1.   So a new venture, System of Hate - why the new band in such times when it is really difficult to hear a voice in the multitude of musical offerings?

Well the band started out as a recording side project to Total Confusion.  I was heavily influenced by bands like UK Subs, Killing Joke, Joy Division, Rudimentary Peni, Amebix.

I was interested in music that was very dark and heavy that had a real meaning and message to it.   I must admit I do enjoy all genres of punk but the dark heavy stuff really rocks my boat.   
 
2.   Tell us about the set-up - the faces in the band, their roles, the experience they bring and what, ultimately, is the raison de'tre for the bands existence?  

The band line up is -  Suty - vocals, Pat - guitar, Carl - drums and me the Paddster on ‘Sledge Hammer’ Bass.

All the members of the band have played in other bands (Civilians, X Rippers, Total Confusion etc.) and have played loads of gigs up and down the country and recorded demo’s and CD’s.  As you know, we are definitely not in our youth any more, but just because we are older doesn’t alter the fact that Punk Rock runs through our veins.  A lot of our friends are long gone, bless them, and we feel we need to carry on doing the thing we love for as long as possible. We don’t think we will ever be too old to gig and record.  Long live Punk Rock.

3.  What new strategy will you have in trying to get your noise heard and in getting plenty of giggage?  

Well Mr Fungal, as you well know,  if people come to watch us, they will definitely hear us.  We are a set of noisy fuckers. We haven’t really got new strategy, just going to use the old tried and tested way that seems to have worked for us in the past.  People have started to hear about System of Hate and there has been a lot of interest as to when we are going to be out gigging.  We have been promoting the new band via the internet and we have had quite a bit of radio play of our new ‘Immortal’ EP, which is getting us heard, and so far the feedback we are getting is good.

We’ve already have a website setup – www.systemofhate.com

As a new strategy, we did think about playing live in the nude but with middle age spread, and I mean a lot of middle age spread,  we soon went off the idea as the crowds are not big to start with, so we thought we would give that one a miss.

4.   What problems within the scene did you find with your old unit Total Confusion and how do you hope to overcome these (if any) with the new unit?

One of the biggest problems was and still is work commitments outside the band, we all have  to earn a wage and families come first. Problems within the scene - well not so much as a problem more of a irritant than a problem pay to play promoters and venues that want you to play, fetch a crowd  and advertise the gig.  Then low and behold no pay, no drinks etc. so how do we overcome this problem - easy we just don’t do anything that doesn’t appeal to us anymore. But I must stress there are some good promoters out there. Our last band Total Confusion have played and been offered expenses in the past and we have turned it down because of certain circumstances - you get to know who the good guys are.
 
5.   What are your feelings on the current 'punk' circuit and does this label hold many of us back in the quest to get noticed and spread the word?
 
Our feelings on the current punk circuit, the circuit is split in two you know, the have and the have not’s, named bands it’s great to support them but a lot of them show no respect at all -  they want their coin and can’t even be bothered to watch the support bands, too busy selling their merch and telling us thirty year old rock and roll story’s and how bad the scene is but if you buy a t-shirt and a CD the worlds all sunny again.  I am sure you all know the story.

6.   The fracturing of the scene with many sub-generic pools can be both negative and good but one thing I pick up on is a lack of cross-over.  Why do you think it is that people are unwilling to try different styles, mix and match what they listen to and stick within certain comfort zones?  

You mentioned comfort zone a think a lot of bands do that. They seem to go down one path and stay on it. You know the old saying if it’s not broken don’t mend it, but I myself really like different styles of punk or music in general. System of Hate has a very dark sound and the content of the lyrics are very dark as well, we used a lot of effects on bass, drums are very tribal.  We are just demoing some new songs now and they are very different from the ‘Immortal’ EP.  One of our new songs, ‘Ashes Of Divinity’, is probably one of the heaviest songs we have ever done. It has a very Killing Joke cum Amebix/Joy Division feel  to it so I would say we have broken are comfort zone  and long may it continue. System of Hate will not be frozen in the past, we will keep moving forward with sound, lyrics and structure.

7.   The festivals are increasing in number - any thoughts on the positives and negatives of these much sought after showcases?

I agree that the number of festivals are increasing.          

Positives:- Meeting like minded music loving piss heads that want to put two fingers up to the world for a couple of days.

Negatives:-  Am sure that they were a punk band from Bradford that got in John Peels top 100 .  No really, it always seems to rains at festivals.  The biggest negative for me has got to be the reforming of one hit wonder bands that try to reinvent their history to fit into today’s scene’s .  I have seen loads of bands with one good song in them and still have one good song in them.  But when opportunity and money come knocking at the door, ya know, and there is only one original member from the band,  it does become a bit like a karaoke machine.

8.   'PUNK' - a much abused, raped and taken for a ride word - what does it mean to you and do you flow with this 'punk can be anything' vibe that seems to detract from the very core of its meaning?

Yes, the word punk is abused and raped.  Once got asked the same question in a radio interview, so here goes-

The word punk, or definition of the word is derived from American prison slang;  for male homosexual, worthless person, the lowest of the pecking order within the prison system.  The press needed a name to describe the type of music that certain people were playing up and down the country;   who were playing loud, fast and aggressive dark music.  The term Punk rock was born.  The gimp masks, bondage trousers, Mohawk hair styles and safety pins was all a manufactured image that was made to shock for money.   To me, Punk was about attitude, not clothes or who could play best.  Punk was a clear message to the youth to question authority, politics, war, religion and society in general.  Punk music:-  hardcore, old school, oi, 77, 82, whatever genre,  if it rocks your boat its punk rock.                               

             ATTITUDE THAT’S WHAT PUNK MEANS TO ME

 9.  What are the bands immediate plans sat for the next 12 months.  I am always keen for bands to do a split release, has this ever been a consideration and if so what style of band would you like to hook up with?  

The next 12 months for SYSTEM OF HATE, is going to be very busy.  We have already got a lot of gigs booked as support slots and we have arranged some local gigs.  We are currently tightening up a few loose ends for our first London gig.  We are just getting ready to start recording our new album.  As a band we have been very lucky to have demoed all the songs we have wrote.  It has given us loads of ideas for the new album and what direction we want to go in.

I’m sure the band would consider a Split release, but I’m not too sure on what style of band we could do this with as our new songs are taking a much darker and heavier edge. The answer would have to be who would consider to do a split release with us.

ANY WAY BIG THANKS FOR INTERVIEW MR FUNGAL KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND KEEP SPREADING THE FILTH

LONG LIVE THE MUSIC AND THE PUNK ATTITUDE

 

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