First Chaos U.K. EP quantum entangled with Sore Throat's midpace alter.
Only release (cuts like a crib death to type that), "R.I.P. to FUCKERS!!!"
Deceased - "The Evil Side Of Religion" Demo 1986 & "Birth By Radiation" Demo 1988 (320 VBR Tape Rips)
"King Fowley and guitarist Doug Souther started the band in 1984 in Arlington, Virginia with a goal to out-thrash Slayer. They experimented with a number of band names, formations, and styles before settling on the name 'Deceased' in 1986 (the final lineup consisting of Fowley on drums and vocals, Mark Adams joining Souther on guitar, and bassist Rob Sterzel). Tragedy struck the group on March 3rd, 1988 when Sterzel and several friends, including Souther's brother, were killed in a hit-and-run accident. Les Snyder became bassist later that year. Souther finally quit and was replaced by Mike Smith in 1991. The lineup of King Fowley, Mike Smith, Mark Adams, and Les Snyder lasted over a decade and recorded some of the group's most celebrated works."
Raison D'etre - "The Luminous Experience (Live In Enschede 2008)" CD (FLAC)
Interview by Marcus Stiglegger (Exact Year Unknown)...
Peter, first of all, please tell us some facts about yourself.
I was born 1973-03-20 in a small town called Boxholm in the south-east part of Sweden. Right now I am studying the master level on the programme ‘Cultural, Society and Media production’ at the University in Norrkoping. This programme builds on a broad spectrum of research traditions within the humanities and social sciences. It includes production studies and practical work in film, television, audio installation, radio, computer-based media and museum exhibitions. Besides my music activities and studies I am mostly interested in film, art, Tibetan Buddhism and meditation, in water, in mountains, in life.
Peter, could you tell us something about the underground-music-scene in Sweden in general?
I actually don’t now much about it. Most of it is based around Cold Meat Industry, and then there are some younger generation making noise at home on their computers.
What is the artistic concept behind your main project Raison D’être?
The concept is about the freedom of expression, to use any creative tool in order to make an expression, Music, film, photo, painting, poem or whatever kind of layers. So far I have most been into music making, but I have plans to expand the creative layers to more than music, at least it was the intention when I started raison d’être, and I feel the film layer is quite close now.
From where did you take the name?
The name is taken from a sentence in a book by Carl Gustav Jung, something like this "the individuation is the raison d’être of the self". At the time when I started Raison D’être I was reading a lot of Jung literature and his thoughts has inspired both my life and my work. Raison D’être is a very existential term and can be used in a lot of different ways. I think it is a beautiful word and everyone can find his or her own meaning of it.
How would you define your own perspective on the Brian-Eno-term ‘ambient music’?
For me terms like ambient or soundscapes is about the sounds of nature or the environment, sounds that is already there, you don’t even need to record it. At the beach and if you relax and close your eyes and you will enter a new world: listening to sounds from boats, animals, wind etc, creating a tune of the environment. I think it’s very beautiful. Eno thought about mixing recorded sound and environment sounds but from the beginning it was not included to record the ambient sound, as it was already existing by itself. However, to record the ambient sounds also means that other people can listen to it without being in a particular environment, as Eno did on the album ‘On Land’ and some other artists had done several years earlier without label it ambient. For me ambient is a way to create a substitute for a world that exists or may not even exist more than as a thought. Like a wasteland, when I picture it in my mind I try to create the ambient soundtrack for this particular world and then put it a step further by composing a sort of soundtrack for the whole image, with the ambient soundtrack included, with non-ambient sounds mixed or on top of it.
Do you see the possibility of promoting philosophical idea of life via pure sound?
On principle, no, not in the music itself as pure sound, but rather in the context where it is played, as I believe that everything is cultural bounded. Meanings and symbols are in almost all cases not global, but Jung talks about the archetypes that are common for us all, so maybe after all there is some way to promote primitive but deep rooted ideas via sound.
How important is the visual presentation of a musical work for you?
The visual presentation is often the very first contact with a band so it’s important. The artwork for an album should reflect the content of the disc, the music. When viewing the cover and listening to the music it should be like enter a new world, or it should work as key to understand the world painted by the music. The same goes for video backdrops during live performances. Everything must not be shown clear, it can be hidden, like an enigma to solve. Right now I am much into minimalistic art design, I want to move to more pure state of mind, both in my music and with the visuals, they go hand in hand.
On your early recordings you make heavy use of Christian chorals and chants. Did you see this in the context of a bleak and Gothic 'vision du monde'?
They are still used but to a less extent. I use religious elements in my music not as symbols for religion in itself. These kinds of elements / symbols may connote to things like loneliness and contemplation and that is why I use them. Most people see my music as bleak and gothic visions so if looking at the result of my music guess you are right.
Your side-project Atomine Electrine is more inspired by techno/trance-sounds. What is your connection to the techno-scene?
Actually, I am not much involved into techno/trance, but more into electronic ambient sounds. I have been a fan of cosmic music since I first started listening to music. Artists like Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze was a big inspiration for me when I was young. In the 90’s I started to listen to bands like the Orb, Aphex Twin and Future Sound of London, but that’s the closet I have got to the techno scene even if I don’t consider those bands being techno, more on the verge to techno.
Another of your projects is Bocksholm. What is the concept of that collaboration with Lina Baby Doll of Deutsch Nepal?
This is a quite funny project. Lina and I have so much in common that we were forced to have a project together. We are both grown up in the same small town (3000 inhabitants), Boxholm (the old spelling was Bocksholm), and we both have the same name, Peter Andersson (yes that’s Linas real name too), and we both are making industrial music on the CMI label. The project is about our childhood in Boxholm, our young experiences and about the fear of the Ironworks and the alcoholics in the town. Most of the sounds we use are sampled in Boxholm, especially in the area around or in the Ironworks, so the music got an Boxholm atmosphere all over.
Your main label is Cold Meat Industry, a label that coined a certain style of Post-Industrial music. How strong is the influence of label-boss Roger Karmanik on the music of ‘his’ bands?
I would say that we are free to do what we want, but if Roger dislike the music he will probably not want to release it on CD. Normally it’s not a problem. Roger have signed bands that he likes not only for the music in itself but what kind of people there are behind the music. He actually prefers to work with good people that do not perfect music before working with assholes that do fantastic music. Only a few times he has rejected new material from pretty established bands. And he never say how he would like the sound to be, the artists produce their own music without any interference from other interests.
Your music is eventually inspired by films. Could you comment on this? Do you sample from your favorite movies?
