All posts by vladkraykulla

Active member of alternative underground scene and culture since early 1990-ies. Underground is a way of life!

Interview-Šank:”Mi smo svoje snove definitivno ostvarili!”

Zagrebački bend Šank je u šest godina postojanja napravio jako puno. Sviraju odličan punk i bilo je krajnje vrijeme da malo porazgovaramo o različitim zanimljivim temama za moj webzine. Na pitanja je odgovarao Dinko.

Dobrodošli u moj webzine. Za početak, recite mi što ima novo kod vas?

Pozdrav tebi i čitateljima! Trenutno smo u prazničkom raspoloženju uz neizbježno hedoniziranje između radnih dana. Prošli vikend smo svirali koncert u Orahovici i još se oporavljamo.

Izdali ste četiri albuma u šest godina što je ogroman uspjeh. Kakav je bio feedback na zadnji „Naša stvar“, pošto je bio snimljen u drugačijim uvjetima od prethodnika, kao svojevrstan „povratak u garažu“. Što vam se čini, koji od vaših albuma je ljudima najdraži?

Ako se broji live dvd iz Tvornice kulture, izdali smo pet albuma u šest godina. Mi na to ne gledamo kao neki komercijalni nego isključivo osobni uspjeh. Pedesetak pjesama koje smo snimili su naša osobna ostavština i više na to gledamo obiteljski, ko kad ti se rodi dijete. Svaki album je po nečemu prepoznatljiv i ima nešto što se ljudima svidi ili ne svidi. Čuli smo od raznih ljudi oprečne i šarolike recenzije pojedinih pjesama i albuma, tako da ima onih kojima je „Grad je naš“ jedini i najbolji album, dok je drugima „Naša stvar“ najdraži. Nema pravila.

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Napravili ste u tih 6 godina jako puno toga. Jeste li ponosni na sebe? Sve je napravljeno diy. Jel bilo kakvih ozbiljnih ponuda da uzmete lovu i odete na neki uvjetno rečeno „veći“ label?

Ponosni smo na to što smo za snimanje albuma i pisanje tekstova dali sve od sebe i maksimalno smo se trudili oko covera, uključivali drage ljude koji su sudjelovali u stvaranju istih. Kad nešto radiš iz srca i čiste predanosti, onda su rezultati najbolji. Ponosni smo da pjesme vole ljudi koje ne poznamo, udaljeni kilometrima od nas i kad nam kažu da bi i oni sami napisali nešto slično, ali smo to napravili umijesto njih. Ponuda nikada nije bilo od strane nekog labela, niti smo ih mi sami priželjkivali.

Je li vas kao bend ikada pomalo strah da ne izgubite inspiraciju i počnete se tematski i muzikalno vrtjeti u krug?

Inspiracija nikada nije bila u pitanju. Pogledaj gdje živimo, pa će ti sve biti jasno. Ljudska glupost, mržnja, podjele lopovluk, licemjerje… Sve su to teme o kojima mi pišemo a njih na žalost neće nikada ponestati kad živimo u Apsurdistanu.

Sad ćete reći onu staru „sve je to rock n roll“, ali koliko je Šank punk bend, a koliko je ciljana publika šira, odnosno smatrate li da ste izašli iz punk okvira u neko šire rock okruženje?

Mi ne radimo glazbu za ciljanu publiku. Mi jednostavno svoja razmišljanja uglazbljujemo i napišemo stihove. Iz prošlog odgovora se isčitava da je Šank pank bend jer angažirano i vrlo artikulirano ukazuje na navedene probleme i društvene anomalije. Na kraju krajeva „sve je to rokenrol“.

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Da se nadovežem na jedno od prijašnjih pitanja o stvarima koje ste postigli kao bend. Kako gledate iz vaše perspektive prema van, jeste li se možda s uspjehom malo umislili ili ste ostali oni isti klinci s početka vaše bendovske priče?

Da nismo ostali isti klinci, nebi se više bavili ovom vrstom glazbenog izražavanja. Ne kažem da je pank za klince ali mora postojati doza onog dječačkog bunta i žara da sve bude vjerodostojno. Mi na svoje postojanje ne gledamo kao slavu, nego sreću, splet okolnosti da smo imali priliku svirati dobre koncerte i ispuniti si dječačke snove. To sve još uvijek traje i sretni smo zbog toga.

