BLAH-BLAH-BLOOD #2 October 2005 D.I.Y

BLAH-BLAH-BLOOD #2 october 2005 d.i.y. hardcore punk zine

Jason Flower * Hero Dishonest * Wheel of Dharma Marschak * Dilönis * Brigadniy Podryad War in Chechnya * Russia’s Left & Nationalism The Left-wing and By Ute Weinmann ([email protected]) At first glance, the left-wing tions that opposed Russia’s neo- and Vlad Tupikin ([email protected]), movement in Russia appears to liberal reforms. They were de- translated by Szarapow, English be big and diverse: it is hard to fined as left-wing mostly by anal- proof-reading by Mel Cooke. find an issue of Gazeta newspa- ogy: Who’s the chief opponent of Originally published in Nepriko- per or Vlast magazine that does neoliberal (contemporary capital- snovenniy Zapas magazine and not mention the Communist Party ist) politics? Of course the left. on www.polit.ru website. of Russian Federation (KPRF), Well, then our anti-government protesters are also left-wing. (Just to remind you, in late 1980s the press had quite commonly referred to the supporters of liberal / capitalistic transformation of Soviet society, introduction of large-scale private property and free market - pretty much right- wing liberals - as left-wing). For political analysis, for orientation in political space, we need strict- er criteria to follow. While not assuming that this definition is complete, we consider left-wing those who share generally anticapitalist views and support at least socialisation (not necessarily nationalisation) of deputy group Motherland or their large-scale private property. We leaders Zyuganov and Rogozin. also consider the left-wing to in- BLAH-BLAH-BLOOD Within the media field (although volve acknowledgement of socio- that is mostly online media - which economic rights (for a home, #2 (October 2005) isn’t the fault of the characters food, healthcare, rest, assistance It’s taken me over two years to themselves but of the media field for the disabled, ill, and elderly put this thing together so sorry itself which is actively weeded etc., benefits, as well as free- for the delay (if you were waiting) out by the state) you can find dom of occupation), viewing them - but they were somewhat rough Viktor Anpilov and Ilya Ponomar- as equally important and compul- and somewhat adventure- and yov, as well as groups that they sory to the freedom of speech, love-filled years, so, to quote Edith are related to - Working Russia the press, assembly, association and Union of Communist Youth etc. Also important are anti-au- Piaf, non, je ne regrette rien. I love (SKM). You can find information thoritism (which means univer- you all. about Youth Left Front, Red sal elections of not only parlia- Youth Avantgarde, Russian Par- ment deputies but also all social- - Szarapow ty of Communists (RPK), Russian ly important officials, including Communist Workers Party (RKRP) district police and market manag- Contact: Dmitrij Ivanov, etc. etc. ers, as well as federalism or even PO Box 30, St. Petersburg-9, But the thing is that all these for- confederalism of social system) mations are classified as part of and internationalism (not only is 195009, Russia the left spectrum, mostly follow- nationalism not acceptable, but ing the tradition that was found- also any kind of state patriotism). www.szss.tk [email protected] ed by the press in early 1990s If somebody would view this def- Please email first for possibly (right after the Soviet Union col- inition as anarchistic we would more valid address. The zine lapsed). In its turn the press fol- gladly agree with such an opin- is available online as a .pdf file. lowed the names that the organ- ion and would remind them that Cover image by Punch. isations gave themselves rather originally Marxism itself (as de- than their essence, and also the fined by Comrades Marx and En- Esperanto-punkoj, skribu min! fact that it was these organisa- gels, not Messrs. Lenin and Sta- ments under the aegis of the Com- munist Party of Soviet Union’s Nationalism in Russia. Central Committee [3]. What was lin) has been quite anarchistic. ditions that are formed by the started in the USSR was contin- Founders of Marxism, when they party propaganda of the leading ued in the newly independent referred to the dictatorship of the “red” movements and by the mass Russian Federation. In February proletariat, meant the transitional media. to March of 1992 national-patri- post-revolutionary form of gov- So-called Russian leftists are otic parliamentary bloc Russian ernment that was directly pre- mostly relying on the Soviet lega- Unity was formed, and a little lat- ceding the total abolition of the cy. Being left-wing for them er, in October of the same year, state: they viewed socialism as means a mix of Soviet state pa- Front of National Salvation (FNS) a stateless social system. triotism (or even imperialism), [4] was formed under the slogan In our opinion, there is next to no xenophobia (anti-Semitism and “Justice, National Roots, State- left in today’s Russia. In any case, hatred of the Caucasians are not hood, Patriotism” with the pur- we cannot view as such KPRF, the only examples, but they are pose of being the united left-right or Stalinist organisations and significant) and opportunism in opposition. It featured a wide groups such as Working Russia regards to the contemporary cap- spectrum of “left-patriotic” organ- or Red Youth Avantgarde, al- italist state (often they not only isations and parties such as though our article is to be mostly fail to demand the abolishing of RKRP, RPK, Socialist Workers dedicated to them. the state, they don’t even demand Party (SPT), and Working Russia We owe a little explanation here. the socialisation of large-scale etc. Future leader of KPRF Gen- This text is dedicated to the par- private property [1]). We won’t nadiy Zyuganov was one of the ties, organisations and informal even mention the anti-authoritism first to sign the constituent docu- associations that the major Rus- (inner structures of most “comment of the Front. Although FNS sian media refers to as left-wing, munist” organisations are deeply as a long-term project of left-right based on the historical context authoritarian); that the methods opposition did not work out - be- of their formation (Russian jour- they suggest to change society cause in 1993 it was abandoned nalists follow a faulty logic here - with are occasionally super-au- by many communists and then if they call themselves commu- thoritarian; and finally, that the some of the right-wing - the di- nists they must by left-wing) and constant splits in the “left” camp rection of the further ideological their self-positioning (self-defini- are evidence of the realisation in development of the leading play- tions, red flags, Marxist-Leninist this environment of the purely ers of the so-called left wing didn’t spells, hammer and sickle trump- leadership-based organisational go through qualitative changes. ery of the attributes etc.) Also principles (when the leaders fail Later organisational efforts to covered are movements openly to agree among themselves, the unite the left and the right were propagating the merging of tradi- “proletarian avantgardes” double centred around the respectable tionally left and right ideas. The and triple in numbers). KPRF (an example is People’s most pertinent example of those Soviet past is where not only the Patriotic Union of Russia which movements is so-called national- ideological grounds for possible the Communist Party used to win bolshevism (which can be found “left-right” union (Soviet state the nationalist votes during the both within National Bolshevik patriotism) are coming from, but parliamentary and presidential Party (NBP) as well as outside). also the first organisational at- elections), as well on the level of On the one hand it cannot be in- tempts at it. Back in the perestroi- marginal radical organisations (an cluded in the scheme of left and ka days, the numerous parties example is Working People’s Front right often used by political soci- and organisations of most differ- formed by Anpilov’s Working ologists and activists, and on the ent colours started to form the Russia, Limonov’s NBP and other hand it without a doubt has political blocs between commu- Terekhov’s Union of Officers to a remarkable influence on the nist and nationalist (occasionally take part in the parliamentary elec- deformation of the rather social- explicitly “brown”). Shining exam- tions in 1999 though it fell apart ly oriented values within so- ples of such unification were the long before the campaign start- called left scene towards more joint conference of Memory (from ed). explicitly nationalist content. So the “brown” camp) and Unity [2] However stable and lasting these as we choose the subject of dis- (from the “red” one) in early 1990 unions were, it was nationalists cussion we are following not so which was also attended by a and communists (we need to much our own understanding of number of trade union and Kom- constantly remind: so-called com- being left, which isn’t quite com- somol leaders, and, a year later, munists, pseudo-communists, mon in Russia, but rather the tra- a conference of patriotic move- self-styled communists, communism is a world-wide phenome- union with pseudo-reds. The patriotic members of the Front non that traces its roots to middle thing isn’t only about the servic- started to flee it over time. Out of XIX century, and 99 per cent of es of the USSR, and personally these fleeing politicians, the ba- contemporary Russian commu- of Stalin, to the idea of the Rus- sis of the KPRF party apparatus nists have nothing to do with ac- sian Empire, it’s also a desire to was formed. This determined the tual communism) that were reap a profit from Soviet nostal- national-patriotic course that is drawn together. It’s easy to un- gia that is found not only in the prevalent from the very begin- derstand the roots of this mutual aging KPRF electorate, but also ning till now. attraction. It is enough to look at in a new youth trend (CCCP t- In his book “State” Gennadiy Zy- the metamorphoses that the con- shirts etc.) uganov outlined the main features cept of communism went through In the course of such long-term of the political line as he saw in the USSR. The Soviet Union’s and mutually beneficial co-oper- them. Analysing the socio-politi- regime, as is well-known, called ation the so-called left have ob- cal situation in Russia at the time, itself communist. But the USSR tained (or have shown as inher- Zyuganov states that “...the chief itself was an imperialistic state ent in them from the USSR times) contradiction of the historical with an aggressive foreign poli- the features that allow us to con- moment we experience is a con- cy outside the country and a to- fidently characterise them as na- tradiction between antisocial, talitarian and antidemocratic one tional patriots using pseudo-left anti-state forces that rely on Com- inside. Already from the mid- rhetoric. It needs to be mentioned prador capital and pursue a poli- 1940s the official ideology of in- that the “left” are acting and de- cy of destruction of Russia, and ternationalism was relegated to veloping not in spite of the coun- the state-patriotic forces whose the background, with its place try’s political situation (great state union is just being formed” [5]. taken by Great Power Soviet idea, patriotism and even nation- Zyuganov, who has left the Marx- state patriotism - a facade hiding alism as a good style), not op- ist roots of communist ideology Russian nationalism in disguise. posing it, and not trying to break far behind, describes the new Soon after World War II, the USSR it, but in accordance with it. They synthesis of “red” and “white” as regime employed the traditional are not alone. The movement to- thus: “Uniting the “red” ideal of bugaboo of reactionary monar- wards Great Power and nation- social justice, which is a sort of chist propaganda - anti-Semitism. alism is being made not only by earthly hypostasis of the “heav- In its foreign policy, the USSR the pseudo-left, but also by most Zyuganov was a fitting heir to aggressive other political powers (the noto- Russian imperialism. After almost rious idea of the liberal empire). completely recovering the bor- The pseudo-left have their own, ders of the pre-revolutionary special “bridge” to nationalism – Russian Empire, the Soviet Union the popular idea of support for went even further, establishing “national liberation” movements in throughout most of Eastern Eu- their struggle against American rope (with the exception of Yu- imperialism and Comprador bour- goslavia and Greece, but at- geoisie. It is obviously easy to tempts were made there as well) move on to support nationally ori- semi-colonial pro-Soviet regimes. ented bourgeoisie and - going enly” truth saying “everybody’s These were supported by direct further - “alternative Great Pow- equal in God’s eyes”, and the intervention of the USSR when- er”. “white” ideal of nationally under- ever needed. It would be more convenient to stood statehood, apprehended Understanding communism in show the special features of as a form of existence of centu- precisely this context (as an ide- Russia’s “left” in four chapters: ries-old peoples’ sacred things, ology of an imperialistic murder- KPRF; Small-scale Stalinists; Russia will finally achieve the ous state) and being a follower Kremlin’s Pseudo-left Constructs; desired social, inter-estate, inter- of exactly this kind of communism, NBP and National-Bolshevism. class harmony and stately pow- it’s easy to accept the idea of a KPRF er...” [6]. It’s not surprising, con- union with undisguised national- KPRF was formed in February sidering such a background, that ists of practically any kind (from 1993, at the moment when the the national-state logic that dom- monarchist cavemen and anti- aforementioned Front of National inates KPRF leaders’ rhetoric is Semitic pagans to NBP-style “left Salvation was going through a also reflected in actions of the fascists”). It is also easy to un- remarkable crisis as it lost much party. While initially Zyuganov’s derstand the reciprocal aspira- of its radical activist base. A little views could be considered just tion of nationalists towards the later even the more moderately one of the versions of party ideology, by 1999 the “communist” gees from CIS states into Russia leader and his entourage were and is calling for strict restric- quite successful in suppressing tions, for the sake of “Russia’s the opposition within the party. sovereignty” [12]. The Stalinists Conservative obscurantism of held on to their nationalist line “Daddy Zyu” has become KPRF’s throughout the 1990s. Before the party line [7]. Duma elections of 1999 RKRP During KPRF’s election campaign Central Committee secretary in 2003 the party put stress on Boris Yachmenev promised that nationalist and explicitly anti-Se- in the Duma-to-be Working Rus- mitic slogans. It was particularly sia will defend “national priorities worried by the so-called “Rus- in all questions and spheres” sian question”. In an interview for [13]. Numerous tactical unions of radical nationalist Orthodox various Stalinist organisations Christian newspaper Rus Pravo- with explicitly nationalist groups slavnaya party leader Gennadiy (Barkashov’s RNE in early 1990s, Zyuganov told this of his posi- Limonov’s NBP at the end of dec- tion: “Today the patriotic slogans Anpilov ade) are making the picture com- of the ruling regime can fool very plete. Struggle against “Zionism” few people. The anti-Russian, Soviet Union (KPSS) in August has become so