I believe many things inspire my music, actually everything I have experienced may play a role. But film or any kind of images or even real sights are able to visualise my ideas. For example, if the word 'wasteland' inspires me I try to picture it in my head and then I got certain mind images that may rely on what I have seen in real life, or on film or in images. More often people say that my music would fit very well as film music. I have been asked several times to make music for films but at the end the film productions have been cancelled. Nowadays I never sample from films, I may have done it a few times in my earliest years as music creator, but I prefer to do as much sounds as I can by myself.
At your live-shows you show films of abandoned places. What is the idea behind that? Where are the pictures shot? And who did it?
The idea is simply to create images for audience that goes along with the music. Martin Pels who is responsible for many of the images on the CMI sleeves shot the images for my recent two backdrops in Argentine and Brasilia. One backdrop is of an old abandoned graveyard and the other backdrop is at an old harbor with rusty abandoned ships.
Do you plan to publish an audiovisual work (DVD) in the near future?
Yes, I have been thinking about a DVD. I have got such plans for a while but I haven’t had any time, maybe later this year I can start working on such things, at least I hope so. But I do work on other audiovisual works that is part of my studies at the university, this will result in a DVD in the future. Right now I am working on a poetic, artistic and existentialistic short film about abandoned places and residual energy to be recorded at different locations in Poland and Czech Republic. I will compose a special soundtrack, but it will be under the name Peter Andersson not as 'Raison D’être'.
Is there a certain difference between performing in Germany than playing live in Sweden, Russia, Italy etc? What are the audiences like?
Russia and Italy is quite similar, they are very nice and warm as audience. Germans are a bit more restrained but not as much as Swedish audience. Worst is English audience, they are even crappy, seems like they want to leave the building even if they enjoy the music. Else it the same type of audience, most young people but sometimes really old ones, I have met people that are over 70 years old. Most of them are dressed in black, but far from all. It’s often more differences from performance to performance in the same country that between countries.
You are regularly playing live at the Wave-Gotik-Treffen in Leipzig, Germany. What do you think about this event?
I am not that fond of Wave-Gotik-Treffen, it’s a lot of shit bands, but it’s a nice place to meet a lot of people as they are coming from everywhere, even from United States. CMI usually have their own stage so that’s good, I don’t want to blend with goth bands.
The industrial/ritual-music-scene in Germany suffers from ideological prejudices. A lot of concerts are criticised by leftist extremists for ‘promoting right wing politics’. In Raison D’être nothing of that sort can be found. But you performed at several occasions together with some of the attacked bands, like the 'Heilige Feuer' festival in St. Petersburg. What is your opinion about that?
I am not interested in politics, at least in combination with music as I see it more as an aesthetic expression. On the other hand I have to face the fact that some artists and audience may have a political agenda and that it may cause trouble sometime. But it has not caused any trouble so far and I am friends with most of the bands even if I don’t agree on their political standpoint.
Do you listen to Industrial and neofolk music yourself? What are your musical favourites?
I have listen to industrial music since the early 80’s, but I am not much into neofolk. In the industrial field I enjoy old bands like T.G., S.P.K., Lustmord, but right now I listen most to Organum, Ora, and Troum. But I have to say that I don’t buy or even listen to much music anymore. And I do listen to other artits, not only industrial ones.
Besides your music you are a student of graphic/media design. Are you able to live on the royalties of your music?
I can not survive on my royalties, but if I played live often and sold a lot of merchandise, maybe I could live on my music. But on the other hand I don’t want to turn my music to a commercial spectacle. In the first place I do music because I need to, not to make money on it, on the other hand I want to be free, to have money so I don’t need to work 9-5. So right now I am surviving on some royalty money and contributions for studying at the university.
What may the future bring for your creative work? What are your current plans?
Right now I have some new albums to be released by my side projects Necrophorus and Stratvm Terror. In early summer I will start composing new material for an Atomine Elektrine album, it was almost 10 years ago so it’s about time now, and after that there will be a new Raison D’être album. I will also continue making movies, I want to do a DVD for Raison D’être. All these plans are yet only undeveloped ideas so I can’t say much more about them. I guess, in future, I will work more on music in combination with film, it’s a rather new area for me and I am very excited about it.
Greymachine - "Disconnected" CD & "Vultures Descend" 12" (Discography 2009 FLAC)
"Greymachine. How did the collaboration come about? Why Aaron Turner specifically? Did you feel he was essential to personal goals for the project, or was it a mutual admiration thing?
It started as a solo project with a few loose concepts; something grimy, noisy, punk, absorbing most musics I find to have a strong sense of attack/defence, music that has influenced me since I was a kid. Once I had picked up pace recording, Dave Cochrane was someone I immediately hoped to get involved; we hadn't worked together for a number of years and I considered him someone who would appreciate where this project was going and would fit in well to the sound. Aaron and I had been discussing doing something together for some time, seemed it would probably be something guitar drone based, but since Aaron and I had both been discussing our mutual like of extreme musics again, it felt natural to invite him into this project. Diarmuid Dalton was obvious too...
Did you have any personal goals going into Disconnected? Inspirations, etc...?
I wanted to do something that was as close as possible to the same set of emotions that would be unearthed from listening to, say, Swans' Filth, Sonic Youth's Confusion Is Sex, Dillinja's Thugs, No U Turn Input, The Stooges first album, Flipper, Abruptum, Public Enemy's first two albums, No Trend's When Death Won't Solve Your Problem etc etc etc etc... this sense of excitement, threat and abstraction gleaned from these records, coupled with a general sense of misanthropy, which clearly fuels a lot of my work."
--Justin Broadrick 2009 for Brooklyn Vegan
Rainbow Grave (With Nik Bullen & Johnny Doom) - Discography 2018-2019
"Negative punk and psychedelic damage. Disappointment Guaranteed."
Pestilence VS Pestilence - Demos '87-'88 (FLAC/320)
Pre Nailed Down grinding crust VS deathified Dutch thrash...
Entombed / Monastery / Nihilist - Demos (320 Tape Rip / FLAC)
"Entombed are rooted in the band Nihilist who were formed by drummer Nicke Andersson, guitarist Alex Hellid and bassist Leif Cuzner, who formed the band in 1987. After using a number of temporary vocalists for their initial shows, the band eventually recruited L.G. Petrov, who was the drummer for the band Morbid, which featured Mayhem vocalist Dead. The band also recruited Morbid's session guitarist Uffe Cederlund as a second guitarist, and recorded a number of demos with tracks that would eventually appear on Entombed's debut album. Following increased tensions between band members, the majority of the band decided to [fake breaking up and] rename themselves 'Entombed' rather than force these members out."
