My name is Marius and I fill the role as one of two guitarists in Torment. So begins this interview with the Danish hardcoregroup Torment. Check them out…it´s worth it….september 2015

Please tell me a little bit history of the group? I know you´re not so old group!

-The band started about four years ago as a side project to another band Jesper (guitar) and Rasmus (drums) had. It didn’t really become a serious project until two years ago. Torment had a few different lineups before this one. I knew Christian (vox) from work and was quite a fan of the first EP they had put out, so I was pretty stoked when he asked me to try out as the new guitarist.

Please tell me a little about every member in the group right now, age, family, work, interests and something bad about everyone? Earlier bands?

-All the guys fit in the 30-32 age bracket. I guess I am the junior of the group at only 24, haha. We’re a varied bunch of people. I go to school, while the others have steady jobs. One is a carpenter, two of them aid the mentally challenged and our drummer is a librarian. Bad things? Well, if being a librarian isn’t bad enough, I don’t know, they’re all really sweet guys. Salt of the earth. Christian farts in to the microphones a lot, but I find that hilarious, so I guess it’s not that bad. Jesper, Rasmus and Christian go way back. They used to be in a really rad punk band together, back in the 90’s. All Occupied, they were called.

I can hear much different influences in your music much and it it hardcore, thrash, punk and oi etc here in your music? Am I right? Favorites from the past?

-Yeah, we draw most of our inspiration from the 90’s hardcore scene. Bands like Snapcase and Strife to name a few.

Torment are you satisfied with the name? How did it came up?You weren´t afraid that some band have taken it before you? Is there any deeper meaning with it? Which is the best bandname you know? 

-The name was decided upon long before I joined the group, so I don’t really know where it came from, but it is quite descriptive of the sound and the themes the band deals with. I know for a fact that there are a bunch of other bands called Torment out there, but I’m pretty sure no one holds the copyright so no problem. As for my favorite band name? I don’t know, Bongzilla always cracks me up.

What´s the best thing with playing live? 

-The energy of the crowd. We have some amazing fans that always give it their all. The crazier they go, the crazier we go, and the other way around. 

And where is best to play? And the worst place?

-Hard to say. It’s really a case by case thing. Anywhere the bookers and promoters have their shit in order, things tend to turn out well. Worst places are the venues with crooked management or pissed off soundguys. You should always be nice to the sound technician, because it’s his efforts that decide whether or not you’re going to sound good.

How is to play this sort of music in denmark right now? Which types of bands do you have concerts together with?

-There’s a lot of thing happening in the scene right now. Lots of new bands emerging. Post Hardcore was where it was at a year back, but that trend seems to be dying out now and the less polished sound going into style again. We play mostly with other punk and Hardcore bands. We just played two shows with Sons of Death Valley, and they are cool as fuck! The No Go Girls and Czar as well, really cool people.

How would you describe your music in three words?

-Real Copenhagen Hardcore, haha.

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

-To me it is a lifestyle, or a frame of mind, that shapes the music. DIY ethos and positive mental attitude is, in my opinion, what makes real punk.

   
How do you see on downloading, mp3 and that stuff?

-Well there are upsides and downsides to it. On one hand it makes it a lot harder to scrape together a living as a musician. But on the other hand it makes your art much more available to people. Unsigned bands today have a huge exposure through the internet compared to the days of cassette tapes. Maybe you’re not supposed to capitalize on your music either. It could be a liberation really.

How is it to live in Denmark now? Politically?

-It’s definitely getting harder if you are poor, unemployed or an immigrant. The wealthy are having a blast, as always, and the middle class is mostly indifferent. We recently had an election, which gave us a right wing government again. Not that the center-left is much better. Welfare programs are being slashed while military spending is increasing. Something truly is rotten in the state of Denmark.

 
Is there any good bands from Denmark now? Is the punkscene big? How is it in your hometown?

-There are lots of good bands these days. Apart from the ones I mentioned earlier, I can really recommend EVRA, Forever Unclean and WAYL.

What do you know about Sweden? What is typical Swedish?

-Not an awful lot, I’m afraid. The people seem nice and our two nations have a lot of history together. Skate punk and köttbullar, haha.

 
Have you heard any good bands from Sweden?

-Went and saw the Satanic Surfers a few months ago in Malmö. They played really well, but the sound sucked so it was hard to hear.

Your lyrics, who does them and what influences you? Can you sing about such a “simple” thing as love and come around with that? I really want to hear and read the beginning on the song He walks among us. What do you sing there?

-Christian writes most of the lyrics. It’s a mixture of politics and personal anecdotes. Lots of piss and vinegar in that boy, haha. We don’t confine ourselves in the way that there are subjects we don’t touch, but keeping in style with the genre you can probably guess that there are some recurring themes.

The first verse of “He walks among us” goes:
“He Walks among us
Whispering in our ears
Spreading his disease
In our minds”

Is there any subject that you never will write anything about??

-No   

Politic and music, does it goes hand in hand? Which is your most political song?

-Yes it does. Music is a great medium for communicating ideas and thoughts. Probably “He Walks Among Us”. The song points out racist and nationalist tendencies on the rise in society.

Best political band/artist?

-I’d say Propaghandi 

Do you think that music(lyrics and so on) can change anyones life, I mean people who listens to music?

-Absolutely. It changed mine for sure.

Your cover on your CD looks really nice, is it important to have a record cover which shows people which type of music you play? Your favorite recordcover? Who does your covers?

-Thank you. It’s not without merit, I guess. I don’t know that I have a favorite. When I was growing up, I really liked Iron Maiden’s covers. Cool stuff to a twelve-year-old. We have a friend, who’s a photographer. He does most of photos and Rasmus and Jesper does our graphics.

Is it important to get out physical records of your stuff? Why or why not? No label?

-It’s important in the way that people tend to take you more seriously if you can show them a physical copy of your efforts. There’s also a certain satisfaction in holding the fruits of your labor in your hands. CD’s these days function more as business cards than anything else though.

Please tell me a funny thing which have happened during your career and under some gig? 

-Christian, our lead singer, likes to jump into the crowd and mosh along. We played a show where his microphone cable got tangled up with Anders’ (bass) jack cable and he managed to drag him with him out into the audience. He uses a cordless mic now, haha.

How does your audience look like? Which people do you miss on your concerts? Which is the biggest band you ever have played together with?

-We get everyone from the crustpunx to the normcore crowd. Would be nice with some more girls at the concerts. Most Hardcore shows are total sausage parties.

 
Is it boring with interviews? Is it much interviews??

-We aren’t overwhelmed with interviews at this point in our careers, haha.

If you could choose five bands from the past and the history and nowadays and both dead and living bands to have a concert together with your band. Which five have you been chosed?

-I’d really like to play a concert with KISS, just so I could put my boot up Gene Simmons geriatric ass.

Is music a good way to get out frustration and become a nice person outside the music??

-Definitely! I find it very soothing in a strange way. Sort of like meditation. Putting negative emotions into something productive.

Which is the most odd question you ever have got in an interview?

-Haven’t done enough interviews to say.

 
Which is the question you want to have but you never get. Please ask it and answer it?

-Favorite cat? Abyssinian, no contest.

Futureplans for the band?

-We’re going to try and hit the road sometime next year. In the meantime we’ll be working on new material and promoting the stuff we already have out.

 
For yourself?

-Topple the government and usher in the dictatorship of the proletariat. Or get a job. I don’t know, whatever.

Wisdomword?

-If you don’t have eyes, you shouldn’t have wings.

-Karl Pilkington

Something to add?

-Not really. Thank you for the interview.