LACK OF INTEREST interview 2002

What can I say? Awesome band that nailed that Infest sound perfectly in their debut full length "trapped inside". Interview conducted with drummer Bob (who's also the mastermind behind Deep Six Records) sometimes around 2001/2002. Originally featured in Perro Maldito#1

Perro:You have been around for almost a decade. What were your goals when you started and what are your actual ones?

Bob: When Mike (the bass player) and I got together we just figuered we try to make up some songs as we both did not know how to play. Maybe put out a demo after finding a singer and guitar player. Now here we are with 3 split 7"s 1 full length and compilations. Now have a new album recorded and finishing up the vocals. My goals right now would be to get them album out soon and play more shows. We like getting out of town but I can only leave for maximum of 3 days so I have to fly to a place and come right back which is not very economical. 

Perro: I'm wondering to know two things: For what there's a "lack of interest" and where are you "trapped inside"?

Bob: Actually when we played our first show we still could not all agree on a name as we seemed to have alot of interest in the band but then Mike the singer came up with the name Lack Of Interest and it stuck. Trapped inside for me is the situation were you can have a band only if you work which means you can't just go and play out when you want too but it you don't work then you end up up with no band as being in a band does cost. 

Perro: Talking about the album, it's a very intense release and the structure of the songs is huge, how long did you work on it? Also, it's very brief, does someone criticize you for have sell it at the price of a full length while it lasts only 15 minutes?

Bob: The album took about 2 years. We have not been criticized for this matter really. I don' t know how a 48 song of Lack of Interest wou ld be. We don't have any filler material in my opinion. 

Perro: Your lyrics have a very pessimistic point of view on everything and I agree with most of them. Do you think that being a pessimist is the only way to be realistic in such a shitty society?

Bob: Seeing reality is were I am at. I always look for the good things but I don't think we are going to talk about going to play a game of miniature golf. 

Perro: "Once alone again" seems very different from the other songs, lyrically talking. What's the story behind it?

Bob: Rick wrote the lyrics to that song. For me I take it as having something and losing it and wondering if it is worth trying to gain something but losing it again or just do nothing and be totally unproductive.

Perro: Sometimes your lyrics remind me the books of Bukowski, who lived in your area, too. Are you influenced by his writing?

Bob: I am not too familiar with Bukowski. 

Perro: I've been really impressed by the artwork of "trapped inside", I think it fits perfectly with the music and the lyrics, it gives a sense of  oppression. How did the concept come together? Did Isaac draw artworks for other bands?

Bob: Isaac did do the artwork and when we all seen it, it was unanimis! Isaac has not done artwork for any other bands as far as I know. 

Perro: You are not a band that have a new release out every month, but it's been quite a long time since you put out something new. Are you taking a break or something similar? 

Bob: We have not taken any vacations but we lost our last singer who is on Trapped Inside but we now have our original singer Mike who was on the first 2 splits and he is now writing the lyrics to the new album.

Perro: A new full lenght will be released soon. Have you already recorded it? Can you give us any infos about it?

Bob: The album is recorded. This album will have 23 original tracks and one cover. It is more along the lines of Trapped Inside with alot of time changes. 

Perro: What's your opinion about the whole 9/11 september? It seems to me that it simply  brings new and stronger forms of oppression for the so called "third world" and it has been used as an excuse to increase the control of daily life in  "western coutries"... 

Bob: The 11 was unbelievable but woke alot of people up to find out that this kind of actions happen around the world often but you don't think that it will happen in your backyard. 

Perro: I've just read the sad news that Slap a Ham is going to stop very soon, but I've heard you should pick up some of their upcoming releases. Is it right? 
Bob: It is very sad about Slap A Ham but when you are in debt you have to make a decision. Buying his new releases I think is fine. It will help Slap A Ham out of debt and help the band too. 

Perro: What are the other plans for the future of Deep Six Rec.?

Bob: Some releases for 2002 will be Negative Step 10" The Enclictic 7" Lack of Interest 12" unREALITY 12" which will have bands covering hardcore bands plus the Infest discography. 

