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| photo by Nabbe |
7:10:7 - What up Nabbe, what's popping mang?
You're mostly known as the drummer/songwriter for Blind To Faith since 2008 or so, but have a long history of underground activism behind you including several bands, projects and fanzines.
Mind to do a quick introduction of your history with underground music, and share any reflecting thoughts?
Nabbe - Hey mangz, been a while! Sure thing, I've been playing in bands for about 30 years now. Some of the most well known are probably Insult, Bile/Skullhog, Lifespite, Acid Deathtrip, HSML and of course Blind to Faith. So all over the extreme music spectrum stylewise. I've come in contact with Punk and Metal in my very early teens through one of my old neighbour's and cousin's record collection that exposed me to all those early Combat and Noise records bands. Venom, Hellhammer/Frost, Voivod etc...Mixtapes included MDC, Dead Kennedy's, COC. You know. Later on I was a mulletbanging, pimple popping teenager that went nuts for anything early Earache or Peaceville related. That was my gateway to the likes of Slap a Ham, Dark Empire, Pessimisser and all those more underground 90s recordlabels, plus 90s Hiphop really left a huge impression on me to this day.
Last time we spoke (and drank) in the flesh was during the Coffins / Skullhog tour back in 2012. You played the now-defunct Miroiteire punk squat in Paris' seedy zone, that was a hell of a night.
Any memories from the Skullhog tour? While we're at it, any other interesting tour stories/anecdotes to share?
That tour with Coffins was great. Ever since that tour we try to do at least one show with Coffins when they come over here. The tour was a total blast. We were supposed to tour in support of our 'The Evil Dead', that Will Rahmer ( Mortician) put out through his Redrum records, but it turned out we only had a box of record covers in the mail in time to hit the road. Shit happens I guess. It was cool to play Spain, Portugal and France and get wasted with friends. Good times for sure.
More recently and after several years in the trenches you've been recording the new, long-awaited Blind To Faith record "Unstoppable War" - I've been avoiding preview tracks and just wait for that shit to drop in the mail so I can do some "spontaneos renovation works" while blasting it full volume. How's the recording process been going? You and Vince still write everything? You also enlisted the bassist from Skullhog/Inhume, does he still rock his chain bass strap?
Yeah, Vince and myself are still the main songwriters in order to keep our style as raw as ever. For this record Cedric stepped up to the plate to contribute some riffs and throw around wild leads all over the place, which really enhanced this record. Loek has been in the band ever since Colin's main focus was on Amenra and yes he's still rocking the chain. I'm really pumped on how this record turned out. It was time to do a new album and I think it was worth the damn wait.
At this point BTF have been firmly established as a driving force in heavy and extreme hardcore, receiving praise from such eminent gentlemen as Mike Cheese (from which I actually found about BTF in the first place) and Dwid among many others. All this on the grounds of the first LP alone!
However, from your rather meagre discography and sparse touring I get the feeling you don't rush things too much and just let things play out naturally, and also many of you are busy with other projects. Do you consider BTF your main band today? Is it sometimes too much of a struggle to maintain musical/artistic activities with "mundane" life?
BTF is the kind of band that only moves when it feels like it and now was the time. We've never rushed our writing process and are all very busy individuals playing in tons of different bands, so whenever we crawl from underneath our rocks we try to make it count. Yeah, the first record really got the ball rolling and it still blows my mind Dwid picked us up instantly and released it through his Holy Terror records, since it was intended to be just a demo to try things out. It got picked up really well and I'm honoured some of my favourite musicians (including Mike) were stoked about it. Sure we don't play too often or shit out records every year or whatever, but that's how we roll. I don't consider any of my bands my fulltime band, since I love them all equally and put in the effort each band needs when they need it. Being in multiple bands is a pain in the ass and a constant struggle. I still enjoy it very much though. An outlet and escape from "mundane" life if you will.
How are you dealing with the current confinement situation, with this fucking virus?
We're not gonna get into any conspiracies here though (let the social media leeches suck shit at that... and inject themselves with bleach, ha!) but as a musician it must be a pretty tough blow financially... On a more general note, are you able to sustain any sort of monetary profit from music, artwork/tatto and touring?
Strange times for sure. No bandpractise, no shows, no getting fucked up at bars. That's the way it is now, we just need to stop whining and deal with it. I haven't tattooed in 2 months which absolutely reeks, but I still have work since I also work with people with mental disorders. So I get out of the house to go work my shifts. I still draw a lot of artwork when at home having a beer, so that's cool. Hans from Liar recently started his very own Skateboard company called FX7 SKATES and he asked me to jump on board (get it?) and draw skatedeck art and merch for his deck brand. I'm superstoked about it, since he really digs my stylo and wanted to go for a more punk related thing like Zorlac or Dogtown. Keep your eyes peeled for that shit. Some really sick stuff coming up soon enough.
Did your musical influences evolve over the years? I'm well aware of (and share) your reverence for the almighty GEHENNA, Mobb Deep, and old rotten death like HELLHAMMER, Autopsy, Winter... Do you listen to much new music, or rather tend to touch base with the classics? What kinda stuff have you been blasting lately, any recommendations (old & new)?
My musical influences are still the same and that list is also spot on. Especially Gehenna and Mobb Deep are always on heavy rotation over here. Always. During the writing process of 'Unstoppable War' I listened to mostly 90s Hiphop, so that doesn't affect our sound as a band. Obviously there are no MC's or turntables used on this record, although some violent breakdancing would be nice at our upcoming shows. I listen to a lot of stuff, especially since there's not much to do during this pandemic. There's tons of great new bands and records coming out. Slavemaker from Belgium are easily my favorite new HC/Powerviolence band and Melbourne's Internal Rot just released the most Grinding record in the last 10 years. So look them up if you need your ass beat.
You're a quite brutal drummer, to put it midly. Your style is very primitive, percussive and simple yet very effective. From what I saw and heard you beat the shit out of those things, especially the snare... How challenging is your drumming, does it take a toll on a physical level?
Also, what drove you to drums in the first place? Any favorite skin-beaters to share?
What are the next plans for Blind To Faith and/or your other bands? Any new projects in the works? I guess touring will be on hold for a while obviously, any composing/recording/artwork or other activities on sight?
As far as plans go, all of my bands would like to start playing shows again when this Covid19 shitstorm is over. Lifespite is releasing a discography CD through Bones Brigade records very soon and will be writing a full length and a new split 7". Ronny, Willem (both Lifespite) and I sporadiccaly do some jamming in the vein of early 16 and Unsane to keep ourselves entertained since vocalist Tim lives in Paris. Logically he only comes over when he has shows planned with Lifespite or Reproach. Skullhog is another slow moving beast that is in the excruciating process of writing it's next full length, which will be worth the wait, of course. BTF will be focussing on playing a bunch of savage shows in various countries. No full blown tours, since Vince and I both have kids and are boring fucks that rather get zoinked on the couch than travel this stupid planet for weeks at a time. That train has passed.
Nabbe, thank you for this interview mang. It was nice catching up after all these years.
Any closing words/thoughts/shoutouts/fuck-offs?
Always a pleasure my man. Cheers for your interest and shout outs to your mom.
Blind To Faith @ facebook (official)
Lifespite @ facebook (official)
Skullhog @ facebook (official)
order "Unstoppable War"
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