Tekstovi imaju dosta nazovimo ih „tough guy“ spika. Jesu li tekstovi(pa i oni osobnije tematike) stvarni događaji koji su se dogodili? Je li riječ o practice what you sing spiki? Bojite li se da vas klinci u glavama ne idoliziraju kao neke streetfajtere, pa se eventualno razočaraju kada vas upoznaju privatno? Da se drukčije izrazim, morate li kao bend njegovati neki image? Kakvi ste privatno?

Uglavnom su tekstovi o osobnim iskustvima i stvarnim osobama. Sve što je napisano proživljeno je. Daleko smo od street fightera, naravno. To su stereotipi za ljude kratkih frizura, koji nose marte i tetovaže sa imenima Oi! bendova ili treniraju borilačke sportove. Nitko se uglavnom nije neugodno iznenadio kad nas je upoznao, osim nekih neupućenih marginalaca sumnjivih političkih stavova.

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Ne možemo izbjeći i neke kontroverze. Prije godinu i nešto ste svirali u Čakovcu u klubu Prostor. Ja osobno nisam bio na tom gigu, ali čuo sam da ste odbili početi svirati dok organizatori nisu skinuli antifa banner koji je visio iznad bine. Je li to istina? Znam da isto tako prekidate istog trena svirku kada netko u publici ističe nazi pozdrav i slično. Ne mislite li da se što se tiče tog bannera, ako je to istina, malo pretjeralo u apolitičnosti i da se može krivo shvatiti? Poznat mi je apolitičan stav benda i poštujem to, ali ne mislite li da vam je kao bendu možda i naštetio i etiketirao vas kao nešto što niste? Neki kažu da vas je možda strah da ne izgubite dio publike, isto tako znam da si ne možete birati tko dolazi na gigove. Dokle će na ovim prostorima, pa i sceni, trajati rasprave o drugom svjetskom ratu?

Sve ti je to malo prenapuhano i po običaju krivo interpretirano. Nije istina da smo odbili početi koncert zbog antifa bannera. On je stajao iznad bine cijelo vrijeme koncerta i na njemu je bila nekakva parola o zajedništvu protiv podjela. Pomaknuli smo crno crvenu zastavu koja je visjela na sredini iza bubnjara, kako bi okačili svoj bendovski banner kojeg imamo na skoro svakom koncertu. Pizdarija je ispala kad je netko od pojedinaca iz publike skinuo tu antifa zastavu i zapalio je baljom. Rakić je na to reagirao kao i mi proglasom odmah idućeg dana putem Fb-a. Koncert je bio rasprodan a vani je ostalo dvjestotinjak ljudi koji nisu uspjeli doći do karte. Naravno da ne možemo birati ko će slušati bend i tko će dolaziti na koncerte ali možemo svojim jasnim stavom reći što mislimo o takvim ekstremistima, što smo već bezbroj puta javno rekli. Mi nismo politički bend, najmanje nazi! Svatko od nas ima osobni politički stav i ko nas dobro poznaje, zna o čemu pričam te tko smo i što smo. Šank nije bend koji po tekstovima možeš odmah strpati u neki koš i odmah ih proglasiti lijevima ili desnima, sve ostalo se temelji isključivo na predrasudama. Salutiranje nas vrijeđa na osobnoj razini, i nije mu mjesto na našim koncertima. Na žalost dok su niske strasti i manipulacija umjesto obrazovanja, jedino oružje političara da osiguraju fotelje za buduće mandate, gluposti će uvijek biti. Ona je neuništiva.

Ajmo na nešto veselije. Odsvirali ste dosta gigova po regiji, pa ima li neka smiješna ili zabavna anegdota koju biste ekskluzivno podijelili sa čitateljima mog webzinea?

Svaki koncert ima svojih zanimljivosti, mnoge od njih nisu za objavu. Bilo je zanimljivo prije dvije godine na Street riffs festu u Beogradu kad se skupilo oko 1000 ljudi od kojih je barem 80% nosilo svoju domaću rakiju da nazdravimo s njima. Možeš misliti kakvi smo bili u dva ujutro kad smo počeli svirati. Bitno da trajnih posljedica na sreću nije bilo.

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Gdje vidite bend za kojih 10-15 godina? Može li bend po vašem mišljenju funkcionirati bez prijateljstva članova?

