Franz from Myteri was so kind and brought a package from Danne at Halvfabrikat and then I realized that I never interviewed Myteri. Said and done and here is the result and it was done in late November 2018

 

A little story about the group?

-We started at the end of 2013. Already in 2014 we went out on our first European tour together with Norwegian Agenda. It was then Mattias joined the band and replaced a guy named Joe. Before that, we released our first ep The Silent Death. The following year we released our first self-titled full length. Then more touring followed. Then split a seveni9nch with Born From Slaughter from Macedonia. 2017 came our second album called Ruiner. Between the records we have toured and played as much as we can. In 2018 Mattias jumped off and in writing we are trying new guitarists. Nobody can replace Matte but we hope and soon we will have a new member in our family.

 

Tell us a little about each member, age, job, family, band before and band on the side?

-I'm Franz, 38 years old. Has a small family consisting of girlfriend, bonus boy, three cats and a dog. Job as a jeweler. I play bass in the band.

Erik, 34, plays drums and works in home care. He likes retro tv games, magic cards and has a faiblesse for power violence. Dislike cats unfortunately.

Johan, plays a guitar. 36 years old. He has a daughter but no cats . He likes to bike, photograph and explore abandoned places. He has a lot of commitment to the band and puts a lot of time, sweat and tears on keeping the boat running. Thank you Johan.

Our singer John also has a small family with a daughter and a partner. He also has no cats yet. He is the youngest with his 30 years. He loves retro tv games, hipsterbeer and slow music.

 

I can hear a lot of hardcore, both heavy and fast dito, do I hear correctly? Was it better back in time?

-This is correct, especially on the first record. The second record is probably a little less HC-influenced. But that's just my opinion. Well, it was not better before, just a little different now.

 

Myteri, are you satisfied with the name ?! If the best band name had not been taken, if you had chosen name, would you have chosen? I mean which is the best band name? Or funniest?

-So, we are happy with the name. Otherwise we would have changed. Best band name ... it's hard but I've always liked Krimtänk. It is well in the mouth and the reference to 1984 is unbeatable.

 

What's the best thing about playing live?

-It's a kick. You get energy and you give energy. We simply love it. You can come and look around and get new friends and see bands you might have missed.

 

Where is the best to play, where is the worst?

-Hard question. Worst, I do not want to say that any place is. Everything has its charm. We have some places that are really good to come back to. Some personal favorites are Prague, Leipzig, Copenhagen, Athens. Just to name a few.

 

How is it to play this kind of punk in Sweden today? Is it hard to rehearse as I understand you live in different cities?

-But as it's now, I'm the one not living in the Gbg area. I live in Falköping, but I'll come and reharse anyway. We have a really good rehearsalroom in Hisingen. We enjoy it.

 

How would you describe your music in three words?

-Fast, hard, melodious

 

What does punk mean to you, is it just a word or is it a lifestyle?

-It's a lifestyle. It permeates everything I do and my interests. D.I.Y think, politics, eating habits, literature, etc. It's not just music, it's a community outside society. A huge community. I can go almost anywhere and be sure I can get someone who has a sofa to sleep on and have a meal over. You have learned solidarity and to help and care for each other in ways that do not exist outside the punkscene.

 

How do you look at downloading, mp3 and the like?

-Great. Then people who not afford to buy a disc can listen to us too. You can download all the recordings for free at myteriswe.bandcamp.com

 

How do you think it's to live in Sweden today, politically? So after the election  when SD got over 18%? What do you think will happen in Sweden?

-What's going to happen, I do not know. But SD have destroyed so much. They have paved the way for organized Nazis. They have managed to change the mindset of so many people. More than ever, racists, fewer people trust the media, and do not question conspiracytheories and pure lies. What's written on Facebook seems to be more reliable than public service. Even established parties take care of their racist ideologies. Humanity is slowly changing to egoism. SD can go to hell and everyone who votes on them can go there too.

 

Are there any good bands in Sweden today? In your hometown, you have different cities you live in ?

- There are a lot of bands in Sweden today! Gothenburg is crowded by punk bands. To name a few: Coma Asociala, Fredag den 13:e, Strul, Contorture, Protestera and many, many more. In Falköping there is Dystra Li who plays some kind of pop punk, Kardborrebandet that plays trallpunk and Mähälium who also plays trallpunk.

 

Do you play anything outside Sweden? You have been on a tour a while ago?

-We do not play much in Sweden. This year we have only made a single Swedish gig At Fraggelberget in Gothenburg. This year we have been touring in Greece and Germany. Then we have done a couple of festival gig in the Czech Republic and Germany. We have been touring at least a couple of times a year since 2014.

 

Other good bands from abroad?

-A lot of them! I'm just taking a few examples. Procrastinate from Greece, Exilent from Germany, Äppärätus from Malaysia, Agenda from Norway, Link (not playing anymore) from Belgium, Disease from Macedonia ... And of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg, I can go on all day. These are just some of the amazing bands we've played with.

 

Your lyrics, what are you influenced by? Never in a language other than Swedish? Is it important to have lyrics on recoreds etc when playing a bit tougher music so people really hear what you are singing about?