characteristic of anti-Slavic purpose of the current 1991. To an extent they have Viktor Anpilov [14] that it over- course is getting clearer and succeeded. Although the more shadows his fight against “capi- clearer. Russian people, Slavs, moderate and “decent” people tal” more and more. and other indigenous peoples have gone to organisations such Kremlin’s Pseudo-left that are historically the basis of as Socialist Workers Party (SPT) Constructs Russia’s thousand year old state- (we can mention as an example It’s not a secret that election bloc hood, ended up being the most the red dissident Roy Medvedev), Motherland was formed by the destitute and humiliated. The re- the radical Stalinist RKRP and Kremlin before the 2003 Duma sults of the authorities’ Russo- Working Russia movement were, elections, in order to take away phobic policies are terrible. The until the founding of KPRF in ear- votes for KPRF, which was then population of natively Russian ly 1993, Russia’s biggest oppo- the main opponents of Kremlin’s regions dies out 2 or 3 times fast- sition organisations. As interna- United Russia. The very sign- er than the country’s average. tionalist communist Marlen Insa- board of the new bloc is a testa- There are practically no Russians rov noted, “RKRP joins one still- ment to its patriotic purpose, but in the higher levels of power. born “front”, bloc and coalition it’s fair to assume that without a They were driven out from man- with monarchists and White powerful component of this kind agement, finance, mass media”. Guard after another” [9]. After a it wouldn’t have succeeded in ap- And then: “Our people are not big communist party - KPRF - propriating almost 10 per cent of blind. They can’t help but see the formed, took over the national- party giant KPRF’s vote. Mother- Zionisation of state power is one patriotic niche and lured most of land’s then-leader Sergey Glazi- of the reasons for the country’s the rank-and-file RKRP members yev was considered a not yet catastrophic state, mass pover- in [10], the radical Stalinists (rep- corrupted politician promoting the ty and dying out of its population. resented not just by Anpilov and introduction of social-market ele- They can’t close their eyes to the Tyulkin’s RKRP, but following in ments into Russia’s politics. The aggressive role the Zionist capi- its footsteps and thus not wor- national-populist role was as- tal plays in the breakdown of thy of separate analysis as part signed to Motherland’s current Russia’s economy and in the em- of such a brief overview) got a leader Dmitriy Rogozin. But even bezzlement of the nation’s com- chance to clean their red banner the “moderate” Glaziyev was, in mon property” [8]. In our opinion, from brown stains. But they did 2003, one of the signees of the speaking about any kind of left- bollocks. Let’s quote some more. appeal calling for nationally pro- ness of the KPRF is simply inap- Working Russia is promising to portional representation in the propriate. make businessmen “who support authorities for Russians and oth- Small-scale Stalinists the national interests of Russia... er Russian indigenous people. Radical Stalinist parties / sects directors of large companies they Glaziyev signed it in the name of have tried taking over the space created” [11], come the victory. Russian Communities Congress vacated by the official banning Narodnaya Pravda is outraged by (KRO) [15]. After having played of the Communist Party of the the influx of immigrants and refu- his role in the electoral defeat of fragmental mixture of communist and fascist ideas, based on the promise of freedom from parents’ care and sexual revolution (up to the introduction of the polyga- mous family [16]). This eclecticism has in ten years of NBP’s existence become a sort of tradition in its own right, has developed supporters, propagandists and some kind of (pseudo)scientific computation. “The Natsbol [17] is “right-wing,” - writes Yevgeniy Prilepin in issue 4 of NBP-Info which was published especially for the NBP ideological conference in the Limonov Spring of 2004. “The NBP is an heir to one and a half thousand KPRF, Glaziyev had to leave Moth- groups, so-called and not, from years of Russian history, and it’s erland and seek new allies, but Stalinists to anarchists. responsible for this heritage in Rogozin stayed, and it is he who Unlike KPRF, RKRP etc. whose the future, but not to the “liberal now plays the role of safe, os- electorate and membership is humanitarian values” and not to tensibly left-wing “opposition” for more or less dying out, National the international. Natsbol’s “lefti- the Kremlin. While standing firmly Bolshevik Party has been aimed ness” is so wide that it includes on “national ground”. at the youth from the very begin- a lot of “right-wing” values - at NBP and National-Bolshevism ning. Vivid hooligan slogans and least a cult of nation and power - We conclude our article with a actions, reliance on scandals and Natsbol is a “left-wing” fascist” chapter on National Bolsheviks, shock, have attracted into the [18]. He is echoed, also in NBP- not because they are the last in party ranks the people who hard- Info, by Marina Kurasova: “We line, but rather the other way ly have any political convictions have united to fight for social and around. We think them the phe- at all. But that’s OK for the NBP, national justice, to protect the in- nomenon most dangerous for the because the party members get terests of Russians in Russia and internationalist ideas that grew in supplied with the “correct” views abroad, to transform Russia in a the last ten years on the field once within the party, not before revolutionary manner, to destroy that’s mistakenly but traditionally entering, which would’ve been the old world and to build the Other perceived in Russia as left-wing. the case were the “adult” logic Russia. We are ready to destroy Everything that is represented in of the communists and Stalinists the power of the bourgeoisie, the ideology of the previous followed. The youth saw nothing bureaucrats, ethno-criminal [sic] groups as unfinished, not quite unusual and wild in the eclectic groups, smash the police state formulated and fragmentary, has found its full development in Na- tional-Bolshevism. Why do we cover NBP, Russia’s chief mouthpiece for National Bolshevistic ideas, a party whose main slogan is “Russia is all, everything else is nothing!”, in the article about Russia’s left wing? It’s hard to pass by a party that has armed itself with a full range of “left-wing icons”: Len- in, Stalin, Mao, and Che. A party that chose the hammer and sickle as its emblem. A party that has been actively trying to make friends with practically all left and external enemies such as would be unnecessary to give flipside of privatisation”. (Êîììóíèñò. NATO, USA and foreign capital” examples of Lenin, Hitler, Musso- 1999. Èþëü - àâãóñò. ¹4 (1407). [19]. And finally, most explicitly: lini)” [21]. And further: “National [2] All-Union society “Unity - For Len- inism and communist ideals” is a Sta- “Without a doubt, NBP is still haul- Bolsheviks should understand linist organisation that existed in 1989 ing Russia’s “left-wing” move- that saying “yes” today and “no” - 1993, headed by Nina Andreyeva. ment on its back - so far it makes tomorrow to the same question [3] For more details see: Øàâøóêîâà sense against the background of is better than expressing “neither Ò. Ôåíîìåí “êðàñíî-êîðè÷íåâûõ” // social discontent. But our main yes nor no” both times...” [22]. Ðîññèéñêèé ôàøèçì è êîììóíèñòû- precepts - regarding the complete What’s Left? èíòåðíàöèîíàëèñòû. Àñòðàõàíü, change of the political line - are Besides, we have only few in- 1998. [4] FNS formed as a movement in much more important than any ternationalists left who are unit- 1992 but was only registered by the “left-wing” components in nation- ed in microscopic groups which Ministry of Justice in March 1993. al-bolshevism. NBP also hauls the background of micro-political [5] Çþãàíîâ Ã.À. Äåðæàâà. Ì., 1994. the “right-wing” movement [...]” splits have sometimes reduced to Ñ. 16. [20] 1 or 2 people-strong; dogmatic [6] Ibid. Ñ. 124-125. Unlike Hitler’s NSDAP, Russia’s communists who aren’t only un- [7] For more details see: Êàãàðëèöêèé NBP has formed not within the able to unite with anyone at all, Á. Ðåñòàâðàöèÿ â Ðîññèè. Ì.: ÓÐÑÑ, 2000. Ñ. 318. right-wing discourse, but within but are also using rhetoric that [8] The text of Zyuganov’s interview the left-wing, and is still partly can only be understood by spe- with Rus Pravoslavnaya editor in chief within this framework. It has be- cialists; nimble Trotskyists who Konstantin Dushenov can be viewed come possible, in part due to the are willing to unite with, or more at www.rusprav.ru/2003/9-10/rp75- activity of various mossy Stalin- precisely “enter” (in order to take 76_8.htm. ists who, from the start of per- over them) any big structures, [9] Èíñàðîâ Ì. ÐÊÐÏ // Áóãåðà Â., estroika (or even before it began whichever comes along, even Èíñàðîâ Ì. Â áîðüáå ïðîòèâ áóðæóàçíîãî íàöèîíàëèçìà. Ì., - Molodaya Gvardiya magazine of the KPRF, but aren’t really con- 2002. Ñ. 143. later Soviet era can be recalled), sidering independent political ac- [10] Ibid. have been actively introducing tion; anarchists who seem to [11] Working Russia’s 2nd Congress, right-wing imperialistic and nation- have a tendency to drift towards April 23, 1994. See: Âàñèëüåâ Ã. Êòî alist ideas to the left-wing lega- harder communist or Trotskyist è çà ÷òî ôèíàíñèðóåò ÐÊÐÏ? // cy. That the results of their positions, are partly concerned Ðàáî÷àÿ äåìîêðàòèÿ. 1994. ¹ 5(20). years-long labour has been used with animal rights more than with [12] Ðóñàêîâà À. Åñòü ëè ó íàñ ñóâåðåíèòåò? // Íàðîäíàÿ ïðàâäà. by a dynamically growing and human rights, and are partly en- 1993. ¹ 6(60). active party with youth member- veloped by artistic and musical [13] Òðóäîâàÿ Ðîññèÿ. 1998. ¹ ship and an obviously eclectic and subcultures to the extent that they 14(95). flexible program which is as are almost completely depoliti- [14] Øàâøóêîâà Ò. Ôåíîìåí “êðàñíî- gutta-percha as it takes to cam- cised. êîðè÷íåâûõ” // Ðîññèéñêèé ôàøèçì ouflage the pure will for power, But if there’s anywhere in Rus- è êîììóíèñòû-èíòåðíàöèîíàëèñòû. seems like a fair punishment for sia that the nationalistic “big left- Àñòðàõàíü, 1998. Ñ. 24. [15] See “Call for unity of patriotic those who practiced unscrupu- ies” can be criticised from the left, forces”: “We commit ourselves to lousness in allies and tolerance it’s from these circles. And if Rus- doing everything to [...] strive for con- for nationalism. sia’s internationalist left has any stitutional means for proportional rep- Now, when the NBP, one of the kind of perspective, it is, in our resentation of Russians and other few active and not just “talking” view, in the unification of the ide- Russia’s indigenous people in all ad- political organisations, has tem- as that these micro-political cir- ministrative structures of the coun- porarily armed itself with gener- cles discuss, combined with try”. www.atvr.ru/opinions/2003/5/5/ 873.html. ally democratic and human rights youth energy, eternally renewed, [16] Ëèìîíîâ Ý. Äðóãàÿ Ðîññèÿ. Ì., slogans, the human rights activ- generation after generation. What 2003. C. 24. ists and liberals seem to face a lacks now is just subjects for [17] Natsbol is short for National-Bol- temptation that many of them can- such a unification. shevik. not resist. If somebody thinks that ______[18] Ïðèëåïèí Å. Ãëóáæå êîðíè - the National Bolsheviks are going âûøå äåðåâî // ÍÁÏ-èíôî. 2004. ¹ to play fair, they are in for a bitter [1] The head of Rosagropromstroi cor- 4. Ñ. 8. [19] Êóðàñîâà Ì. Êîñòè è ìÿñî í-á disappointment. Natsbols do not poration Viktor Vidmanov, who is one of KPRF’s oldest sponsors, in his re- èäåîëîãèè // Ibid. Ñ. 2. shun mind manipulation: “...it port to the plenum of KPRF Central [20] Ïðèëåïèí Å. Ãëóáæå êîðíè - shouldn’t be shunned because Committee stated: “...the term “na- âûøå äåðåâî // Ibid. Ñ. 8. political struggle is unthinkable tionalisation shouldn’t be interpreted [21] Êóðàñîâà Ì. Êîñòè è ìÿñî í-á without real propaganda (it as expropriation. Nationalisation is the èäåîëîãèè // Ibid. Ñ. 2. [22] Ibid. C. 3. VV OO LL JJ AA

Volja (Russian word meaning Volja tried to cover and intends to before another new big publica- "freedom" and "will") is an inter- keep covering the protest and lib- tion took off. Volja was temporar- national anarchist paper that was eration movements in political, so- ily halted as some of the collec- founded by several anarchists in cial, gender, environmental, cultur- tive's members took part in Moscow in 1989. From the very al and other spheres of life, the publishing anarcho-environmental beginning and throughout its his- most interesting events and phe- paper Hraniteli Radugi ("Rainbow tory Volja was a sort of "addition- nomena that are relevant for the Keepers") - issues 6 through 10 al" publication for Moscow-based former USSR territory at each par- in 1996 and 1997. Then the atten- anarchists, or a "replacement" ticular issue's publishing date. tion was turned to Utopija ("Uto- paper that was issued during the Volja does not follow any pia") magazine: issues 1 and 2 in times of the main publication's cri- organization's "party line" but it 1998 and 2,5 as a part of compila- sis. This can partly explain the long keeps an eye or two open for tion zine Evrobutylka ("Eurobottle") periods of silence between is- various individuals, groups and in 2000. When Utopija temporarily sues. movements of anarchist, ceased to be published, Volja has been revived in 2000, the year that the Moscow anarchist movement has been relatively active. In autumn 2000, at the suggestion of the editor of Moscow's anarchist paper Anarhicheskij Vestnik ("An- archist Courier"), the failed exper- iment of merging Volja with Anarhicheskij Vestnik started - it did produce one issue of "urban counterculture and antipolitics magazine" Asfal't ("Asphalt") in March 2001. Volja's 15th issue has been provoked by the hostage crisis in Moscow; the simultane- ous analisys of the events (the issue was published on October 24, 2002) was combined with materials that were chosen for The "international" character of libertarian and anti-authoritarian another publication due to be re- the paper, manifested in its subtitle, left orientation, including antiwar leased in September 2002 that has a complicated set of reasons, movement and movement against failed to materialize. The latest is- including the fact that editorial the capitalist globalisation. sue at the moment is 23, from Feb- collective consisted and still It is worth noting that in 1989-1990 ruary 2005. consists of people from various Volja has been a companion paper nations, the desire to cover for anarchist magazine Obschina If you want to contribute articles, political and cultural events as ("Community"). There were 49 comments, pictures, or anything well as development of anarchist issues and 3 unnumbered special else you feel is relevant, you can and liberation ideas internationally, editions of Obschina published contact the editorial collective at and not recognizing state borders between 1987 and 1993. In 1994 [email protected] legitimate, as they are becoming and 1995 Volja was being [email protected] more and more transparent for published to at least partially cover Vladlen Tupikin, PO Box 80, Mos- goods while the people have a the emptiness that existed after cow M-208, 117208, Russia. hard time getting through. Obschina stopped publishing and www.volja.nm.ru ..