Mi smo bili ekipa i prije nego što smo postali Šank. Iz tog razloga smo i počeli svirati kako bi se više družili. Mislim da imamo dobru priliku ostati još dugo godina zajedno čisto iz razloga što smo neke dječje bolesti prosječnog benda uspješno prebolili i nismo se raspali. Bitno je biti tolerantan i demokratičan u odnosu s kolegama i dugovječnost je zagarantirana. Dok smo mi familija, u cilju nam je održati bend na okupu.

Što biste vi, kao iskusni muzičari savjetovali meni da sam ja klinac koji želi osnovati bend? Jeste li kao dječaci imali snove kako žarite i palite s bendom uzduž i poprijeko? Jesu li danas ti snovi mutirali na neki način u ovu realnost?

Savjetovao bi ti onu staru : Ako nešto stvarno voliš i trudiš se, uspjeh je zagarantiran, samo ga treba prepoznati na vrijeme i uživati u svakom trenutku. Mi smo svoje snove definitivno ostvarili.

Bližimo se kraju interviewa. Za kraj, imate li reći nešto što biste htjeli, a da vas nisam pitao?

Nisi pitao kad će novi materijal? Pa, novi materijal će uskoro, možda i prije nego što se očekuje. Mi smo Šank iz Zagreba i prepuni smo inspiracije!

THE DARK WORLDS OF HARON!

Dark energy crawls , keep your guard sharp

Outer secrets that make halos

Let’s say another mary full of grace

 

Come on cross oceans & valleys inside out

Will darkness stir our eyes as steps are followed

 

Cosmic relations behind dark side of the sun

Far away lies the great unknown , fly

 

Rain of space , shelter non existent

Beasts of stars explode , black holes lurk

 

Core of iron shreads the atoms

Vastness rearranged anatomy

 

Dark energy crawls sub zero motion

Keep your guard sharp , funeral pyre is airless

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Viral Culture

Coming up from the dirt , splendor glorifying sickness

Arise in low commence stock up pile of nothingness

Fed junk mouth blissful blossom downtown dump

Smog brilliant shine oxygen deprived a lovely choke

Swarming like maggots , rooms full collapsing like cards

It’s time to toast with mud for poverty worldwide 

Pop some pills , let the days flee from you

Turn on mediocrity , the eye is high in the sky 

Line in production line , they feed off greed money work

On the food chain your place – cardboard box

Generation of worn out bodies awaiting reaper’s schyte

A monuments & statues of the long forgotten , all is rust

Somewhat hope is expression with a little expecation

Decrying present , obtuse future is guiding your hand

Our beign mockery in slow putrefaction , it’s a global infection

Man made apparatus conducting self inflicted punishment 

Unchain terminal disease 

Becoming benighted 

Observe our mortality

Disowned and witness wastelands

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Never left unspoken ( crowning words )

Those are my words

Then in itselft can’t be beat

No quicksand to pull me under

I won’t put my thoughts in foolish hands to fall onto abyss ends

Hammer my transparency of reality from poistively procreations creed

Those are my words

Deny the cutthroats leave them all defeatists

Slay there seed feeding on there failures

Tears are memories scars reminders my path staind with blood

Excess and presistance looking at the axis of future

 

Those are my words

Then in itself can’t be beat

Your hidden agenda the evil eye I’ll take to the gallows

Feel the rage from the untamed man blood will spill on your kin

There are no honor amongs thievs & liars can’t bring down honest man freefall numb now

Worship none turn every stone open all doors always steping forwards towards better

Never unspoken those are my words

Oppose me I’ll walk where you died

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A BREATHLESS WORDS FOR THE SKY

…and  it’s  coming  down

silent  stars  sour  to  nothingness  again

scattering  like  diamonds  on  holy  night

lurid  portraits  of  twilight  gleam

 

awaken  ,  by  sad  songs  of  blessings 

between  ages  hearts  grow  cold

an  eerie  sounds  reflecting  decaying  gods

irreversible  is  void’s  griping  hand

 

so  the  perilous  fight  bleeds  on

the  weight  of  the  world  ,  the  tempest  of  man 

all  hailed  the  blind  eyes  searching  for  horizons 

rest  your  souls  within  the  home  unknown 

 

wind  is  calling  for  forgotten  trees

drifting  for  that  shining  shores  made  of  coal 

fall  back  bones  are  broken  now

continuum  waves  covers  you  to  take  upwards

 

and  now  high  in  the  sky  ,  sleep  awaits

and  now  high  in  the  sky  ,  dreams  are  playing 

and  now  high  in  the  sky  ,  vast  is  the  valley 

and  now  high  in  the  sky  burial  commence

Interview-The return of The Crimson Ghosts!