"Back in the days when Metal still was real, three young Death Metal bands were touring Europe, one Swedish named ENTOMBED, one Dutch named SINISTER and one Austrian named DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA. During the tour, two of the Dutchmen and one of the Swedes got a great idea, to get together and play some grindcore infested death metal [not "grinding" to ME. --S], and that was how MONASTERY was born. Ron Van Den Polder, Aad Kloosterwaard and Lars Rosenberg met up, wrote some tunes and recorded them during the tour, in Eindhoven, and hence the legendary "Ripping Terror" demo tape."
Mythos - "Moulded In Clay" Demo 1 1993
Voices From The Darkside interview 2010...
How does it feel to answer an interview about your old band MYTHOS which is dead and buried since ~10 years now?
"It’s obviously been a while since interviews concerning this band, but now it is a good time to do at least one interview as we have some interesting going on in ~10yrs."
Do you wonder about the interest in the MYTHOS releases, especially the “Moulded In Clay” demo and the “Pain Amplifier” full-length? Were you involved in those vinyl-releases and what do you think about the idea behind it and about the label Nuclear Winter Records, too? Are you familiar with some of Nuclear Winter’s releases?
"The music styles go round in cycles and it seems that once in a decade new people pick up the old stuff and maybe the old fans pick up at least one last time the CD / vinyl and reminiscence the album, how it was – was it really that good or bad. Been there, gone that path as well with my old CDs and tapes (my cat destroyed the vinyl player and some vinyls since he liked the spinning so much… so I don’t have a player anymore). I’m not really familiar with the NWR catalogue bands, just know the names and of course Anastasis, he’s a very enterprising person and I like the guy a lot."
“Moulded In Clay” and “Pain Amplifier” first time on vinyl. How does this feel?
"With "Pain Amplifier" I am relieved actually, this is probably ultimately the way it should’ve been released originally. By releasing the demo on 10" MLP was exceptional and frankly I’m honored but, I really didn’t ever expect these re-releases. The original press of the cassette version of "Moulded In Clay" was so small that I think this re-release is very justified! Also the 2nd time release finally presents "Pain Amplifier" with a great album cover which I’m very happy about."
MYTHOS is dead, that’s a fact, nevertheless there’s actually much going on around your former band. Your demo “Moulded In Clay” was, as mentioned above, recently reissued by Nuclear Winter Records and the same goes for your “Pain Amplifier” CD. Did you recognize this “older is better” movement in the current Death Metal scene with the revival of oldschool Death Metal sounds and so on?
"Sure, it’s been noticed, like I said earlier it’s the cycle of music styles etc. trends in general, people check back what could be learned and maybe pick up from what’s been done earlier and mix it with their own musical roots."
Turning the time now back to the beginning of the nineties. Your guitarplayer Jukka Valppu was involved in the Death Metal band BELIAL before MYTHOS. Was he the founder of MYTHOS and do you see (or was there) a connection between BELIAL and MYTHOS from the beginning? Besides that, what’s your opinion about BELIAL?
"Jukka came to me about starting a new band, which was then named "MYTHOS", we started adding guys to the line-up as they managed to arrive at the rehearsal place. The obvious connection there was the songwritership – Jukka did the trademark "BELIAL" riffs on their early releases and once he was out of BELIAL and we created songs, it sounded like BELIAL. Of course everyone can hear the direction BELIAL continued to with their latter releases. I went to the first BELIAL gigs, sure I enjoyed the songs and bought the demo, I befriended the other BELIAL guys at that time and we still say Hi! when bump into each other."
MYTHOS was one of those bands coming a little bit late. “Moulded In Clay” was released in 1993 and your debut album in 1995. Both rather late as the Death Metal boom was already over at this time and Black Metal was the hype. How did you see this development back then?
"The change then was to more theatrical and rawer with the Black Metal masks, musical style and recordings. Lots of good came out of that but at that time as we progressed slowly with our material and incorporated Thrash elements and other stuff, it clearly was a different path what was not taken. In the band we all enjoyed DARKTHRONE etc. but didn’t actually want to play that kind of stuff with MYTHOS."
What made you to form a band like MYTHOS. What were your biggest influences and recordings which drove you to form MYTHOS?
"I speak for myself when I say ENTOMBED "Left Hand Path", DEATH "Leprosy", AUTOPSY "Severed Survival", OBITUARY "Cause Of Death"."
Why did you choose MYTHOS as the bandname and did you ever got problems with the Greek beer-brand with the same name, haha? A quite good beer by the way…
"I was and still am a fan of H.P. Lovecraft and also Greek beer too, haha.. You know it’s very hard to come up with a short and catchy band name that doesn’t label or restrict you too much. MYTHOS was picked up from a paperback I bought at a bookstore, it was a collection of Lovecrafts novels called "Cthulhu Mythos" (I still have to book). Never had any problems concerning the name or its usage. Later at the internet-age I discovered there was a German Electro-Scheisse duo (band?) called MYTHOS as well, but their music is way different."
Your first output was the already mentioned “Moulded In Clay” demo in 1993. A 5-song recording (plus intro) in a perfect soundquality and top notch songs and musicianship, played ultra tight in mostly highest speed. Please tell something about this first release. Is it correct that it was limited to 250 copies? How were the reactions?
"Ultra tight? I disagree, it is quite sloppy when I listen to it nowadays! The reaction was nice, it didn’t got ripped from our hands but didn’t lay too long in the shelves as well. There was only 1 pressing and it was 250pcs. I doubt I have my own copy, or have given it to my mother for safekeeping. She has a box of all my recordings throughout all these years."
At this very beginning I had the huge impression that MYTHOS were some kind of Death Metal version of IMPALED NAZARENE, especially considering the guitar- and drumwork. Perhaps a mix between IMPALED NAZARENE’s Black Metal and BELIAL’s Death Metal from their first recordings. How do you see the musical path MYTHOS followed at the beginning?
"Let’s go little bit deeper in the history than earlier with BELIAL…Jukka Valppu played and composed music with IMPALED NAZARENE guys in the pre-IMPALED NAZARENE band MUTILATION – thats where the BELIAL / IMPALED NAZARENE comparisons come, esp. with the first album "Tol Crompt Norz Norz Norz". I suppose one of the songs on the album was co-written with Jukka Valppu but not credited? Can’t remember…"
How long did you play the drums at those years? You seemed quite skilled already (I know you will disagree here, haha).
"At the time of "Moulded In Clay" I had played for about 5+ yrs. As usual, I tried my best. Few years back I helped out friends Death / Thrash band who rehearse at the same room with my current band, TARPITORCHEASTRA, I got comments that they like my playing because its oldschool brutal drumming. No blastbeats or fancy techniques, just some color and variety. Nobody said I was skilled, thanks!"