.. N.D.A. / DILONISDILONIS 1990-1994 gram. Their first performance rehearses together with a new N.D.A. (NAC, DILONIT, APSEDIES) takes place at a festival of new band - Vihers. Guncha starts skip- starts its existence when Maris & rock musicians at Iecava, year ping the rehearsals more and more Edzs (living in the same neigh- 1991, together with bands like IBM often and is replaced by Mishkins, bourhood) come together. First re- & I, Tuksa Muca, Inokentijs Mar- and the record «Gott Mit Uns» is hearsals, using mainly only pls, Bindeman etc. During this time brought out. acoustic guitars take place in N.D.A. performs also propagan- After a little while Maris & Edzs Edzs’ flat, and in year 1990 the da / informative activities in KAM- leave for Riga and the rehearsals first record «Istabas Balss» PA union, and thanks to that have take place both in Riga and Kul- («Voice Of The Room») is released good contacts with other musi- diga with various bass players and given to friend for evaluation. cians and underground activists. (Gedra, Viesturs, Tarass). The Since they borrow the drum set After the Iecava gig N.D.A. is be- name.. of the band is shortened to from a band called Mezs (Forest) ing invited to play at almost all un- DILONIS and another bass player the rehearsals for some time take derground gigs of that time in is engaged - Martins Lablaiks (ex- place at a boiler room of kinder- Latvia. Thanks to activists of mu- Tuksa Muca etc.). For a little while garten «Marite». sician association «Tornis» the brothers Viesturs and Roberts From year 1991 rehearsals take first demo «Tapec, Ka Es Ieskreju» Irbes take part in the band. In year place at a guard shack of new («Because I Ran Into..») is record- 1993 Struhs (ex-Vihers) becomes.. hospital of Kuldiga, where all the ed. the second.. bass player of DILO- band members are working as As some of the most interesting NIS. DILONIS plays at various gigs guards. (Edzs - voc/guit, Maris - events of this period of time the from which the best are in Liepaja voc/bass, Guncha - drums). They Lithuanian tour (Venta, 1992) of at the Cultural Castle of Metal rehearse often and regularly, but some Latvian bands including Workers and at the basement of almost without any real equipment. N.D.A. must be mentioned, also the Kramu str. in Riga. However in spite of it some of the 1st September students’ party at Many songs recorded at gigs/other rehearsals are recorded and the Jelgava together with the disco places are included in under- band works on performance pro- «Ventas Dzirkstis», and the un- ground compilation tapes from forgettable performance at a various countries. Christian children summer camp In year 1993 to solve the chronic at Zvirgzdu lake. In year 1992 the drummer problem, Edzs chages band starts having problems with the guitar to drums and the band space for rehearsals - for some proceeds without a new guitar time they rehearse at Pioneers player, leaving two bass guitar- House of Kuldiga but after N.D.A. ists (Maris & Struhs). It seems the organises a gig and a following only band from Latvia who played happening for themselves and ~40 like that at that time, also the style fans on Jani evening, they are changes from punk rock to some- asked to leave. After some time thing short, fast and humorous. they are allowed to rehearse at This setup of the band stays the the club of the Local Consumers same for the last two records and Union, and so it goes on till the live shows in Liepaja and Riga. In moment when someone throws year 1994 the band splits up. Stru- out a couple of club chairs from hs & Edzs create Vonosonolop- third floor window. Consequently pus, Maris - Capajevs Vagons. N.D.A. is asked to rehearse somewhere else. In the same year to- Pictures and bio taken from gether with The Spine.. a new www.nekac.lv - it also has.. info place of rehearsals - VONS - is about other projects by DILONIS found, placed at an attachment of ex-members. Postal address: a building built in 17th century. Maris Muitenieks, Rumbas 6-12, Soon The Spine leaves, and N.D.A. Kuldiga, LV 3300, Latvia M: Occasionally some disagreements in our views... E: ...but they’re not serious. M: I think that there are enough problems around us, and we try to do without them among ourselves. E: Musically there weren’t such big disagreements, it can be called our principle of creative equality. M: Yes, ha-ha, if two people are «for», then the third should agree, ha. ? What is your professional level, in your opinion? Are you interested in that? Would you like to learn to play better? M: Yes, of course I’d like to learn to play better, but I’m just lazy. E: I’m playing on an amateur level! I’d like to learn to play second bass drum. S: And I should play fast! E: So, we don’t have that professional level. But I don’t think it’s necessary. For us it’s most important that we had our, how to say it, like, style, our own face. S: And that’s our level. ? Do you plan to make a This interview originally appeared the reasons. You drink for three studio recording? Or you are in the first issue of Russian- days or so and then you don’t give rather into self-made sound? language zine from Riga, Latvia a shit about anything. Everything E: Yes, we’d like to but we have «Bezumets» and is dated May is disgusting. Life is a PROBLEM. no means for that. And if we 1994. The zine’s former editor Sometimes when I want badly to would be doing such a recording Kone can be contacted through do something, I feel a lot of energy we probably wouldn’t get what is email [email protected]. inside myself, but as I feel the necessary because there will people’s indifference everything always be someone who would Maris - bass, voc starts to seem unimportant, it’s like be teaching us, fucking our brains. Struhs - bass, voc beating your head against the This man should be 100% into Edgars - drums, voc wall. Fuckup. what we’re doing, or else we’re ? - How often do you get an S: But sometimes the fuckup hap- doing 100% ourselves. So we are urge to give everything up and pens just so, from nothing... rather into self-made recordings. what are the reasons for that? E: For about two weeks after the It will naturally be worse E: To me, frankly speaking, very gigs I don’t usually want to do technically, but better in all other rarely. anything, but then it’s alright. aspects. S: Sometimes, when we’re play- ? What are the main reasons M: We play the kind of music that ing and then not playing, playing for disagreements between will simply not sound right in good and then not playing. We just have you? quality, something is lost then. to be playing all the time. S: Drinking! ? Name three favourite M: In my opinion, alcohol is one of E: Alcohol. Latvian bands and seven favourite albums by foreign M: Yeah, life’s a problem - to find nothing matters, only just to get bands. money, to expand our scene, to drunk and all. Then home, wash, E: INOKENTIJS MARPLS, I can’t make possible that everybody had put on different clothes - and until name anyone else at the moment. a place to play, to keep the spirits the next weekend. It seems RAF will be alright, I used high. M: Of course it’s not bad that there to like them a lot in the past. And E: But all that is hard to do in our are more and more people coming also I haven’t heard 33-H LETNIJ town. to concerts, but punk isn’t alcohol PODONOK. ? What do you call punk / HC and drugs. M: To me, also INOKENTIJS music? E: It’s not just music! It can be MARPLS, I don’t know what else. E: Well, how to say it, that’s about anything at all... Ah, at the last gig I liked EJ DIRST, what (in my understanding) bands M: For instance, sports but generally I don’t have a like SUBTERRANEAN KIDS, DEAD tournaments. favourite band in Latvia. And also KENNEDYS play, it’s not punk and ? What do you do when you I like N.D.A. not hardcore, it’s something are stoned? M: SEX PISTOLS / DISORDER / between that. I’m personally E: I like to go to stores most of all, WOUNDED KNEE / TURBO interested in punk / hardcore and talk, I go to drugstores, I’m scared REANIMACIJA - «Play Loud» / «No hardcore. out in the streets. Ah, I like eating! Sanctuary» zine / G.G. Allin / M: And I’m into good music - be M: I like to get kicks, laugh, eat, STRES / LOS CRUDOS. that punk or hardcore and good watch telly, listen to music. I like E: DISORDER / LANDLORDS / grind and noise. cinema, but I can’t remember SHITFIT / INOKENTIJS MARPLS / S: I’m into such fast stuff with all anything afterwards. LOS CRUDOS / «Maximumrockn- kinds of dillies. ? Do you have a plan for all roll» / «Colgate» toothpaste / ? Do you like that punk has life? HUASIPUNGO / NOMEANSNO / become very popular in the M: My plans change very often. TURBO REANIMACIJA / ERKE last two years? Why do you No plans. But I have ideas for MAISE / G.O. / ARE YOU A MAN think that is happening? things I want to do. But often it OR ARE YOU A MOUSE? S: Is it popular? breaks down. I like dreaming. ? What problems around you M: Time is like this... E: I don’t want to get old. are you interested in? E: It is, I think, a passing trend that M: I want to play a lot and perform E: The same problems as will leave traces. There’s a lot of more often, so the punk / hardcore everyone else has, to survive and such people - tore up the pants, scene would blossom. So that not to die. put on a leather jacket, made hair people would be merry and happy. up - and to the gig. And there - BRIGADNIY PODRYAD One of the best-known under- pop with anti-social lyrics. Be- army and started recording some ground punk rock bands in Lenin- sides the old BRIGADNIY little songs on my tape recorder, grad in the late 80s. They were PODRYAD folks a schoolboy through the friends it reached combining powerful '77 style punk named Sasha Konviser was tak- Begemot, and PODRYAD was with biting social and political coming part. In 1996 an old friend quiet at the time, they were look- mentary - one of the few early Anton "Tosya" Soya got Santyor, ing for a guitarist. So I was of- bands to do so. Still around, and Konviser and Mihailov together fered to them, we met right after still playing old-fashioned punk again to record a few of his own the New Year and started to re- rock. songs, which eventually led to hearse right away. BRIGADNIY PORDYAD ("brigade BRIGADNIY PODRYAD reunion. For the Summer I went to a pio- contract") formed June 1986 in The band was joined by Igor Mosin neer camp to get some kicks, eve- South Leningrad district of (ex-DURNOYE VLIYANIE, BOND- rybody was minding their own Kupchino. The initial lineup has ZINSKIY) on drums and Dima business, and I thought that it all been: Kolya Mihailov - vocals, Petrov (ex-DURNOYE VLUYANIE, quietly died because from Janu- Alexandr "Santyor" Lukianov - BONDZINSKIY, now GRAND ary until Summer we rehearsed guitar, Maxim Vasiliev - guitar, SHUTTLE BANDA) on bass. Then but didn't play a single gig. When I Dmitriy Babich - bass, Igor "Said" Kolya Mihailov fell down some- got back it turned out that Said with Saikin - drums. The band recorded where and got brain damage. two musicians from some band a self-titled album in the home stu- Konviser has become BRIGADNIY played at some little boat. Said dio of Fyodor "Begemot" Lavrov, PODRYAD's sole frontman. wasn't so much a drummer as a guitarist of another pioneering Santyor was evenually replaced showman - a bundle of energy. punk band NARODNOE by Yura Sobolev who was for a He turned everybody on all the OPOLCHENIE. Then Santyor got while playing in pop band time. But as a drummer... He drafted and the band got on a hia- PANGEYA. Mosin and later Petrov drummed with the same speed tus. In 1987 a new guitarist, Yura quit, but the band was joined by (laughs) and he physically couldn't Sobolev, joined and became the Igor "Motya" Motovilov from play any faster, but still he man- primary songwriter. The band NARODNOYE OPOLCHENIYE. aged to organize a debut concert joined the Leningrad Rock Club and Sobolev switched to bass and - at Gaz House Of Culture I think. made a noisy appeapance at the later quit though Santyor took part A nightmare of a concert. The fac- L.R.K. 6th annual festival in 1988. in some of the later lineups. tory girls went to a discotheque Then Babich and Said quit the with their lads, and there are some band (Said had died in 1998) and Yura Sobolev interviewed by Olga folks they couldn't understand, try- BRIGADNIY PODRYAD split up Axyutina, November 16, 1998. ing to play something. That was in again. Yura Sobolev formed his Taken from the book "Pank-virus late 1987. own band DOHLIY NOMER with v Rossii" (Punk Virus In Russia) Then I went to work at a House bassist Sasha "Kon'yak" Muraviov by Olga Axyutina, Moscow, 1999, Of Pioneers' theater complex (I and drummer Valera Trushin. pp. 175-181. was always working in theaters When Kolya Mihailov joined, it be- Translated by Szarapow. as a fitter or stage machinist). So came the new BRIGADNIY everything got quiet again. But I PODRYAD lineup. In 1988 an al- ? When and how did your had some backlog of songs and I bum was recorded at "NCH / VCH" band start? simply went to Babich. Babich squat (it's been issued in 1998 on - BRIGADNIY PODRYAD formed bought a reel to reel tape recorder tape), in 1989 - another one called in June 1986. They'd recorded an and we were recording it all live. "Chlenskiy Vznos", with a saxo- album at home studio of Fyodor In general, it was a nightmare of phone player they'd found on the "Begemot" (BEGEMOT) which an album. Kolya played bass, street. All in all, until 1990 Fyodor produced, and then the Babich drummed, I played guitar BRIGADNIY PODRYAD played just guitarist had been drafted. and at the same time sang - all of a dozen gigs in Russia and Ukraine The first lineup has been like this: us were doing someone else's but their influence still has been Said (Igor Saikin) on drums, Dima work. And about half of this al- really big. In Summer 1990 another Babich - bass guitar, Kolya bum was included in the new hiatus started. Mihailov - vocals, Santyor (Sasha PODRYAD set. So with this old set The band were no longer playing Lukianov) on guitar. from 1986 we joined the Rock Club gigs, just recording home albums He was drafted, and at about the in spring of 1988, after NAROD- with stuff that could be called lo-fi same time I came back from the NOYE OPOLCHENIYE. And our gig was marked by a good fight BRIGADNIY PODRYAD live 1988 (laughs) between Pushkin from (Dmitriy Babich and Kolya Mihailov) FRONT and Titov from AQUARIUM. Everything went on like this. There were three bands that were supposed to be "the hope of young Leningrad rock" - NARODNOYE OPOLCHENIYE, DURNOYE VLI- YANIYE and BRIGADNIY PODRYAD. But the people in POD- RYAD were so uncontrollable that it couldn't go on well. What's more, our singer was Nikolay Mihailov's (the president of Rock Club) name- sake and there was always something happening. (laughs) For instance, the sexually transmitted some heavy metal stuff. He came for Germany (laughs)... For for- and skin diseases prophylactic to the rehearsal and then disap- eigners it's totally unpronounce- center was looking for Kolya or peared somewhere. It turned out able. the police was going to fine him that he was stabbed by a knife Then we said to Said: "C'mon, for some shop-window he broke when he was coming back home. you'll now be our manager, and - and all the papers were going to As always, you don't have a Trushin will play drums". Said re- the Rock Club. [...] smoke when you need it. fused and he got offended, as it The normal gigs that can be Well. The late eighties were a always happens. So thus we had marked were at Rock Club (we gloomy time as far as gopniks the lineup. The most active period once played at their big hall) (=rednecks, jocks) are con- - it was 1989. A young man full of (laughs) and the Winter Stadium cerned. ambitions and complexes, Pyotr at the VI Festival of Leningrad Kolya Mihailov once came to our Novik, came and started to estab- Rock Club. rehearsal - just to see what we lish himself. He was organizing us But the gigs generally were a were doing. (PODRYAD was on gigs, out of town gigs. He made nightmare. No one could play - no a hiatus then). He listened and us three out of town gigs. For the practice. We rehearsed at apart- said: "Lemme sing". He sang. We first one he went with a friend ments. All the rehearsals were started to think about the name. who was hiding from our crew in twice a month or 3 times in 2 We were called DOHLIY NOMER the corners. We got settled in a months. (laughs) And they tended ("Dead Trick") before that. And women's hostel, on the 1st floor. to end with someone calling for Kolya said: "What are we think- We started a pillow fight right police to disperse us. No one had ing? Let's call ourselves away. All the pillows flew out the proper instruments. BRIGADNIY PODRYAD". window. (laughs) After this de- Then I met the band TAINOYE GO- And Dima Babich (after the sta- bauchery we were moved to a LOSOVANIYE ("Secret Voting"). dium gig he developed some nerv- hotel where we naturally broke Their singer Sasha nicknamed ous disease, and he left the band) everything in the end. Kon’yak also played bass, I invited went nuts step by step. So it hap- We got so drunk there... I can't him to try something. We were try- pened that Kon’yak joined POD- remember how we went on ing all kinds of singers. Nothing RYAD. stage. The concert didn't happen. worked. In the Autumn Begemot ? Why did you decide to take (laughs) We didn't have the sound gave me a phone number of Valera such a name ("Brigade Con- switched on ‘cause there were Trushin - he was about 17 then. tract")? only some