The Crimson Ghosts from Germany are one of the best European horror punk bands out there. When I first heard their songs, I became a die hard fan and I was very happy that there are bands like this one out there that share the vision and the melody and gore. I had an honour talking with them for my webzine. Enjoy!

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SO IT HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE YOUR LAST ALBUM. WHAT IS NEW AMONG THE CRIMSON GHOSTS?

Jackal: Yes our last album “Generation Gore” was released in 2010 and we only released a 7″ split EP called “Bloodgods” in 2012 after that. We had to struggle with a lot of things since then. First i got sick and wasn´t able to write new songs for a longer time and as soon as we had enough songs for a new album our drummer Rev. had first problems with his right hand. We even started recording but had to stop because his hand got worse and worse. Basically our fifth album is ready to be recorded since the end of 2014.

Monstro: We´re burning for 2017! The new record, the gigs, making new friends and fans!

YOU ARE ONE OF THE FEW BANDS THAT THE VOCALS SOUND THE SAME ON THE RECORDS AND LIVE, HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR VOCALS SO SUPERB WHEN TOURING? ANY SECRET RECIPE?

Jackal: The main key is to sleep a lot and to not talk loud for hours after the show. I heard not drinking alcohol helps as well but…that´s not really my way haha

Monstro: My job is doing the backing growls! So I have to talk a lot and loud before and after the shows. Cold beer is a good recipe as well……for anything!

YOU HAD SOME LINE UP CHANGES RECENTLY I HEARD. WHATS UP WITH THAT?

Jackal: That´s the sad truth, yes. We lost our brother Rev due to a chronical disease he got in his hand which wouldn´t let him play drums anymore. The good news is we found a new demon on drums and that´s his name – Demon.

Monstro: It´s always sad to lose a family member, but it´s in his sense that we go on with the Crimson Ghosts. We are still in touch with him and he helps Demon when it´s necessary.

Demon: Luckily I knew the band from several shows we played together with my old band through the years. I always have been a fan of the band so the music comes kind of natural to me and. Feels great to be a part of the TCG Family now.

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YOUVE BEEN GONE FOR SOME TIME, WHEN IS THE NEW ALBUM COMING OUT? WILL IT DIFFER STYLEWISE FROM THE OLDER MATERIAL?
Jackal: We work really hard to release our fifth album in the 2nd half of 2017. If it comes to style i would say we still don´t limit ourselves to a certain one. Each song differs from the next and it ranges from really dark and doomy atmosphere to great singalong-punkrock tunes. We got raging speed going on as well as mid-tempo grooves…you name it – you never know what songs we will create next.

WHAT IS THE SITUATION WITH TOURS AND GIGS? ANY CHANCE TO SEE YOU ON EUROPEAN TOUR IN THE NEAR FUTURE? 

Jackal: Our live but undead return to the stage will be in february. We confirmed 5 shows so far: 3.2. – Leipzig/ 4Rooms, 4.2. – Lippstadt/ Don Quijote, 10.2. – Hamburg/ Bambi Galore, 17.2. – Cologne/ Sonic Ballroom, 18.2. – Essen/ Cafe Nord……not too bad, right? On top of that we will play a few festivals later that year which we are really looking forward to.

MY FAVOURITE HORROR SUBGRENRES ARE HAMMER HORROR CLASSICS, SLASHER FROM THE GOLDEN ERA AND FOUND FOOTAGE. WHAT ARE YOURS? HOW DO YOU WRITE YOUR LYRICS? WHAT COMES FIRST? RIFFS AND MELODIES OR LYRICS?

Jackal: I really enjoy well made found footage movies. You know if the cam shakes so much you can barely see what happens at all it sucks, but “Cloverfield”, “Rec.” and “Paranormal Activity” are just awesome made films!
The way towards a finished song is never the same. Sometimes i got a few lyrics first sometimes i have only a chorus on guitar and sometimes both pops up at the same time.