Who was responsible for the awesome, but almost completely unreadable logo?
"It was done by a good friend, Mika Vuoto, who later also did photos for "Dark Material". Mika is an old band mate and is a graphics wizard as the other person, Samuli Alapuranen, who also did a lot of MYTHOS stuff from the beginning till "Dark Materlal". Both are from the same schools and from Kempele, like Kimmo Korkala ("Moulded In Clay" – vocalist & guitarist) as well. A year ago we reconnected with Samuli after 10yrs. Both guys were asked to design the re-issue "Pain Amplifier" cover but either one didn’t have time."
What about the lyrical direction of the songs? You were responsible for most of the lyrics, if I’m right? Dark stories or brutal gore lyrics? What were the lyrical contents of the songs all about? And how did this change during the years?
"Well the lyrics weren’t actually a product of brainstorming or such, pretty much followed the Lovecraftian myths and pondering on what lies lurking there in the dark etc. Later on the lyrics developed more into reflecting frustration and disappointment partly reflecting growing up to adulthood. Definitely not the kind of stuff to take too literally or take as coffee table talk topic since there’s really not that much depth in them haha…"
How do you see the importance of lyrics on a Death Metal album? Are lyrics important?
"Depending on the singer style of outlet, being gargling or barking, I really think the lyrics don’t play much part and too sophisticated thoughts get thrown out the window and forgotten easily. If you can make out the lyrics from the singer’s outlet it becomes an instrument instead of just a steamroller train plowing through with full force destroying everything. You can do good with both styles, it becomes meaningful if you make out anything of them."
Later on, in 1994, the demosongs were included on the compilation CD “Vociferous & Machiavellian Hate” through Evil Omen Records. On this CD the other bands were EXPULSION, MYSTHICAL and UNEXPECTED. What do you think about this release and the other bands included here? Was this release a good promotion for your band?
"It was mainly good promotion but lacked serious artistic discipline, the intro / outro crossfading was not a good idea, however, a bold try I must admit, since most of the compilation albums are quite boring and reek of quick money rip-off. The other bands raised little interested, that doesn’t mean I think we were the best band on the compilation, but there was no single OH! moment – nothing new under the sky at that time."
Chris Moyen took care of the coverartwork. What’s your opinion about the quite colourful cover of this compilation CD?
"I like colours! I don’t depend on black being the only color, color was basic Moyen – art, good and suited well to the compilation."
Ludo of Evil Omen Records contributed all intros on this compilation CD. What do you think about this part and were you already at this time signed to Evil Omen Records?
"The concept was only roughly explained and the deal was only for the compilation CD then. As everything with Ludo was – he did try but failed since it’s not a band thing if the band doesn’t approve."
In 1995 you released your one and only CD “Pain Amplifier” through the mentioned Evil Omen Records. A killer recording and a perfect follower to the godly demotape. What’s your impression on “Pain Amplifier” with a distance of 15 years now?
"Well, only thought now is relief, considering the cover and format it was originally presented. From the album liner notes you can pick up the main thoughts considering the time of rehearsing, recording and releasing the album. I haven’t listened to the album in maybe 5 yrs now. Have to let it simmer a bit more, dunno, could be that I pick up a case of beer and go next door with the album and listen to it?"
Can you tell something about the contract between MYTHOS and Ludo / Evil Omen Records?
"Basically it was difficult, complex and frustrating…If I’d knew it’d be like the way it was then, I’d jump on different path. Main driver behind all this was that Osmose was distributing it, all guys in the band looked up that as a huge factor and expected it to be a stepping stone to record for Osmose. But as far as I know – Herve, whom we did not keep contact with, never was interested in having us – it was always Ludo. It was only Ludo’s passion."
During those years were you an active live band, too? Did you play some (smallers) tours or just single concerts here and there? How was the concert-infrastructure in Finland at those days?
"Yes we played wherever we could, sadly too much in the Oulu area. Gigs in the south were too far for us financially and not much money could be spent on gas or car charges nevertheless equipment as we were students or jobless."
After the “Pain Amplifier” CD you recorded the “The Tide Has Turned” CD with the Doomsters GOD FORSAKEN. Was there some kind of break in MYTHOS at this time or did you look out for something different, as MYTHOS so far were ultra blasting and GOD FORSAKEN slow and groovy?
"Hmm.. I did not record any music with GOD FORSAKEN (Really? Shame on me. Bad research, haha – Thomas), you can hear me play the album songs on Youtube clips from this tour I did with them in 1994. I got to know the GOD FORSAKEN guys way before MYTHOS so when they asked me to come and help them around, I did. I’ve always liked the slow and groovy stuff as well."
Your impression about “The Tide Has Turned”? Are you satisfied with it? I have to admit that I loved GOD FORSAKEN at their “Dismal Gleams Of Desolation”- days, this 2nd release wasn’t my cup of tea that much.
"It was different, but it lacks certain depth in the production, not heavy enough not much depth. I wish it would’ve had clean vocals… The production is too clean and mainstream. Yeah I loved the "Dismal Gleams Of Desolation" album as well…"
How long did you play together with GOD FORSAKEN?
"On two occasions, first helping them out on ANATHEMA / PYOGENESIS / GOD FORSAKEN tour in Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Austria – we were on road for a week. And then the band got Juha Pohto back on the drums and did "The Tide Has Turned" when I was asked again when both Juha’s (Köykkä on bass and Pohto) left the band. We played summer festival Provinssirock and some odd 5+ shows. It then withered slowly since the distance between Oulu where I live and Seinäjoki is some odd 400km and I could not make it each weekend for rehearsals. MYTHOS was not the reason me stopping playing with GOD FORSAKEN."
Asking you as the drummer in MYTHOS and in GOD FORSAKEN – how does it suit to play ultrafast in the earliest releases in MYTHOS and pretty slow in GOD FORSAKEN. What makes more fun, what’s the style you prefer to play?
"Both styles are enjoyable to a certain point as it is with everything. Both are hard to keep in time if there’s just the beat without no accents or hooks."
Next release for MYTHOS was the MCD “Dark Material” in 1996 through the label KTOK Records. As far as I know this was a label ran by one member of MYTHOS, right? The musical direction changed a lot from the beginning and old fans of MYTHOS must have gotten disappointed. How were the reactions to this release and do you think now, that this was still MYTHOS?