obscenities heard from He turned out to be a very ener- - The band was all made of slo- the stage. The people were get- getic drummer, he grasped eve- gans. All the refrains were the ting kicks. I can't remember how rything quickly. He grew up liter- slogans that Gorbachev invented. we got back to the hotel either. At ally in three months from a zero For instance, "Sobriety is a norm the night SOBAKA TSE-TSE (the level. So the three of us... I wrote of life", all that perestroika stuff. band we went with) woke us up: enough new songs for a 40- The band was social, topics of "The police is coming for you, let's minute set. While we were look- the day. Songs had titles like "Pub- move". So in the night we went ing for a vocalist I sang myself. lic Feeding". through these dark side-street - We found a singer - he squealed We then had to translate the name and the gopniks were also there, at night they don't have much to morning we ritually threw Pyotr Of Culture Of Workers Of Food have fun with... we all returned into the Dnieper. We sit there on Industry - I spent so much nerves, on different trains. our suitcases, the bands are rock- energy, and at the end the people Then in Summer 1989 we went to ing out and then these members thrashed the hall, and for some Kalinin (now called Tver). We ar- of the Komsomol run to us: "C'mon, reason the band had to pay - a rived on Sunday. We see - the run, you got a permission to per- 300 ruble fine. For us it was a lot river enbankment, and gangs of form". Everybody played, and the of money. The drum set was ar- grown-up men fight among people screamed all the time: "We rested as a guarantee. So every- themsleves. We stand there and want BRIGADNIY PODRYAD from thing died away. A tour in Ger- can't understand anything. We Leningrad", so they let us go. many broke down - we didn't have ask the passers by - it's the city Back home we made a rehearsal the passports and money. day, people's festival, no one gets room at NCh / VCh squat, a fan of There was a German girl named involved with that, the people are a band helped us put it together. Sabine who was taking the young having fun. And they have a big The instruments were very hard talents abroad as cultural ex- sports complex there. We go in- to get then. A stinking "Diamand" change - VOSTOK-1 (Gusev's side - the stands, a stage, but no guitar cost 600 rubles. So almost project) and DURNOYE VLIYA- equipment. We're thinking: "Wow, no one had good instruments. For NIYE had to go. One of them cool! What a big hall! But when a couple of years I played "Aelita" couldn't go so PODRYAD was are they going to put the equip- guitar, okay. Then I bought a Czech recommended. The German band ment?" We had to play in 4 hours. "Star 7", then a "Diamand". As for MIX DOUBLE came here. We had We go out into a foyer and there's the other equipment, it was trou- to play together, and we're spe- this small stage, and a piece of ble. I ended up entering a forged cific people - horrible looking and fabric hangs that says, in foil, "Our marriage and for the money from all... The Germans were shocked: Discotheque". (laughs) And so we that I bought the "coffins" from "They're right-wing extremists". had to play there. Which we did. ZOOPARK. [...] But we were very apolitical And after that there was the best And everything's got powerful in and no one was anyone. Yet they thing - Kahovka (in Ukraine). We a moment. In May we recorded an were shocked: "They're some got there by plane. We were met album at that NCh / VCh. And an- crazy people". They called us by a Volga car from the Regional other one in the Autumn. At that right-wing and cancelled the invi- Committee of Communist Party. squat many bands rehearsed - tation. We were given a central room at mainly underground and base- I got very upset then and I thought the floating pier there with a half- ment collectives - thrashers, I won't call anyone, let them call round window on the whole wall. metalheads, young punks. YUGO- themselves when they would feel What was groovy there was wine ZAPAD was in the next room. [...] like it. So for 5 months no one that cost 1,1 ruble (cca. $1,8 by All that was done by Boris Suma- called, and I sold our rehearsal official exchange rate; average rokov - with a bundle of papers room with all the equipment, de- monthly salary was between 100 and receipts. So, for instance, the cided to leave the music. So eve- and 200 rubles then). We bought cops come to kick out and arrest rything ended in 1990. 17 bottles of that wine and got everyone. The folks get Sumaro- Valera Trushin formed wasted the first day we arrived. kov: "Help us". He digs in his bun- BIROTSEFALY, Kolya recorded al- Then we played a good gig, the dle: "There". Another question: bums with the lads at home. And I people dug us. But in the evening "What's with Sanitary Epidemiol- was making solo recordings - I the guys got drunk and went to ogy Station?" Etc. He had all the made a lot of them, 'cause the tape kick up a row on stage. The head- papers. In the Winter everyone sits recorder could make 4 overdubs. liners were MATROSSKAYA TI- and rocks. Dark, the light was of- [...] With old PODRYAD I didn't get SHINA ("Sailors’ Silence") from ten switched off. And in the Spring anything except nervous wreck. I Moscow, they were filmed by lo- you go there, and some greenish, had such a negative attitude, I cal TV. So our guys got on stage, very thin, totally tattooed punks, didn't like the audience, and all... started trying to sing along, snat- metalheads get out from the base- I'm a homely person, to be honest. ching the instruments out of their ment, like a tired butterfly, sitting The heck do I need all these ad- hands, like, "C'mon let's jam to- by the wall. It was a terrible thing ventures. There were situations gether". We got deprived of a right to look at. It had to be filmed. That with Kolya getting into a fight, I get to perform at the final concert of squat existed for some 18 - 24 to defend him and I come to senses this Serpen festival. [...] So we're months. at the police station cause I got sitting there, the mood isn't great. And PODRYAD... No one did any- my head kicked in, while Kolya Nothing to do. We swam there, thing new, everyone was very sleeps at home ok. I lost a guitar though. Making fun of Pyotr. Every passive. I did one gig at the House this way. [...] HERO DISHONEST Ex-USSR tour report / September 2003

In 2000 we did three gigs in Rus- he can pick the Belarus visas for sia, played in an ice hockey hall on us from the embassy in St. Peters- a stage between two motorcycles, burg. We had our doubts, big ones, rode to Moscow on a luggage rack, but we had no other option (any of ate the best "kapusta" (sauerkraut) that we were aware of anyway). in the world and got drunk with 22 But like with most of the stuff in year old lawyer. Ever since we had Russia it wasn't so simple. talked about going back. Now we Szarapow couldn't get the visas had tape release over there and we without our signatures, but he was were also invited to play in Belarus. assured that we could get them in To go to Russia you need visas. one day once we get there. It would It's expensive and takes a week. just cost more. We were supposed Some touring bands, especially to leave in three days and our from US, don't seem to understand passports were still in St. Peters- this, and thus never make it to Rus- burg. The day before they had still sia. You can get it on the border, not arrived. An hour before our but it costs even more. The same buss to St. Petersburg Jussi goes with Belarus. There's no picked up them from Tommi's post passport check between Russia box. Tommi had to work and was and Belarus, so it's basically pos- supposed to take a train the next sible to sneak in and back without morning. Going to Russia involves telling us to stay put and wait for the visa. The locals do it all the time a lot of maybe’s and supposed Szarapow. The cold kept creeping I guess, but we needed them 'cos to's... Others starring were Mikko, into our bones, but like true cos- after Belarus we were going to Tuukka and Vellu (that's me). mopolitans we kept ourselves Lithuania. And the closest Belarus- None of us speak Russian, but warm with politically correct jokes sian embassy is in Tallinn, Estonia. Sergei, our Russian dealer in Fin- about locals and their ways. The Szarapow, our Russian manager land, told the driver where to drop noises of traffic were loud and in St. Petersburg insisted us to us. Everything was under control, sharp and I started to taste the lead send our passports to him, so that after the first traffic lights when in my mouth. It turned out that the entering St. Petersburg. The bus bus driver couldn't tell the first traf- Mikko was full of Russian tourists eating fic lights from the second nor the fish sandwiches. The driver start- third ones, so he just led us out ed the engine, while we were still somewhere, but after getting into waiting for Jussi and the passports. Szarapow's warm apartment Finally he came, running and curs- where stereos blasted Belarussian ing, and off we went. The ride took reggae we couldn't be bothered. about five hours and was pretty We were fed and after a little chat boring. it was time to go to bed. To the floor The city greeted us with huge I mean. apartment buildings spreading Next morning when we headed to across the seaside as far as you the Belarussian embassy to get the could see. Before we knew what visas, we got an SMS from Tommi was going on the driver and some saying that the train to St. passengers were engaged in an Petersburg had been cancelled. argument, apparently about where He was supposed to get the visa to drop us. A moment after we straight after arriving to St. waved the bus goodbye and start- Petersburg, but now it wasn't sure ed waiting. After an hour wait we if he would even make it to that got few mysterious phone calls evening's gig. So we decided to do from somebody who had seen us, that in Moscow with Tommi, Tuukka place kept filling up. We enjoyed happy. After a delicious lunch at beverages and people seemed to Ilia's place I let my already aching have a good time. Tommi phoned, body rest on a couch in a friendly he was in Vyborg, the bus he took atmosphere and enjoyed the si- from Helsinki had broken down and lence inside the flat. there was a big racket going on. Moscow is a big fucking place. All He could just guess what it was we saw was heavy traffic, dirt, all about. Among the Finns the at- grey, apartment buildings, grey mosphere wasn't relaxed and more grey. The fall had anymore, but for the locals it started and it was chilly and rain- sounded like an everyday sce- ing, but down in metro tunnels the nario. We did some kind of a air was hot, dry and thick of soundcheck, watched the first stench of used engine, oil and band play, got an SMS that he got burning rubber. I could feel the a new bus, watched the second noises scattering through my ear band play and set our equipment drums every time a metro hit the ready... Tommi came running and brakes. I would need a gas mask cursing, but right on time and we and double ear plugs to live in a started to play immediately. It was place like that. The gig was held in a blast, the place was packed and R-Club, a pretty big venue with a although it wasn't sure if it was kids went nuts, punk rock a la lot of ugly paintings and artwork even possible... We took all of our Russia. Hardly any foreign bands that looked more funny than scary. stuff to a flat near the club Moloko play there and these people show Since we had to catch the 11.00 and spent the day walking around their appreciation. After the show p.m. train we would play second. the city, eating and drinking, and I was introduced to a bunch of We did an interview for Radio Ar- buying cheap records. To get the people whose names and bands senal which I hope made some train tickets to Moscow you need they played in I hardly heard from sense. The first band was from a passport, "because this is all that adrenaline and serotonine Belarus playing screamoish stuff fucked up place" according to one rushing in me. with few poppy parts. There was local. And since we didn't have Last time we had to bribe the con- about 400 kids, and the place was Tommi's, we were unaware if he ductor to let us into an already full full of cigarette smoke. Without could fit into the same train, but car on the train to Moscow, but hearing people speak Russian it we bought ours anyway. this time it went smooth. Every car would have been impossible to tell Inside Moloko the atmosphere was has its own conductor. Locals where you are, so much has the relaxed. The venue can hold up to called her the master of the car or West influenced these kids. So 200-300 persons and seemed to something. They give you a blan- much we looked the same. We have good vibe in it. It wasn't just ket and a mattress for free, but to played next and the crowd went an ordinary commercial club. The use them you need sheets, your apeshit. And berserk. Mikko was own or ones you get from the in trouble keeping the kids off from Jussi master with a little fee. He / she jumping on his distortion pedal, also makes tea and coffee, and Tuukka was in trouble with the on our first tour the guy seemed cute ladies in the crowd that I dived to have unlimited resources of al- on and the rhythm section was cohol too... and it was the cheap- just in trouble with keeping it all est class. together... We checked out some We arrived to Moscow in the morn- of the next band and then we had ing, met Ilia and Ola, left our stuff to leave. at Ilia's place and headed to the It rained heavily and we were in a Belarussian embassy. It turned out hurry. We stopped on the we needed copies of our pass- sidewalk, waved our hands few ports. We could see the copy times, a car stopped, we told machine through the window, right where we wanted to, bargained under their noses, but there was the price, stepped into the no way they'd help us. Ola copied stranger’s car and hoped he knew them somewhere, dollars (yes, where to take us. With a little use dollars if you want something money every car turns into a taxi... to happen in Russia!) were ex- After a late supper in the train I changed and everyone was laid on a russki train futon, waiting to fall asleep, listening to the possible, and they wanted us to pants, but we ended up in an rolling sounds of the train. I felt a play. apartment of a punk couple. They burning spot in the right side of Tommi's pants looked more like a gave Tommi a pair of pants and my chest. Somebody had bit me in torn up skirt. He wanted to get a tea and biscuits for everyone. We the ribs. pair of new ones from a thrift store enjoyed them with Czech Before arriving to Minsk we had a while the others just wanted to animations and the Finns were chat with a fellow passenger with see a bit of the city. After a little satisfied again. international sign language. Ac- argument by the locals, kind of like The nazis in Belarus, like in parts cording to him Minsk was a lot more we aroused in the bus, we left of Poland, are very organized. relaxed and safe than Moscow. for a pants hunt armed with a There's a lot of spying, even infil- Actually he made Minsk sound like small fire extinguisher and clubs. tration, and violence of course. a safe haven compared to Mos- Zhenia, who was actually not from Punks hardly have a gig without cow. Everyone in Moscow on the Minsk was more nervous while trouble. When we saw one other hand wished good luck for Dragga and Fox were calm, but bonehead as we walked to the us... looking over their shoulders nev- club they first called the club if it The guys we met at the Minsk train ertheless. We didn't find any was safe to come, and apparently station: Jabba, Fox, Dragga, Zhenia and a bunch of others, were a bit nervous. Everyone kept looking over their shoulders all the time. All except Jabba. He took our passports and most of our money and bought us train tickets to Lithuania. Later I thought about the whole scenario where you are in a country the language you don't speak nor read the alphabet, in a country which is known in Am- nesty's annual reports from election scams to numerous violations against the principle human rights, or for what concerned us the most: where nazis work with the cops, you just hand you passport and money to the first person who asks for them. This made me fall even deeper in love with our little international community of punks, activists and fuck-ups. We didn't see much of the city as the locals were in a hurry to get us safe. There was to be a big soccer game the next day and since nazis like soccer, beer and fighting with punks, there might be trouble ahead. A huge meal was cooked and the Finns were satisfied. In the last minute the venue we were supposed to play had called the whole thing off and the kids were forced to rent another venue, fancier and more expensive, with their own money. With no guarantee of getting it back. We started to realize how much effort these fellows had put for this single gig to happen. They wanted to show people that it's Vellu they called someone to go after in afternoon and that we had had we passed a hat aroud for volun- the guy. "a good party". I went back to tary payment and got one Polish The club was called Safari. The sleep. Much later I found out that girl angry. "Guys from a rich coun- stage was big and full of fancy we'd been chased with cops car- try come here to ask money even equipment. Everyone kept telling rying machine guns, kept every- though there's people in the world us to relax. Nice and easy. Some body awake giggling about it and that have no money to eat." Eve- started to put up distros or just passed out into a bathtub. I've had ryone else who stayed had good drink beer. After the soundcheck started puking all over the place time. somebody told us nazis had called and resisted firmly when my bud- We couldn't all fit into the bus we a bomb threat to the club. Every- dies tried to dress me up for the were supposed to take next morn- one had to go outside. The cops train. "Voi rytyn rytty! What have I ing, so me and Jussi stayed in looked like assholes. Never have I ever done to you Tuukka?" Vilnius for another day and took a seen an asshole so full of author- It was hard to convince my cute bus to Estonia late in the evening. ity in my life. We didn't know what and helpful friends from Belarus The day was lazy. We hung to expect, but when they let us in that I'm ok. That it's just a hang- around in Vilnius with locals do- to pick up our gear we started to over. When the bus driver didn't ing absolutely nothing. The city is realize. I asked from Dragga if he let me into the bus 'cos I kept puking beautiful and I've had some best thought we couldn't play. "I don't into a plastic bag in front of him, of times there. My cap was still in think so, I know so" he replied and my straight edge nurses brought vomit, the knee started to hurt nobody argued. It looked like it was me coal pills and a small bottle of more and more making it hard to nothing new, that this was actu- something, that later turned out to walk, there was still sand in the ally pretty normal. I felt like a tour- be stronger than anything I had wound and I must have smelled ist. Everyone in the band agreed drank the night before, to ease my like a rotten ass, but I was just to come back someday whatever hang-over. They looked worried, happy to be able to eat and lucky it takes. not angry, and went to find out to have escaped the pigs in Minsk. Back in the apartment we heard the next vehicle to Vilnius. We arrived in Tallinn, Estonia, in more violent stories of Belarussian The train ride was horrible and it the morning and took a ferry to reality as it is for punks. We started was running late, but the people Helsinki. Once back home I felt like drinking beer and eventually ended at Green Club were nice enough taking a shower. up having vodka in an open hut on to wait. It was a secret gig due the lawn of the apartment. I got the problems the squat the club Hero Dishonest, Jyrangontie 7 as very drunk. Suddenly somebody was in had with the authorities. 