Perro: Have you ever toured? Could we expect an euro tour to support the new album? Which bands would you like to tour with? 
Bob: Only have taken 3 day tours to Arizona, Texas and Portland. I would like to tour in europe but I would have to arrange something with my work which is hard. I would like to tour with Health Hazard if they were still around.  

Perro: Do you have any strange story you'd like to share with us? 

Bob: Strange story for me would be when we recorded this new album it was on 9-11 and I had know idea what was going on so when I came into work everyone was crying and I was happy with our recording until finding out what happened. Strange feeling walking into a room with everyone so depressed and not knowing what happened. 

Perro: It's time to conclude, thanks for your time!

Bob: Thank You for the interview. 

HAAVA

Here's the  Haava  s/t ep that Overthrow Records just put out. So, after Laukas, Conclude, Poikkeus and Folkeiis, here we got another japanese band that worship the altar of finnish hardcore. The singer also plays bass in Isterismo (I want to say it again, a band that doesn't sound like Wretched at all). In all the photos I saw, he's always wearing a Kaaos shirt and has Kaaos patches on his jacket. Guess which is their main influence?

I must admit that, being on Overthrow, I was expecting nothing but a wall of chaos and noise. But luckily there's no Kyushu noise influence here, this is pure blatant Kaaos rip off, extremely accurate and well executed traditional finnish hardcore worship. Even the artwork is terrible which is another common point with most traditional finn classics. I was scared that this will sold out in few minutes and became impossible to find like some other Overthrow records did in the past. But this time it didn't happen and I even saw copies available from some euro and yankees distros. So isn't Overthrow cool anymore? Anyhow, get this record. It's a brillant release in its simplicity.

DEATH SIDE interview 1994

Here's a scan of the classic Death Side interview originally featured in MRR#134 (July 1994). I've reprinted it in PM#3 around 2005. Enjoy the reading (this is a scan I've done from my copy of MRR#134).

WHITE MALE DUMBINANCE interview 2008

Awesome powerviolence from the land downunder. Guitar player Chip interviewed sometimes around 2008. Originally featured in Perro Maldito#6

Perro: You're quite a young band so I guess the best way to start is with a hystory lesson: you know, the classic how did you started, who does what blablabla....
Chip: Yes we have only being doing W.M.D for a bit over 2 years but we have all been playing in bands since 93! Murray is on drums, Luke is on vocals & Chad is on bass & I am on the guitar! The way we formed was quite spontaneous, it was all just a case of friends catching up & talking about music, life, Ronnie James Dio &shit & then in conversation someone says something like I'd love to do a band that covers this song & that song, then it was a case of me too & hey we should have a jam  & then the next thing you know we had 2 jams & got our first show with The Dead Walk, Jaws & Extortion a week after forming & we even recorded our 2nd band practice on a cassette player & sold it off at the show as our demo!

Perro: I've heard that you changed some members after the demo. How this influenced your sound?
Chip: We changed members because of geographical differences which had permitted us not to jam for over six months, which is also the case right at this moment we cannot jam or play because our drummer Murray had pretty serious motorcycle accident in which he broke both his shoulders, elbow & motorcycle! Its kinda odd that we have been together for 2 years but for over 10 months of that time we have been in hiatus because me & Luke both went to to Europe for 3 months each on 2 different occasions!
I don't think our sound has changed just because of a new drummer, I think we write songs that identify with what we are feeling at that point & time, I write all the riffs & the truth is I am not a person who sits around playing guitar everyday, I only ever pick it up when I am angry or inspired, sometimes I won't touch my guitar for over a month, most of the songs in W.M.D. are rage driven but now & then we have a few songs that are comical & tongue in cheek, I am more than happy with acquiring Monsoon Murray on drums because he is a freak of nature on drums, he is so precise, his drumming style is like a one inch punch, he can kick your ass with his drumming without moving a muscle! Our old bass player Nic has moved to Melbourne which on a good day without bad traffic is a 12 hour drive away, so that made things difficult, so we have had no choice but to get our new bass player
Chad!

