BrainDead is a belgian young band which really tocuhed my heart with their really good punkrock. Check them out here in this interview which was done april 2024 and check them out on their Facebook

Tell me the short or the long story how you did come together as a band?

-Lode and Ben wanted to start a band thanks to boredom and frustrations during covid-19. Lode already played guitar and Ben started playing bass but they still needed a drummer. They hung up a flyer at the local guitar store with the call for a drummer. Along came Sverre and said he was a drummer and wanted to join. The first time they met they talked about their favourite bands and such. A week later they had their first rehearsal in the attic of Sverre’s house.

.Have it always been the same members? Tell me a little about every member, age, work and something bad about every one.

-Yes it has always been the same members.

Lode: 20, Guitar and vocals. Often forgets stuff

Ben: 19, Bassist and (backing) vocals. Is often late

Sverre: 17, Drummer. Procrastinates a lot

Do you have any other bands on the side of Braindead?

-No.

How is the punkscene living on in Belgium right now?

- It’s there if you know where to look. Three yearly big punk events with famous punk bands like the Exploited, GBH, Casualties, etc.

When you started to play, did you do your own songs at once or did you start with some covers, if you did which covers did you played then and do play any covers nowadays?

-We started with our own songs as soon as possible. We didn’t have enough songs to fill a gig so we played some covers in-between. The covers were Blitzkrieg bop, Molly’s Lips, The girl next door, Reckless abandon, Seventeen.

I hear that you have influences of many style of punkrock etc? Favoritpunkstyle?

-Street-punk, pop-punk, skate-punk & hardcore.

I got thirteen demo songs from you, any plans to release them on vinyl/CD etc?

-We are planning to release an album soon on CD but they need to get mastered first.

What does punk mean to you , is it only music or is it a life style?

-It’s both for us. You can’t make punk music without knowing about the ideology or it’s meaning.

Is there any good punkbands around in Belgium right now?

-Yes!!! Funeral Dress, The Kids, Belgian associality are some of our favourites.

Do you have any Swedish favorites?

-Yes! Stoned, No fun at all & Stuck in traffic(from Switzerland?).

Have you been here and played anytime?

-No but we would love to.

Is it many interviews?

-No but we did our first at a local radio station and one for a local newspaper. We also were mentioned a few times in the regular newspaper.

How did the name came up? And why a name as Braindead which many bands before already have been called Which is your favoritbandname alltime?

-Our name came up from the frustration about the youth of this age copying each other and being afraid of being unique thus copying each other like braindead people. At the time we didn’t know or care that it has been used multiple times. We don’t have a favourite band name.

Could you feel that you have released a record if you only put it out digitally?

-No that’s why we are planning to bring it out on CD

Do you buy much records yourself? Do you have any recordstore left in your hometown?

-We do have a vinyl record store in our town but most of the music can be found online although Sverre has some tapes and Ben & Lode have some vinyl’s laying around.

Are you listening to any other music than punk? Any band you really like but you “shouldn´t” like?

-Lode: I also like trap and rap stuff (Lil Peep, Bloodhound gang)

Ben: Sometimes listens to Belgian/Dutch rap, but not the drill stuff.

Sverre: I like a lot of styles like hard-rock, bebop, hardcore metal,

Which is your personal BrainDead favoritesong and which is the audience’s choice?

-Lode: Probably This place sucks, it’s one of our newer songs wich is mainly the reason

Ben: Burn the rich, because it’s one of our heaviest songs

Sverre: Asleep is one of my favorites because it has a lot of punch to it. The fan-favorite will probably be Sick of it all.

Which is….

-the album which make you wanna do music and play yourself?

-the album which is the reason that Braindead sounds like you do?

-the album you have been playing/singing on, I mean any other bands classic record?

-the album you must have in the tourbus

-the album which was the first you ever bought?

-the album you´re ashamed of that you own but you like anyway?

Lode: After I heard Nirvana’s Nevermind I wanted to start playing guitar and be in a band someday. Selftitled by Blink-182 was the first album I bought

Ben: My favourite album of all time is Dude Ranch by Blink-182; Mark Hoppus inspired me to buy a bass and get in a band.

We don’t sound like we do because of an album but more so by the fusion of multiple influences listed above. We don’t have an album we’re ashamed of.

How is it to live in Belgium right now, political, bad economy, racists etc?

-It’s shitty because our politics is a circus and the biggest clown is our leader. There will be elections soon so everything might change at least we hope.

If you have the chance to rule Belgium for a week, which have been the first thing you have been changed?

-We will tax the rich and if they won’t comply perhaps we might burn them

Do you think that politics should be in music? Which is your most political song?

-Yes, because it’s a very good way to be heard. Our most political song is either Burn the rich or Slave of society.

Best political band/artist?

-The Casualties, because they have some very good and strong arguments.

You sing mostly in English, why not in your own language? Is it easier to write songs in English?

-It’s not easier to write songs in English but more people will understand what you say

Do you have any new songs on it´s way?

-Yes we have a few new songs which we already play live, but they’re not recorded yet, and will be for the next album.

Please tell me a little about the following songs?

-Delirum

-Slave of Society

-Asleep

Delirium: It’s about having relationship problems with a girl to the point where you can’t stand to live with yourself.

Slave of society is about being forced to work for a living, if you don’t play by the rules you’ll end up in the gutter.

Asleep: Its about insomnia

Future plans for the band?

-We plan on making more music, because after all it’s the thing we like to do the most.

For your self?

-Lode: Keep on working and making music, also making sure to keep happiness in my life. Ben: I would like to keep making music as long as possible. Sverre: I would like to make a living