1, 00550 Helsinki, Finland shouted "Cops" and everybody There were just us playing and a www.ifsociety.com/ started to run back to the flat. It lot of familiar faces in the crowd. herodishonest took a few more seconds for me We played as sharp as we have [email protected] to realize that I should be running ever played, people enjoyed and I Photos from St. Petersburg by up the stairs too, but they got me tried to keep the apple I had eaten Julia except this last one from convinced pretty fast. We turned not coming back up. After the gig Moscow by Tim. off the lights and waited for a moment, but when I found out that somebody had actually thrown the vodka bottle somewhere, "Some- thing no man would do in Finland!!!", me and Zhenia "the trouble maker" decided to go buy another one. I was very very drunk. I remember getting chatting with somebody outside the store that turning into pushing and showing, me running away... blackout. When I woke up I instantly knew my band mates were already heading to Lithuania. I had a big bleeding wound in my palm, it hurt to bend my right knee and vomit had made spikes out of half of my hair. I went to puke some more, heard that I'm taking a bus to Vilnius Tommi HERO DISHONEST Finland and ex-USSR tour report / July 2004

We did a tour of Russia and Eventually it dawned on me that we have a visa so we had to hitchhike Belarus, plus two shows in Finland had a show the next day as well from the Finnish side to the Rus- in mid-July 2004. Traveling were Vellu and Tuukka – shouters, Mikko so I left for the place we were sup- sian side. That was easier than I – guitar, Lasse – bass, Jussi – posed to sleep in with Tommi, we thought, we just asked random drums and Andrea – Vellu's girl- got lost only once. It was pretty people about getting a ride and friend. Written by Lasse. late but I fell asleep fast. everyone agreed immediately! The Russian border on the other hand Day 1 – Tomina-club / Day 2 – Vyborg, Russia took ages to get across. We went Ilosaarirock Woke up after a few hours of sleep in separate groups, me and Jussi I woke up pretty early after almost wanting to kill the bastards who were the last to cross. In the no sleep at all, went to Mikko's decided that it's a good idea to start steaming hot car, surrounded by place to meet everyone, then to the yelling and laughing at 8 am. Had military and borderguards and a rehearsal space to get our stuff and some breakfast and walked back ton of wasps my slight hangover then towards Joensuu. We were to the festival area. Before leaving was turning into a paranoid night- going to play on the opening club we had to drive around town to find mare and I was certain the other for Ilosaarirock, the second biggest people to buy our artist passes guys hadn’t got across and neither festival in Finland. Our first show which were good for the whole fes- would we. When we finally got in two months, actually. The van tival. Then we headed towards the there it was very quick and easy didn’t break down which was the Russian border. and we found Vellu and Andi sit- biggest surprise of the 8-hour trip It was ages since I had last visited ting at the bus station, the others to Joensuu. We arrived at the gi- Russia so I didn’t really know what had already left for Vyborg. Vellu gantic tent that we were playing in to expect. I was certain we would told us that the border guards alright before showtime. So we got get into some trouble because we most couldn’t stamp his passport our stuff onstage, did a linecheck had a shitload of instruments with cause they were so amused by his of some sort and started to play on us and didn’t look very much like a appearance. the enormous stage that was about group of innocent tourists any- We skipped the bus and did the 10 metres above the crowd that way… Problem one was getting a Russian thing which, as I was to was behind a fence 10 metres ride across the border, walking was discover a few times on this trip, away from the stage. The show not allowed and our driver didn’t meant just hailing a random car, was filmed for some movie about the festival. How did the show go? Depends who you ask. Personally I think it sucked shit, at least I did. Actually a lot of people said it looked pretty weird on such a big stage and that the sound was so terrible that they couldn’t hear a thing. They weren’t alone, the stage sound was all a blur too. I missed the contact with the audience up there, it felt like playing in an aquarium… After the show I felt like hanging myself but opted to get drunk instead. It was a fun evening and I ran into lots of friends, I also saw TikTak which is some of the most brutal metalcore Finland has ever produced, worth checking out! negotiating a price and then get- around on the floor. It was a de- two hours… ting a ride pretty much anywhere. cent size crowd and I think they This guy drove us to Vyborg in were into it. We played first be- Day 3 – Pskov, Russia less than one hour. cause we had to catch the last I vaguely remember carrying a The venue already had some punk train to St. Petersburg, we didn’t shitload of stuff to a minibus full kids drinking outside so it was get to see the two local bands play- of people and getting to the bus easy to spot. We actually arrived ing that night. station. We said goodbye to there before the others who had After the show we got our instru- Szarapow and left for Pskov. The left earlier. We checked out the ments and stuff packed up, busride was pretty uneventful, hot place and equipment and waited waited for food and some beer. and took about 6-7 hours. We ar- for the others. They finally arrived We kept asking if we should go rived in Pskov and the first guy with a bunch of kids and this guy already and the answer was al- we met was some Russian guy who was shrieking like a crow. ways ”Nah, theres still like 15 min- with a Jamaican hat saying some- The others didn’t seem to find it utes… still 5 minutes… Oh just thing about rastafari, it was pretty very weird and it turned out that relax, there’s still a good 34 sec- weird. Eventually our hosts this was Szarapow, our russian onds…” and all of a sudden we showed up and took us to the club manager who had been just drink- reeeeaaally had to run for the last TIR, which was one of the coolest ing a bit… Funny guy, for the first train. We crammed our stuff into a I had ever seen. It was deco- two hours I couldn’t stop laughing car that was going to the station rated with stuff that looked like it watching the guy just bounce all and just ran across the city our- had been stolen from a construc- over the place, scream and even- selves. We got on the train at pretty tion site, metal fences and stuff. tually go swimming in the river in much the last minute! The stage was ridiculously high his underwear. Took a walk The train ride went nicely drinking again but this time it was big around the town, got food at a beers, chatting and witnessing enough for the entire band! On the gas station, went back to the pretty weird stuff. A drunken guy way we saw some flyers that venue. who didn’t speak a word of Eng- said we were hardcorepunk with We did the soundcheck, the gui- lish kept bothering us, eventually Slayer inluences, heh! We went tar and bass equipment were ok, he followed us to a tram in St. to exchange some money and the drums were pretty crappy. Petersburg and we had to throw came back to the club to find our The stage was insanely high but him out because he was getting a vegetarian meal which was actu- small so us players stood up there bit violent. ally a boiled sausage each. Well, while the singers were running Slept at Szarapow's place for like there was bread, vegetables and some tea and coffee so we managed. Then we did a pretty long soundcheck jamming on all kinds of stuff. The others left to see the city, I stayed at the club trying to sleep a bit, it was impossible but the rest was still very welcome. The guys who put up the show had been a bit pessimistic about people showing up, it being sunday and all but when I got out of the backstage there was a pretty good sized crowd in there. When the others came back it was almost time for Ankylym from St. Petersburg to play. And man were they awesome! They played really weird Russian versions of ing really fast and lying on the ment while Vellu was sitting in the stuff like the DK’s Nazi Punks Fuck asphalt at the bus station waiting shadow trying to cure his hango- Off, some Nirvana song and even for the bus. I think I caught about ver. To no avail. Impaled Nazarene's Suomi Finland an hour of sleep while traveling Eventually the guys putting up the Perkele! The singer even used a which was definitely needed. show showed up and crammed painters ladder as an instrument Jussi had stayed up all night and us into a minibus with an Austrian at one point. Really weird, really slept for about 6 hours, lucky him! band called the Plague Mass who funny. Vellu had the worst hangover were also playing and Aga, their We got on and the place just since his last time in Minsk, I felt tour manager who was also erupted. Obviously most of the sorry for the guy until I had a se- friends with the rest of the guys people in attendance had never vere allergic reaction to something from their previous tours. even heard of us but they were and kept sneezing for about 9 The show was outside of Minsk really into it. We played one of the hours with one pitiful piece of pa- at an abandoned pioneer center, longest sets we’ve ever done, I per to blow my nose on. Then the pioneers were like a Soviet think we got called back three when we were almost in Minsk I version of the boy scouts I guess. times. At one point Vellu fell off found out we had a whole roll The show was only promoted the stage which was really high with us. within the scene through word of but luckily was not hurt seriously There is no border check between mouth, that was really out of ne- and actually just missed one line Russia and Belarus but foreign- cessity because the nazi problem before getting back up and charg- ers should actually have a visa to in Belarus is huge. The nazi skins ing into the crowd. Up until then it visit the country. But according to enjoy protection from the KGB and was definitely my best show with our original visas that got us into ruin lots of shows in central Minsk. the band and the others seemed Russia we were supposed to be This show was special for us to rank it pretty high as well. After sightseeing in St. Petersburg or because last year, before I was the show there was no sign left something so we didn't get any in the band the guys had had to of my tiredness. The rest of the visas. Besides they are really ex- cancel a show there just hours night was all about disco, beers pensive, not to mention for sis- before getting on stage because and talking with the locals. All sies! So that added an extra ele- of a nazi bomb threat. The dedi- kinds of weird stuff happened, ment of excitement to our trip to cation the Belarus punks have for some of us slept for a couple of Belarus. keeping their scene going despite hours, some didn’t get any sleep The ride took about 12 hours I think living in danger from both the nazis at all. Shows like these make trips but finally we got to the Minsk sta- and cops is amazing and some- like the next days worth it… tion. The bus guy didn’t want to thing I really admired. After all, the give us our equipment without country is a dictatorship that’s best Day 4 – Minsk, Belarus something called swzszkvzswd known probably for it’s human Someone woke me up after a cou- but we didn’t know what that was rights abuses… When carrying ple of hours of sleep for the early and eventually just took everything our stuff into the big room where morning bus. My body was all with him protesting. Some of us we played both me and Mikko numb and I couldn’t think clearly left to get some water, me and started coughing a lot. We asked but I remember sitting in a taxi go- Mikko stayed guarding the equip- about it and were told it was just traces of tear gas. Oh. At this point we were tired as fuck and were taken into a cabin with broken windows and a few beds. I checked out the other bands for a while, ate some and went to sleep. I was actually totally asleep when it was our turn to play, most of us were. The show was running really late because the first soundcheck took ages. I had a feeling the show was going to be intense because I had trouble already while figuring out the an- cient bass amp I was using because people kept falling on me dancing to the hardcore techno music the DJ was blasting out at an insane volume. We checked the sound pretty quickly and went into it. The show was floorlevel and unbeliavably chaotic, hot and intense. Maybe even better than the previous one, hard to tell. The singers were crowdsurfing most of the time and the rest of us just played our asses off, it was like playing right in the pit. Afterwards I wasn’t feeling sleepy at all but after talking with people for a while I decided it would be best to just try and get some sleep for once… No such luck. People kept running in and out of the room we were trying to sleep in. Well, Tuukka and Jussi We had to walk to the train station waiting our ride eventually were sleeping but I was sleeping and we had lots of locals help us showed up and soon we were next to a broken window in a carry our stuff, a common packed tight in the van with the swarm of mosquitoes. I eventu- occurence here it seemed. The Austrians again. The ride took ally did sleep for a few hours in train was really crowded but it about four hours and in that time I the morning. was just about a half an hour's believe Jussi came up with a so- trip back to Minsk where we had lution to every problem in the Day 5 – Grodna, Belarus to wait, wait and wait for our world with the Austrians. So it I woke up to Jussi yelling and curs- minibusride to the next town. I was a pretty pleasant trip actu- ing. His phone and some other was getting a bit worried sitting ally. stuff was missing. Vellu had also there because there was a huge We came to the venue and did a lost his wallet and passport but crowd of us sitting in the centre soundcheck immediatelly, we also we found those eventually. Jussi’s of Minsk and getting a lot of atten- played first so after the check it stuff on the other hand had actu- tion. People in the passing busses was straight to the show. It was ally been stolen. The local organ- actually pointed at us and laughed, ok, the thing that bothered me a bit izers were obviously very sorry which was actually pretty amus- was that the mixing board was about this and Jussi calmed down ing! But with a lot of cops around up front and the crowd was be- as well after hearing two words: (we were sitting in front of a bank) hind it. Also the lights guy seemed I’m not saying what they are but the fact that we were in the coun- to be into strobe lights, I am NOT… they start with an I and an F and try illegally sprung into my mind The stage was pretty big and it rhyme with