Gruuthaagy Interview Interview by Joselito, Answered by Kktz, Done January 28, 2004 thru email Hello Boris Milakovic a.k.a. kktz, how's GRUUTHAAGY now? Well, I am ok right now; I got few days off my shitty job in constructions so I am working on my DIY activities a lot. Good times for GRUUTHAAGY too, lot's of things going on. Soon should be out split tape with F2RC (USA) on new Arma's (Infected by dementia zine, Lithuania) tape label and some collaboration CDr with ZH27 from USA, too. Also some cool compilation appearances, etc... And I am looking for interested labels to help me to put out some new demos I am now working on; Panonian Witchcraft (black noise ambience inspired with pre-christian heathen Balkan), Hell Rising Distort Cult (d-takt cyber crust goat assault), Mental Masakr (more of experimental techno grind insanity). Very busy as you see. Also I have new GRUUTHAAGY web site with MP3s, art galleries, etc... So check it out - http://www.gruuthaagy.tk. It's look like that GRUUTHAAGY is too busy right now and you have a split project with F2RC. What kind of band is this and tell us more about this project. well, actually I didn't heard F2RC yet, as it is Arma (Infected by Dementia zine) from Lithuania who is doing this tape, so it will be very interesting for me to hear that split tape when it comes out. Here's what Arma says about F2RC "he does some weird electro stuff with lots of samples and beat and I thought that its good for a split with Gruuthaagy", and I believe his judgment. But I already did split tape with croatian cybergrind project GIHTSHASIE and I can say something about that - insane, nihilistic, evil noise assault that will blow your mind for sure!!! In making a split project, do you only prefer in a noise band only or are you willing to split with other type of bands like ska, oi punk, punk rock band etc.? hmmm, I think it will be interesting to split with band that's not in same music genre. in a way I consider gruuthaagy to be punk band, not in traditional music sense but in it's attitude. so why not splitting with more traditional punk bands? anything goes as long as it is something I respect. but usually it's noisy bands that are interested, and I think some "normal" bands are afraid of doing split releases with us - weird noise freaks, he he he. if I am wrong feel free to contact me and maybe we can work something out. also, I wrote that I don't find today's hc/punk scene as inspiring as before, but I know that there's lots of great bands in "third world" and poor eastern european countries today, and they sure don't get enough worldwide attention as they deserve. honestly, I think it's where the real fresh and rebellious blood of hc/punk is now. being active in such harsh conditions actually means something, and that's why I especially welcome poor punks to unite, no matter what music style they prefer. if there is no communication underground is dead. How's the noise scene there in Croatia? Is there also some other noise band like GRUUTHAAGY? Well, Croatia's noise scene is very small. Lately it seems that only KARMAKUMULATOR is active. Igor from KARMAKUMULATOR is my good friend And supporter and he also made that GRUUTHAAGY site for me. He's also in cybergrind noise band GIHTSHASIE with whom GRUUTHAAGY just released an totally evil, cybergore audio terrorist split tape on our new label Called NOIZE INKVIZITION REKORDZ. You should check out Igor's sites too; CARPE DIEM! RECORDS [little Croatian underground cdr/tape label] - www.carpediemrecords.tk and KARMAKUMULATOR [experimental noise project from split Croatia] - www.karmakumulator.tk. I think it's all about Croatian noise / core scene right now. Do you have any other band than GRUUTHAAGY or it's the same also which is called one man band? I have been in lots of underground bands so far, here are just some of them; T.R.B.U.H. (tribal noisecore), ANTITUDE (anarcho peace punk), NONSENSE (crusty grind/noise), SENSELESS (hardcore crust grind), DISLIKE (crust core punk, now they play without me - and more grindy lately), BEER SYSTEM (metalish hc/crust, I just left them but I think they will continue without me, too), etc... right now I still sing in FIGHT BACK - anarchist working class hardcore crust punk. Do you agree that noise band is a joke band? What is your view about these comments? to be honest I don't like most of pure joke noise bands and projects. but I do like some humor in it, like SORE THROAT used to do great sarcastic noise core shit. noise is free; you can make it the way you want it to be. humorous, artistic, even political. those who think that all noise is just a joke are nothing but conservative close minded bigots; they should stay in mainstream pop rock consumerism anyway, as they obviously don't understand what underground is all about. if they don't like something it doesn't mean that it is all crap. it's very un-intelligent way of looking at things, isn't it? Have you been play live already? (If yes, when and where?) hah! GRUUTHAAGY had only one serious live appearance so far, in 12 years of existence! last year GRUUTHAAGY opened for two hardcore/punk bands here in Pozega and it was very interesting, as people are not used to such things at here. I may do more shows in future, we will see. and as I you see it doesn't be only with noise artists, it may be at hc/punk, underground