Perro: Let's go straight to the origin of the band: how does it
happen that, back in 1994, four metalheads decided to start a d-beat
hardcore band?
Alex: Well, Tompa and Adrian played with At The Gates who did some
gigs playing just hc songs. They liked it so much so they wanted to
start a d-beat band. Wallenberg who was their friend joined them.
Then they asked me, at that time I played in a punk band called Non
Fortes Sed Crudeles so the step wasn't as big for me as for them. We
all loved d-beat hardcore so hell, why not!
Perro: Your death metal background is pretty evident in Skitsystem
music and has always given a distinct sound to your music. Was this
something you planned or you just ended sounding in that way?
Alex: I don't think that was planned, it was Wallenberg and Tompa who
did the song writing on our first 7" and 10" (I joined them
later). They probably wrote what they liked, and since they were both
into Death Metal they probably added some of that style into the
music.
Perro: I've tried to play some 45 rpm eps of some modern swedish
metallic d-beat bands at 33 rpm and they sounded exactly like early
Entomebed or Dismember stuff. Do you think that there's a sort of
connection between early 90s' death metal and modern crust going on
Sweden?
Alex: I'm not sure. I think that modern crust in Sweden is more
influenced by bands like Anti Cimex and stuff like that then being
influenced by Death Metal.
Alex: Well, it was a side project from the beginning, I had my bands
NFSC and Straight Edge My Ass and Tompa and Adrian had ATG. I don't
know if the fame of ATG has helped us that much. In some way
certainly, but just because your into Death Metal doesn't mean you
like Crust. In most cases not.
Perro: In your early days you named it System Collapse. Is
Skitsystem simply a Swedish translation of that name? Why have you
decided to call it in that way?
Alex: Skitsystem means Shit System. It was to many bands whos name
reminded of System Collapse. War Collapse as one example. It was then
Bodenmalm at Distortion Records who came up with the name when we
wanted to change the name.
Perro: Recently Tompa left the band. Why he has taken that
decision? Which effects has his departure on the band? Who has
replaced him? Is your sound changed after that?
Alex: Tompa had too many projects going on. Disfear, The Great
Deciver to name a few. We replaced him on guitar with Micke from
Martyr Död. I replaced Tompa on Vocals. Tompa just wrote one song on
our last album, me and Wallenberg did the rest. So the sound hasn't
changed very much just because Tompa left the band. My vocals will be
different though.
Perro: I've heard rumors of a new full length that will be
released at the end of the year. Could we have some anticipations?
Alex: Yes, we are going to record a new album in October this year.
Perro: All your last stuff has been recorded at the Soundlab
studios with Miezsko Talarzyk (Nasum) behind the soundboard, that
unfortunately passed away recently during the Tsunami disaster. Do
you think that without him your sound won't be the same?
Alex: Miezsko had a big influence on a lot of good bands sound. So
our sound will defently change. But we are going back to the same
studio (Studio Fredman) where we recorded our first 7" and the
10".
Alex: No comments.
Perro: I've noticed that on your website there's almost all your
discography on mp3 free to download. A totally cool and punk thing
that only few bands decided to do 'till now…
Alex: We had all of our songs to download already in 1995/96. I think
the world would be a little better place if all artists had their
songs for free on the their website to download.
Perro: How much is important the message contained in your lyrics?
Alex: There is a lot of thought behind the lyrics. There is offcourse
political stuff, but also alot of personal stuff like in Svarta
Tankar (Black Thoughts) that is about the rage you feel when people
laughs behind your back.
Alex: The first tour wasn't that well organized. But we had realy
fun. The last tour was realy nice. We toured all of America and met a
lot of nice people. Stories? Well, one time in Philadelphia we were
playing in the bad neighbourhood. Tompa was going to ask a car driver
the way to the gas station. The answer he got was a gun to his head.
The guy in the car thought that Tompa was in a local gang. And one
time we played in a crack area. The police came, and one guy attacked
them, so the police realy went hard on him. He had to go to the
hospital. When the police had left, a big black guy comes out with a
gun in his hand threating that if we make the police come one more
time he would use that gune. I have more stories, but that I can tell
over a beer or something.
Perro: I know you are planning a euro tour after the release of
the new album. I hope to see you on stage down here soon…
Alex: Yes, that would be nice. I've been on tour in Italy with NFSC
back in 95. It was a great experience and I realy miss that good wine
they had in Foggia.
Perro: Generally talking, Sweden has the fame to be a really
socially aware place. But I'm sure you have some fucked up things who
don't work at all, too...
Alex: Yeah, there are homeless people even in Sweden. The psychiatric
health care doesn't work that well. The booze is to expensive. etc.
Perro: What are, in your opinion, some crucial but underrated
records that anyone should own?
Alex: Ancient Chinese Secrete - Caveat Emptor
Perro: Any other projects for the future?
Alex: Just the record, European and Asian tour. That's it.
Perro: It's time to put an end to this interview. Thanx for your
time. Feel free to add whatever you want!!!
Alex: Thanx for the Interview and good luck with your local scene in
Italy.
www.skitsystem.net
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