Monstro: I like the modern stuff, like the ring or Saw and 28 days later. I am also a big fan of TV-Shows like Dexter, The walking dead and American Horror Story. Fresh blood for rotten brains!

HOW IS THE GERMAN HORRORPUNK SCENE? ANY BANDS THAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND BESIDES THE OTHER AND JAMEY ROTTENCORPSE….?
Jackal: Well i don´t know many German bands especially the new ones come and go pretty fast haha…But a few names would be “Hellgreaser”, “Dr. Geek and the freakshow”, “We´rewolf” and “Dead united”.

Monstro: I like The Fright and Angelstrife! Hopefully we´ll meet some new and fresh bands on tour to check them out.

Demon: Of course I can highly recommend my other Band, Hellgreaser. It’s a different style than we play with TCG but it’ s still horrorpunk. It’s more a mid-tempo Punkrock oriented band.

THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, YOU MANAGED SOMEHOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN STYLE AND RISE ABOVE MEDIOCRITY AND BECOME AN EXCELLENT BAND. WHAT WOULD YOU, NOW AS EXPERIENCED MUSICIANS SAY TO ME IF I WERE A KID JUST STARTING MY OWN BAND?

Jackal: Thats easy: Look at your idols but do not copy them. Instead create something you actually miss on your favourite bands.

Monstro: Take your friends, get your stuff together and move into the practice room and have fun! That´s the best way to start a band and have a lot of fun together!

Don´t listen to that bullshit American idol or Superstar-Shows bullshit on TV!

HOW WAS PLAYING WITH BLITZKID? I THINK THEY ARE VERY NICE GUYS. SO DOWN TO EARTH AND SO FRIENDLY. ANY FUNNY STORIES FROM THE TOUR OR THOSE GIGS THAT YOU COULD SHARE?

Jackal: It was great really. A very family-like atmosphere and a great time surely. But it´s a long time ago since we played the last time with them so i cannot really remember any funny stories, sorry.

Monstro: No doubt! Awesome guys and brilliant songwriters and musicians. So sad that they split up!

Demon: When I first met Blitzkid I played with my old Rock´n´Roll band Mad Chapel as their support act. I was blown away by their style and music. This was my first real contact with the horrorpunk genre and it still lasts.

HOW IS LIFE IN GERMANY IN GENERAL? HERE IN CROATIA MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT IT IS PROMISED LAND LAST THREE YEARS NOW WE ARE AN EU MEMBER AND MANY OUR PEOPLE WENT TO WORK THERE. IS IT REALLY PROMISED LAND?

Jackal: Oh well i would say the term “The grass is always greener on the other side” would describe it…i bet you guys have things going on that i would be jealous of and you on the other hand would find German things better compared to yours…but of course both countries are surely fucked up in so many things, right?

Monstro: It´s the promised land if you have the money!

DO YOU THINK THAT HORRORPUNK LOST ITS TOUCH? I MEAN, MANY PEOPLE DONT WANT TO LISTEN TO IT BECAUSE THEY SAY THAT ALL HORRORPUNK BANDS ARE MISFITS CLONES.
Jackal: You know there seem to be three kind of people: 1) The ones that hate a horrorpunk band because they do NOT sound like the Misfits 2) The ones that hate a horrorpunk band because they DO sound like the misfits 3) The ones that don´t give a fuck as long as it sounds good. Me personally i don´t care about this opinions anymore. I write songs the way i like and if they are influenced by the Misfits – so be it. In the end the Misfits were the reason The Crimson Ghosts were started in the first place.

Demon: For me horrorpunk will never lose its touch. It has been a small scene ever since on the one hand but on the other hand there are fans worldwide. I really like this and i am pretty sure it won’t change.

ARE THERE ANY GOOD GERMAN HORROR FILMS/TV SERIES OR BOOKS YOU KNOW AND COULD RECOMMEND? HORROR FILMS VS BOOKS, WHICH IS BETTER?
Jackal: Not that i knew of, sorry.

Monstro: It´s too sad, but i have no idea!

WE ARE COMING TO AN END OF THE INTERVIEW. ANY WORDS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY IN THE END AND I DIDNT ASK YOU?

Jackal: Keep your eyes open because The Crimson Ghosts will return in 2017 and be stronger than ever!