Scavengers Circle is a two-man band that really lets us understand that it is possible to sound a lot with just two members with their loud music. The interview was done in February 2020.

A little history of the group?

-We previously played in a band called Suffer the Pain. Last year it was put it on ice but Luka and I wanted to continue so we do things by ourselves and did a bunch of songs that we finally recorded on a Saturday in December. We recently released that recording on CD and digital, which is where we are now.

Tell us a little about each member, age, job, family, band before and band before? Only two members but so much sound?

-Luka: I come from Croatia, and have been living in Sweden for couple of years now. Before Scavengers Circle and Suffer the Pain I played guitar and screamed in the croatian band Augen Fliegen.

Johan: In addition to the above mentioned STP, I has also played in Slaktrens, Fromtheashes and a lot of other bands that nobody has heard of.

Regarding the sound we are damn happy with it on the record (thanks for that Jonas, Studio 7.2) but it would certainly be difficult to recreate it live with just the two of us, although I think we (Luka) got a really heavy sound in the rehearsalroom also with paired amplifiers and pedals and all that it is.

I can hear very old crust and small ounces of metal, I hear right? Was it better in the past?

-Yes, crust and old metal I hope you can hear traces of. We play a mix of what we listen to and like ourselves.

Some things were better in the past and some things are better now.

Scavengers Circle, are you happy with the name? How did this come up! If not the best band name had been taken, which band name would you have chosen? I mean which is the best band name?

-It was intended as the title of a forthcoming album that was not made with Suffer the Pain. We thought it felt good as a band name so we took it.

It's a little tricky to come up with new band names now otherwise. Wheat fuck which is the best band name .. preferably I think it should be a word only. Amebix is ​​a neat name for example.

What's the best thing about playing live? Or don't you play live with just two members?

-No, nothing like that for us yet. Would probably have to be at least one more then. We will see what happens. At the moment it is difficult but it would be damn fun if we could get to it in the future.

How would you describe your music in three words ?

- Listen, judge for yourself.

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

-It is definitely more than just a word. From the beginning you just thought it was tough music but the whole DIY thing and everything around it is a big part of it.

How do you see on downloads, mp3s and the like?

-Do not mind it even though it is fucking much more fun with records. But it is good (but also a little less exciting) that music has become more easily accessible.

How do you think living in Sweden today is, politically?

-It feels like it is going to go the downward way, although it is obviously much more comfortable here than in many other places.

Are there any good bands in Sweden today? In your hometown?

-Yes there are plenty of good bands, but Västerås is perhaps not the world's hottest city on that front. Maybe not on so many other fronts either.

Do you play anything outside Sweden?

- No live gigs at all, so far unfortunately.

Other good bands from abroad?

-Yes, there are a lot of them.

Just saw something about a new7 inch with Black Panda to name a few. They are damn good so it has to be bought.

Just stumbled across Neverending Winter from Siberia as well. Don't usually be the world's biggest fan of black metal but they sounded damn good and there seems to be some crust in the mix there as well.

Your texts, what influences you? Never in a language other than English? Short texts and has Greta given you the strength to write the title song?

-No it has become English straight off. Feels like it fits best for some reason. Then it is also the language we talk to each other when Luka comes from Croatia and we have easier to understand what the other is talking about in English than our mother language. Greta seems very ambitious and does much more than we do to improve things, but we probably can't give her cred for any texts unfortunately. Have we managed to bake in some unconscious Gretar reference in our lyrics? (Just kidding with this /Editor)

Is there anything you will never write about?

-You should never say never, but we probably won't saddle up to porngrind or similar in the near future it feels like.

Politics and music, does it always belong together ?

-No, it doesn't have to do that at all, but to us it feels more sensible to shout about something related to reality than about rags and trolls. I made a text about Mad Max for some STP song when I was a little too much into the movies I came up with now.

Best political band/artist?

-Of these bands you think of as "typically political" I like, for example, Oi Polloi and Dropdead a lot. I also love Active Minds.

Tom Morello's solothings have been spinning quite a bit lately too (not a super fan of the fastest songs though).

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

-Not our texts maybe, but overall I think so. There are many texts that have got one to think about things.

Your cover is really cool on your CD, who did it. Is it important to have a cover that you understand what kind of music you are playing? What is your favorite cover of all time?…

-I am the one who drew, rather than good maybe, but I think it works for the record.

Actually, it would be a bit more fun with something that stands out a little more maybe but you want it at the same time to match the music. Hard to say anything individual favorite cover but I think for example that Stiv from Visions of War makes damn good stuff. Collage I generally like too. Luka would like to mention Roky Erickson - Gremlins have pictures.

Is it important to get physical records? Vinyl or CD or both and? Is there any good record store in your area left?

-Yes, it is more fun with physical discs of course, but really it is not the most important thing in the world what format the music comes in. There are a couple of recordstores left in town.

Please rank your five favorite records, five favorite concerts?

- Hard, but I'm trying. Some records that always go home:

Bad Religion - No control

Wolfpack - Lycanthro punk

Napalm Death - Scum

Thåström - difficult to choose which one but I say Skebokvarnsvägen.

Code 13 - A part of America died today

Misery - From where the sun never shines is also a record worth worshiping.

Discharge you would like to bring, too, and Mob 47, and Anti Cimex, and Gyllene Tider, Totalitär maybe, and Terrorizer. No, this was difficult as I said.

Has damn bad memory when it comes to gigs, but both Napalm Death (at Café 44 when it was now) and Thåström probably have to end up on that list as well. Tau Cross I was a bit obsessed with and they were sick well live but both their records and the memory of the gig were pretty much ruined when it came to light that "The Baron" is apparently a really damn idiot. Sad.

Is it boring with interviews ?

- No, that's no problems.

Is music a good way to get out frustration and become a kinder person? Are you angrier today than you were as a young punk?

-It can certainly be good that way. It probably won't hurt to knock some drums if you are a little grumpy about something, for example, but it's not something I usually think of. But I would like to think that we are pretty good figures anyway, although there is much to be angry about.

What is the strangest question you received in an interview?

-This is the first interview to be answered about this band, but the most strangest so far must probably be the Greta coupling. (Hehe / Editor)

Anyone pay you to release an ep with five cover songs, which five would you have chosen?

-Covers are fun I think, but hard to choose. Ideally, it should be something that in the original vintage does not sound super like what you yourself do with. Crustband that covers Discharge may not feel exaggerated for example.

There is, on the other hand, some kind of electronic cover on State violence .. which I listened to a lot before. Sounded a bit like the Atari Teenage Riot for me. I liked it. Sepultura's version of Black Sabbath - Symptoms of the Universe is also good. And Misery's New Model Army cover is pretty good. Not the right answer to the question, maybe, but ..

Future plans for the band?

-We are too full to do new songs. Then it would be fun to increase the number of members a little and be able to run a gig or two in the future. Otherwise, we just go on like now, it's fun and more or less vital to make music in one way or another.

For yourself?

-It's rolling on well you have to hope.

Words of wisdom?

-No I don't know, a little common sense probably takes you a long way.

Something to add?