPALACHIAN TERROR UNIT - 1in12 Club 25/05/11

2011-08-25T14:32:00.000-07:00

Playlist 24/08/11

2011-08-24T01:29:00.000-07:00

AVSKUM - Crucified By The System EP (Prank Records)

CRUDE SS - Who'll Survive EP (Voltage Records)

D-CLONE / SYSTEM FUCKER - Split EP (Black Konflik)

DISARM - Discography 1982-1987 LP (D-takt & Rapunk Records)

VISIONS OF WAR - Shit Parade LP (Symphony Of Destruction)

VISIONS OF WAR - Interview 2009

2011-08-23T15:38:00.000-07:00

Hellgium's crust boozers VISIONS OF WAR need no introduction. After fifteen years of "Booze Noise and Misery" with numerous split releases with OKOTTA, OLHIO DE GATO, MASS GENOCIDE PROCESS and COP ON FIRE plus a new album called "Shit Parade" Belgium's finest crust band show no signs of sobering up. I'd been wanting to interview VISIONS OF WAR for sometime and it wasn't until I met Stiv when they played the 1in12 Club in 2009 that an interview was finally put into action. The following interview was conducted with Stiv (vocals), Lola (vocals), Stef (guitar), Boris (bass) and Bis (guitar) via email in 2009 and was originally published in Agitate #11.

Can you introduce yourselves? What you do in the band? Ages? Favourite drink?

Bis, Bo, Stef: ...Boris who plays bass since 2001... Stef who is fonder member on lead guitar... Bis last new comer on guitar Dec 2007... Yvan also new comer on drums since March/April 2008. Our favourite drinks?! Jupiler (our local beer master) Jack Daniel, Jagermeister and Cokkka Cola for hangover... and whiskey...

Lola: Singer - 41 - morning piss.

Stiv: ...Well I'm Stiv. I joined in before the first gig of VOW years ago. I already knew Stef for a while from his former band CORPUS CHRISTI and love drove him to my hometown, so I was there when VOW all started in a lil apartment with just one guitar and about 40 riffs, but I was in 3 other bands at that time so it was a bit weird to get into another one, (cannot remember exactly cause of too much black outs at that time). I'm one of the shouters, drinks can vary from coffee (all time favourite) Jupiler, stronger beers like Westmalle, Grimbergen, Leffe, Lachouffe, Gulden Draak and lately (cheers Stef) whiskey and coke (the drink) and of course water with bubbles for the morning afters...

Why do you think VISIONS OF WAR have lasted so long? After nearly thiteen years of "Booze, Noise and Misery" what is it that keeps you playing in VISIONS OF WAR?

Bis, Bo, Steff: Free booze... the misery and the load noise...

Lola: Because we're sexy as hell, friendly as fuck and probably dumb 'til death.

Stiv: ...Hm don't really know what the trigger is to keep it going. I guess similiar respect for each other, the noise, the friendship we all made with people on the road during all these years... the lack of inspiration to do something else :-)

What bands inspired you to start VISIONS OF WAR? What were some of your influences at that time and are your influences still the same now?

Bis, Bo, Stef: Some bands had influences our music like DISCHARGE (early stuff) DOOM, EXCREMENT OF WAR, E.N.T., HIATUS and early Swedish HC... and don't change so far...

Lola: I'm still into D-beat bands, self managed places where we've the chance to play sometimes. Many bands inspired us at the beginning I guess, and I'm personally still playing the same bands when I'm home. A list would be boring.

Stiv: ...Well I guess the above and some Japanese noise core off course!!!!

How long has the current line up been together and how does it compare with previous line ups?
Bis, Bo, Stef: So as we did already said... this new line up is about 1 and half year more or less... not easy to compare with the previous line ups... it changed already a couple of times... but we are happy with this new one...

Stiv: ...Well we hope this one will stand longer then the previous ones, but in the end I beleive it will still renovate itself, should one or more decide to quit VOW.

What does each member bring to VISIONS OF WAR? Do you all share the same expectations and aspirations of what you want the band to be?

Lola: Some of us bring lazyness, some of us fresh booze. I don't think we always share the same aspirations, but I guess it's the way for community, no? I would maybe like playing less at "big" venues, doing more benefit gigs, hell I can't really explain!

Stiv: ...Ha tough one, hm I guess we'll stay DIY til we die, we did a few bigger gigs lately but hell after 13 years it's not always fun to play before 5-10 people :-) As for aspirations we'll I'm pretty sure we want to do as much gigs, but Belgium is a small country and if you play 4 gigs in a few months everybody saw you and then there's not to much interest in yer band for a while, although the last few years we play again more gigs in Belgium, it used to be totally different years ago, like it seemed there was an unwritten boycott over us, anyway this ain't true but it felt like that, now with all these amazin' new bands who are our friends now we play more in Belgium (check out these nutters, SILENCE MEANS DEATH, LINK, LAST LEGION ALIVE, NATURE'S FAILURE and long standing Swedish HC rockers NAHENDE VERNICHTUNG).

What about the politics of the band? Do you all see VISIONS OF WAR as a political punk band and do you all have similar political beliefs?
Lola: I don't think we've similar political views (if we have some!!). It's useless for me to consider its own band like political or not, some political bands have some members who have nothing to do with politics, some less political bands have really political members, a band is a combination of individuals, let's keeping it like this. I just mean a band is like a family, you can't say "all this family is like this or that", people are different even if the same blood pour in their vein, it's mostly the same for a band: we've not like twins even if we're from the same scene, we've different sensibilities. I regret sometimes when people talk about a band they never include the people who are doing the band, we've sometimes "summaried" as "members from", nothing else.
Stiv: ...Hell yeah we all come out of the DIY squatter scene, not all of us squatted, at the moment just Yvan, and in big lines we still do have our beliefs who really tightly fit in with the DIY scene, but I must admit the older you get some crumble or you don't get that militant anymore and as for some the ideals are almost totally gone :-). I guess you get a lot more repectful in ways cause you see good folks droppin' out but hey I don't think in boxes so I still got a lot of friends who don't share my convictions all the way but there's still that punk attitude in them :-) since it's not always easy to be an older punk especially with kids :-)

What aspects of playing in VISIONS OF WAR do you prefer the most? Recording and releasing records or touring and playing live?
Bis, Bo, Stef: Recording is quite boring job to do, but at the end you have a product in your hands, touring can be boring spending hours in the van to get to the venues... but at least you can get instant satisfaction so definitely it's the best part of being in a band.
Lola: There's time for touring, there's time for recording. I personally don't like recording but I know it's necessary for the whole of us, and when it's done, I'm generally glad about the result (and feel liberated of a strong weight!). Touring is getting more and more exhausting for me. I guess because of the age, it's more and more difficult for me to recover after a hard party on tour, so I'm fine with the fact we never tour more than a week.
Stiv: ...Well personally I hate recordin' I guess I always want to achieve something that I cannot do voice wise, so I'd rather rehearse or play live, yip nothing beats live I guess, the reactions good or bad get you further in the end, it's not because we're a bit older we don't wanna listen to constructive reactions, for those who cannot explain their criticism... piss off :-) As for the touring part yip that's bleedin' great meetin' up with new friends and old friends, it's nice to see not a lot of people dropped out in the end, but yip these days smaller tours are the best for us considerin' the step over to the real world ain't that hard as after 2 weeks of not gettin' enough sleep and molestin' yer brain and intestines :-)
How much of an influence does alcohol play in the band? Do you all drink? What about the criticism of there's too much glorification of alcohol in punk?
Lola: Alcohol has been to present in my life in general for years, so I think at a period it was also a big part of my position in the band. today I can do a gig without boozing (it would have been impossible before). Yeah for sure there's too much glorification of alcohol in punk, like competitions, stories about being drunk as fuck, but I have also my small part of responsability, I used to talk so much about alcohol when I was an alcoholics myself, so it would be pretentious of me to deny people who do the same today.
Stiv: ...hm musically it's not really an influence, but yip in Belgium we just have a drinkin' tradition, basically everywhere we go :-) Hm, it's not like glorification, cause I believe it's a drug and the most dangerous one since you get it everywhere and it's socially approved, and yip unfortunately for some a must, and yes we all like a drink especially on tour just to kill long hours in the van or loosen up and don't fall in the trap of gettin' frustrated for one or other small detail, cause sittin' in a small fishtank on wheels for hours with 7 people is ideal to get frustrated and disappointed :-) But lately I cannot take it very well anymore it's like bein' a part time addict on tour and a normal one at home. I feel at the end I missed out on funny, cool things and also the fact I don't always recongnise people when I see them the next time, but for me it's hard to slow down, I guess I have to leave it for a while, hm, the spirit of all or nothing is quite in grown in my families dna :-)

