Interview with Filip from Orelha Suja zine issue 1 (from Brazil/winter 2005)

 

1) Talk us about SEE YOU IN HELL... start.. releases.... line up...

SEE YOU IN HELL started back in 1999 with a bit different line-up and different style. We have released demo (2000), split 7“ w/MINDLOCK (2001) and full 7“ (2002) and participated on v/a „Barbaric Thrash Demolition“ on 625 Prod. with this older line-up. We also did some tours with bands like MINDLOCK, GRIDE, RACAK (ger) or ANTICHRIST (pol) and played in Germany, Poland, Netherlands and Hungary. Then, in middle of 2002 we decided to kick out our old drummer and replace him with Benyo, who used to play in some older hardcore bands here in Brno back in early 90s. So now we are: Jozka – voc, Tom – bass, Benyo – drums and me, Filip, on guitar. Our style has changed into more crusty/thrash/raw punk direction since then. We released split 7“ with THE PUBLIC in cooperation of more than 20 labels from all over the world (from Russia, Poland etc. to USA or Germany – sadly no label from South America) and toured Slovakia with them – THE PUBLIC were one of the best hardcore bands ever coming from Slovakia, too bad they splited up (but check out their new band called SUPERAPE X!). Later we released split tape with HOMO CONSUMENS, our good friends and killer raw punk band. Recently (in summer 2004) we released our first full LP in cooperation of Insane Society/Ultima Ratio Records. As I already wrote, our style has changed a bit, in the beginning I would say it was more chaotic/emo-violence/dark HC style with some pretty original parts (especially in drumming style of our old drummer), but later we decided to play more straight-forward music, which suits us much better. Our lyrics used to be always kind of personal-political dealing with huge variety of topics, but basically they stick around the „individual vs. the fucked up world around us“ topic. We sing in Czech language as it is best for our expression, but we always include English translations in our records/tapes.

 

2) How is the scene in Czech??? many gigs.. bands... have you played in many gigs.. tours???

I think that the scene in Czech is great. I would definitely recommend bands like GRIDE {devastating extreme HC w/few vinyls out, kicking since mid 90’s}, HOMO CONSUMENS {early Italian/Swedish HC worship, new split 7” w/AD CALENDAS GRAECAS out now}, BALACLAVA {100% energical HC/youth crew stuff}, CO-CA {punk as fuck touched by WIRE/STOOGES influences}, FESTA DESPERATO {raw noise in old KAAOS/RIISTETYT vein}, MASSGENOCIDE PROCESS {Scandi-crust tornado, split LP w/VISIONS OF WAR out soon}, SICHERHATESYSTEM {raw punk}, LAHAR {extreme HC ala HELLNATION}, INNOXIA CORPORA {rocking punk, 2^nd LP out soon}, V.I.R. {dark crust in the vein of some old UK bands like HELLBASTARD or AMEBIX, split 7” w/DREAD 101 out soon}, ZEMEZLUC {punk as fuck w/tons of vinyls out, playing since mid of 80s}, AD CALENDAS GRAECAS {fast punk attack w/some pretty original parts, a bit like DEAD KENNEDYS – LP and split 7” out}, VYBOR VEREJNEHO BLAHA {hip hop/punk bastard – LP out}, MALIGNANT TUMOUR {grind/mince core/crust mix, tons of vinyls out}, LYCANTHROPHY (fastcore/grind mix, new split 7” w/MALIGNANT T. out now), RED INSECT (punk as fuck like VARUKERS or BROKEN BONES, great split 7” w/NEMA BARIKADA out now)… The list of some better-known bands who have already splitted up and who have been active in last cca 10 years includes MINDLOCK, DREAD 101, MRTVA BUDOUCNOST {fuck – my own, sorry for shameless self-promotion!}, LIES AND DISTRUST, EXEKUCE, TELEFON, HEARTLINE, PANGS OF REMORSE, LOS SOMMROS, CUL DE SAC… If you like fast and raw hardcore/punk you will like these bands. If you like emo or tough guy NYC HC you have to look somewhere else.

