Agathocles
Wywiad przeprowadził Wouter Roemers
Belgian grindcore trio Agathocles have been deeply involved in the underground scene since the mid-'80s and managed to stay relevant - despite trends coming and going - ever since. Perhaps one of the most revered and respected bands in the political grind genre Agathocles have put out numerous split 7"s with bands such as Worship, Nasum and World Downfall. "Mincer" - the band's first full length effort in nearly half a decade will see a worldwide release 28th April through Dutch quality label Displeased Records. After having reviewed the album, I got in touch with Roel Tulleneers, drummer for Agathocles, and presented him a few questions about the band's rich history and future plans.
Well, your new album "Mincer" will be released at the end of April on Dutch label Displeased Records. How did the deal came about, were they long-time Agathocles devotees?
After the release of our last full length album "Superiority Overdose", we were not so pleased with the distribution of that album. We agreed to search a label that could guarantee a good distribution. Soon, a surprise for us, Displeased Records showed their interest and we agreed to work with them. At their office a few people are working that are real Agathocles devotees. With their label and sublabel they prove they are also interested in and respect the underground.
There's also a track in Japanese on the new record. Where did that idea come from?
It was an idea of Jan. In the youth house in Geel where we come often, and were we did the release show of the album, the DJ was often playing an obscure Japanese song with the title 'Kurose'. We kind of liked it and let us inspire by that song, wrote new lyrics (with help from Japanese fans) and new music, and so the song was born. Besides that it's a special song for all our Japanese fans.
The intro to the track 'Diary Of White Trash' is taken from a recent, controversial episode of US success series "The West Wing" - which briefly mentions Belgium's infamous right-wing party Vlaams Belang. Can you tell us what inspired the band to write the song in particular, besides the fact that VB tried to ban said episode.
Don't you think it's a contradiction? VB is preaching that they are banned by the press and TV and that they are for Freedom Of Speech, and in the meanwhile they are trying to ban that episode. Strange, isn't it? We always hated the VB and have written songs about and against them, also with this song. We thought it would be nice to put that as an intro to the song. They try to ban it, we try to spread it.
Tell us what the "Mincer" artwork depicts, as it is quite abstract this time around.
The artwork on the front is an abstract version of a mincer, a meat wheel. In the booklet you find some pictures related to the songs (for example a victim of Hiroshima, dead USA soldiers,...)
The new record was recorded at Soundshape Studios (Last Days Of Humanity, Suppository) in Schaffen. Have you ever considered recording at studios like Excess Studios, Rotterdam or CCR, Zulte - they have far more experience with extreme metal?
More experience? They are hyped, that's everything! I puke on the nowadays metal attitude: "that band has got a good review, they recorded in that studio, so now we also have to record there". Since the early beginning we worked with Frans @ the Soundshape Studio, and most of the older albums have also been recorded there. Frans is breathing Agathocles, so why change the team? When you write bad songs, they won't sound well if you record them in a 'big' studio.
Quite some time prior to this new record long-time drummer Burt Beyens formally stepped down behind the kit. In a statement that followed "ideological and musical differences" was given as explanation for his departure. Can you elaborate a bit on that?
Well, he left the band quite soon after the release of "Superiority Overdose" in 2002. I'm playing drums in Agathocles now for almost 4 years. Why did he leave? Also a guess to me. Why do married people divorce? I think you can compare it with that.
Agathocles' discography is incredibly extensive and varied, it seems when you're not touring, you're either recording and/or releasing new material. Has this pace ever resulted in material you're not 100% satisfied with?
I think everyone has his personal favourites. For example a while ago we recorded an oi-song. We got many reactions on it: people loved or hated it. If we make a song there is a reason for it, so no apologies for that.
Are there any releases that have become collectors items among your fanbase?
Split 7"s are the collectors for many people, 'cause of the bands we have shared a split with, or for the limitation of those releases. For now the AGX/Riek Boois (the first 7"), the AGX/Worship (only 30 copies survived a fire) and the AGX/Nasum (probably 'cause of Nasum) are the most searched releases. If you have one of those (or all): feel lucky!
Whenever a new European grind act releases an demo/album/EP- somehow there's always an Agathocles cover to be found. How's the feeling to have inspired so many bands the world over?
It's great of course, a real honour! Mostly they cover the songs better then the original, lol.
In the early days most punk, hardcore and grind bands were socially/politically aware. A lot that changed in the early and mid-nineties when the genre boomed - resulting in more gore/porn oriented outfits. Not only that but some even are preaching facism, intolerance, sexism, homophobia, etc. What's your opinion on that change over the years?
It's sad, really sad. It's also the reason why we call ourselves Mince-Core, we won't have anything to do with those kind of grindbands. On our new album we wrote some songs about that matter: for example 'Goredom - Boredom'. Punk and the genres coming out of it (hardcore, grind,...) was socially and politically aware, it's bad many people are abusing it just for easy profit. I always compare it with wrestling: you have the ancient Greek wrestling: a sport. And you also have American (show and fake) wrestling. The first one is sport, the last one entertainment. Just the same with what is happing with the scene nowadays.
You've been into political grind since 1985 yet you never seemed to have reached the pinnacle of success that some Belgian extreme metal acts reached that came long after you. Has this underdog position strengthened the band over the years?
Agathocles has always chosen the long hard road. Many of the bands you speak of, reached their success, earned easy money and split up. I'm not calling names but some of those bands a few years ago you could speak with them at shows, buy their records cheap at a distro. Now they have a star-mentality and you have to buy their records in big records stores for a big price. Agathocles has never chosen for easy success on the back of their fans and besides of the band we still have to work to earn our money, but so what?! Are the bands you talk about covered that much?
The band has always been very active in and around the underground scene. If I'm informed correctly, in the early days there was the usual tape trading, writing fanzines, communication with people around the world etc. These days some members are also giving punk/hardcore and DIY workshops to youth, writing scene-related and political articles. Is there any reason why you are doing this, besides the obvious educational reasons?
Of course, for educatonional reasons.
During gigs Agathocles always has had the tendency to explain the lyrics. Are you still doing that to this day?
You hear many things on radio and tv, and you read many things in the papers. Always one sided information. We are doing efforts to show our fans the other side of the information they normally get. Besides that you can't always understand our lyrics, so it's important to explain them.
As far as touring is concerned, is there anything lined up that we should be aware of? Will there be extensive touring in support of the new record and will you visit Poland?
Because of our busy personal lives (everyone has a job and families), we won't tour extensive and probably play only stand-alone shows. Probably we'll play one show a month. For now shows are booked in Belgium, France and Italy and we are talking for shows in Germany, Greece and Poland.
Agathocles is the name of an ancient Greek tyrant who sacrificed his own children to obtain power. Tell us how this name is relevant to what the band has been doing over nearly two decades now.
Agathocles was a democratic elected leader, who smashed the whole aristocracy and then became a tyrant himself. I think you can compare us a band with the fact that we are also (in our own small easy way) to smash or harm the nowadays tyrant leaders in society.
Thanks a lot for time. If there's anything else you want to add to conclude this interview, here's the space...
Well, thanx for your support! Be sure to check our new album "Mincer", and hopefully until one of our next shows (in Poland?)!
Band info:
Site: www.agathocles.com
Info/booking: roel_agathocles@hotmail.com