Can you tell us about your forthcoming split EP with WARVICTIMS? What are the songs about? Will you be doing the sleeve art Stiv?
Lola: Is it going to be done?
Stiv: ...Well this one takes like years to come out, first we had some bad luck, with recording our 9 new songs with a really interesting, honest guy Mr Patrick senior, but in the end we couldn't get the sound we liked, so then we went on to record in a professional studio near Liege (Jackstudio) and I personally think Ben knew what we wanted as a sound, then Lolo got hospitalized and we had to prospone the vokills session, now it's hard to reach all the labels cause there's so much interest in helpin' out, but honestly hell I'm to busy with fartwork, my family and other stuff I feel like totally stressed out to get in touch with all the labels and do the financial side of things... AAAArgghh. As for the cover nope it's Mikkhel (singer from LAZARUS BLACKSTAR ex AFTER THE MASSACRE) who took the honours for the cover together with Dunja (R.A.F.I.), who did the layout for us and the cover. For those who don't know Mikkel's work it's totally brilliant and I personally luv his beerbottle embryo's :-)
I also heard about a forthcoming split EP with CONSTANT STATE OF TERROR and a four way split LP with NUCLEAR DEATH TERROR, GUIDED CRADLE and INSTANT OF SURVIVAL? Can you tell us more about these?
Bis, Bo, Stef: Yip, we'll do one with our mates from C.S.O.T. but that will take a bit of time they still have to record after puttin' out there own 3rd 7" (it's a rager :-)), about the 4 way split, well N.D.T. pulled out of the project together with the most important labels who were involved. I totally understand it's been going on and on and almost no-one cared in the end, to bad, but we're lookin' to get something done instead, we'll see in the future about that.
Lola: Are they going to be done?
So far your releases have all been split releases with other bands. What made you decide to release your songs as split releases as opposed to releasing your own full length EP, LP? What do you look for in a band when it comes to sharing a split record?
Lola: As I always say, it would be a violent pain to ear a complete record of VISION OF WAR, and we've a particular notion of friendship. We share the troubles so we share the records...
Stiv: ...Well most of the time we know the people or know what they stand for, also it helps if we really like the music of course, sometimes we ask a band or we're gettin' asked, so far we've been really lucky to get it together with good bands, so people buy it for the other band and get us on it too ;-)
Stiv, tell us about your artwork? Where do you get your inspiration and ideas from? What bands have you worked with and do bands approach you for your art or do you approach them?
Stiv: ...Well I started doodlin' and drawing on a young age, I was the lil' silent kid in the corner drawin' away, and since a few years I do some artwork for friends and bands I like, the inspiration goes from classic paintings, sculptures, even pictures, but I don't photoshop my drawings, it's all been done by hand, something I'm quite proud of, but frustrates a lot since when I fuck up or the band wants in the end something else it's back to the drawing board however lately I have a close friend Arne Killbo who helps me with puttin' my drawings into one big drawing photoshop wise, but this is mearly lay-out wise. Well I started out with local bands demo covers and logo's, later on for the releases of bands I was in and still am and thanx to the OLHO DE GATO/VISIONS OF WAR split LP it all started, especially with Dan P.E. giving me the opportunity in P.E. mag nr.48 it helped a lot too, more international, and from there I did stuff for INSTINCT OF SURVIVAL, GUIDED CRADLE, WOLFBRIGADE, SKITSYSTEM, KATASTROPHOBIA, BOYCOTT, MASS GENOCIDE PROCESS, WARVICTIMS, RAKKAUS, RIISTETYT, PROJECT HOPELESS, NUCLEAR DEATH TERROR, KONTATTO hm and a lot more I cannot really recall right now :-) Well I guess I'm doing not top bad since a few bands always come back for more so I'm honoured that I can do more releases then one, it creates a bond and you know where they wanna go for the next layout or drawing, cheers you guys.

You played some dates in Italy earlier this year? How did that go? What were some of your highlights of the "Shitaly Tour 09"?
Bis, Bo, Stef: Italy was great time... nice places, nice people, of course nice food and wine... and it was also cool to play this tour with Stick (DOOM) 'cos our drummer wasn't able to go with us anymore... and for sure we should thanx again Koppa (ABUSO SONORO/Agipunk/KONTATTO) for booking, driving us and taking care of everything for us.. Mila (Agipunk/GUIDA) for booking help... and the D-beat queen Marziona (KONTATTO) for her simpathy and Stick for his presents on drums!
Lola: For me it was awesome, I was suffering as hell in a French hospital. So I haven't seen Italy. But I heard it was a massacre, haha!!
Stiv: ...Hell yeah Pengiuno dio!! It was amazing too bad Lolo couldn't make it cause of his operation, and it came to me then that if Lolo would quit it won't be the same power then we have now. But Italy was really nice, although next time I won't be on stage anymore at La Scintilla, it's a bit high to fall off every now and then, for the rest cheers to all the squats and places and the good care of the Agipunk team and of course our not so secret anymore 7th member, Mr Sticky Chap for helpin' us out the 23rd time on tour back then :-)
You also recently toured the UK with CONSTANT STATE OF TERROR and returned again for Scumfest. How many times have you played the UK now? What do you like most about touring and playing in the UK?
Bis, Bo, Stef: We already went to the UK 5 times... but it's the first time with this new line up... it was nice to tour again UK and especially with our mates C.S.O.T. and for sure we are glad to be part of Scumfest 09 but the fact that most of the time bands get no free booze disappoint us...
Lola: If my memory still works. I think we made 2 dates 2 times, then a 4 dates tour, then the 5 dates tour with CONSTANT STATE OF TERROR, and we come back that 6 June of 09 for the 5th time to play the 14th date on this island. Is it enough precise??
Stiv: ...Well I really want to thank everyone who put us up, fed us and let us pay for booze :-) Nope it was a bit of a downer since everywhere we played before in the UK we got at least some drinkin' tickets or whatever and now that wasn't everywhere the case, but I understand if you just have 10 payin' people or less there's no way you can pay that out of yer pocket, anyway I hope in the future we can come back and personally I'd luv to go to Scotland and Ireland on the next one :-) Who knows hopefully back with our mates CONSTANT STATE OF TERROR??
Any last comments? Anything else you want to discuss?
Bis, Bo, Stef: Thanks for interest in our band.. and see you in the pit mate...!!!
Lola: I would have liked to discuss about Columbo but you feel very tired... thanx for your interest.
Stiv: ...Chris mate thanx for askin' us to participate on this one, I've been a huge fan of Aversion (cheers Stef for introducin' me to that one years ago :-)) before and it's pretty damn cool you still do a zine, RESPECT mate and keep it up and next time buy us a cider please :-)
visionsofwar@hotmail.com
www.myspace.com/deadnothing