Perro: How did you end up choosing this name for the band? I haven't heard any BGK influence so far...
Chip: The name is taken from BGK of course but there is no deliberate BGK influence in our music at all, I liked that the acronym is W.M.D. (Which is the same acronym as Weapons of blah blah) We chose the name because at the time it was quite fitting to what was happening in Australia, such as the cronulla riots & in general in Australia there is lots white Aryan Australian pride, Which makes my blood boil & confuses me to what they are fucking proud of, genocide, rape, theft, torture, dehumanization, crimes against humanity etc etc etc!
I am part aboriginal & I was born with a brain, soul & conscience so I am not exactly a lover of white supremacy! I think the name is open to interpretation, I guess anybody can make
up their own meaning behind White Male Dumbinance.

Perro: The few WMD songs I've heard could be subdivided into two categories: straight to the point powerviolence tunes a la Crossed Out/Infest and longer ones with more mosh parts/ heavy breakdown mixed with the blast beats. Something quite similar to what Arms Reach did. I know your singer was in A.R., do you think there's any other connection with them?
Chip: We have a few songs that are a blatant ode to Infest & Crossed Out, Murray our drummer filled in for Arms Reach for a tour & thats about the only other connection, I agree with you, that a few of the songs structure & the mood of the songs could very well be compared to Arms Reach but its not a deliberate thing at all!

Perro: Talking about Arms Reach, I clearly remember that when I met you in Melbourne you told me that you could easily help me to get their records, but since then nothing. Do I have to send down under some dodgy mafiamen to get them quicker?
  Chip: Please there is no need to get the Mafia involved ha ha, The mafia in Australia are just fruit shop owners, but in saying that I don't wanna fuck with no fruiterer either, they lift big ass crates all day & shit, they could probably punch on pretty good! Luke will tell you himself that its nearly impossible to get them these days, within the past 2 years alot of new kids have starting collecting records & bought up all the AR records the little bastards!

Perro: You should already have released a full lenght ep, but you told me you got some problem with a record label. What happened exactly? Is it going to be on Missing Link Records now? How long do I have to wait for it?
Chip: Yes we did have problems but I will not divulge why we decided to trust our instincts not release it with the initial label! Yes its coming out on Missing Link, The recordings have been sent off to press & should be back very soon!

Perro: You told me there's also a split 7" with Mass Trauma planned. Who's going to relase it? When it'll be out?
Chip: Yes we have a split with those gang bangers, its also coming out on Missing Link & should be released at the exact same time!

Perro: Which kind of equipment are you using to get that awesome fat and heavy sound? I remember once Haymaker mentioned they had a "the older, the better" rule when choosing equipment...
Chip: Yep, I agree the older the better, I use some old school silver marshall beast from the 70's, I don't even know what the model is & I play straight through the amp without any distortion pedals, I believe in the old Minor Threat & Fugazi rule, no pedals, no theatrics just go for a natural sound! My guitar is just a epiphone gibson without any modifications & its at least 15 years old, its not fancy but its nice to play & sounds good enough to me!

Perro: Why are you playing gigs so rarely? Also, you recently played with an amazing line up that include Extortion, A.V.O. and few more. How was that gig?
Chip: We try to have a steady diet of gigs, I think when you play all the time, it becomes routine & less spontaneous, I prefer to play very rarely, you gotta let the pot boil & pent up all
your rage & when its reaching boiling point then its time to play a gig & try to tear peoples skin off with your music! The Empire show that we played with all the bands you mentioned above was an awesome gig, I think every band played awesome!It was funny the band that played before us "Thrush" did a cover of Siege "Drop Dead" which we learned for the show too & when it came time for us to play it we had to say it was a "Thrush cover", it was a crazy night, there was a dude in a wheelchair stage diving & stalking the dancefloor like a man possessed, it was fucking rad!