techno, whatever gigs. that way it's even more shocking/exciting I think. No rules! You said that GRUUTHAAGY play live already. How's the reaction of the audience? well, it was quite small gig, maybe 40-50 people showed, most of them being people I already know. they say they liked it, and I don't have reason not to believe 'em coz they even applause me after the show (I guess it's not something that happens to noise bands usually, he he). even friends who are not into extreme music at all said to me that it was good. but I wonder what will happen if I play in front of some other audience. so, hope to find out soon. Is this their first time in Croatia to see in live a noise band like GRUUTHAAGY? Or there is some noise band too who also performed live? here in Pozega, yes, probably the first band that's has real harsh noise in it's sound. but again, my sound is not total noise, there's some music to it too. and we have seen some extreme bands here in Pozega and croatia, maybe not that extreme as gruuthaagy, but grind/noise and experimental stuff. also, noise project KARMAKUMULATOR has played some gigs around here, and I am sure there were more noise artists playing live at croatia. not too often and it's not something that people are really used too, but no, I am not the first either. What do you think is the difference of GRUUTHAAGY to other noise band or how do you compare GRUUTHAAGY to other noise band? first ten years it was like very lo fi total noise kind of thing. home made instruments, half broken tape recorders and stuff. and I always experimented a lot, not trying to clone anyone. now, since I started with digital way of making it, it's even more diverse and I don't feel like I am should be labeled as pure noise thing. there are a lot of other influences, too. From hc/punk/crust/grind, over progressive techno/gabba or deep ambiental darkness, to even some weird pop parody. I think that's the main difference between GRUUTHAAGY and others bands/projects. I am open to everything, making my own thing, not trying to fit any cliche or scene. and I like to call it musick, as it really is, he. also, it should be stated that there's visual section of GRUUTHAAGY called BRUT ART, like drawings, comics, other art works that are all part of the same thing. as you see, not just one media either. you should see my art works to understand more about what GRUUTHAAGY really is - http://gruuthaagy.tk. Who influenced you to formed a band like GRUUTHAAGY, do you have also some fave noise band from Croatia or outside Croatia. at first, I was inspired with early noise-core and industrial bands, from 80's or before. later I have heard lots of other interesting and original music and today I am inspired by lots of different bands/styles. actually too many to mention, everything that I really enjoy listening is sort of influence to me. but it doesn't have to be underground music only, and I like some folk/ethno music too. anything real, things that make me think too, like anarchism, occult, horror, all subversive art and my daily life before everything! about croatia I just heard another croatian cybergrind project called SHUNT INCISION. check it out - http://shuntincision.cjb.net or http://shuntincision.iuma.com . the same guy also did another gruuthaagy interview that you can read at http://mbms.tomnetweb.com/interviews.php?ititle=GRUUTHAAGY - it's his Web Zine called Motherfucker brutal music spitzine. so I guess our noise/cybergrind scene is growing. Do you put title for every composition you made? yeah, I usually do. I give a lot attention to how I will name my compositions. it's very important to me. By the way, how do you called your masterpiece or your composition. It is songs, tracks, project or what? What about soundscape? Ha ha. Do you have any message for every composition you made or any hidden meaning you want to express? It depends at each composition/demo. sometimes I write lyrics too. it may be very up front and straight in face or totally esoteric or as you say with hidden meaning. once again, no rules, whatsoever. What time you mostly you make your composition? Do you choose time and place or there's no time just only when you inspired to composed. hmmm, I have very time consuming job so I can't make my musick whenever I want. I do it when I have time and night is the period when I feel most inspired. What about the material you are using. Do you use gadget? Or any other instruments to composed or make a noise? as I said, first ten years I used some home made instruments, or things that people don't usually consider to be "instruments", like vacuum cleaner, glasses, etc... now it is computer, some programs like fruity loops, wave lab, etc... but again I experiment a lot, use it and abuse it. I am sorry; I don't even know what gadgets are, ha ha. maybe it's because of my poor english; don't know what gadgets are at Croatian... And also sample noise or voice. Do you also use computer and other audio clip taken from a movie? sure, I use lots of audio samples, from movies too. sometimes I leave it as it is, and sometimes I use samples as another instrument, changing in to a way that fits me. and I use my own voice too. or I make purely instrumental pieces, using only what's there in program. depending on what I want and what I can afford, he. What can you say about