ATENTADO - 1in12 Club 03/04/11

2011-08-07T15:00:00.000-07:00

BROTTSKOD 11 - Levande Döda Tape

2011-08-07T13:35:00.000-07:00

BROTTSKOD 11 - Levande Döda Tape The debut demo release from these Swedish living dead punks. Hailing from the graveyards of Östersund, Sweden, BROTTSKOD 11 are a new fucking raw zombie hardcore punk band formed in early January 2011 with members from such bands as WARVICTIMS, ELECTRIC FUNERAL, DESPERAT and TOTALT JÄVLA MÖRKER. The demo was released back in April 2011 and is now in it's second press of 150 with the first press of 100 selling out pretty much instantly and after hearing the tape I can easily understrand why. Eight songs in just fifteen minutes of dirty fucking raw hardcore punk that has a classic nineties Scandi-crust feel about it. The dual vocals sound great really fucking harsh and pissed off sounding complemented perfectly with distorted guitar riffs and screeching leads. This is a really impressive debut demo from BROTTSKOD 11 and can't wait to see and hear this band on vinyl. Fucking total non stop zombie crust destruction. Released on the D-takt & Råpunk sub-label Distort The World which has previously released tapes by WARVICTIMS, ELECTRIC FUNERAL and DESPERAT. Without a doubt BROTTSKOD 11 are one of my favourite new Swedish raw punk bands. "They keep coming back in a bloodthirsty lust for living dead hardcore punk". (Distort The World c/o dbeatrawpunk.blogspot.com BROTTSKOD 11 c/o brottskod11@gmail.com or brottskod11.wordpress.com ).

BESTHÖVEN - European Disaster Tour 2011

2011-07-25T15:02:00.000-07:00

The Brazilian drunk one man DIS-army Fofäo Discrust is bringing his D-beat holocaust to Europe touring with Italian crusties KONTATTO. Full tour dates and line up details below. Also new BESTHÖVEN album "Dis Means War" and a limited split picture tour EP "Fucking Crusties" with KONTATTO are both out now on Agipunk Records.

PLAYLIST - 19/07/11

2011-07-18T15:03:00.000-07:00

DESPERAT - Suicide Attack EP (World Funeral Records)

DESPERAT - Demokrati eller Diktataur? (De:Nihil Records)

DOOM - Reasonable Force EP (Black Cloud Records)
KRÖMOSOM - 8 Tracks 12" (Hardcore Victim / D-takt & Rapunk / Havoc)
ISTERISMO - Discography LP (540 Records)

GLAM - 1in12 Club 30/07/10

2011-07-14T14:36:00.000-07:00

DESTINO FINAL - 1in12 Club 16/10/10

2011-07-13T14:23:00.000-07:00

WARVICTIMS - Interview 2009

2011-07-10T08:35:00.000-07:00

WARVICTIMS are a fucking awesome D-beat raw crust band from Sweden. They formed in 2006 and have gone on to release numerous records taking D-beat back to it’s roots. This interview was conducted via email in 2009 when the true identities of WARVICTIMS and Skitliv! zine was still yet to be revealed, Fisen was actually Jocke from TOTALT JÄVLA MÖRKER now ELECTRIC FUNERAL and DESPERAT and Fetebob was really Per from ACCURSED, MARTYRDÖD, GIFTGASATTACK.

Can you give us some history to the band? When and why did WARVICTIMS start? Is it correct the band started as a drunken project?

Fisen: There is not much to say. Boredom and restlessness started the band. I known Challe for a very long time and we have been playing together in other bands and projects before we started with WARVICTIMS. We rehearsed and did our first recording in June 2006, you know the rest. Lot’s of members have passed through the two years we have been active. The only two members who have been present at all recordings are me and Challe.

You started WARVICTIMS specifically to play back to the roots D-beat raw punk? Apart from the obvious influence of DISCHARGE what other bands initially inspired you to start WARVICTIMS?

Fisen: This might come as a shock to you but DISCHARGE has never been an influence to WARVICTIMS, at least not to me! I think it’s a damn lie when zines write that we sounds similar to DISCHARGE cause I think that DISCHARGE is quite a lame band and I don’t consider us to sound anything at all like them. The main influence when we started this band was crust/punk bands from the mid 90’s. We wanted to keep it simple but raw, in the same vein as all the other “DIS-kång” bands from that period. Just like most of those bands we only write lyrics about war and injustice. Why change a winning concept? Haha.

Fetebob: For me WARVICTIMS represent both back to the roots D-beat and serious retrospect on past wars and new ones going on now. It’s not only music that inspired to start this shit it’s the fukking stinking life who keeps fukking up all the time. Personally I’m inspired by DISASTER and CRASS (in lyrical sense), DISFEAR and bands like that.. DISCHARGE is in my and the other hearts forever!

You’ve had a couple of line up changes since you started. How long has this current line up been together? Who plays what?

Fisen: We still don’t have any official line-up. For our proposed European tour we asked some friends to help us out. This was supposed to be the line up on tour: Challe: vocals, Fisen: guitar/vocals, Fetebob: guitars/vocals, Ced: bass, Granaten: drums.

Who writes the lyrics? Are they written by one member or is it a collective?

Fetebob: Challe writes most of the lyrics but we all contribute with ideas I guess, it can be a drawing or an instant thought written down on a bus ticket.

Fisen: Yeah, most of the lyrics are written by Challe. His really into writing lyrics and for every new subject he search information on internet like a maniac. Sometime I think that he’s putting down to much energy on the lyrics. But that’s the way he wants to have it and there is nothing wrong in being well-read on the topics you are writing about. In the end I think his lyrics turns out really good.

You have songs in both Swedish and English? Why both instead of one or the other?

Fetebob: Well, it’s important to sing in a language that most understand though we want to keep some of our native writings as well.. Some songs come out better in Swedish. For me it doesn’t really matter if we write in Swedish or English as long as people get the message across.
Fisen: I personally like the Swedish language better, it feels in some strange way better and rawer to sing your mother tongue. All of our songs are more or less about war, starvation, oppression etc. You know… nothing new, just ordinary punk lyrics. I guess that we all know what it’s all about by now. Haha.

Are any members of WARVICTIMS involved in any other bands? What about bands before WARVICTIMS?

Fisen: Yes, all of us have played in other bands before WARVICTIMS and some of us play in other bands today. I hate to focus on what other bands you are/been involved with. I prefer to not talk about my other bands. I want people to listen to WARVICTIMS with objective ears, you know?
Fetebob: Yes there are other bands.. In time you all will know.. For now lets just say we are in some bands.

How do you write the songs? Is it something that happens spontaneously when you rehearse or does one of you come ready prepared with a specific idea?

Fisen: We don’t rehearse that often, it’s very rare. It’s more or less just for the recordings. We are spread across Sweden which makes it hard to rehearse on a daily basis. This is sad because I would love to rehearse more often. So far I have done all the music but since Fetebob joined the band we have done some awesome songs together. Fetebob joined the band last year and the split 12” with FLYBLOWN is his first recording with, so you will hear our collaboration on that record. Slight a little different sound from our previously songs. I think it sounds much rawer. It’s easy to walk the same old paths when you’re doing all the music by yourself. I’m glad that Fetebob wanted to play with us so that he can contribute with new riffs and ideas.

The song “Fucked For Life” is about drinking booze, taking pills and getting fucked up. How much of an influence does alcohol and drugs play in WARVICTIMS?
Fisen: My life has always been a fucking mess with depression, anxiety and drugs/alcohol abuse. It all started when I was around 12-13 years. It came to a point in my life when I had to change my way of living or I would end up like a wreck. Today I rarely drink or taking drugs because every time I do I’m getting into lot’s of troubles, hurt my loved ones and do things that I normally wouldn’t do when I’m sober. I still enjoy a cold beer in the sun and I’m still taking pills in form of medicine for my anxiety attacks.