Perro: Lets talk about NCHC. Please make a "must have" list with all the essential Newcastle records.
Chip: In My opinion, pretty much anything that comes out of Newy is half decent because its all the same dudes, we all just swap instruments ha ha.
Arms Reach (Anything by A.R. is gold)
F.M.D. Before Their Time 7" & Path remains Ep"
Disengage Demo
No Reason 7"
Conation / Fat Human Filth Split 7"
Jabiluka "Anit - Uranuim Mining Comp Cd (w/ Arms Reach, X Claim, Conation etc)
Conation (Everything)
Pitfall Discography
Creeping Jesus
Elbow Deep (Everything)
Angry Earth Mutha
Anomie Demo
Nihilist (Everything)
Life.Love.Regret "Sick Of Goodbyes"
X Claim Demo
NC Wolfpack Demo's
Bare Knuckle Fight (Cd Ep)
Straightforward/ Personal Choice Split Demo
Etc Etc Etc
 There are too many too mention, we have been a pretty damn active music scene!

Perro: I've also heard rumors about this band where you were involved called NC Wolfpack...tell us something more about it...
Chip: NC Wolfpack has so much stigma about it & I have no idea why, It was fun, but we sucked, That band was a really fun project, there was one gig we played in which a huge guy, decided he wanted to beat up everyone with a chain, no-one was hurt as far as I know, I don't even know why he went mental with the chain.

Perro: Civil Dissent "first blood" or Death Sentence "Ryan"? Which one is best aussie records ever?
Chip: I'd call it a tie, they are both awesome in their own right!

Perro: I'm quite obsessed with Rupture and I think "righteous fuck" could be easily included in the previous question. But I've noticed that even now, while not PC bands like Out With a Bang or Warkrime are quite popular downunder, Rupture are still hated/ignored by a lot of people...
Chip: Yeah You are quite right, I don't know too many people personally who are diehard fans of them!

Perro: Still talking about australian HC, what are some unknown gems from the past and the present?
Chip: There is a Melbourne compilation called "Eat Your Head" which had Civil Dissident, Vicious Circle etc which isn't too common, Most stuff I can think of, off the top of my head isn't super rare or anything but I recommend them, just stuff like
Razar "Stamp out Disco" & "Here Is The News" (1978)
The Victims (77-79)
Subversion "Pignation"
Minuteminder 7"
Heist
Magnacite
The Scientists
S.I.C. (Screaming In Churches) (80's)
Space Juniors (80's Skate Thrash)
Vicious Circle "Search For Solution"
Price Of Silence
Heads Kicked Off
Etc Etc Etc

Perro: With few exceptions, aussie HC seems to be a lot "americanized"and less influenced by european or japanese stuff. How could you explain that? Also, is DX/Distort zine the responsible for making cleveland bands so popular down there?
Chip: I think most Australians can identify with America & their culture more than Japan & Europe, I guess its more so a cultural thing, Australians are of the same fleet of white british inbred pieces of imperial dogshit! I don't think DX/Distort Zine had anything to do with the popularity of anything ha ha I didn't realise we had such a huge crush on the Cleveland but I guess alot of people do, I know I do & for good reason, I love Clevo bands such as The Electric Eels, Zero Defects, Agitated, Starvation Army, Iggy & The Stooges,The Dead Boys, Devo etc etc, its a fucking raging city for creating amazing bands!

Perro: Is Bill Shankly just a side project or something more serious?
Chip: I would say its a side project because we don't take it too seriously, It was never premeditated to be a band or anything, we never had any plans or aspirations to make a raging hardcore band & get popular or anything crazy like that, the creation of Bill Shankly just happened, we were at Pete's house & were sitting around bored out of our minds & I got on guitar & was fucking around with a riff & Pete got on drums & played along & talked Danny into singing along & then an hour had passed & before we knew it we had written & recorded a full length demo. We wrote all the songs as we went along, everything song was written right there & then, Pete hooked up a mic to his 4 track so we could keep it for memories sake & then I added added bass to it later, then Pete mixed it & said it actually sounded pretty good for a bunch of dudes who were just plain having fun & not trying to be anything, some people say it sounds like early DC & Touch & Go stuff, which I thought was kinda cool, all the Lyrics Danny wrote were all a joke, he was writing lyrics about how much he hates Manchester United & all kinds of other stupid lyrics to make us laugh, Pete started selling the demo at Missing Link & Dave (Straightjacket, Piss Christ) said he liked the demo & wanted to play bass for us, The next time I went down we recorded again & we played a couple of shows! We might be putting out a 7''

Perro: Any funny untold stories related to your bands that you wanna share with us?
Chip: There are lots of funny moments but the moments I remember the most, are the out of the ordinary moments!