NAPALMED from Czech rep. You can say that they are superb in making noise and Radek is really great. Do you have also any fave noise band too or maybe the one who motivate you or inspired to do these things also. I know some older NAPALMED stuff, not sure how it sounds now. but I like a lot his ANOMALOUS SILENCER compilations that came my way. very diverse, interesting and good done compilations. I just don't have enough money to join 'em too. when I started with noise thing it was ATTA and 7 MINUTES OF NAUSEA that inspired me to try with my own shit. and some more traditional industrial noise back than. during all this time I have heard many great, inspiring noise/experimental projects, let's name few - OUTERMOST, BASTARD NOISE, T.U.O.B., END OF SILENCE, HERMIT, HEADBUTT, THE BRAN FLAKES, ZARATHUSTRA, HIDEG RONCS, NOISEGATE, PRAYING FOR OBLIVION, PILLE ALLEIN, DADA JIHAD, EHI, IOMS, M. NOMIZED, MATERIA, also great early stuff like SPK, THROBBING GRISTLE, EISTURZENDE NAUBATEN, etc, etc... there's tons of great noise out there, but to be honest, I don't like every noise project I hear lately. what I really like is something challenging, original and subversive. that's the type of noise that inspires me. What about bands in other type of music i.e. crust, grind, punk, hardcore. Do you listen also with them? I listen a lot of that stuff. actually, I came from 80s hc/punk scene, and I was always looking for most extreme, revolutionary, intense bands. some of my fave bands in this genre are; U.B.R., WRETCHED, NEGATIVE FX, GISM, KAAOS, AMEBIX, BLACK FLAG, CRASS, LARM, E.N.T., NAUSEA, MOB 47, SIEGE, NAPALM DEATH, DISORDER, HELLKRUSHER, SOCIAL GENOCIDE, DOOM, ASSRASH, DECREPIT, FORCA MACABRA, COPROFILIA, RUPTURE, HELLNATION, SPAZZ, INZEST, TOTAL FUCKING DESTRUCTION, EBOLA (uk), STACK, GRIDE, NASUM, POLICE BASTARD, AK47, SATELLITE, etc... I just don't like the trendy part of this scene, as it's not that original and exciting as it was once, I think. or I am too old, he he? What bands do you like? beside harsh noise and extreme hc/punk here are some other names I listen to; KHANATE, LOCUST, ATARI TEENAGE RIOT, SWANS, PSYCHIC TV, FANTOMAS, SCRAWL, MELT BANANA, DISCIPLINA KICME, BATHORY, SKINNY PUPPY, ESOTERIC, TOWPATH, DARK THRONE, GODFLESH, ZENI GEVA, CONRO POTERE, AXEGRINDER, IMPALED NAZARENE, BUTTHOLE SURFERS, GROUND ZERO, RESIDENTS, STOOGES, JESUS LIZARD, BIG BLACK, DEAD PREZ', BAD BRAINS, MUTINY, P.A.I.N., etc... here are some bigger names too, but I get their stuff taped from friends or as MP3s, and don't buy commercial records, they are way too overpriced anyway. Home taping is killing business, yea!!! By the way, do you have already your own family or what are your parents say about what are you doing right now? well, I live with my parents (can't afford with my salary to live on my own anyway, so we have built this house together) and they are already used to it. maybe they don't understand all I do, but they know it's keeping me away from troubles as I have had some serious problems with alcohol abuse in my life. staying home after work and making some PC noise is not that bad after all. and I too think it's better to spent my hard earned money on my diy activities than wasting it on booze or some stupid capitalist products that I don't really need. Do you think until when GRUUTHAAGY will stay and spreading noise? Do you see yourself in 5 - 10 years or more with GRUUTHAAGY or in other band? well, if you consider that gruuthaagy is existing for 12 years now it's obviously part of my life style already, so I believe I will continue with it as long as I can afford, hopefully all my life. but I am not sure about other bands. What do you know about the Philippines? I think it's quite similar to croatia/balkan region even if you are in Asia. I mean you have same problems as we are facing - rich getting richer and poor getting poorer, nationalism and religious fundamentalism, but also very beautiful nature and interesting and colorful culture. definitely one of the places I would like to visit if I have money. about your underground culture I have traded some tapes before and I like Philippine hc/punk/crust/grind bands a lot. my old band SENSELESS even had a split tape with LIE DETECTOR few years ago (I think they are RIP now?). I have heard many great bands from your part of world, not just Philippine, but also Malaysia, South Korea, Indonesia as well. I think you have great and inspiring scene that at the moment is much more interesting than some well known western scenes and trends. keep it real my friends! J - fuckin shit! Well, if I'm not mistaken the label that released the SENSELESS/LIE DETECTOR split was here in the Philippines. Can't recall the name of the label but why I know that? coz I'm the one who play drums on LIE DETECTOR! Well Kktz, I thinks that's for all now. If you have a question you would like to ask feel free. Thanks for the interview. and if you have anything you would like to promote or say go ahead man. bye! I think I have said it all, so thanks a lot for good questions and your support. it's appreciated! if anyone is interested in gruuthaagy check out www.gruuthaagy.tk or get in touch [email protected] ok, all the best to you, your family and friends, NoiseAttack! and all your other activities. non servium.
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