Fetebob: Yes we are heavily inspired by our lifestyle which is very chaotic at times, this started as a drunken project remember? There are so many things fukking up all the time and sometimes life is just too much of a burden.. I honestly don’t like getting shitfaced so much as I used to in my early teens but its habit I’ve got and I have, at times, to keep supply to my body to not fukking die on me.

Can you tell us about your latest EP “Bellum Se Ipsum Alet” and LP “Lögnen Om Fredsavtalet”? What do the titles mean?

Fisen: It’s really hard to give the right translation but I’ll give it a try. “Bellum Se Ipsum Alet” is latin for “War Breeds War”. “Lögnen Om Fredsavtalet” is Swedish and means something like “The lie of the peace agreement”. At the time when we recorded the “Bellum Se Ipsum Alet” 7 inch was the beginning of my black metal period so you might hear some influences from the Norwegian black metal scene. “Lögnen Om Fredsavtalet” is straight forward d-beat with dual vocals, expect nothing less then tedious WARVICTIMS raw punk d-beat mayhem style.

What about the split EP with CHOKE COCOI and the split LP with FLYBLOWN? Have you found labels to release these yet?

Fisen: At present time we have 5-7 different labels who shown interests for the split 7” with CHOKE COCOI, but nobody wants to be in charge for the whole project. D-Takt & Råpunk will release the vinyl version of the split with FLYBLOWN. I sent the master to the pressing plant yesterday so hopefully it will be out in September. Black Seeds will release the CD version. Jery at BS have released tape version of “Until Man Exists No More” and he’s also released the CD version of “Lögnen Om Fredsavtalet”. He’s a great guy who’s doing a great job and so far we have only good experience with him. We will also contribute with one track (Victims) for the DISCLOSE tribute compilation CD he’s about to release.

Tell us about your label D-Takt & Råpunk Records? When and why did you start the label? Do you have a strict agenda when it comes to what style of music and bands you release?

Fisen: When we first started with WARVICTIMS it was really hard to find any serious labels who wanted to release our stuff. We did our first release by the end of 2006, the mini CD “When The Innocent Cry” with WARVICTIMS. Back then it was not serious at all, we even called the label WARVICTIMS Records. We saved some money and released some 7” in the end of 2007 with no expectations that the label would turn out the way it did. We just wanted to release our own music. But then we got in contact with tons of great bands through the zine that we wanted to help out and release too. So that’s why we started D-Takt & Råpunk Records. “D-Takt & Råpunk” is Swedish for “D-Beat & Raw Punk” and that’s what kind of music we love and listen to ourselves. I think that we have released lot’s of amazing bands so far, don’t you think so? Just check out our discography with bands like; MOB 47, GIFTGASATTACK, NUCLEAR DEATH TERROR, DISSOBER, TORTYR, MARERIDT and so on… I couldn’t believe it when we first got in contact with MOB 47 and when they agreed to release there double LP/CD at our label. I have listened to them since I started to listen to punk in the early 90’s. I would never have thought that I someday would release a record with them. We have more awesome upcoming releases to come like; “RAW HATE” (brutal and distorted raw punk) “KROSSA” from Japan, “SPRITVEV”(members of band, I think they reminds of TOTALITÄR), GIFTGASATTACK 12” and some other shit. So keep your eyes and ears open.

You also publish the zine Skitliv!. How long have you been putting it out? How many issues have you done? What’s in a typical issue?

Fisen: We started around 2005 and the first issue got out February 2006. We have done nine numbers so far and we’re going to do one last number (#10) and after that we’re done with the zine. Sad but true. It’s very funny and rewarding to do a fanzine but since it’s a true old school cut and paste zine it takes lots of time to put it all together. We just ain’t got the time anymore and it feels like each new number is a recurrence of the previous ones. Skitliv! were a big practical joke from the beginning to the end. The funniest part is that most of the readers took it dead seriously. I don’t know if you ever heard about the Swedish fanzine “Sika Äpärä”? It was Finnen (Finn Records) and Jallo (MEANWHILE/KVOTERINGEN/Finn) who did that zine and it was really good. It’s hard to explain but they did not asked the same old questions like all the other zines did. And they provoked lots of people with their according to my called humour. Like “Sika Äpärä” we wanted to provoke the readers and the scene in general, and I think that we’ve manage really well with that. Punks have no sense of humour, I mean; you have to be able to make a joke without getting lynched. There are so much narrow minded punks in the scene today and it seems like it’s more important what patches you have on your stud vest then what’s happening around the globe today. I’ve met punks that think it’s cool to be an alcoholic and doing drug, well trust me, it’s not. We just wanted to make fun of all this. Our tensions was never to hurt anybody, we just wanted people to think for themselves with an open mind.

Which aspect of playing in WARVICTIMS do you prefer the most? Recording and releasing records or touring and playing live?

Fisen: Since we never have played live I would have to say recording. I would love to play live with WARVICTIMS but the situation with members all across Sweden makes it really hard to get the band together. I prefer to play live cause when you play live you have less pressure on you. You only have a good time with your friends on stage and with the people in the audience.

Fetebob: Due to various reasons we have not played live at all in our existence. You know, many times members has disappeared or got arrested for drunken disorderly stuff.. It got to the point where we just said fuck it, we don’t play live. But we are shaping up a bit now and want to do a serious attempt to do a tour and see how this is gonna work out. I like playing live but it’s not all in the band who does and they have to have a say about it too.

Can you talk about the European tour and why you decided to cancel? Did you have any expectations about the tour?

Fisen: Well as you know the whole tour is cancelled due to various reasons. Challe have been depressed the last 5-6 month, and his not the only one. But he felt that he couldn’t go on tour and that his anxiety would increase if he did. We have to respect his choice, but I’m not saying that we’re not disappointed at him who tells us this with such short notice. We were all really looking forward to this tour. I love being on tour. First of all you can just put aside all problems back at home and focus on having fun with my friends. I like travelling, see new places, meet new and familiar faces, play with other great bands and so on. It was our first tour so we did not have any expectations at all. We were supposed to do 18-20 shows in three weeks. Starting at “ShitTown” and end at “Play Fast or Don’t” festival in Czech. Read more about why we had to cancel the tour at our MySpace profile with a personal blog both from Challe and the band.

What bands are you currently listening to? What are you favourite bands at the moment?

Fisen: At the moment I mostly listen to a lot to black metal and old school hard rock bands like DARKTHRONE, SATYRICON, AC/DC, WASP, BLACK SABBATH, MAYHEM, GORGOROTH, IRON MAIDEN, NATTEFROST, LED ZEPPELIN etc. I would say that AC/DC and DARKTHRONE is my favourite bands at the moment.

Fetebob: Hm.. the recent DYSTOPIA LP is played on a daily basis, so is DISASTER and DISCLOSE and various English anarcho punk such as FLUX and THE SEARS, ANTISECT… I just totally love DISORDER so I have to name them too.

Top five Swedish bands?

Fisen: MOB 47, DISCHANGE / MEANWHILE, DISFEAR, WOLFPACK, MARTYRDÖD. Ask me the same question next month and I would probably name drop other bands.

Fetebob: Oh.. NÖDVÄRN, SKITKIDS, MARDRÖM, MOTORBREATH, WARVICTIMS, haha!

DISCHARGE or ANTI CIMEX?