"It surely was MYTHOS then as the logo changed then. Sure it sounded little bit different, but I guess the same shit happened to us recording / mastering as with GOD FORSAKEN’s 2nd album. The production (of which ourselves were only to blame of) was too clean, no rough edge etc. Sure everyone was little bit disappointed of the outcome in the band but it was a relief to get something out. But as the time went on, the über brutality was not so appealing. It woulda been boring to release too similar music for several albums. The label was run by Kimmo Korkala, who played guitar and gargled on "Moulded In Clay." But actually there was written material between "Pain Amplifier" and "Dark Material", right after the first full album got released we had a concept for a successor which was dubbed as "Too Evil To Die." There were songs in the same style as "Pain Amplifier" and this was already when we Mikko Laurila switched to vocals and Harri Paasovaara become our bassist. As time went on and prospects for recording or releasing anything, we got bored of playing these songs and wrote new ones. One other reason for this was most of the band guys really thought we’d need to stick trying to get the deal with Osmose and just wait for it. But I knew that was not gonna happen unless the album sales would’ve rocketed. The difference was Ludo wanted us on his label, Herve just helped with the distribution, not actually interested in having us."
Starting from a brutal grinding Death Metal band to a more melodic even rocking (Death) Metal band is a way usually the early fans don’t support. Did you feel that the interest left with this last release and what was the reason for such a drastic change in style?
"What happened with ENTOMBED back then? Exactly the same. I quit following after "Clandestine" album since the stuff sounded almost like Punk with Metal influences to me. I think it’s just retard to not to progress, I couldn’t change the progress, no one in the band ever said we are straying too far away. What about fans then, they shifted towards SENTENCED’s rocking "Amok" album, the obvious thought was not to go too far to Rock’n’Roll but incorporate some elements of it."
On this release you skipped your old logo. Any reason behind it? Such things often mean a musically drastic change (just think of bands as SAMAEL, TIAMAT or MOONSPELL)…
"Actually the logo came from Samuli Alapuranen and people really had problems reading the original logo. As the design of the MCD was spot on and clean, why put the old logo?"
A funny thing is that many Finnish bands developed this way, some less some more. Just see bands as CONVULSE, XYSMA, DISGRACE among others. Swedes on the other hand developed in a totally different way; therefore this must be something “typically Finnish”, haha. What’s your opinion about that?
"I haven’t thought it like that considering what the Swedes were doing. I think in good and bad; Finnish bands developed and some even are around today, like AMORPHIS! Hats off to them since its totally different band now. In earlier questions I said its retarded not to progress, I still stand behind that, not saying Swedes retarded. Throughout my life listening to music, the most best bands do come from Sweden."
How was the climate between the bandmember in MYTHOS during the band’s lifetime? Were you 4/5 friends from the beginning to its end?
"Usually the guy you bring to the band is someone you know or favor over somebody else’s proposition, so basically it is a friend already. On the latter part of MYTHOS career more and more people outside came and played, played well too. As years go pass and people grow and maybe you put behind disappointments etc. you still might have a friendship, but as in every band I’ve played with, the relationship is more like a partnership. It’s a rough 3/5 chance you play well together but won’t be friends after all. Lesson learned; good friendships are rare and good players as well. What about the past MYTHOS members, well…I’m surprised how most talk about playing together for one more time and especially that one individual would like to dismiss and disassociate himself from all past relation to the band. It’s been very hard to get any comment on anything nevertheless participate on anything. Maybe he thinks it could harm his artistic future, dunno. Or he thinks he’s way better than the rest of us? Well, everything is said and done and there won’t be any questions asked from him anymore. Sad."
What are the other members of MYTHOS doing now and do you still have contact to them?
"Jukka Valppu just moved back from Kuusamo closer to Oulu again, my guess is he is unemployed and with his wife and kids. He’s still active. Toni Pekkala plays with NORDIC FROST, a CELTIC FROST cover band, lives in Tampere. Kimmo Korkala is in Oulu, too. Plays with TORTURE PULSE. About Mikko Laurila I can’t really say whats going on, not quite the same jolly "Palli-Mikko" he used to be. Harri Paasovaara lives in Koskenkorva with his wife and newborn baby (congrats!) I won’t go into what ALL the ex-MYTHOS players are doing and I don’t actually have any idea what most do. Yeah I see most of the guys maybe 1-2 times a year or in 10yrs haha. To some I say "Hi!" and to some not, depends on what the guys face looks like, if it looks like an elephant vagina I dismiss…"
What were the goals you had with MYTHOS from the beginning? Death Metal was getting big around 1991 – 94 and did you have the impression that you can make some kind of living with a Death Metal band or as a musician in general? Or are those thoughts just childish dreams and rather unrealistic?
"No, not to make a living…just play good music and drink beers. Play live and get some name, maybe tour further. To make a record. After the "Pain Amplifier" everything became one notch harder. Maybe a possibility for learning your instrument properly and then try living off what you could if fate was that a good opportunity followed. You never know life, it’s full of chances."
Finland offers since the early nineties high-quality Metal music, and there are many names around which made it. Even in the Death and Black Metal genre are some big names from Finland active for many many years. What’s so special about Finland and its musicians and which are some names that you followed since their start (friends of yours probably)?
"I liked ABHORRENCE (didn’t know the guys), XYSMA (them neither), TENEBRAE / SOULGRIND (I was in contact with Jussi back then), SENTENCED (of course, they were from the same city and drink in the same local bars), Taneli Jarva, IMPALED NAZARENE (Mika Luttinen + first line-up guys), BELIAL, DEMILICH (just saw them live, too bad they had very bad muddy live sound, couldn’t make much out of it), THERGOTHON and maybe many more…"
If I’m right the first releases were all recorded in Tico-Tico studios. Can you tell something about this recording studio? Some of the most professional Finnish Death Metal recordings were recorded there and besides that it was, at least at the beginning something like the “house-studio” of IMPALED NAZARENE, right?
"It’s the most pro studio for Metal bands with affordable price and a studio guy, Ahti, who is very likable. IMPALED NAZARENE maybe used the studio too much for their own good. Well cannot say really since haven’t listened to most of their recent albums. The studio is very very popular and is booked year round, you possibly couldn’t squeeze a weekend session until 6 months or more in the future. Haven’t been there since the last session of "Pain Amplifier", however I got the DAT materials recovered to a CDR from Ahti few years back."
Next for MYTHOS was the “Revenge” promo in 1998. Honestly spoken I thought that MYTHOS disbanded after the last MCD. What did the band MYTHOS do during those years and what was the reason for putting out another release with again even more different musical material?
"Well we kept playing and writing new stuff… not so much live shows back then, it was not so good time considering the line-up and towards the end around year 2000 the band truly was done for."
Last release for MYTHOS was another promo in 1999. Did you release those demos official or were those recordings meant for labels? Again, your opinion about this recording?
