Q: First of all, congratulations on the new album! I think it turned out to be quite a banger. The sound is very powerful and voluminous. How representative is the sound of your style?
B: Thanks for the compliments! I’ve always wanted the drums to sound like machine gun fire and the guitars like chainsaws – so I think we’ve managed to bring it to the level that represents our style for the first time.
Q: The album really sounds well produced. Isn’t there a bit of fear that die-hard fans might talk about commercialization?
B: No, I don’t have that fear – there are always a few people who complain – we can’t and don’t want to please everyone. Anyone who engages with us even a little will quickly realize that the accusation of commercialization is completely unfounded. We always try to build on the predecessor, and I think we’ve clearly succeeded again this time.
Q: You often remind me of RIOT BRIGADE from Stuttgart in terms of sound. How do you see that? What is your relationship with the band?
B: Really, you think so? That’s the first time I’m hearing that comparison. I don’t think we sound like Riot Brigade at all. Especially since none of us listens to the band as far as I know. I must admit that I don’t like the music of Riot Brigade, but I really like the people, so we have a pretty good relationship with them!
Q: How did the collaboration with People Like You Records come about?
B: Tobbe just contacted us on Myspace to see if we could do something together, so Aggropunk, Concrete Jungle, and People Like You Records were on the table. We met a few times, exchanged some ideas, and then both quickly realized that People Like You Records would be the most advantageous for us since we can also reach an international audience. So we agreed on the terms and finalized a contract!
We are really happy with how things are going with People Like You Records. The promotion they do is great, and we also have a really good relationship with the label, which is very important to me.
Q: You are almost always seen in Iros and scene-typical clothing. How important is the appearance and the playing into clichés, especially at concerts?
B: Personally, I don’t care about that at all anymore. Over the years, I’ve met so many idiots who look like me, who want to distance themselves from normal society, and I thought they would think similarly. But then, as soon as they opened their mouths, they only said crap, making me ashamed to be associated with them. On the other hand, there are really great people who are very sharp-minded, but you wouldn’t guess that by their appearance. My favorite example of that is Fahnenflucht. Look at the guys, apart from a few tattoos and band shirts, you would never guess they are a punk band. In my opinion, they have some of the best and most thoughtful lyrics in the German punk scene!
Basically, everyone should dress and style themselves as they want. I don’t care at all! I only wear what I feel like.
Q: The media has been talking a lot lately about a radicalization of both the left and the right scenes. How do you perceive that and how do you deal with it?
B: Isn’t it the case that generally, all over the world, more problems are being solved with increasingly brutal violence year by year? It’s not just the left and the right scenes that are becoming more radical.
I haven’t been involved with organized Antifa work for a while because they seem to prefer to fight among themselves or discuss instead of taking action. So I can’t really speak on left radicalization. However, I have always found the right scene to be very ruthless and radical, which is one of the main reasons I fight against them!
Q: You currently have a lot of concerts planned; are there chances to see you in small clubs like the AK47 in Düsseldorf?
B: Yes, of course, I think something was even planned for September! The AK47 is a place where we have always enjoyed playing since the very beginning of SS-KALIERT.