Fisen: ANTI CIMEX no doubt! I have never liked DISCHARGE that much. I actually think that they are a way overrated band who isn’t that raw and brutal that all other punks claim. I bought “Never Again” in the early 90’s but I thought it was quite lame songs so I never paid to much attention to them. Everybody is nagging about all their classic hits and records so I ordered “Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing” and “Why” some month ago to hope that it would prove me wrong. I must admit that they had 3-5 good songs on the albums. BUT there are million other bands in the same veins which sound so much rawer. ANTI CIMEX for example. Haha.

Fetebob: Hm, Fisen is gonna be pissed with me now but I have to go for DISCHARGE here. “Why” 12” totally blew me away when I first heard it and still does everytime I play it.. ANTI CIMEX did some amazing stuff both in their early age and later. I think “Raped Ass” and the “Country Of Sweden” 12” are masterpieces which never gonna fade in their rawness.

Any last comments? Anything else you want to say?

Fisen: I’m so sorry you had to wait this long for the answers, things have been fucked up the last weeks. Hope you understand. Anyways thanks for your interest. I like previously Agitate numbers you sent me and I’m looking forward for more numbers in the future. Keep up the good work Chris! Time will tell what will happen to WARVICTIMS in the future. We have recorded four new songs that will be released as a 7” by Abuse Records from Belgium. D-beat will never die, see you all in hell!!

Fetebob: Thanx Chris for letting us have a say in yer zine, I enjoy reading Agitate so it’s a pleasure for me to be in here myself. The summer of 2008 will be a great time for WARVICTIMS and I hope to see some of you out there. Chris, bring us to England!!!

WARVICTIMS

skitliv666@gmail.com

dbeatrawpunk.blogspot.com

AFTER THE BOMBS - Interview 2008

2011-06-30T15:25:00.000-07:00

AFTER THE BOMBS were a female fronted heavy metallic crust band form Montreal, Canada. Formed in 2004 after HELLBOUND disbanded, AFTER THE BOMBS went on to release three EP’s and full length album called “Relentless Onslaught” on The Total End Records. The following interview was conducted with Janick (vocals) and Jason (guitar) via email in 2008 before the band embarked on their Eastern European tour. The interview was originally published in Agitate #9.

Can you give us some history to the band? When did AFTER THE BOMBS start? Who plays what? What happened to HELLBOUND?

Jason: AFTER THE BOMBS started January 2004, HELLBOUND had not practised in several months, a few of us wanted to move in a different direction. Stian joined and at that point it was: Janick – vocals, Jason – guitar, Stian – guitar, Josh – bass and Clint – drums. Stian left the band in 2006 after the west coast tour to go back to Norway so it’s now Matt Strong from ANOTHER OPPRESSIVE SYSTEM playing guitar.
Did you start AFTER THE BOMBS with the set idea of specifically wanting to play metallic crust? Apart from the obvious influences of AMEBIX, SACRILEGE, AXEGRINDER etc, what other bands influence AFTER THE BOMBS?

Jason: I think the idea when we started was to play something similar to S.D.S. Janick changed her vocal style a little. Stain added a lot of speed picking not just metal style but a lot of 80’s Norwegian hardcore like SO MUCH HATE, KAFKA PROCESS, BARN AV REGNBUEN who used really fast guitar style. We also owe much to SACRILEGE, ONSLAUGHT, DEATHSIDE and ANTISECT.
Who writes the lyrics? Are they written by one member or is it a collective effort
Janick: I write all the lyrics… as the others are illiterate ahhaa.
Both the “Spoils Of War” and “Bloody Aftermath” EP’s were released around the same time. Are the songs on both EP’s part of the same recording session? What about the “Relentless Onslaught” album?
Jason: We did two recording sessions around the same time, we did the 12” in a fancy studio two hours outside Montreal in March 2006 and we did a digital recording in a scummy basement for the two EP’s in April 2006. Both were fun for different reasons!!

Can you tell us about the new album “Relentless Onslaught”? Are you happy with how it turned out? What kind of response have you been getting?
Janick: Yes we are very pleased with it. We had so much troubles with the mix and releasing it due to some fucker that screwed us over… but at the end it all came out pretty good. The response is pretty amazing. I didn’t think it would sell out so fast…
Your records always come packaged with great looking artwork. How did you get involved with Rat Grinder who did the “Spoils Of War” and “Bloody Aftermath” EP’s and Marald who did the “Relentless Onslaught” LP? What is it that you like about Rat and Maralds artwork?
Jason: Rat Grinder got in touch with us, we checked out his artwork and were all blown away. Really old school Mid style, he draws with an 80’s mindset. Marald is a real pro we contacted him cause he did a lot of artwork for our friends (STATE OF FEAR, DEFORMED CONSCIENCE) and we really liked his work. I think the gatefold art is some of the best punk artwork I have ever seen!!!
You’ve all been involved in the DIY punk scene for sometime now playing in numerous bands over the years like HELLBOUND, FIERCE etc. What is it that keeps you interested in the punk scene and playing in a DIY punk band?
Janick: For me punk is my life, punk music saved me if I can say that without sounding too chessy.. haha! I was very isolated and antisocial when I was young and punk just brought me a different outlook on life and how I wanted to live my own. It also provided me with an awesome group of friends which I consider my family… maybe more than my actual family which I don’t really have any contact with since I’m 10. Punk is raw, fierce and true and that’s what I like about it. I can express myself without being judged every ten seconds and people understand my feelings and thoughts way more than the average blokes. It’s easier to be who you want to be in the punk scene cause most of the people have been through rough times and understand where you’re coming from.

Do you get to play many gigs? Have you played much outside of Montreal? Can you tell us about your forthcoming European tour 2008?

Janick: Well after Stian moved back to Norway we didn’t play a gig for one year… cause we had to find another guitar player. When we did we had to teach him all the old songs. Since then we have played a few gigs here in Montreal and in the US (east and west coast gigs).

The tour in Europe is booked by Koppa from Agipunk and will take place in May 2008 in Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland and Austria. We are very excited about it! Thanx to Koppa and Agipunk for the great opportunity.

What’s the scene like in Montreal? Is there many divisions in the Montreal punk scene? What are some positive and negative aspects of the Montreal punk scene?

Janick: The scene in Montreal is good… I think but of course there’s ups and downs and divisions… cliques if I can say… like everywhere and sometimes I really despise it. But I can say that for the past two years punks have been more together… I mean we mix more styles together… like crust and 77’ punk rockers and oi! It’s cool and I think it’s way better that way, there’s more people at shows and everyone benefits from it. Let’s hope it stays that way…

Janick, you started the Katacombes venue in Montreal. Can you tell us more about the Katacombes? When and why you started the venue?

Janick: Well I started Katacombes with my friend Claudie after L’X our old venue was being kicked out of it’s local by the University of Quebec in Montreal in 2004, after seven years of operation. It took us two years and in November 2006, we finally opened the Katacombes. It’s an 18+ venue of 165 capacities. There are also workshops and jam spaces on the second floor. I started Katacombes cause I can’t do anything else in life than work in the punk scene and for the punk scene… ahhah! This is my life! I couldn’t picture myself working in a grocery store or in a restaurant after dedicating more than ten years of my life doing L’X. So I decided that the eviction of L’X was not going to stop me and I worked very hard with Claudie to open the Katacombes. It’s doing great. Bands that are planning on stopping in Montreal should definitely contact me. Email: coopkatacombes@hotmail.com or www.myspace.com/katacombes

On the subject of the Katacombes you recently organized the “A Varning From Montreal” DIY punk festival. How did it go? What bands played? Do you plan on organizing anymore “A Varning From Montreal” festivals?