"This Promo 1999 actually was a furious comeback to power, decent studio work and fast stuff with good musicianship. I still like this promo very much. I think it’s a little bit sad since this was the last line-up for me to try to make it with MYTHOS and finally there’s guys who were such good & pro. But for me there was too much past baggage: MYTHOS disappointments and kind of – over and done for – feeling in the air. I kept hanging on too long. Then again my expectations were too high for what was the direction then was going to be and, I later recognized I was very difficult person back then because of all that. There was a lot of stuff going on at that time and MYTHOS didn’t look as the only path, I just didn’t get it figured out in my head. Everything was officially released and sometimes sold if requests came. CDR was sent to record labels but back then I was tired of doing everything in the band all the time, every time. However the studio work at that era all sounded like this, they sort of manufactured all stuff from some studio software sablon maybe? My other band called BODIES – whom which played Power / Heavy Metal recorded there at the same time and the sound landscape is identical though very very different material etc."
Please tell your honest opinion about the musical direction the band MYTHOS followed from the beginning to its end and which part in the history of your band was the one you enjoyed the most.
"Yeah, first it was like in all beginnings – rough and it got finessed to what was the last promo in 1999. The last recording was the most enjoyable, I like the songs diversity and tempos."
Do you think MYTHOS is still a name in the Death Metal world and what made MYTHOS special?
"I think it is in the new generation(s) that find the band, they look up. If one didn’t like us then, the opinions not gonna change now. Maybe then if you’re willing to turn your other cheek and give the material a decent fresh listen."
Hidden tracks seem to be some kind of joke in the MYTHOS history, right? On “Pain Amplifier” you had the awesome ‘Reek Of Putrefaction’ cover and on the vinyl release of “Moulded In Clay” you put (not less awesome) ‘Dead Shall Rise’ from TERRORIZER. Was there any deeper meaning behind those hidden tracks or is it more or less some copyright-issue? Are you satisfied with those coversongs and is there another one to come for the “Pain Amplifier” re-issue?
"Actually we were jokers all right but as for songs being hidden, they’re mostly because of the record label bosses have included the songs and decided to mention them on the covers or not. That being said, buy the re-issue vinyl and check the songs out haha…I am happy with them, they’re pretty much one-shot recordings so there’s some mistakes in them but who cares haha…"
Talking about labels. As far as I know you didn’t have the best luck with the label Evil Omen Records. What were your most negative experiences you had? What were the mistakes you were responsible for in this belongings and what can you tell to other bands to be aware of for their contracts?
"First of all the re-issue vinyl liner notes pretty much cover the entire experience back then. The main problem with Evil Omen Records was the language and attitude barrier with Ludo. Not so good at all with his kindergarten English and his French strong attitude "he is in all control." That is the road to instant collision with the Finnish – "do what you promised, what was written is your law" – mentality. It’s like Kimi Räikkönen in motor sports, say less, say only what’s important. And you could trust what the other side said. Ludo came up with all kind of ideas and most of them were presented to us, which always got turned down – but with each rejection I sent our proposition or ideas for changes. At first the attitude was to communicate creatively with counter propositions so that the process would just flow from end to beginning. But as it turned out, there was too strong opposition on both ends and the language barrier… I got fed being nice and as it turned out the album covers and t-shirt design were what Ludo proposed, he didn’t pay attention to what we said anymore. Well, I don’t think I’m not quite the person to advice anyone on album deals, if it smells like shit don’t sign it. When you’re young you easily are attracted by the chance to record an album, today the deals labels propose, I think, are much complicated because of digital music rights etc. If I’d get a record deal today I’d had it read by an independent lawyer who understands music industry. The "Pain Amplifier" deal paper and "Vociferous…" were just simple A4 papers claiming on both parties responsibilities and our signatures. Re-issues were negotiated via email and on signed paper anywhere. Anastasis did a good job with the "Moulded In Clay" and proved to be a very good man, no need then to hassle with paperwork as it was a simple deal."
I wonder about your negative opinion about Evil Omen. I thought Ludo’s label was in a way related to Osmose Productions, therefore the whole situation didn’t look that bad…But then I remember a sentence in one of your emails: “Out of all the printed / sold albums, the only thing we’ve got were 677 € (4000 old Finnish marks) for the studio and 50 CDs + 5 longsleeve shirts. Wow !”. Well…
"Well actually we got some receipts of the individual prints but the actual biggest and only income was the money for studio. By the way some of the shirts were so poor quality that when you put the shirt on and try to get your hand out of the armpit hole (?) the shirt fabric just gave thru and the shirt was done for. We weren’t expecting a steady money flow – good would come in time, but all the money made with "Pain Amplifier" went on to Evil Omen Record’s next release; DEMONIAC album. If I remember correctly, Ludo treated DEMONIAC the very same way."
All this “no royalities at all” made you to put all your songs online for free download at www.lastfm.de/label/MYTHOS. How are the reactions so far from the fans / downloaders and did you get any response / reaction from your former labelboss because of this?
"Well, the music already was downloadable everywhere on the internet. Nobody has responded in any way, no reaction. Last.fm provides some direction to who owns the music and purchase links. In my opinion, no harm done. Also our initial album contract didn’t say nothing about digital rights, so, as were not given up them in written or gotten paid in all, my understation is that we still own the masters (DAT + reels) along with the rights. For the re-issue I told Anastasis to lookup Ludo or Evil Omen for letting them know what we are thinking of doing. No way we weren’t gonna just release the re-issue without asking how they feel about it. Ludo was not available and no answer was not gotten from him, instead, Herve of Osmose shed some light on the Evil Omen catalogue ownership. Evil Omen Records is no more and all the catalog is now under ownership of Osmose. Herve was pro and there was only discussion where he approved the re-issue without any claims etc."
Do you know what Ludo is doing now?
"No idea, no interest what so ever. Hopefully he’s somewhere sitting comfortably with a pineapple up his ass."
Teemu, we were in a (in my opinion) very good contact during the years 1993-1995 if I’m right. What happened to you afterwards? Did your hunger in Death Metal disappear and did you look out for new musical challenges?