A Nazi Skinhead was thrown through a very small window at a gig we played at

Luke broke a male models face with a microphone stand accidentally

I accidentally split someones head open with my instrument in Life.Love.Regret, I did a huge stage kick once which landed on someones nose causing itto break quite badly.

I chipped my teeth from Luke jumping on my back when I was singing,

Luke split his head open on the ceiling of a harbor ferry when he was in Arms Reach.

I played a gig that turned into a riot & the police kicked everybody out of the venue & ordered everybody outside & one dude decided to stand on the police car roof & pull out his dick & started yelling to the cops whilst waving his dick, "Suck Puss Ya Cunts.

Disengage played illegally on a bicycle velodrome in which I almost got arrested & got held responsible for organising a public event without a license or permission & obstructing the peace.

I was playing an outdoor gig in my old band Disengage & the police instructed me to stop playing or I will get arrested for profanity.

Me & Luke were banned from his radio show for swearing & other scenario's such as broadcasting a phone call in which a friend (Metal Stalker) of mine advertised that he will fight any challenger who will come down to the city park & we were encouraging people to go down there & fight The Metal Stalker, it was a total fictional event that we orchestrated, it was all a hoax, it was just a joke but we were receiving phone calls like crazy, people were calling up & saying "We're down at the park to fight this cunt, so where is he?"

My old band Disengage was banned from a particular pub that Luke later got banned from a pub for breaking shit whilst playing,

I almost got arrested after a show for a having a flick knife which was only actually a hair comb, that was designed to look like a flick knife.

Perro: Ok, it's time to conclude. Thanx for your time, Chip. Feel free to add whatever you want!
Chip: Thanx Raffa for keeping in touch & agreeing to pay for our bands airfares to do a  W.M.D tour of Italy ha ha ha, I wish! Seriously though I love Italy, its an amazing country!
I will add that any Italian who doesn't know the Italian band Terminals from 1978, should really check them out, they were quite influenced by early Australian punk, they are an awesome band.

Tales of a pretentious asshole#001

As you might have noticed, I like to buy round shaped pieces of vinyl. Yeah, I do consider myself a record collector. "Tales of a pretentious asshole" will be about a certain band discography that I do consider to have completed. Please do not expect to see here pictures of multiple copies of the same records, different pressings, every stupid & useless vinyl color/cover variations or other similar bullshits. Also, keep in mind I'm not a completist so I don't care about bootlegs, discographies or live recordings. Once I got one copy (the first press, of course!) of a certain record, I'm a happy dude. And of course keep in mind that I play these records regulary. They were not supposed to only accumulate dust in a shelf!

Let's start with the band that introduced me to the wonderful world of japanese hardcore/ punk: Frigöra

I was introduced to Frigöra by Manabu of Senseless Apocalypse/ Blurred Records. I've interviewed him around 1995. The questions were pretty shitty and his answers were extremely stupid in a funny way (unfortunately I've lost the original one, I only have the  translation in italian). When he sent back to me the answers, he was kind enough to throw in a couple of records that he just put out: the Vivisection/Genocide SS split ep and the Frigöra/Diskonto split. Respectively the limited editions on blue and green vinyls. At that time I was mainly into noise/grindcore and I hadn't heard Mob 47 yet but I immediately fell in love for the simple and abrasive sound of these weird japanese maniacs that were singing in swedish. According to the review I wrote at that time, I didn't like at all the Diskonto side. 16 years later, my opinion hasn't changed at all.

Around 2003 I've ended up trading my copy for a certain record that I wanted badly at that time. Once I sent it out, I've immediately regretted it. It took me several years to score a second copy and this time it was neither for free nor on green wax.  

According to Blurred Records, a total of 1000 were pressed. 300 on green, 700 on black. My first copy was on classic green transparent wax, but I saw copies on coke bottle/ clear wax. To this day, it's still my favourite Frigöra release. 

