FIRST OF ALL, WELCOME TO KRAYKULLA.COM. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE REACH AD AND THE HISTORY OF THE BAND, MUSIC YOU PLAY TO THE READERS THAT DIDN’T HEAR YOU YET?

Thank you! Reach A.D. is a hardcore band from Slovenia. Our roots go back to 2016, back then known as Reach with a completely different lineup and a more classic approach to hardcore music. After a couple of lineup changes we landed on metallic hardcore sound with influences from bands such as Pain Of Truth, Incendiary, Speed, Terror, Jesus Piece, Kublai Khan etc. 

We listen to all kinds of music so a lot of influence was taken from different genres including classic metalcore and old school hardcore punk too. 

YOU RECENTLY PUBLISHED YOUR NEW SINGLE, TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT SONGWRITING PROCESS, AND THE FEEDBACK NOW THAT IT’S OUT FOR COUPLE OF WEEKS.

“Chains Of Yesterday” was one of the first ideas for a song that we had after a long time. 

Our bass player Matt wrote a few banging riffs and rest of us added some spicy parts. The song is a true indication of the direction we wan’t to go musically and lyrically.

IS THERE A NEW E.P. OR NEW FULL LENGTH COMING SOON? IF SO, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT? ARE THERE GOING TO BE PHYSICAL RELEASES OR JUST DIGITAL?

As of right now there is no concrete plans for anything other than releasing a few more songs as singles. Eventually there should be a EP or maybe even a split release. Keep your eyes peeled.

WHAT ARE YOUR LYRICS ABOUT AND WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT FOR YOU, LYRICS OR MUSIC? DO YOU CONSIDER REACH AD TO BE POLITICAL HARDCORE BAND?

I think it’s safe to say that through all the erras of Reach A.D. lyrics consisted of themes about personal struggles and critical social/world views. We write about what we’re passionate about. Lyrics and music play equal parts in our band, each hitting a different spot in listeners ears, but both powerful nonetheless. Hardcore is political! For everyone who say it isn’t they don’t have a clue. 

We definitely align with left wing leanings of the hardcore scene. We don’t tolerate right wing bullshit! 

Unfortunately there are still some bands out there who don’t understand this. Unless your band stands against racism, homophobia, sexism and any other discrimination you ain’t part of the hardcore scene and never will be!

YOU GUYS PLAY AROUND A LOT. DID YOU DO A TOUR? WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE WHEN PLAYING ABROAD OR PLAYING SLOVENIA/CROATIA? HOW DOES YOUR GIG LOOK LIKE?

We try to play as much as possible, because we feel that performing live is the essence of our band. It brings us closer with our listeners and works as a catharsis for our minds but due to our busy private lives it’s sometimes really hard to book more than two or three shows a month. 

In 2023 we did a short run with Risk It! from Germany and Combust from USA. The difference between playing local shows compared to playing abroad is mostly how music and musicians are treated. Local shows give off more friendly, DIY vibe, while shows we played abroad usually took a more serious and organised approach. We enjoy both, but we are definitely hungry for more shows outside Slovenia and Croatia.

WHAT DO YOU GUYS DO FOR A LIVING? CAN YOU LIVE OFF MUSIC? HOW IS LIFE IN SLOVENIA IN GENERAL?

We all have different day jobs, let’s say everything from construction to sales. We definitely can’t live off of music. We can barely afford traveling costs so it’s kinda hard to be in a band in 2025. 

If we consider all the shit that is happening in rest of the world we’d say life in Slovenia is okay for now.

ALL OF THE WORLD IS NOW A POLITICAL BOILING POINT. DO YOU THINK THAT ALL OF THE WORLD IS SIMILAR NOW TO 1930S PRE WWII POLITICAL SITUATION?

I think there are similarities and that any escalation could be really dangerous for our lives as we know it. 

HOW IS HARDCORE SCENE IN SLOVENIA AND UNDERGROUND SCENE THERE IN GENERAL? ANY GOOD BANDS WE SHOULD CHECK OUT?

To be honest hardcore scene in Slovenia is barely breathing. Not many bands play that kind of music, but at the moment there is a huge powerviolence scene happening where there’s a lot of youth involved, which is great. The main thing is that the spirit of punk rock keeps on living.

WHAT WAS THE HIGHEST POINT FOR REACH AD UNTIL NOW AND WHAT WAS THE LOWEST POINT?

The highest point was probably our tour with Risk It! and Combust as we learned a lot in that time and we also toured with 2 amazing and well known bands. The lowest points were probably all the lineup changes and the aftermath they brought regarding songwritting, consistency and stability in the band.

CAN YOU STILL REMEMBER YOUR FIRST GIG THAT DREW YOU INTO HARDCORE PUNK SCENE? HOW DID YOU GET INTO HARDCORE AND WHAT IS THE MEANING BEHIND HARDCORE PHILOSOPHY FOR YOU

Each of us has a different story how we got into hardcore from MTV to Hate5Six videos to local shows.

For me it was all of the above. I started out with some MTV nu-metal & pop punk at very young age. Then I was introduced to metal scene where I started visiting metal festivals and that’s how i got first contact with bands such as Hatebreed, Agnostic Front, Terror etc. 

From there on it was just an uphill ride to the point where I kinda can’t keep up with all the new bands that get the hype each year! And btw all of them are really good! 

For me personally hate5six did some kinda revolution in hardcore. His videos introduced me to new bands. Bands that till today won’t or can’t come to Slovenia due to small scene but luckily Europe is very accessible and I was fortunate enough to visit some of the best European hardcore festivals in the past where I saw things that can’t be seen in our scene back home. 

Otherwise I’d say hardcore is alive and well! 

HOW MUCH IS STRAIGHT EDGE PHILOSOPHY AND LIFESTYLE IMPORTANT FOR YOU AS HUMANS AND FOR BAND?

Straight Edge isn’t just important. It saved our lives!

Straight edge was about reclaiming control when everything else felt like it was slipping away. Saying “no” isn’t weakness. It’s a fuck you to every bottle that tried to bury us, destroy our relationships, our health and to every system that profits from our self-destruction.

We’ve lived both sides. We know what it’s like to crawl through the gutter, and we know what it’s like to finally breathe clean air again and we are happy that we found strength to get rid of substances! It was a hell of a ride but at the end it was all worth it!

CLASSIC ZINEMAKER QUESTION FOR THE END. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY OR ADD AND I DIDN’T ASK YOU?

Thanks for having us! 

To all the kids out there: Get involved, start new bands and support your local shows!