Some good gig spaces include VRAH (the best one – diy club run by Malarie Rec., CO-CA etc. people) in Roznov town, Yacht in Brno, 007 and Milada squat in Prague, Paluba in Pisek or Cosa Nostra in Prelouc. Basically there are no squats at all (except the mentioned Milada in Prague), so most of the gigs are held in pubs or rock clubs. There are so many gigs going on every weekend and sometimes during the week as well, because Czech Rep. is one of the fave destinations of foreign bands who tour Europe – sometimes it is too much and people dont go to see the gigs any more, sometimes are these bands also very boring – too much of emo/metal/street punk bands touring all the time. I think bands should think a bit before they tour, like it is always better to have some releases out and to have atlest a bit of a name before you attempt to tour. Even over here people stop coming to gigs because it is too much like I said.

Here in Brno we have gig collective called United Crusties (people from SYIH and FESTA DESPERATO) and we did gigs for foreign bands like BORN DEAD ICONS, MIGRA VIOLENTA, SICK TERROR, CONFUSIONE, TRAGEDY, MUNICIPAL WASTE, VIIMEINNEN KOLONA, SEVERED HEAD OF STATE or D.F.A. + for most of good bands in Czech and Slovakia. Sometimes we have good turn out like 100-150 people. Sometimes it sucks (30-50 people). But it is still a great fun and even bigger when we do gigs in our small rehearsal room (LAHAR or HOMO CONSUMENS have played there). We want to make gigs only for bands which we really like so we dont do gigs too often.

SEE YOU IN HELL toured Europe two times – in 2003 we played in South Europe (Spain, France, Italy etc.) together with GRIDE and recently, in September 2004 we toured England, Scotland, Belgium etc. together with HOMO CONSUMENS. It was great both times, especially UK was kind of shock for us as we didnt expected it to be so good. Next year we would definitely like to play UK again (+ Ireland as well this time) and there are some plans for Japanese tour in March 2006, which would be really cool. I totally love touring, it is great to jump off the daily fucked up routine and to concentrate just on playing and partying and it is also great to meet so many new people + places. Some of the autonomous places we visited in the abroad (1in12 Club in Bradford/UK, El Paso in Torino/Italy, La Sede in Vigevano/Italy, Koepi in Berlin/Germany etc.) are totally inspiring. I can not wait to go on tour again. Well, yeah, SEE YOU IN HELL played around 120 gigs so far...

 

3) There's many peoples involves in politics groups in Czech?? there's many  people with no interest in politic.. anarchism?? what you think about punk X  politic??

Tough question... In the past the anarchist/autonomous movement was strictly connected to punk/HC scene, but as the years went I think it has changed a lot. I think that some of these anarchist organisations became way too dogmatic and authoritarian and that lots of people just became to associate them with orthodox left like Commies. Also there is very popular wave of apolitical street punk/oi bands, which are basically just about drinking, footbal, fighting etc. and they just hate any kind of politics. Anarchist movement also had no traditions here as it had to start again after 1989 and it seems to be just a thing for young people most of the time. I stopped to care about it few years ago when it became clear that it leads to nowhere, I was also always more involved in ecological, animal rights or human rights activities which seemed to me more real and honest than the way too chaotical and fashion oriented anarchist/left movement. But to each his/her own. I think that punk is political, but „political“ is such a broad term that sometimes it means just repeating the slogans of old bands without any deeper thought or action. This sucks.

4) What you think about the world today?? What you think about diferernces, hungry and misery?? there's many social problems in Czech??

It’s fucked up, isn’t it? Life in Czech Republic is relatively OK compared to some other parts of the world. Ofcourse there are social problems, esp. in some parts of the country where the old industry collapsed and now there’s huge unemployement. There is also big Roma people minority, which has just worst social statute of all, because they are uneducated and sometimes there’s a discrimination against them. I work as a social lawyer in organisation, which is helping Roma community and I have all kinds of different clients like drug users, prostitutes, criminals etc., lots of people in completely fucked up life situations.