If I'm not wrong, the very first record that Frigöra released was their self titled ep that also came out during 1995 on Fuck Fashion Town label from Japan. 500 handnumbered copies. Their rarest and most sought after release. The songs featured here are from the same recording session of the Diskonto split. I've searched for a copy of this for several years. I've finally managed to get a copy only this year when I've visited japan in january. It was a bit overpriced but it was the copy in better conditions I've ever seen. Plus, when I finally hold it in my hands, I knew that I would have punched myself in the nuts forever if I came out of Shibuya's Disk Union without it.

Frigöra are unanimously considered to be the best Mob 47 clone ever and for a good reason. Nobody has ever been able to reproduce that sound so perfectly as  Frigöra did. Although, I won't call them a mere clone band: in my opinion they had enough personality to be considered a band on their own. That said, I must admit that they did nothing to hide their main influence. The artwork of the "s/t" ep is indeed a blatant rip off/ homage to Mob 47: 

Around 1998 they finally released their only full-length "dance of the plague bearer" on the cult japanese label Overthrow. Not sure how many of this were made, but my guess is less than 1000. Recently saw on eBay a copy that came with two patches. Got mine this year in the same record shop where I found the "s/t" ep. Got it for way less than the current eBay price so I didn't complain and just grabbed it. It comes on a beautiful folding paper sleeve with lyrics printed inside. Am I the only one who thinks the artwork remind a lot the Wretched "libero di vivere/ libero di morire" one? Nerd note: there's one riff in "strid fortsatta" that is identical to an Inmates one (can't remember exactly the song but it's from their lp).

I've heard people affirming that this is the worst Frigöra release. Bullshit. This is as solid as the eps, maybe just a bit slower.

If you want my opinion, these are all the Frigöra records you need. There's also a "live at Shinjuku Antiknock 1995" bootleg lp, some tapes and a semi-official lp that compiles their eps and the demo they recorded under the name of Liberacao. A couple of years ago a discography cd with all their stuff has been released in japan.

Here's a complete discography I've tried to put together. Please get in touch if something is wrong/missing:

-Liberacao demo 1995, ???

-Frigöra "s/t" 7", F.F.T.label, 1995, 500 made

-Frigöra/Diskonto split 7", Blurred Records, 1995, 1000 made

-Frigöra/NPH split tape, 1995, ???

-Frigöra "demo 1996" ???

-Frigöra "dance of the plague bearer" lp, Overthrow, 1998, ???

-Frigöra"s/t" lp, Hamndkansla Rekords, ???

-Frigöra "live '95" lp,  Hamndkansla Rekords, ???

-V.A. - Chaos Of Destruction - 3xLP, Dan Doh, 2005, ???

-Frigöra "1995-1999" cd, 2008, ???

In 1999 they disbanded. I'm pretty sure at least one member now plays in Ferocious X. Their only interview I've ever seen was in Crust War 'zine#5 but it's in japanese. If you can  translate it, please get in touch.

RIP Kevin Mahoney

In case you didn't hear it yet, Kevin Mahoney, former singer of Siege, passed away last week. So I guess it's the right time to post their classic interview originally featured in Suburban Punk#6 that I've reprinted in Perro Maldito#6 few years ago. Read it while listening to "Grim Reaper". Rest in peace, Kev.

Dou-Koku

While a good portion of worldwide hc/punk scene is trying to reproduce in a way or another that peculiar Kyushu noisy sound, the only new band I know from there (Fukuoka to be more specific) is going in an opposite way. Nemesis have indeed chosen to pay their tribute to japanese hardcore by getting heavily influenced by Selfish Records typical sound that is the other trademark of japanese hardcore.

I won't call it "burning spirits" since it's not so over the top, if you know what I mean. On the other side, even saying that it's japanese thrash would be nothing but a lie. Nemesis have indeed been able to take different elements from bands like Nightmare, Systematic Death, Deathside and Warhead to create their own sound and the final result are four brilliant tunes of powerful hc. If you want my 2 cents, this is one of the best ep that came out this year. Still available from the following labels: Ratbone (France),  Flower Of Carnage (Japan) and  Solar Funeral (USA).