"Yes we were good pen pals then haha…Ok, 1995 I did my civil-service (very quick and obivous choice, no army for me then) – played with GOD FORSAKEN until they disbanded. BODIES – a Power / Heavy Metal band was one project I got to enjoy for several years. I met my girlfriend at that time, still with her, Marjo, thru all these years – thru good and bad, love conquers all haha… There was unemployment and studies in the computer sciences, it was time to do other stuff. I was not playing drums for entire year when first MYTHOS was done for and then the BODIES was left without a decent singer and we buried the band. Around 2003 I picked up rehearsing BLACK LABEL SOCIETY cover songs etc with new band called BARCODE which developed into FIREWALL – this band was Metal with emerging Rock influences and we did 3 recordings in total. DIESELBUNNY asked me to come to drum for them and I agreed, this was fuzz guitar Stoner Rock and we did 3 recordings. It was an experience – as all in life – different, not sure I’d gone some of the paths I did with them. A bit of on / off band. You had to turn off all reason and just do it and to have a put up with not-so-intelligent humor. There was no actual musicianship in the band, you could call it boozed brainstorming. I guess there was a small break with music here as I was concentrating on making a career life. Not long though, since HEIMIA was then asking me to replace their drummer. I jumped in and did 1 recording (Stoner Rock / Metal) and some gigs with them. Now all the guys in the band were much younger than me, too much alcohol and trippy stuff for me. When I left the band after 1 year, also the bassist and rhythm guitarist left as well. You couldn’t call it a band, it was individual and an opinion. In everything, execution lacked backbone. TARPITORCHESTRA has been the main thing for me since HEIMIA. Few years younger than me but from same school where I’m from, a Metal guitarist turned to rockin’ bluesin’ style – Toni Tervonen is a long distance runner – kind of guy. Easy going and easy to play with… We’ve sticked thru 2 recordings and a recent major line-up change, got things going once again and picking up new songs ready for gigs and new recordings. The outlet is relaxed Rock with bluesy elements played with Bb tuning and by old, seasoned, Metalheads. We have songs on sale on iTunes, check them out. The Death Metal "burn" has not diminished, the only medication has been more cowbell haha…I helped out friend band SOUL TERROR who rehearsed at the same rooms, for 2 gigs few years back. The style was Death-Thrash. Nice variety in the songs and not über brutal stuff. Some of the guys wanted me to continue with them, but they went on a hiatus and later on emerged with different name and line-up, which developed further on."
How does it look now? Is Death Metal still important to you?
"It’s not as important as air I breathe or the pay I got for my IT-consultant work. I listen to what ever sounds good in my taste, be it brutal (new HYPOCRISY stuff! or BLOODBATH!) or fuzzin’ buzzin’ trippy Space Rock. Sure Death Metal has a special place but I haven’t stuck with it, if a good band was missed on purposely – if fate allows, it’ll pop out somewhere and I can enjoy it later on."
How did you see the whole tapetrading- and penpal-movement back in those years? I remember you as a person writing incredible long letters and therefore I guess you were quite interested in the whole movement. In the mid-nineties when the movement almost disappeared did you miss those days?
"I childishly were in impression people were interested in what was happening in my life with bands etc. haha (sorry if I bored you!). Not just send a tape and list of stuff you got. I talk and write if there’s interest in saying something. I’m glad I got so many good, especially German, friends to write with. Some of them with I’m stayed in contact through all these years and visited each other. Sure there’ve been some years without a letter. You know it filled a kind of void in life back then and to try to "make it" or "go somewhere" you had to get connected. When life progresses and other involvements such as a steady job or family fill your time it all got kinda forgotten. I think the internet age along with Metalhead forums and email brought it all back again, and am glad about it."
Coming back to the vinyl releases. I know you are not really responsible for the vinyl version of “Moulded In Clay” and you were not involved either, but how does it feel to hold it between your hands?
"I was stunned actually, you know, I have some old EPs of ABHORRENCE etc. which were multicolored etc. There I was holding my own vinyl which had my playing in it! On clear vinyl! The vinyls with their big album covers have a definite physical attraction. CD means compact and is easier and not so fragile to handle, has its good properties. But I prefer vinyl as media format for MYTHOS releases."
Are you satisfied with the layout? The coverdrawing that was used for it looks awesome. Nevertheless I hoped for more information and liner notes. The lyrics are there, but some introducing words from a bandmember or a “VIP” from the scene would be a “nice to have”.
"With "Moulded in Clay" it was just a revamped original demo cassette layout. I point my finger at Kimmo Korkala who was responsible for this release. Maybe he felt there is nothing to say anymore. Less is more?"
Now the vinyl-release of “Pain Amplifier” is quite close according to the official MYTHOS-blog http://MYTHOSfin.blogspot.com. On this blog you are using the old logo again, luckily. What can we expect from “Pain Amplifier”’s first time ever on vinyl? As far as I know you are involved in this release now?
"Maybe there’s nice scratchy sound on the back when the songs change? Well, at least there is an appropriate album cover with liner notes. There was a need for a blog and resurrecting the old logo was appropriate since it was the logo under which we did the original. By the way, there is a MYTHOS Facebook fan group "MYTHOS(fin)" with old pictures from different line-ups and some history. There won’t be a band site for MYTHOS."
In the current Death Metal movement is some kind of vinyl-revival recognizable – your 2 releases for Nuclear Winter Records are best prove. Labels as Blood Harvest, the mentioned Nuclear Winter or Iron Bonehead are a counter movement to the bigger labels releasing just ordinary CDs. Are you a vinyl fan yourself or the average Ipod-fan now?
"I don’t own an Ipod, however my car has a Ipod connection to it. But yes, I prefer digital media as in mp3 and portable players. Vinyls I do have and just couple months ago picked up all them from the basement. I’ve been thinking of buying a vinyl player once again – just waiting for a right one to surface. I do buy CDs of albums – I just check the release before hand from internet. Record Heaven is a good place. You know vinyl is like good dining and wine, best when enjoyed slowly and the CD / digital media is like fast food with a beer to go with. Both of them have their enjoyable perfect properties and let’s celebrate that we have a chance to choose from. You can go back and forth depending on your mood."
A question about the Finish Metal scene. Everyone is talking about the Swedish Metal scene, some are even writing books about Swedish Death Metal, but it’s by no means a different situation when looking at Finland. This country has so many influential, groundbreaking and successful bands. How do you see your Metal country and when do you think it’s time a book called “Finnish Death Metal” will see the light of day?
"Probably never. But who knows? Maybe in the coming decade(s)? I think the Finns in majority don’t appreciate and celebrate other than first places and world champion statuses. A book covering successful Metal / Rock bands exists but, not sub-genre in its details. Too underground. A website does exist, however, www.isten.net/guide/ which presents a short, biased view on an outdated band list. Must’ve been a crushing effort to compile this much stuff. Hats off to Mattila!"
We are getting closer to the end now, left are some words about some Finish bands now. Please write down your top-5 releases (demos, EPs or albums) in Finish Death / Thrash or Black Metal history. And contrary, what are the 5 most overrated ones?