Janick: The Varning fest was to celebrate the first anniversary of Katacombes and it was fucking awesome… It was the first time that Montreal had a festival like that. Here are the bands that played: MEANWHILE, WARCRY, INEPSY, WORLD BURNS TO DEATH, CAUSTIC CHRIST, BORN DEAD ICONS, COMPILCATIONS, us, BROKEN, CAREER SUICIDE, MAN THE CONVEYORS, AGHAST, BOMBED OUT and THE OMEGAS. I’m planning on organizing one every year… if our financial situation allows us to do so… we’ll see…

What bands are you currently listening to at the moment? What are some of your favourite eighties crust records?

Jason: A lot of Japanese hardcore, AGE, CROW, EFFIGY, WORLD BURNS TO DEATH, DARK THRONE. I like a lot of the newer metal bands like TOXIC HOLOCAUST and MIDNIGHT. As far as 80’s crust records, I think HELLBASTARD is a band that always gets overlooked but is awesome. The second SACRILEGE LP is a great record. DEVIATED INSTINCT later stuff is very good slow crust. Too many good records in the 80’s!!!

Janick: SACRILEGE demos, new AGE LP, CROW, WARCRY – Deprogram 2006 LP, CRIMINAL DAMAGE, WAR RIPPER, WORLD BURNS TO DEATH… my favourite 80’s crust records would be SACRILEGE demos and “Behind The Realms Of Madness” LP, ANTISECT – “Out From The Void” EP, ANTI SYSTEM – “Take A Look At Life” LP, DEVIATED INSTINCT, HELLBASTARD, HELLKRUSHER – “Buildings For The Rich” LP, MISERY – “Born, Fed, Slaughtered” EP and “Production Through Destruction” LP a classic not to be forgotten. BASTARD, NAUSEA… POISON IDEA (it’s not a crust band but it’s definitely one of the most brilliant band to ever existed!) There are many many more but I’ll stop right here…haha!

Anything else you want to say or feel needs to be addressed? What’s next for AFTER THE BOMBS?

Janick: Touring Japan hopefully soon!!! Anyone wants to invite us! Ahha!

Thanx for the interview Chris.

AFTER THE BOMBS, PO Box 80-Station C, Montreal, QC, HEL 4J7, Canada. www.myspace.com/afterthebombs

BESTHÖVEN - Interview 2006

2011-06-27T14:43:00.000-07:00

BESTHÖVEN are from Brazil and have been around since the end of 1990 playing total Discimex raw fucking D-beat punk. BESTHÖVEN is a one man drunken army with Fofäo Discrust behind the Dis-beat horrorcore. The following interview was conducted with Fofäo by letter in 2006 and was originally published in Agitate #8.

Can you give us some history to BESTHÖVEN? When did the band start?

BESTHÖVEN started to play in the end of 1990 between October to December… Formed by four friends that time was looking to do a new band and play some noise!!! Some changes in the line up in the start… but established til 94 with me Fofäo – Vox, Robson – Guitars, Repolho – Drums and Adriana – Bass… In this era we played many gigs and etc… Then in 1994 I got the band alone… I tried some new line ups too but today the band is just me playing and record alone… Sometimes I invited some friends like support member… Including Robson (who played drums in “Depois De Um Ataque Aereo” EP in 1999) and Adriana (who played bass in 15 years of birthday gigs…) Hope it be good for introduction… coz always is fucking boring to talk about it…

Why the name BESTHÖVEN? What does it mean?

It’s an invented name… Our first drummer creates… It’s a mix of two words: “Besta” that in Portuguese means “evil or beast” and the musician “Beethoven” it means something like “noise not music” or just “anti-music” or then another version of “classic music”… Here’s the “chaotic music”… The first drummer Repolho was a great guy (and still is) then I decided to keep the name and coz I enjoy the name a lot!... I love these mix of words like Alcoholocaust, for example…

How long has BESTHÖVEN been a solo project? Do you have any plans to expand the band or will BESTHÖVEN continue to be “A Drunk One Man Army”?

BESTHÖVEN is not a “project” coz project are short time life… BESTHÖVEN is a one man band since the end of 1994… but sometimes invite somebody to record or help in someway… No I don’t have plans to be a full band never again… The friends I used to play gigs last time all asked me to continues in the band then I say OK!!!... But all they have their own bands, I tried to practise with them and record new songs … but they not have time free to me… Then I say fuck off, I prefer to keep it alone… All them are fucking nice guys and friends a lot… but the drummer for example is playing in others four bands… Yeah!!! The drunk one man army continues!!!

Can you tell us about the “A Lei Du Mais Fraco” 12”? What kind of response have you been getting?

Any good response on it… Always peoples write me letters and sending zines saying lots of great words about BESTHÖVEN records… But now I’m not hearing or seeing anything about the 12”… Maybe no one in the world enjoyed the 12”… but fuck off!!! I enjoy it a lot!!!

What about the split EP’s with VIOLATION and TRIOXIN 245? How did you get involved with Final Attempt Records and Muerte Negra Records? VIOLATION and TRIOXIN 245 are amazing great bands and I’m keeping contacts with them and hearing their fucking good music!!! I’d like just to splits with them coz beyond the music they are friends a lot too!!! Mick from VIOLATION made the contacts with B.C. from Final Attempt to do it and he say ok!!! Muerte Negra asked me to release some BESTHÖVEN stuff, then I asked to be our split with TRIOXIN 245 then he said ok too!!! These two splits will be released many many soon and fastly!!!

Are you still planning on releasing a Swedish covers EP? Can you tell us more about this? What bands and songs will you be covering?

Yeah of course!!! I will do it!!! Maybe just in June this year, coz I’m with lot’s of fucking boring problems in my personal life and I wanna pass all this storm to can do it calm and without running… Meanwhile I will record just BESTHÖVEN songs… The EP will be named “The Vikings Are Back – A Hail To Sweden” and all art sleeve is based “A Hail To Japan” I recorded… The covers on it will be:

THE SHITLICKERS – The Night Of The Holocaust

FEAR OF WAR – Ingent Kwar

CRUDE SS – Capitalism Destroy

DISCARD – Death Race

MOB 47 – (I not choosed yet)

ANTI CIMEX – (I not choosed too! But one from “Raped Ass” and other from “Victims of…) My friend Rabbin Discrust from Dist And Confused more Discrust Records from Sweden wanna do it!!! But I asked he to wait a time and put some BESTHÖVEN new songs meanwhile…

What about BESTHÖVEN gigs? Do you get to play many gigs? Is it a problem with BESTHÖVEN been a solo band?

Well this “S.O.S.” line up” (like I call) I invited was just for one gig celebration of 15 years of BESTHÖVEN with FORCA MACABRA in their “Missao Metalic Tour 2005”. This gig was amazing!!! Then lots of invitations more… We play more four or five gigs then… but these gigs was not good for me… Bad equipment always… The same bands, the same faces… and a horrible gig in Gyn City in the badest equipment sound of the world and we was totally blind drunk!!! I falled over sound box!! He! He… Not many gigs and now stopped… I can do the line up in future again to some gig but just in special moments… When FORCA MACABRA returns is one!!!

How is the DIY punk scene in Brazil? Bands, zines, labels etc? Can you tell us about your zine?

