FEAR OF EXTINCTION - Interview 2012

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

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

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"

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, Bradford (Means To An End) 14/10/11

FEAR OF EXTINCTION - S/T EP

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, Bradford (Means To An End) 14/10/11