"TOP 5 in no order: ABHORRENCE 7" EP, SENTENCED "Rotting Misery" demo, TENEBRAE’s first demo, THERGOTHON, XYSMA (these I remember I appreciated at that time.) Phew, overrated ones? Well, without going into any particular band names or their releases, but in general…I guess it’s down to my own personal opinion, feeling and totally different taste in music. In most cases bands are just chewing someone’s old bubble gum without giving any new flavor or present nothing new. Or then it’s just utter meaningless bullshit without any clue. Someone might say the same about MYTHOS, but remember kids – it’s all about the songwriter and under which bandname the writer composes his music. KING DIAMOND still sounds like KING DIAMOND with MERCYFUL FATE but with the core sound, the voice is still the same. There’s a bone for you to chew on!"
Left should be some space, too, for some funny anecdotes from those early days of Finish Death Metal you very involved in. Have you something in mind?
"Nah, nothing comes to mind now sorry…nothing funny at least. There’s some anecdotes on the re-issue liner notes though haha."
Teemu, guess it’s time to end now. Hope you enjoyed this interview and hope it is interesting for the readers to bring some light in some topics. Thanks for your time. As usual the last words are yours!
"Thanks very much, I was honored, however shocked at first of the extent of this interview. I’m thankful for this opportunity to voice out my thoughts and my thanks extend also to Anastasis from Nuclear Winter Records for bringing out the MYTHOS stuff on vinyl, Ketola for his art, design and consultation. Thanks Thomas for your time and questions!"
Uncurbed - "The Strike Of Mankind" CD 1993 (320)
"Uncurbed was formed in 1990 with only 3 members: Conny Enstrom (guitar) Micke Gunnarsson (bass) Johan Jansson (drums). The influence then came from bands like Napalm Death. Some gigs were made in the neighborhood with various singers. A compilation demo was released with 4 songs in total grind style. After a while the style changed more and more to bands like E.N.T, because most of the members like that kind of music. After a while we picked up Henrik Lindberg and Jens Tornroos on the lyrics and Nico Knudsen on guitar. A demo was recorded at 'Unisound' and was sent to many record labels. After some detours the demo landed at 'Lost & Found' in Germany, and they were interested in a CD release. 5 new songs was recorded to fill up the CD. The name was 'The Strike Of Mankind'. In the meantime a tour in Germany with Disfear was under construction, and L & F released a crap EP with Uncurbed & Disfear (according to L & F it was a limited edition in 500 copies, shit! You can find it in every record store today!). Anyway, the tour in Germany was a success and we got a lot of fans (we hope!).
Michael and Johan also played in a band called 'Asocial', when they quit the singer Tommy joined Uncurbed instead of Henrik. The L & F was interested in a second CD so we recorded a 9 song Maxi-CD with the name 'Mental Disorder'. After some shit talk with the L & F we left them for 'Finn Records' where we released a new CD with 14 brutal songs under the name 'A Nightmare In Daylight'. Some gigs were made in Sweden with The Varukers, Chaos UK, English Dogs, and Hypocrisy. A gig at 'Dalarocken' also took place in 1995, about 300 people showed up and it was fun as hell! In January '96 we changed studio from 'Unisound' to 'Abyss' (the owner Peter Tagtgren from Hypocrisy.) The CD 'Punk & Anger' was then recorded with 16 songs and included one cover of Asocial. A split EP was also recorded with S.G.R/Uncurbed 4 songs each, and released on 'Yellow Dog' records in Germany. 1000 copies sold in a couple of months. In April '97 it was time again for us to go in the studio and recording the grooviest and best release we ever made (don't we always think that way!). The title is 'Peace Love Punk Life' and should be out in early '98."
Glue - Discography 2012-2019 (FLAC/320)
Write-up by Alex Birnel, Halloween 2016...
Bringing back an ostensibly bygone era of grime in punk, long before the snapback and hoodie made any appearance in the genre, the Austin-based band Glue is pissed and dejected in every direction. On Friday, the band played a free show at the Mix on N. St. Mary’s street accompanied by locals Sex-Ray Specs and Unit. Beneath a disco ball, standing on a pink neon lit wood floor that’s more welcoming to waltz than a mosh on first glance, Glue started their set with the band’s signature hello “FUCK YOU, WE’RE GLUE.” The room then promptly took ritual formation, with the crowd forming a huge-half circle encasing the band’s lead singer Harris Munger Greenwood.
Led on by the fast and cathartic riffs supplied by guitarist Cody Cox, riffs that sounded as if leather face had joined the band and swapped out his chainsaw for a guitar, Greenwood moved frantically about the floor with rag doll limbs, dodging the debris of flailing bodies around him, smashing a mic against his teeth. Rabid sounding and psychotic looking, he screamed the lyrics to songs like “Enemy,” “The Jokes Write Themselves,” “Backward Society,” and “Disgrace” off their 2014 s/t and demo releases, all to match the expected entropy that takes hold at punk shows.
Face to face with Glue fans, Greenwood spewed his misanthropy up close and personal with a marathon gaze that made you wonder if his eyes were stapled open. During the tiny interludes between songs, the audience got some clue into where some of the songs’ titles might have gotten their despondent inspiration. “I have to take a test tomorrow, I could care less,” Greenwood said.
But it’s not at all easy to shoehorn the band into the jaded and sarcastic canon of punk music, even though it’s easy for me, the writer, to trot out the all the usual suspect adjectives. The band just returned from the jungles of Central America and the show at the Mix was a kind of welcome back home. And apparently, they left an impression on newly made fans who managed to catch a show. In the comment threads of the band’s 2012 demo video on YouTube, commenters from El Salvador, Panama, Costa Rica and Colombia are now praising the band in Spanish with phrases like “puro sabor” or pure flavor. The commenter from El Salvador even shouted out the rest of Central American punks who did or would see Glue. When your band is any common thread that crosses borders and makes strangers friends, there’s more than just loathing at play. “Saludos a toda la raza Centroamericana que en su respectivo momento los tendran en su casa” said the commenter.
Glue also played a benefit show at Mohawk in Austin the night after the Mix, raising money for native Sioux and their allies resisting at Standing Rock against the Dakota Access Pipeline. In all, the band was a crucial part of the effort to raise the $3,500 that ultimately resulted. As Greenwood wrote on the event’s Facebook page “Punk is an incredible thing. I think we all get disenchanted with it from time to time and it's pretty easy to think that it's just music like any other genre, but when things like this come together, I'm reminded (and I hope you are as well) that we're all here because we care about fighting oppression and we care enough to make a change,” he says. “More proof that this is more than riffs."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)