5) About music, what have you listening?? have you interest only in punk  music or you like another styles too??!
 

Fuck... too many bands. I have a huge collection of records and tapes, which I try to cultivate since end of 80s, so it is even too difficult to think just about few band names... I like 80s hardcore/punk from all parts of the world – Japan {STALIN, GAUZE, BASTARD, LIPCREAM, OUTO, KURO, DEATHSIDE, CONFUSE...}, Norway {SVART FRAMTID, BANNLYST, AKKUT INLEGELSE...}, Sweden {MOB 47, TOTALITAR, ANTI-CIMEX, ARROGANTA AGITATORER...}, Finland {KAAOS, TERVET KADET, RIISTETYT, SEKUNDA, VARAUS, KUOLEMA...}, Yugoslavia {U.B.R., TOZIBABE, SOLUNSKI FRONT...}, West Germany {SLIME, RAZZIA, INFERNO, VORKRIEGSJUGEND, CHAOS Z...}, Poland {DEZERTER, SIEKIERA, ARMIA, TZN XENNA...}, Spain (ANTI-DOGMATIKSS, ESKORBUTO, RUIDO DE RABBIA, ANTI-TODO...), East Germany {L ATTENTAT, SCHLEIMKEIM...}, Italy {WRETCHED, IMPACT, INDIGESTI, 5 BRACCIO, BLUE VOMIT...}, ofcourse also 80s Czechoslovakian hardcore/punk {you must check out killer bands like RADEGAST, H.N.F., F.P.B., NASROT or S.M.S.}... Ofourse I like also lots of current bands from all over the world, from some of the not so super-known I would recommend bands like SOLID DECLINE and BOMBENALARM from Germany, U.S.P. from Poland, CONTRASTO and KONTATTO from Italy, CONCLUSION from Japan, KARNVAPEN ATTACK from Spain, PATIENT ZERO and AFTERBIRTH from UK, HARTO from USA, LAMANT from Belarus... I like also 80s thrash/metal – SODOM, KREATOR, VOIVOD, also MOTORHEAD is a cult band! There are hundreds and thousands of great bands, it is really too hard to name even 1% of them!

 

6) What you know about brazil, amazon and punk here too??!!!

 

I saw ROT, EXECRADORES, SICK TERROR, I SHOT CYRUS and POINT OF NO RETURN live and all these bands were great. Also when I was in Japan in early 2004 I met there this guy George who came from SP and told me a lot about your scene. I like especially this „wave“ of raw/dark total crusty bands like LIXO, DESASTRE, BESTHOVEN, NEUROSE URBANA... these bands influenced by ARMAGEDOM... And I have „El Sub“, „Ataquo Sonoro“ and „Grito Suburbano“ compilations in my collection, which costed me a lot, but I dont regret it, hahaha. I think you have really great scene, one of the hugest in the world, also from what I have heard, also very political. I would like to see more killer Brazilian bands touring Europe – definitely.

 

7) Thanx for the answers and feel free...

 

SEE YOU IN HELL will release split 7“ with MASSGENOCIDE PROCESS in spring 2005 and our LP will be released as CD in Japan on Too Circle Records in the same time. We will have also songs on upcoming compilation LP of European thrash/HC bands on 625 and on comp. CD of NEGATIVE FX covers on Podruido Records out of Los Angeles. We would like to have some our stuff distributed/re-released in Brazil/South America in general, so anybody interested, let me know please. Also in December this year we organize annual „Killed By Brno“ fest here in Brno where we will celebrate 5 years of our bands existence... And in early 2005 I will put out 25th issue of my zine HLUBOKA ORBA, which is going strong since 1993 and I hope to have there some Brazilian bands interviews + history of Brazilian punk/HC scene reprinted from MRR.

Thanx a lot for your interest, Wilton, good luck with your great band, I hope to meet you next year here in Czech!