Interview with Alehammer

Without thinking twice, Alehammer is the best thing that's happened to the Crust in these last few years. A kind of supergroup of Crust Punk, where all its members are experts in the field. But not only there is Crust in the music of Alehammer: there are also good Metal in the middle, and the most raw and wild. The question is that, through Karol, from the polish label Selfmadegod we got this interview with one of my favorite bands of the moment: Alehammer.


Puro Ruido: Hi, how are you? It is an honor for me to interview one of the best bands of today. How are things over there?Alehammer: HI! GREAT TO SPEAK WITH YOU.

PR: "Barmageddon" is without doubt one of the best records of the year. How was the process of creating songs, and the subsequent recording of those songs? It all sounds so natural, so spontaneous, that gives the feeling that the songs were created in one night, and recorded the next day.AH: CHEERS,GLAD YOU LIKE THE TRACKS.YES WE JUST JAMMED A FEW IDEAS TOGETHER,LET THEM TAKE SHAPE,THEN RECORDED THEM RIGHT AWAY.IT WAS MEANT TO BE RAW AND REAL.

PR: Originally, "Barmageddon" was released through Agipunk. What arrangement made ​​with Selfmadegod Records? Will continue working with Agipunk?AH: I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING OFF AGIPUNK FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW, NOT SURE WHY.AS FOR SELFMADEGOD RECORDS, I AM VERY IMPRESSED WITH KAROL AND THE LABEL,HE WORKS VERY HARD KEEPING BANDS UP TO DATE AND I WISH HIM WELL.

PR: 3 of you are English, while Karl The Iron Patton is American. How was it that the 4 coincided in this band? How do you manage to rehearse, compose, etc?AH: WE HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR MANY YEARS BEFORE ALEHAMMER,WE ONLY PRACTICE FOR A FEW DAYS BEFORE A TOUR OR GOING TO RECORD,WE LIKE IT RAW AND SPONTANEOUS.

PR: What motivated you to create this great band called Alehammer? How and why Alehammer born?AH: WE FORMED ALEHAMMER FOR SHRUB,HE WANTED BEER AND STUDIO ON HIS 40TH BIRTHDAY,SO WE GOT TOGETHER AND RECORDED THE 10" PICTURE DISC TO MARK THE DAY.

PR: An extremely interesting detail in the editions of the group, is that always you try to give something to the fan more than music. For example, the version in Picture disc of the first Ep, comes with an Alehammer Beer Coaster. The split with Tyrant had his limited edition, in different colors, of which only 1000 copies were done. Think it is important, in times in which most people do not buy CDs, give the fan some extra reason to buy the album?AH: YEAH THE FREE BEER COASTER WAS OUR IDEA, PEOPLE LOVED THEM, AS FOR DIFFERENT COLOUR LP'S, TO BE HONEST I DONT SEE THE POINT,AS LONG AS IT'S AS D.I.Y. AS POSSIBLE I'AM HAPPY.

PR: Speaking of the whole question of the sale of CDs, free downloads, new paradigms of the industry (e-bay, I-tunes, etc.), which opinion you have about all this? Perhaps is not industry the principal culprit of his own decadence?AH: AGAIN,IT'S THE D.I.Y. PUNK IDEA I LIKE THE MOST.IT'S OUR MOVEMENT AND WE DONT NEED BIG BUSINESS,THERE ARE ALOT OF GOOD LABELS OUT THERE.WE DONT WANT TO MAKE MONEY OUT OF ALEHAMMER,IF WE CAN COVER A FEW COSTS,THEN GREAT, BUT THAT'S ALL.IT'S ALL ABOUT FREEDOM,TRUST AND THE PUNK NETWORK.

PR: Question for Scoot. Still playing with DOOM, Vallenfyre and Hellkrusher? If I remember correctly, also play on Extinction of Mankind, right? How you manage to play with many bands?AH: SORRY I WILL HAVE TO ANSWER FOR SCOOT AS HE IS ON TOUR IN SPAIN WITH DOOM RIGHT NOW. BUT SCOOT IS A RARE AND SPECIAL MAN,HE REALLY LIVES FOR D.I.Y. PUNK AND HAS A REAL SKILL AT REMEMBERING 100'S OF RIFFS.IF ALEHAMMER HAD A PRACTICE AFTER A YEAR,HE WOULD ONLY TAKE AN HOUR FOR HIM TO PLAY THE WHOLE SET AGAIN!

PR: After seeing the band logo, the cover of "At War with Straightedge", and of course, the name of the split with Tyrant, I am forced to say a name, and you tell me what do you think or feel : Venom.AH: WE LIKE VENOM IN A FUN WAY,THE AT WAR COVER WAS JUST A PISS TAKE JOKE! I DONT DRINK MUCH MYSELF AND I RESPECT PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE TO BE STRAIGHT EDGE, WE ARE ALL VEG/VEGAN IN ALEHAMMER, IT'S UP TO EACH PERSON TO UNDERSTAND THEIR IMPACT IN LIFE,OR AT LEAST THINK ABOUT IT.

PR: What follows from now on, in the life of Alehammer? Tours, compose, rehearse, record new songs? Are currently touring?AH: WE ARE PLANNING NEW TRACKS NEXT YEAR, GET READY FOR CRUST BLUES!!


PR: A few days ago, I interviewed Steffe (Usurpress, ex Diskonto), and when I asked if he imagined what would become of his life, he had not been a musician, he replied that he does not consider himself as a musician. Fenriz said the same thing back when someone asked the same question. What would you answer if I make you the same question? Can you imagine your lives without the music involved?
AH: I AGREE WITH STEFFE AND FENRIZ ON THIS, IT WAS GREAT IN THE EARLY PUNK DAYS WHEN PEOPLE FORMED BANDS THEN LEARNT HOW TO PLAY!

PR: Ok, we are finishing. After so many years playinging in different bands, touring, recording, wherefrom they obtain the energy to continue kicking ass?AH: I DONT KNOW, I DONT THINK I COULD STOP, I'AM NEARLY 50 AND RAGE EVERY DAY SINCE I LEFT SCHOOL, D.I.Y PUNK FOR LIFE.

PR: Well, that's all. I'm a fan of the group, so I can not do anything but thank you for continue creating unforgettable songs. Do you want to leave a message for Latinos crusties?AH: THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTIONS, OUR MESSAGE TO THE LATINO CRUSTIES IS THIS-
"PEOPLE OF THE CRUST,
PEOPLE OF THE BEER,"