assurance and more than once… was by no means a bad show, it broad… Well after like four-five hours of just couldn’t compare to the two previous ones! After the show I ending too quickly and next year ready filled with kids when we heard that it really had looked like we should do a longer one and got there. Three bands played we’d been just going through the try to go to more of the former before us, the place was already motions and I felt bad about that Soviet states. The rest of the train steaming hot when we got on. for a while, then it was time to run ride was spent researching the There were about 400 kids at the again. This time to the organizer's different aspects of Belarussian club going completely berserk, home to eat and shower so we potato chips and drinking more stagediving and doing circlepits. It could get back to Minsk in time for coffee. was so hot on stage that I was the nighttrain to Moscow. While In Moscow we met with our hosts about as wet as I would be after we were eating we heard that last and were taken to Kirill's apart- jumping into a lake, only this was night in Minsk while we were play- ment where we were staying. The from sweat! Jussi looked at times ing the nazis had somehow found others went to the market at the like he was dying behind his kit, out that there was supposed to metro station, me, Jussi and really he was just pissing his be a punk show, they had been Tuukka stayed to guard our stuff. pants though. Playing the show looking for it and actually attacked We noticed again another unique was such a rush that I don’t re- a wrong show (some alternative thing about Russia: even in a huge member many specific things, just stuff, I heard) beating and stab- city like Moscow total strangers chaos. Afterwards I was just bing people. Five people had ended just come and start conversations speechless, I sat there alone sip- up in a hospital, holy shit… with you. We hadn’t been sitting ping a beer just completely happy We ate quickly and went back to at the station for more than a few while the others were doing the venue to get the rest of our minutes when a bunch of guys something backstage. stuff, said hi to everyone and and a girl came over and started Again, a lot of kids volunteered to headed back to Minsk. With us asking about what we were do- carry our stuff and there were a was Ivan, our driver and 6 ing and where we are playing, lot of people from the show hang- Belarussian kids. The ride back seeming genuinely interested in a ing out at the metro station. We was pretty relaxed until we got bunch of smelly foreign losers stayed there for a while chatting stopped by the police. Ivan said with a bunch of instruments and with people before leaving again ”Mein gott!” (”Oh my god!”) and we bags full of dirty clothes. This hap- to catch the nighttrain to St. knew there could be trouble. Ivan pened many more times on our Petersburg. The only downside was smart enough to drive way short trip! to touring Russia that I can think past the cop and then run back to After that we went to the apart- of was that the distances were the cop with his papers apologiz- ment which was a very nice place, so long that we almost always ing for noticing him too late or made some food and got some had to leave after the shows and something so we got away. But if well deserved rest. I felt stupid: couldn’t hang out with the locals the cop had seen us in the car… here I am in Moscow, a city I’ve more. But this time a bunch of kids We got to Minsk about 20 minutes always wanted to visit and all I who wanted to see the next day's before the train was going to could do was lie on a couch, drink show traveled with us, we also leave, got the tickets, got food and beer and watch Slayer & met some others at the station sit- said bye to the kids who had been Motorhead DVDs! Am I an idiot? ting outside of the train. We were traveling with us before stepping Yes. Yes I am. But I think every- pretty loud and in good moods by on the train. The train had beds so one had a nice evening and the this point, for some reason the car I got my first decent sleep in a rest was welcome. We stayed up we were in got empty pretty quick, week. pretty late before hitting bed again. except for us. I stayed up for a while with Jussi and Tuukka shar- Day 6 – Day off in Moscow Day 7 – Moscow, Russia ing meaningful anecdotes on hu- I woke up at about the same time We left in the morning to do tourist man sexuality. with Mikko and we went for cof- stuff like seeing the Red Square fee in the restaurant car while the and finding out that the mauso- Day 8 – St. Petersburg, Russia others were still sleeping. We leum where they keep Lenin’s We met with Szarapow again at were talking about what we had corpse on display was closed. the train station, he had the just done, going into the last dicta- We ate and visited a huge market- russian c-cassette edition of our torship in Europe illegally and play- place where they sold cheap pi- new record with him. We took a ing a bunch of shows. We didn’t rate DVDs before heading back look at them and then headed for really think about it that much while to the apartment and then to the the apartment where we were there but now we had time to think club. going to leave all our stuff. It was about the could have happeneds. The club was the biggest one so a five minute-walk away which We also agreed that the tour was far and the parking lot was al- meant about half an hour. After that we went to some pancake up in Helsinki at 7 am when the on the second stage, people place and then split up to explore bus was there. Got home and started rolling in. Although we the city, I went with Tuukka. Again went to sleep. would have preferred to play on we met lots of very talkative total the small stage it was really cool strangers and had a nice day. Day 9 – Lempaala, Finland: and after the set Tuukka's pants We got back to the meeting place, Puntalarock got torn off by Vellu. There was got our stuff and got a ride to the We had to leave at noon because some wrestling and beer fighting club, Moloko. It was smaller than I had a show with my other band between us and Valse Triste. The last night, I’d estimate it held about at 4 pm on the festival we were rest of the night was spent walk- 300 people. We had to play first also playing at. Puntalarock is the ing aimlessly around the festival again because we had to catch a biggest punk festival in Finland and and running into friends. I saw bus to Finland. The place was has been going on for years. It’s Rytmihairio and Subhumans, re- packed pretty tight and it was a always two days and has a ally liked both. The last thing I re- fun show. The band we played shitload of finnish bands as well member was my friend Riku try- with in Pskov, Ankylym played af- as 6-8 foreign bands, this year’s ing to explain the deepest es- ter us and Vellu and Jussi played biggest name was the sence of heavy metal but he drums and bass for them on one Subhumans. couldn’t form one understandable or two songs. After that we talked We got there about 15 minutes be- word and he was puking too. with the locals outside and left for fore I played with my other band Which, after all, was pretty much the bus. The bus was full of peo- and then started to wait for our the deepest essence of heavy ple and the crossing the border show a few hours from then, metal. Eventually I woke up in the took ages, both sides had a bad checking out bands and catching morning in a car, not ours by the day and were really anal about up with loads of friends. It was way, that was luckily moving to- everything. On the Russian side I also going to be our singer wards Helsinki. think they checked our passports Tuukka's last show with the band. a total five times! On the Finnish Before the show I once again put Photos (from Minsk, Grodna and side the whole bus had to be emp- on the shirt I had worn for every Moscow) by Gurski, Danik and tied and they checked every little show on the tour. It smelled so Chikomoto. corner of it with flashlights. Eve- bad that I almost puked. We started ryone was pretty pissed off but playing to an empty field while For contacts look a few pages we got to Finland ok and I woke some other band was still going back. The never ending war in Chechnya by Julia Hoffmann ([email protected]), February 2004 1. "A tremendous centuries, where no offensive casus were defeated in 1920, the against clan honor could go unpun- Bolsheviks entered the North Cau- legacy of hatred" ished, and feuds could go on for casus. In Bolshevik propaganda Conflict in Chechnya: generations. Shamil became a revolutionary and symbol of resistance to imperial Background Perspective rule. Many Mountaineers welcomed (The Chechen point of view) the Bolsheviks, who seemed to Now after two wars in Chechnya in sympathize with their aspirations the post-Soviet era - one under the and were, in any case, the enemies Yeltsin administration, one under of their enemy. However, after the Putin - there is still no end of one of civil war the Bolsheviks sent the the world's most brutal civil wars in Red Army into the region, overthrew sight. The Chechens cannot expel the existing order. The Mountain- the Russians and the Russians eers rose in response. In August cannot prevent Chechen raids and 1920 a new war began in the south terrorist actions. The long legacy of of Dagestan. Almost immediately the unequal and bitter struggle has all of Dagestan and southern defined the Russian-Chechen rela- Chechnya was in revolt. By 1921, tions. Like other such conflicts, it large Bolshevik forces were fight- has its roots in the history of the ing this resistance. interactions between the protago- Imam Shamil Soviet propaganda then cast nists, and how they define them- Shamil as a class enemy. Soviet selves and the "other"*. To under- Shamil tried to create a coalition of interests in Chechnya grew with the stand the conflict, this note will re- all the Mountaineers, but the Rus- development of its oil fields and the view the political and religious his- sians were able to block him. His arrival of Russians to manage the tory of the North Caucasus region. power, therefore, was confined to oil industry. Chechnya and Dagestan. Even so, On January 20, 1921 Stalin, then Tsarist Intervention he was able to fight off everything Commissar for Nationalities, de- and Chechen Resistance the Russians sent during the Great clared that the Bolsheviks sup- Caucasus War (1834-1859), but the ported sovereignty and independ- The first Russian-Chechen clash more numerous Russian forces, ence for the Mountaineers. took place in 1722, when the inhab- based on the two garnison towns Chechnya was taken out of the itants of a Chechen village (aul) of Vladikavkaz ("conqueror of the Mountain Republics and made into drove off a Russian cavalry patrol. Caucasus") and Grozny ("threaten- an Autonomous Oblast of the Rus- Sheikh Mansur led a war against ing") prevailed. At length Shamil sian Federation (ASSR) - the be- the Russians from 1785 to 1791. was forced to surrender and ginning of a continuing process of Under Catherine II Russia began to Chechnya, Ingushetia and re-definition and ever diminishing push Russian settlements into the Dagestan were attached to the freedoms. By 1924, the Mountain mountains of the North Caucasus. Russian Empire. But a tremendous Republic had been dissolved in a To the Chechens, this was a threat legacy of hatred was left, especially similar fashion into national units and they fought. among the Chechens who had inside the newly-created Russian After the Napoleonic wars, Russia fought the hardest and suffered the Soviet Federated Socialist Repub- advanced to the South Caucasus. most. lic. One by one the promises were A religious movement combined broken. In 1929, the Soviet leader- with a charismatic leader, Imam ship decided to introduce collectivi- Shamil (1796-1871), sustained Stalinism and Chechnya When the Russian Empire col- zation in the USSR, starting with the their resistance. Sufism a profound North Caucasus. The Chechens spiritual movement and Koran- lapsed in 1917, the Chechens tried again and the Republic of the North immediately rose and serious fight- based social order became the tra- ing lasted from December 1929 to ditional religious movement of the Caucasus was proclaimed. The Mountaineers fought against Red Stalin's relaxing of collectivization Chechens and other Islamic peo- in March 1930. But, this was just a ples of the North Caucasus. Sufism and White forces in the Civil War. The Reds supported the independ- tactical retreat and the Soviet ter- stands up for the establishment of ror intensified in Chechnya, as else- the Shari'ah or Islamic law and op- ence of the region as part of their struggle with the Whites and in the where, through the 1930s. From poses the blood feud (the kanli) this time on the Chechens never practiced by Chechen clans over hope of using Islam against the imperial powers. The Whites found stopped fighting. * - Further reading recommenda- support among the Russian Cos- Undeniably the greatest disaster to tion: Samuel P. Huntington, The sack populations living on the befall the Chechen people was the Clash of Civilizations and the Re- steppe and resistance among the deportation of 1944. Stalin decided making of World Order (New York: Chechen mountaineers. that now was the time to settle with Touchstone Books, 1998). When the White forces in the Cau- them and he decreed that the entire people had been guilty of col- Chechens who live in Dagestan) is incorrect and bad Islam. laborating with the Nazis. In 1944 and Tatars (who live in Russia and The Wahhabis in Chechnya are NKVD carried out Stalin's "solution Ukraine). fighting for a Wahhabi state there. to the Chechen Question" - mass But what sort of independent They appear to have made their first deportation of Chechens to Central Chechnya or Mountaineer Repub- attempt to construct the Wahhabi Asia. Over 70,000 of the 450,000 lic is it to be? Secular or Islamist? Imamate when they tried to take Chechens expelled died during If the latter what kind of Islamist? over Chechen city of Gudermes in transit or upon arrival. Chechnya The fighting in Chechnya has July 1998. In the Summer of 1999, ceased to exist. The discovery of a brought the word "Wahhabism" to they invaded Dagestan. Their aim Stalin-era mass grave in Grozny in public notice. is to create a Wahhabi state right August 1990 was a reminder to the across the North genocide. The exile became the Caucasus and, defining event for succeeding gen- probably, after erations of Chechens. that in Abkhazia In 1957 Nikita Khrushchev decreed in Georgia. that the Chechens could return to The leading their ancestral homelands. Wahhabi field Chechnya and Ingushetia were commander in joined administratively into the Chechnya is Al Chechen-Ingush Autonomous Re- Khattab. He has public. formed an alliance with per- The North Caucasus haps Chechnya's leading hero of Mountaineer Republic Dzhokhar Dudayev the 1994 war, But, for many Chechens, Chechen Shamil Basayev. independence was not the the end Chechens and Islam Basayev has been fighting to re-es- of the struggle. The Chechen inde- The Wahhabi Imamate* tablish the Mountaineer Republic pendence struggle has usually Arabic language and Islamic faith for several years. He led the been carried out as part of a strug- gave Chechens access to a liter- Chechen forces in Abkhazia in the gle for the independence for all the ate world that linked Chechen cul- wars that obtained Abkhazia's de Mountaineers. facto independence from Georgia. The dream of the Mountaineer Re- ture to a greater identity. Chechens embraced the religion brought by He was a leading field commander public and the memory of its early in the war against Russia and led death at the hands of Russian Muslim missionaries and made it their own. By the eighteenth cen- the raid on the town of Whites, Bolsheviks and Georgians tury most of the peoples of the Cau- Budyonnovsk that reversed the after 1917, continues to exist. There casus, with the exception of the course of the war in June 1995. has been talk about "liberating" Hatred of Wahhabis is quite strong Karabakh in Azerbaijan. It is, as it Georgians and Armenians, were Muslims. Islam provided the basis - they are accused of making war were, "the other shoe" of Chechen on other Muslims to further their he- independence. for alliances with the many other Is- lamic peoples of the region in their retical aims. Indeed, in many Mus- Not all Chechens want this, how- struggle with Orthodox Russia. lim states, the expression "Muslim ever, or at least not immediately: Wahhabism, a movement to purify extremist," so beloved of Western- President Maskhadov, for example, ers refers to Wahhabis. has never said much about larger Islam, takes its name from Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab For this reasons it has to be recog- aims. nized, that Chechens themselves Chechnya's first president, (1703-1791). Al-Wahhab believed that over the years monotheism have their motives to fight they are Dzhokhar Dudayev, believed an in- had become corrupted by polythe- not only puppets in this war. In dependent Chechnya would lead to istic practices. He tried to cleanse Chechnya, outsiders should be ad- a Mountaineer Republic: vised against picking sides and "As we [Chechens] hold a central it of a millenium's accretions and return it to what he saw as its an- painting one as virtuous and the geographic, strategic and eco- other evil. The level of chaos and nomic position in the Caucasus and cient purity. An analogous Christian example might be the Puritans of disorder simply overwhelms these have the necessary human poten- the English Civil War and Protec- categories. tial, we must be the initiators of this torate. future union". 