-We are influenced by the world around us. We have songs about SD, about endometrios, about children who are ill, about refugees who risk their lives to get to Europe, about the environment etc. We have a couple of songs in English, otherwise only Swedish. Texts are always good to bring along. We want people to know what we are trying to say. The texts are very important to us. We are a political band and we have something to say.

 

Is there anything you will never write about?

-I do not know .. but there no damn songs about going fishing anyway!

 

Politics and music, does it always belong?

-Maybe not always, but for us they do. We are acting in a political scene. It is important to us.

 

Best political band / artist?

-For me, it is clearly Conflict. Love that band. They have learned me so much and affected me and my whole life. For example, I have not eaten meat for over 20 years thanks to their lyrics and dedication!

 

Do you think music can change someone's life, then I mean lyrics etc?

-Undoubtedly. As I wrote in the last question, Conflict has had a major impact on me. And not only of course, of course, there are many bands that influenced my life and inspired me. Ebba Grön, Asta Kask, Extreme Noise Terror, Doom, Refused, Warzone just to take some examples from my youth.

 

Your cover is really cool on your records, the latest reminds me about Amebix, who has done it. Is it important to have a cover so you understand what kind of music you play?

-It is made by Sasha Voss, Written In Black. I do not think it's important that the envelope reflects the music. How a crust album looks, has changed quite a lot over the years. There are trends in it like everything else.

 

Is it important to get out physical discs? Vinyl or CD or both and? Is there any good record store in your vicinity? You release records yourself on your own company tell me about it? What have you released?

-It is good with vinyl !! I like that we have our records both as cd and vinyl. Me and my mate Mika give out records on our little label, Dark Elk Vinyl. We have so far released: Society's Decline - s / t 7 "Adrestia - The Art of Modern Warfare LP Makabert Fynd - Systemkollaps LP Adacta - Zlo LP Society's Decline - No More On The Shoulder of the World LP. It´s more on it´s way.

 

Please tell me something really fun that happened during your career on stage or behind stage etc?

-I do not know if we are so funny .. We are quite calm of us. Certainly we can be drunk and someone in the band likes hanging on the trams, but we have no major scandals to tell about us.

 

How is your audience looking like? Which type of people comes? Do you miss any kind of people? Or are all those you want to come already on the concert?

- It's usually the most crusties in the audience. No wonder because we play crust. Of course we want everyone who likes punk, HC and harder music to like us. As we belong to the D.I.Y scene, we do not get that much further than that. We can hardly be heard on P3 if I say so.

 

Please rank five favorite discs, five favorite concerts?

-Okay. Most personal and it is also changing from day to day. But right now it looks like this. Five records, without order, both full lengths and seven: Adacta - Zlo Doom - Police Bastard Conflict - The Final Conflict Crass - Christ, the album Asta Kask - Historien dömer oss alla

Five concerts I remember with joy: Iron Maiden at Ullevi 2008 (I think). Doom, Fatal Females and Totalitär in Eldslandet 1996. The first time I saw Tolshock on Eldslandet. Also in the late 90's. Levellers at Pustervik the latest time. A band I listened to in the  late teens and finally I saw them! Nasum at Hultsfred. Around 2000 I think? So damn good.

 

Is it boring with interviews? Will there be a lot like this when you are on a tour?

-It's really fun! I like interviews. There are seldom any interviews when we are on a tour. And that's probably lucky because not always so sober when we're out.

 

If you could choose five bands from history,dead and alive to have a concert with your band, what are the dreambands then?

-It's enough to reunite Crass, so I'm happy.

 

Is music a great way to get frustration and become a nicer person? Are you angrier today than you were as young punks?

-It's my valve. Not just to play , also to spending time with my friends in the band. It's fucking important! I think my friends inspire me to try to be as good as I can, rather than the music. I'm definitely angry now! Even more, I would say. Life, government, politicians and capital spit one in the face every day. You go to work and struggle like a damn slave. We give away most of our awake time and get small crumbs for the inconvenience. We are so damn cheated. It will be a lot worser every year. Of course I'm angry! I'm stuck in the damn squirrel wheel. But I am also a much calmer person today and can channel my anger and do something positive with it.

 

What is the strangest question you received in an interview? Or are there no strange questions?

- Did a fun interview with a zine from Slovakia once. There were some odd questions with a lot of black humor. For example, if I prefer Star Wars or Star Trek. How I answered you can guess yourself

 

What is the question you never get, ask it and answer it?

-What do you think of Per Gessle? We hate him with all our heart. Such damn meneless, lousy music. Everyone who likes Per Gessle should be ashamed. He is surely a nice person, but he should never start playing the guitar. Even less write songs.

 

Future plans for the band?

-First and foremost, we will have a new guitarist. We try with some now. Next year we will go out and play a little. We have a couple of bookings ready and some plans for tours.

 

For yourself?

-Do as much as I can for myself and my loved ones. Try to go on more gigs.

 

Words of wisdom?

-Fight war not wars

 

Something to add?

-Thanks for the interview!