Is not so different than other places I think… Lot’s of bands, zines, labels, etc… All years in DF state where I live exist a cool and strong DIY scene!! Really great, united and cooperative. Today you can see here punx, straight edgers, bangers, goths. In a same gig all are friends, bands of different styles playing in same day without any problems or fights! Peoples organizing gigs in cooperatives… Friends made stuffs for zines of others friends etc… Of course some bullshit fight for nothing you can see sometimes in a gig but not always… My zine??? My zine is fuckin shit!! He! He! He! I’m doing it since 1990 too… The name is “Vermynoze Putrida”, now he have ten pages A4 size in Xerox… I do interviews all bands that I love around the world, retakes from 80’s… labels… and some shits from my darkness mind… Available now: Number 29/30: Interviews with BLACK MARKET FETUS, plus DISCLOSE, MARERIDT, TRIOXIN 245, Strongly Opposed Records, victims of DISCHARGE (photo session of Brazilian bands and peoples using DISCHARGE items) and republish of CRUDE SS interview from 1986! Published originally just in Brazil!!! Portuguese and English edition. Number 31: Interviews with Jim (SQUANDERED, CRUELTY), HUMAN BASTARD, AUDIO KOLLAPS and BEYOND DESCRIPTION. Plus victims of DISCHARGE and Rodel Records. Total English edition! Someone interest just send $3 for help copies and postage well hidden to my address.

Can you talk about the current political climate in Brazil? What is the economic situation like in Brazil?

No I can’t… Sorry but I don’t give a fuck to it… I live totally off about it…. I just do things I enjoy… Drink is one good… I’m sorry…

Are Brazilian punks politically active? Are punks in Brazil involved in protesting, direct action, squatting etc?

Yeah, but exist different types of punx here… I know that exists lots of punx in anarchy movement, protests, etc… But I can’t talk coz I don’t have contacts with them… I’m not an anarchist… I don’t believe in anarchy or any solution for the human race…

What’s on your turntable at the moment? What bands are you currently listening to?

Lots! Lots! MOBCHARGE, ALTERNATIVE SYSTEM, BETON, ANOTHER OPPRESSIVE SYSTEM, LEBENDEN TOTEN, DEATHCHARGE, KIROTTUS, MUSTA PARAATI, SKETETAL FAMILY, DEATH IN JUNE, DISASTER, TWO WITCHES, CTHUWULF, etc, etc…. I’m addicted to music!

What’s next for BESTHÖVEN? Are you working on any new material? When’s the split LP with SKELETON out?

Yeah! I’m in studio now!! Recording new songs for two split EP’s with MOBCHARGE and ALTERNATE SYSTEM!!! The split 12” with SKELETON is out!!! You can got copies at: The Total End Records, Matt Strong, 25 St Augustine Street, West Hartford, GT 06110, USA or ibrache@aol.com. Our first individual EP “Depois De Lim Ataque Aereo” from 1999 now available too new press at: Room 101 Records, c/o Mick, PO Box 37271, Philadelphia. PA 19148, USA or criesofpainrecs@hotmail.com

Anything else you want to say or feel needs to be addressed?

Thanx a lot my dear Chris for including BESTHÖVEN on the pages of your amazing zine!!! Thanx to all who read it and respect different thoughts! Thanx for all labels that help spread BESTHÖVEN noise!! And thanx to all peoples are asked me to BESTHÖVEN tour in USA and Europe (hope we can turn it in fact next year!!). A message: Don’t keep your eyes just in fucking computers!! Long live pen pals and real letters!! Long live to paper zines!!! Fofäo Discrust.

BESTHÖVEN c/o Fofäo Discrust, Caixa Postal 8120, Cep 72401-970, Gama-DF Brazil.

WARHEAD - The World Of Confusion / Acceleration 7"

2011-06-25T07:16:00.000-07:00

WARHEAD - The World Of Confusion / Acceleration 7" After a break of seven years since their 2004 split EP with ORDER and an unbelievable twenty years since their classic "Cry Of Truth" debut EP Kyoto's WARHEAD are back with a new two song 7" of pure Japanese hardcore insanity co-released by La Vida Es Un Mus, Feral Ward and HG Fact. This release sees the Kyoto legends teaming up with Jacky from FRAMTID / GLOOM for two songs of blazing hardcore with manic screaming vocals, blown out distorted guitar riffs and frantic guitar solos. Both songs are equally as amazing as each other and I would struggle to pick a favourite. Totally fucking top notch hardcore up there with Japanese hardcore legends like BASTARD, GAUZE, DEATHSIDE etc. I can't recommend this enough. WARHEAD are one of best hardcore bands in Japan right now. (La Vida Es Un Mus Discos c/o http://www.lavidaesunmus.com/ Feral Ward c/o http://www.feralward.com/ HG Fact c/o www.interq.or.jp/japan/hgfact/).

GIFTGASATTACK - Interview 2009

2011-06-24T15:01:00.000-07:00

GIFTGASATTACK hail from Sweden and play raw distorted chaotic punk heavily inspired by Japanese crasher crust bands like GLOOM, DISCLOSE, FRAMTID etc. The following interview was conducted with Per, Micke and Rabbin via email in 2009 and was originally published in Agitate #10.

Can you introduce the band? How did GIFTGASATTACK come about? I’m I right in thinking the band started out just for fun with some drunken sessions? When did the band start to become more serious?

Per: Well first off we have drunk as fuck Rabbin on vocals. He has the most genuine collection of Japanese records I know about, in Sweden anyway. Granath plays drums and is a better drummer than you would expect at first sight, hehe. I play guitar and make fucked up solos. The newest member is Memphis who just got in on bass. We know him very well from other projects and he is an ace guitarist but now he must settle for this raw punk madness for a while. Hogge is the second singer, he is always out travelling Europe so we must always try and find him when we have gigs. GIFTGASATTACK started as a sick joke or something from Rabbin and Tallen (the former singer) where they tried to convince some stupids in Sweden they had done the “Våga Tanka Själv” EP from FEROCIOUS X… The band didn’t exist for real before I was asked to join in and I started making songs, however, we didn’t have any rehearsal room or anything so it all just laid to waste. Erick moved in at Rabbins and Tallens place and helped out getting a rehearsal space and he started to play bass and we asked Granath to join in on drums. Back then we had no sound or didn’t know what we should play but we had an idea of Japanese distortion. In time we have refined all the elements in our music (?) but it’s still very simple to the point crasher crust. Just the way we want it. Yes it’s still a drunken project ya know but yes we take it more seriously now. What happens happen you know. I want to play this sort of music and since not many people in Sweden do it maybe it can be interesting for them to hear it, I don’t know.

Micke: I really can’t remember, but yes it was a very drunken idea for all most a year before even starting to rehearse, but it got serious pretty fast I think.

GIFTGASATTACK is heavily influenced by Japanese crasher crust. What are some Japanese bands that have influenced the band the most? Do all members share the same love for Japanese crasher crust?

Per: Oh yeah, that’s the whole idea of the band but we have no bounderies whatsoever so there is lots of influences from England and the States as well. Personally I listen a lot to DISCLOSE, ZYANOSE, CONFUSE, KROSSA, UNARM, GLOOM, STAGNATION and GAI for example. Rabbin is the Japan-freak in the band but he has got me into it and I love it too. When we first started I think FRAMTID was the number one influence together with TOTALITÄR and DISCLOSE.
Micke: I say DISCLOSE is a very heavy influence. I don’t have the same diehard love for it as Rabbin or Per, I listen very much to old school American punk, and old thrash metal and raw punk from all over.

What about some of the American distort noise punk bands like LEBENDEN TOTEN, AGHAST, HELLKONTROLL etc. Are you fans of these bands?

Per: Yes of course. I love all of those bands and especially LEBENDEN TOTEN which I can’t stop listen to. I think this kind of thing is only happening in Japan and the US, the interest for this music or anti music whatever you like is not so big anywhere else but of course there are exceptions. DEAD NOISE is a good band. There are cool bands like BLINDED HUMANITY and PEACE OR ANIHILATION in Singapore which deserves to be mentioned.

MICKE: I don’t know.

How would you describe the progression of the bands sound from the “Distort Trash Destroy” demo to the split EP with DISLICKERS and the more recent split LP with MARDRÖM? I would say the split LP sounds much more controlled and less chaotic than the earlier releases. Would you agree?

Per: Yes it’s better songs now but we would like to keep the hysteria in the music which hasn’t worked out that well I’m afraid. I mean I like our recordings a lot and I think it’s good songs but it’s not as raw as we sound live and we must try and capture this for upcoming recordings. I think the split with DISLICKERS is the best we have done sound wise. It was a total drunken escapade, no one remembers anything, hehe. I think we will go for the cassette-portable sound again. We progressed too fast and got to technical to fast. We are not done with the raw shit.

Micke: Yeah I would agree, on the MARDRÖM split we recorded on better equipment than earlier, and we had rehearsed a lot more also.

How did the DISLICKERS and MARDÖM splits come about? What makes you decide which bands to do splits with? Is it the music, friendship etc? How did you get involved with D-takt & Råpunk Records?

Per: Well we know the people in this band and we wanted to do something together since we were the only raw bands we knew at the time. A friend of mine just started up this D-takt Och Råpunk label and thought it was a good idea. We are friends with the label that’s why we release there.

Micke: Have no idea, it’s Per who is the brain and driving force when it comes to that.

Who writes the lyrics? What are the lyrics to the song “Krigshög” about?

Per: We all help in the process of writing lyrics, sometimes it’s in a flink of a moment or somebody comes up with a good idea. As we have progressed musically we have done some shaping up with the lyrical content as well. “Krigshög” means High on war and it’s about how you as a soldier must drug yerself to be able to make these atrocities war is about. To be honest it’s a really shitty lyrical content to that song but it’s a good riff and we like to play it.

Micke: Everybody writes lyrics in the band, I don’t know ask Rabin about Krigshög……

What about the song “House Of Joy”? I’m I right in thinking the song is about the Ungdomshuset eviction? I remember seeing MARTYRDÖD play K-Town in 2005. Did you play there much? How did you feel about the eviction?

Per: Yes you are right in yer experience of the song. We have dedicated this song to the house since we all hung out there from time to time and went to good shows. I have played there both with ACURSED and MARTYRDÖD and I think the history of the house from an activist point of view is important to remember and cherish. The Danish society declared war with us by doing this and the fight are long from over.

Micke: I have never played there but been there drinking and having fun, it sucks ass that bullshit eviction.

Some members of GIFTGASATTACK are also active in other bands like ACURSED, MARTYRDÖD, DÖDSDÖMD etc? How do you handle priority issues between the bands?
Per: Well, there are no complications about this since both ACURSED and DÖDSDÖMD are not active at this time. Now I only play in AGRIMONIA, MARTYRDÖD (which never rehearse) and GIFTGASATTACK so there is plenty of time for us… and I think we have to keep the fire burning as it is now and do as much shit as possible before it burns out. Micke plays in some bands.

Micke: I play drums in MOTORBREATH also, the priority has not been a problem at all actually.

Per, tell us about your new raw punk crasher noise band KIRAI? Sounds like there’s some serious fucking CONFUSE worship going on? What’s the line up? What plans do you have? Per: Haha, yeah… I had to get away from my shitty life in Gothenburg so I went to my old hometown just to relax a bit. Henka from DISCOVER lives there and we are good friends so we started talking about this since I had an idea of a band that would sound like this. He has a portable studio so we went in the rehearsal space and just did three songs and recorded them, no shit just doing it. It came out pretty good so we made a decision to make another recording the following week which we did. It came out even better this time and I’m satisfied with it. I have already spoken to D-takt Och Råpunk so maybe we release a 10 song cassette in the near future. We are only two persons so this will only be studio project.

What is it like living in Gothenburg as far as the scene is concerned? What do you like and dislike about the Gothenburg punk scene? Any cool bands, zines labels etc we should know about? Is there many DIY gig spaces for bands to play?

Per: It’s getting better and better but as a city it stills sux. Scene wise we have lots of bands right now but it’s the same people in all of them. SEITAN and BLOOD OF THE GODS are great bands when it comes to D-beat. I myself play in AGRIMONIA which I think is a fairly good band. Since the scene is so very small and there is so much drugs and alcohol involved it can get somewhat chaotic at times so that’s when I don’t like it so much. From what I know I don’t hang out so much anymore. Rabbin has his Warsong label but apart from this I don’t know. There is a good venue here with decent people arranging shows at Underjorden. It’s a small DIY collective that book punk bands from around the globe. There are also some attempts to politicize the scene which is really welcome… and some friends are trying to bring the squat movement alive again after 20 some years. We have to wait and see what the future brings but as it is now it can only get better.

Micke: I like a lot here in Gothenburg, lots of punks lots of gigs, Spatt and Punk Illegal are two organizations that arrange punk and crust gigs, very good. GOO, THE TOILET, TVÄRKÖRT, MOTORBREATH are good bands, look em up. I think its too much finger pointing in the scene not enough chaos and disorder.

Rabbin, tell us about your label and distribution Warsong? When did it start? What releases have you done? Any future releases in the works?

Rabbin: OK I don’t really know if there is much to say about it. I also run a Dist & Confused with a friend from Halmsted. I wanted to do something by my own. Something more personal, mainly focusing on rawpunk and other things that I find interesting. I think it started when I was asked to release BESTHÖVEN / ALTERNATE SYSTEM split 7”. After that GIFTGASATTACK / DISLICKERS split 7” and split 12” with MARDRÖM. Those are split releases with D-Takt & Råpunk. Now I’m waiting for the split 12” with BETON and CAD from Slovakia. I’ve been friends with the guys in BETON for some years so I was just glad to put some money in the release. Next release will be GIFTGASATTACK split 7” with BESTHOVEN I think. Rawpunk bands feel free to contact me for possible releases! www.warsong.nl is address to the poorly updated page. Hopefully I will get some motivation to take care of it better!

What’s next for GIFTGASATTACK? Are you still planning to do an EP for Noxious Noize?

Per: Yes we have recordings for a 7” and the split 7” with BESTHÖVEN so hopefully this will come about before the end of this year. We will continue to make noise and try and make it more harsh than before. The upcoming recordings will be less quality but greater in noise. I feel we have to play as much as possible before we make an LP since we make songs too fast and we can’t even play them, haha. Yeah, Noxious Noise are really cool and it’s cool that they find interest in us… We would like to come over to England and play and maybe our friends in THE WANKYS can arrange that. They come over in October for some shows with us in Norway and Sweden. Those who live will see.

Micke: Next up is a split EP with a band a can’t remember right now and an EP with only GIFTGASATTACK on.

Favourite DISCLOSE record?

Per: Oh this is too hard, hehe. I like the sound of “Nightmare Or Reality” LP… But all the seven inches are fukking great. I don’t know really.

Micke: Most of them.

Rabbin: Each record is a masterpiece.

DISORDER or CONFUSE?

Per: Oh, I’d say both but I go for CONFUSE since they refined the DISORDER sound and made it more chaotic and shortened the songs.

Micke: DISORDER deluxe.

Top five favourite Swedish bands?

Per: NÖDVÄRN, DISCO VOLANTE, SKITKIDS, MIASMAL, MISANTROPIC. Micke: UNCURBED, ANAL FURTILAISER, NÖDVÄRN, NO SECURITY, TOTALITÄR.

Anything else you want to say? Any last words or comments?

Per: Well, bring us to England!! Thanx mate for the opportunity to be seen in yer zine. I have always liked Agitate. Please everybody help make raw punk alive again!

Micke: Well thank you very much for the interview, check out MOTORBREATH and have a drink.
Rabbin: Thanks for showing interest! If anyone want our records or other shit check www.warsong.nl or send an email to skitlivet@gmail.com. Thanks again.