2. In April 1991, a founding meeting Wahhabism directly confronts the "Chechen of the Assembly of the Mountain traditional Sufism of the North Cau- independence casus and it preaches that Sufism independence People of the Caucasus was held is not acceptable" in Sukhumi, Abkhazia. Caucasian * - Much of this is drawn from Dale Mountain Peoples met in Grozny Herspring Putin's Russia. 2003 Putin and Russia's with delegates from Chechnya, Chapter of Jacob W. Kipp and Wars in Chechnya Adygeya, Abkhazia, Ingushetia, Patrick Armstrong Conflict in (Review of the Putin Path) Chechnya Journal of Conflict Stud- Ossetia, Dagestan, Kabarda and It is nothing new that President ies November 1999 which can be Circassia and delegations from the Vladimir Putin has linked the end Karachay, Akin Chechens (the found in the Internet. game of the conflict in Chechnya Dzhokhar Dudayev quickly failed covert operation, Yeltsin's with Russian participation in a emerged as the leader of the self- government sought to use force to broad, antiterrorist coalition. In the proclaimed Chechen government. recover from the disaster. The po- wake of the events of September Initially, the Yeltsin government paid litical leadership, while eager for a 11th, Putin has chosen to redefine little attention to the situation in military solution, was unable to pro- the former conflict to fit within the Chechnya. Dissolving the Soviet vide a plausible explanation for the latter. This was not a particularly system, trying to create a viable use of force in Chechnya. onerous task because Putin had Russian government, and trans- Therefore the First Chechen war long been describing the war in forming the economy through pri- never invoked broad public support, Chechnya as a campaign against vatization and marketization were and the Russian media, with few bandits and terrorists. After Sep- exceptions, critically questioned the tember 11th, Putin announced his Shamil Basayev government's account of the cam- support for the international war paign. against terrorism. When Shamil Basayev's band Labeling the attacks on the World raided the village of Budyonnovsk Trade Center in New York barbaric, in Stavropol Kray ninety miles in- Putin offered Russian support for side Russia and took hostages at the antiterrorist struggle. He noted the local hospital in June 1995, it that Russia had long called for a was the Russian media that de- unified effort against international picted the government's incompe- terrorism, had been battling it in tent response, turning Basayev into Chechnya and Central Asia, and an international figure, and further was now ready to take an active discrediting the Russian govern- part in a multilateral coalition ment's cause. As a final straw, the against it. "Russia has not changed government failed to free hostages its stance. Surely, we are willing held by Basayev, and was forced now, too to contribute to the to negotiate their release while per- antiterror cause. As we see it, at- given top priority. While the mitting the escape of the Chechen tention must turn primarily to en- Dudayev government managed to detachment. hancing the role of international in- gain control of most of the Soviet As the 1996 presidential elections stitutions established to promote in- weapons left in Grozny, it did not approached, the Yeltsin govern- ternational security - the United manage to create an orderly or sta- ment swung back and forth be- Nations and its Security Council"* . ble government. Due to Dudayev's tween repression and accommoda- Putin defined Russia's national re- increasingly arbitrary and corrupt tion. To win re-election Yeltsin covery in terms of a strong, stable, government, Chechnya sank into a needed both evidence of progress centralized state, Chechen inde- morass of crime and terrorism that on the ground and an opportunity pendence could not be accepted, affected Russian economic and to begin negotiations with the only imposed, and certainly not by political interests. Chechens. On April 21, 1996 the Chechen resistance alone, Now Yeltsin came to view Chechen Dzhokhar Dudayev, the Chechen which is a challenge to Russia's im- independence as a threat to Rus- president, was killed. With the perial pretensions. sia's territorial integrity and sover- death of Dudayev, the Yeltsin gov- eignty. He came to view a Chechen ernment proposed a cease-fire as The First Chechen War victory as a geopolitical "domino" a first step toward a negotiated set- that would subject the Russian Fed- tlement. In the following months, the of the Russian Federation, eration to the same forces of disin- Yeltsin team ensured Yeltin's re- 1994-1996 tegration that had torn apart the election by forging an alliance with When Mikhail Gorbachev em- Soviet Union. He decided to lead a General Aleksandr Lebed, who had barked on his ill-fated attempt to military intervention, which was de- been an outspoken critic of the war save the Soviet system via clared a peacemaking mission that in Chechnya. Confronted by the Glasnost and Perestroika, Chechen would restore 'constitutional order'. Chechen reconquest of Grozny and nationalists saw an opportunity to Officially he considered a military serious divisions within the govern- attain national self-determination. intervention as something less than ment over the further prosecution Yeltsin encouraged the national re- a war. of the war, for Lebed a cease-fire publics within Russia further to seek The Yeltsin government did not an- and settlement of Chechnya were greater autonomy. The Chechens ticipate serious or effective military the only way to save the exploited this opportunity. In late resistance from the Chechens, ei- unreformed armed forces from dis- November 1990, a national ther Dudayev's troops or a popular integration and collapse. The Chechen conference declared the insurrection, however military pro- cease-fire ended the fighting but left independence and sovereignty of fessionals did warn the government the ultimate status of Chechnya Chechnya and its secession from regarding the condition of Russian unresolved. the Soviet Union. General Major forces and the danger of underes- timating Chechen resistance. Rus- Between the Wars, * - Drawn from "Putin Determines sian military leadership gravely un- Russian Stance on Antiterror derestimated the risks of a popular 1996 - 1999 Cause," RIA NOVOSTI, September uprising in support of Chechen in- On the Chechen side it was Aslan 24, 2001. dependence. Confronted with a Maskhadov who was the driving force behind the efforts to negoti- over the republic. announced that there was a ate the peace agreement to end the "Chechen trace" in the crimes. The first war. Aslan Maskhadov has The Second Chechen War, terrorists however were never been president of Chechnya since found, which gave rise to the sus- 1997, although he is now head of 1999 - ? picion about the involvement of the rebel administration. He is seen In summer 1999 separatists from Russian secret services in the ex- as a moderate, and although a Chechnya invaded the Russian re- plosions. committed Muslim, he is opposed public of Dagestan, for the purpose The conspiracy theory is too sim- to the militant fundamentalist Islam, to create a radical Wahhabi Islamic ple an explanation for the water- or Wahhabism. state in Chechnya and adjacent re- shed change in Russian public With the peace, Maskhadov moved gions. The separatists supposedly opinion. But we must admit that to more formally into politics, as prime took advantage of the confusion in this day there are no satisfactory minister in the Chechen coalition Russian politics, which came along answers to numerous questions government from October 1996, with the presidential pre-election stemming from that period. Nor and subsequently president in period. But by a strange coinci- does one sense any desire by the January 1997. dence, they attacked Dagestan Kremlin to conduct a thorough in- As a moderate, many saw when preparations were already vestigation of the events that would Maskhadov as leaning too close to underway in Moscow for a transfer lead to the capture of the Moscow. Speculation is rife follow- of power. And why didn't Moscow perpretators, thereby putting an end ing the Moscow theatre siege that stop the invasion? Why did the to all the rumors*. he has effectively lost any influence Russian power ministers calmly The blasts in Russian cities were he had with the militant factions in watch the open massing of armed the final straw that rendered retali- the separatist camp. Maskhadov is separatists in border regions? atory action in Chechnya 'inevita- currently thought to be with rebel Moreover, a brigade of Interior Min- ble'. On September 30, 1999, fed- units in the mountainous region of istry troops that had been protect- eral troops entered Chechnya. Be- the country. ing the border between Chechnya cause the military actions were In fact the inter-war period in and Dagestan was quickly removed labeled "antiterrorist operations", no Chechnya was a time of chaos. The just before the invasion. approval from the upper chamber economy was in ruins, there was Some Russian journalists wrote of the parliament, the Federation little or no infrastructure with which openly that people close to the Council, or declaration of a state of to attempt a recovery, organized Kremlin, primarily Berezovsky, emergency in Chechnya was re- crime was rife, and back-yard oil might have pushed the Chechen quired. refineries that lined the pockets of fighters to attack Dagestan to in- The majority of Russians consid- the gangsters were springing up all crease the Russian's people's ered the first Chechen war criminal. sense of vulnerability Now it was considered criminal not and pave the way for to support the military crusade in a change of rule*. Chechnya**. After the military at- "Why did Chechnya tack on Chechnya began, Putin no happen before longer needed to continue the diffi- Yeltsin's re-election? cult struggle for power. All he had Why is there now to do was point to the enemy, who Dagestan before were Chechens, naturally. War these elections?," lifted him to the peak of the political asked the magazine Olympus. Even Putin's occasional Profil on August 30, use of street slang (for instance his referring to the parlia- promise to "wipe out" the Chechen mentary elections terrorists "in the outhouse"), which scheduled for Decem- shocked the intelligentsia, im- ber. "Who ordered a pressed the rest of the country with war in Dagestan and the new leader's folksiness. why?" The blow up of resi- * - Lilia Shvetsova is a Russian dential buildings in politolog with a great writing style late Autumn 1999 in and a critical attitude towards Rus- Moscow and other sian policy in Chechnya. Reading Russian cities killing recommendation Shvetsova, Lilia: about 300 civilians Putin's Russia, 2003. were the final cause ** - To compare: in January 1995, for new military ac- 54 percent of those polled wanted tions against Russian troops pulled out of Chechnya. Even be- Chechnya. By contrast, in Novem- fore opening an inves- ber and December 1999, between tigation, the Kremlin 61 and 70 percent of those polled approved of the operation in * - Talbott, The Russia Chechnya. In: Lilia Shvetsova. Aslan Maskhadov Hand, p.4. Putin's Russia, p. 39. Maskhadov, Moscow lost a chance to come to terms with the generation of Chechen leaders still willing to talk to Moscow. The new generation of separatists, who grew up during the war with Russia and who think only of the holy jihad against Russians, wants only blood revenge. But in the hostage taking of Octo- ber 23rd 2002, when a group of Chechen fighters seized a theater in downtown Moscow and took more than 800 hostages to demand an end to the war in the Northern Caucasus, it was President Putin who rejected any negotiations with the terrorists. For the Kremlin to start negotiations would be the acknowledgement that the war with Akhmad Kadyrov and Vladimir Putin the Chechens was not to be won, In Summer of 2000, Moscow was known nothing but war, was trained and this war was an important le- showing signs of confusion over to do nothing, and thought of noth- gitimization of Putin's ascendancy Chechnya, despite the obvious fact ing but revenge against the Rus- to power. No, Vladimir Putin was not that it was dead end, still had the sians. Those youngsters were more ready for defeat - especially when support of the public, which wanted and more leaning toward radical he was facing the elections. Instead the Russian army to keep on fight- Islam - Wahhabism and jihad, the he ordered special services to ing until the separatists were "sacred war" with Russia was be- storm the theater building. This crushed. Besides, Chechnya was coming their life goal. Putin clearly ruthless rescue operation, in which not ready to build an independent didn't know what to do with an unknown gas was used, killed state. The Russian army had oc- Chechnya. about 120 hostages. Many more - cupied almost the entire territory of Russia lost the right to vote in the about 600 hostages - found them- Chechnya, and the problem of what Council of Europe because of its selves in hospitals suffering from was to be done now was becom- handling of the "antiterrorist opera- the mysterious gas cocktail. ing much more pressing. If Russian tion" in Chechnya (this right was The Kremlin was not ready to think troops left Chechnya, the field com- returned to Russia in 2001 after a about the domestic roots of the ter- manders - the same warlords who delegation from the council visited rorist problem. Instead, it equated enriched themselves trading in hos- Chechnya and concluded that Rus- the struggle with the Chechen tages, drug trafficking, and selling sian policy there was becoming separatists with the U.S. struggle arms - would take charge again as more 'civilized'). against Osama bin Laden and in- they had done after the first war. By the end of the year 2000 it was terpreted the hostage crisis as the And the leaders then would not be obvious that the Russian public activity of an international terrorism the moderates like Chechen presi- considered the war in Chechnya a network. Nobody wanted to ac- dent Aslan Maskhadov but more in- failure*. knowledge that the "Chechen prob- transigent people like Basayev and lem" had not been solved. Khattab. The bandits’ raids into Presidential Elections Instead Putin presented his idea of Russian territory, kidnappings, and a three steps "normalization plan" Chechnya's disintegration into in the Chechen Republic, for the North Caucasus. In March chaos would continue. But Russia 2003 2003, Chechen voters approved a could not win in Chechnya either. At the start of the current conflict, new constitution affirming for the So at this point in history, Russia Russia declared Maskhadov's gov- purpose to receive limited au- and the breakway Chechen repub- ernment - the Ishkeria - illegitimate tonomy rights and they voted for lic were caught in a situation with- and installed their own administra- new laws on the presidential elec- out exit. People began to ask why, tion. In rejecting negotiations with tion and the parliament of the Re- with the full power of the army de- public to create a legal basis for the ployed against them, the separa- * - 49 percent called the president's deposition of Maskhadov. Over the tist warlords were still at large and actions there unsuccessful, as op- summer, the government granted moving freely around Chechnya - posed to 24 percent at the begin- amnesty to rebels who laid down and also to ask where the rebels ning of the year. But there were no their weapons. were getting their advanced arms. antiwar demonstrations or other The balloting for a new Chechen A significant percentage of popu- actions in Russia. Society seemed president in October 2003 repre- lation believed that Russia's lead- to remain aloof from the war, wait- sented the third stage in this plan. ers were involved in a conspiracy ing it out. People pretended that the But the elections were highly unfair. with the rebel leaders. events in Chechnya and the con- Election officials said Akhmad In the meantime a new generation tinual losses had nothing to do with Kadyrov won 81,1 percent of the of Chechens grew up, one that had them. vote on a reported turnout of 83,46 percent. In contrary to this, rights as if by a bulldozer. The president Chechen War. As I have noted ear- groups reported that the polling sta- of Chechnya is determined long lier, Putin has taken full advantage tions were nearly empty and opin- before the elections, and everything of these circumstances, emphasiz- ion polls have shown Kadyrov to be was done to assure his victory. The ing the linkage between Islamic ter- widely unpopular. Kadyrov is con- victory of any other candidate, ex- rorists in Chechnya and those in Af- sidered leader of the pro-Russian cept for the acting president of the ghanistan and Iraq. When U.S. of- civil administration in Chechnya. Republic, would have led to re-di- ficials criticize, Putin or his aides Previously he was seen as a sup- vision of power, which is not in the make clear they consider such porter of president Maskhadov, al- interests neither of Moscow or comments out of bounds, citing though violently opposed to the Chechnya. their cooperation in the war on ter- forces of Wahhabism. By the ma- rorism. "We have to get rid of […] jority of Chechens he is seen as a 3."We only want the habit of lecturing each other," turncoat, heading a puppet admin- Putin said in response to State De- istration. President Maskhadov has your best!" partment criticism of Russia's hu- called him an "enemy of the Discovering man rights record in Chechnya. Chechen people". "We have to become partners. We The manipulation of the election the dishonest behavior have to support each other." Offi- has undermined its legitimacy of international actors cials at the highest levels in inter- abroad before the first vote was on Chechnya national policy have adopted what cast. All major challengers to the Putin administration is saying. Khadyrov were consequently elimi- (The Weak West) International policy on Chechnya, nated from the election lists. Malik Few if any of these issues took a since September 11th, has been Saidullaev, who is seen to be a a prominent place on the agenda subject in great part to maintaining highly favored candidate from the when Putin met with President a counterterrorism coalition with Chechen population for the office Bush at Camp David for a summit Russia. Sara Mendelson* takes a of president, said he met at the in fall 2003. U.S. officials acknowl- closer look on America's Russia Kremlin with Vladislav Surkov, edge that their attention to Russia's policy: Putin's deputy chief of staff, who internal policies has taken a back Whatever the determinants of US told him to quit because "an order seat to the war on terrorism. "I don't policy on Chechnya are, it is a por- had been issued to pull Kadyrov think this means these are unim- trait of actors that are missing, of through." portant issues," Energy Secretary decisions not made, things not said, Saidullaevs account echoes the Spencer Abraham said in an interactions not taken. There's this weird experience of other candidates. view while visiting Russia to discuss Alice in Wonderland thing where Khusein Dzhabrailov, abruptly energy cooperation and nuclear they say everything is okay with dropped out after talking with non-proliferation and to confer with Chechnya. There has been a ten- Surkov. Putin. "But there's no doubt that dency on the part of U.S. The last remaining major Kadyrov since September 11th the focus has policymakers to talk about democ- challenger, State Duma member been on what we can do about in- racy and human rights when it Aslambek Aslakhanov, pulled out to ternational terrorism and homeland seems strategically convenient. take a job as presidential adviser security." They then let democracy fade from after Putin's ex-chief of staff, Alex- The events of September 11th the agenda when a focus on these ander Voloshin, called him to the transformed the international secu- issues threatens to interfere with Kremlin. rity environment and gave Presi- traditional security matters. These The authorities did not even pre- dent Putin an opportunity to trans- wars have never been regarded as tend the elections to be free and fair. form the external contexts of the a "first-order problem" the way that The road for Kadyrov was cleared Russia's dealings with Iran have. There has been instead a general bracketing of the issue. As one senior American diplomat intoned, the United States will not jeopardize its relationship with Russia over Chechnya. Therefore US policy on Chechnya in both the Clinton and Bush admin- istrations has been largely a rhe- * - Sara Mendelson is an American politolog with a very cool, because critical and sensitive point of view on America's Foreign policy. I can really recommend her paper: "America's Russia policy", which can be found in the Internet and an article from her: The Putin Path, 2001 in the journal PONARS (political science). torical response to terrible events. Policymakers labeled the first war across as mixed signals. Sometimes the tone has been an "internal matter" or an "internal In 2000 the Bush election campaign harsher than at other times, but the problem". The selective designation picked up on this inconsistency in US government's position has been of things internal must have struck the Clinton administration's ap- essentially the same: there is not a the Russians as somewhat odd. proach. But even Bush administra- military solution to Chechnya and Through a variety of programs - in- tion officials acknowledge that "the there must be a negotiated settle- cluding democracy assistance and very critical language" used during ment. The US government has for market reform - the US government the campaign disappeared once in years also insisted that there be ac- and NGOs were intensely involved office*. After September 11th the countability for human rights in many internal issues, from dis- war in Chechnya seemed almost to abuses, that there be an end to the mantling nuclear weapons to train- take on another character for the infamous 'mop-up' operations ing election observers to helping administration. Because Bush was (zachistki), and the internally dis- formulate government budgets. No so focused on getting cooperation placed persons return voluntarily. one inside the US government was from Putin on basing troops in Cen- How was this rhetorical approach arguing that these issues were in- tral Asia, the war in Chechnya was sustained, given that since the early ternal affairs and therefore the downplayed and reinterpreted as 1990s the dominant US policy to- United States should not be in- part of the global war on terrorism. ward Russia has been its integra- volved. President Bush's endorsement of tion into the Euro-Atlantic commu- This labeling of Chechnya, how- President Putin's approach to the nity? If Russian troops have repeat- ever, was not challenged in any sig- war on terrorism speaks for itself: edly violated the Geneva Conven- nificant way inside the government. First of all, President Putin has tions why has this not affected Rus- There may even have been some been a stalwart in the fight against sia's integration? And in the post- genuine sympathy or anxiety asso- terror. He understands the threat of September 11th era, has the frame ciated with what the Russians were terror, because he has lived through which US policymakers confronting. In 1994 many in the US through terror. He's seen terror view the war in Chechnya shifted? government were still trying to cope firsthand and he knows the threat Is it still seen primarily as a human with the impact of Soviet disintegra- of terrorism…He understands what rights issue, as a successful con- tion on the nuclear weapons com- I understand, that there won't be tribution to the war on terrorism, or plex. Fears of chaos inside Russia peace if terrorists are allowed to kill as a security threat? How has dis- may have driven some more-or- and take innocent life. And, there- sent inside government on this less positive responses by senior fore, I view President Putin as an policy differed from dissent outside? officials to the war. Moreover, even ally, strong ally, in the war against Where were the NGOs and Con- if one was not sympathetic, the al- terror. And his actions are more gress on this issue? ternative policy course was unclear. than - speak louder than - his No one seemed to know what to do words. He has been a man of ac- Rhetoric during about Chechnya. The war was re- tion when it comes to fighting ter- grettable but not a policy priority. ror, and I appreciate that very the First War much**. In the first war an important dy- Rhetoric during Only in summer 2002 there was a namic shaping the US response to slight change to be felt. Only then Chechnya was the personal chem- the Second War out of frustration and a sense of fail- istry between the presidents, cap- How did US policy respond to the ure there raised voices which saw tured in part by President Clinton's second war? The war was no the war in Chechnya helps breed nickname for Yeltsin, "ol' Boris", and longer seen as an internal affair. rather than eliminate extremism. Yeltsin's nickname for Clinton, The U.S. foreign policy toward "friend Bill". This chemistry had the Chechnya could be described as The role unexpected effect of inhibiting criti- "Head-in-the-sand" approach. cism rather than encouraging it. Withholding the second tranche of of Non-Governmental Chechnya was seen as an incon- an International Monetary Fund Organizations venient sore spot, to be brought up (IMF) loan in December 1999 was Russian and Western Human and then dropped. Clinton was indeed a response to the second Rights organizations have docu- highly sensitive to Yeltsin's domes- war, but they apparently did not mented the disproportionate use of tic political situation and, according make this clear to the Russians at force and the indiscriminate target- to his Russia adviser Strobe Talbott, the time. Instead, the messages ing of civilians, in addition to was reluctant to "pile-on against from the Americans were coming zachistki that regularly involve loot- Yeltsin". Clinton was "not comfort- Wiliam Perry lamented that what- ing, ransom, rape and execution. able about hectoring" the Russians ever good personal relationship he They have detailed forced disap- to seek a political solution "when we had developped with Minister of didn't really know what that meant". Defense Pavel Grachev, it did not * - Talbott, The Russia Hand, Au- He was reluctant to use his per- carry over when discussing thors interview, senior Bush admin- sonal relationship with Yeltsin to Chechnya. "It was like discussing istration official, Washington, DC, push him hard on the war*. abortion with a devout Catholic…it July 29, 2002. * - Talbott, The Russia Hand. This was a religious issue, not an ** - "President Bush, President dynamic was experienced by oth- objecttive issue." (Author's inter- Putin Discuss Joint Efforts Against ers in the Clinton administration: view, Stanford, California, August Terrorism", June 27, 2002 White Former Secretary of Defense 20, 2001). House news release. pearances of up to 2,000 people But according to the influence of the human rights groups, they are "not and "filtration camps", where rebels reporting of human rights organiza- for peace, per se"*. and civilians are routinely tortured. tions on Chechnya one has to say Not surprisingly, nearly 4 years into They have been well documented: that the information in the reports the second war on Chechnya US highly respected organizations of human rights organisations may policy remains largely rhetorical. have amassed much evidence that be hard to ignore, but the recom- Russian federal forces have clearly mendations to the United States The Weak West and repeatedly violated the Geneva advocated by HRW have not been. Western leaders have been quick Conventions and the Universal They have called for change in the to make friends with Putin even as Declaration of Human Rights*. rhetoric (use of the term 'war crime') he makes clear to them that he is Among the most powerful pieces of and urged the United States to not interested in human rights. It is evidence, in addition to lengthy in- press Russia to account for the a reminder that the Chechen war terviews conducted by Human abuses through independent inves- and the many problems faced by Rights Watch, is a survey done by tigations. HRW would like account- activists in Russia are not really Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) ability to be a "nonnegotiable mini- front-and-center for policymakers 2001. This organization interviewed mum condition for enhanced politi- dealing with Russia, even though 1,142 refugees from Chechnya who cal, economic and security relation- the policymakers make the impor- were displaced by the war to ships with the Russian Federation" tance of democracy in Russia cen- Ingushetia. When the findings of the and for the United States to "op- tral to every speech**. Chechnya survey are compared pose payment of any pending loan Now Bush's America and Putin's with a similar one the PHR did in installments payable to the Russian Russia are fighting on the same Macedonia with Kosovar Albanians Federation for unrestricted general side of the war on terrorism. In ex- in the Spring of 1999, it becomes budgetary spending"*. change to Putin's support for apparent that the level of violence The 'pressure' that organizations America in the war against the against the civilian population in like HRW, Amnesty International Taliban in Afghanistan, the United Chechnya by the Russian forces is and Memorial generate on this is- States have - at least until now - quantitatively greater (with as many sue seems to be taken as ritualis- offered Russia the same reciprocal as four times the number of civil- tic. For example, some government arrangements that was once of- ians killed) than the violence of officials note the "drumbeat" that fered to the Cold War allies. In other Serb forces against the civilian the NGOs had in the initial period words an agreement not to mention population in Kosovo, a situation of the second war has not been the Russian army's abuse of civil- that roused the international com- "maintained or sustained".There ians in Chechnya and not to talk too munity to action. has been in fact no strong lobby for loudly about Russian assistance for Given how destructive and a more interventionist US policy. Saddam Hussein. extralegal these wars have been, There has been no major effort in This principle - the enemy of my en- and how well the abuses have been the United States to get the Rus- emy is not just my friend but my documented, why has US policy sian actions in Chechnya classified very, very best friend, no matter how been mainly limited to rhetoric? A as genocide. appalling he actually may be - is military option was never on the Moreover, despite similar goals, nothing new in American foreign table, but why, for example, weren't NGOs working on democracy in policy. It was a central tenet of the sanctions imposed or other tougher Russia and human rights groups Cold War, and a lot of damage it policies implemented? And why monitoring abuses in Russia have did, too. were so few inside or outside the had almost no communication with protection of citizens' rights" from government advocating a different one another. Human rights organi- their organizational name, goals response? An important explana- zations have been consumed with and objectives. The reason? Ac- tion lies in the nature of the prob- collecting and disseminating infor- cording to the officials, NGOs do not lem itself and competing priorities**. mation on Russian atrocities and have the right to protect citizens; And of course: Russia is not Ser- abuses in Chechnya. Communica- that is the business of the state bia. tion or coordination is not viewed alone. as central to their mission. * - Sara Mendelson: The Putin Path. * - Letter from a human rights or- Other factors limit their impact as Civil Liberties and Human Rights in ganization to the American Commit- well: groups that do release infor- Retreat. In: Problems of Post-Com- tee for Peace in Chechnya. In: Sara mation designed to pressure munism, vol. 47, no. 5, September/ Mendelson: America's Russia Poli- policymakers to use the words 'war October 2000, pp 3-12. cy. crimes' in reference to Chechnya ** - There are numerous equities ** - But critics remain still largely may refrain from mounting larger involved. Many inside and outside rhetorical, like for example the open campaigns to stop the war for fear government have been reluctant to letter from Colin Powell (U.S. sec- of being perceived as 'political'**. As pursue a different policy on the war retary of state) published in Izvestija that either threatens these other missile defense and NATO expan- in January 2004 (Washington Post, equities- such as fighting terrorism sion. Jan 26, 2004). Or the meeting be- and combating the proliferation of * - Human Rights Watch, Welcome tween Putin and German Foreign weapons of mass destruction to Hell, pp. 96-97. Minister Joschka Fischer in Febru- (WMD) - or that threatens Russian ** - Reason for this reluctance can ary 2004, who refused to discuss policymakers at the same time that be seen also in the Russian re-reg- the War in Chechnya in public - the United States pursues policies istration law by June, 1999. Memo- "only behind closed doors". over Russian objections, such as rial had to delete the phrase: "the JASON FLOWER Jason Flower is Poland-based muso / label dude of Canadian origin; groups at the same time over a once a member of MEXICAN POWER AUTHORITY and THIRD number of years...) WORLD PLANET, he released a bunch of old East Euro punk too... MENSTRUAL SPONGE: 1989? (I played guitar). Legendary Dada kitch noise shit from my friend Maxine Smolkin, whom I claim out- right to be the goddess of style. Just played one gig with Max – it was her project... great fun. DAYWORLD: 1990 (vocals). My very good friend Josh Stull tricked me into singing in his funk band. I couldn’t sing funk. Two gigs and a demo. Embarassing. But I still love yah Josh! CROTCH: 1991 (guitar). Thankfully another chance to give Maxine a microphone. This time, a short lived but rather highly-spoken-of grindcore group. Keep in mind this ? OK, so who is Jason something. Let’s see what i can Flower? was when grind was still more remember now after on the hc side of sound, and not a Jason Flower? That’s me, born all these years: in May 1973, grew up in a big old sub-genre of macho metal shit. DEMENTIA: 1987-88 (14 yrs. old, Our few gigs ripped! house, a 5 minute walk from the vocals). Death/black-grind with ocean, in a small town called PEZ: 1991 (fresh out of high- gorey lyrics. We recorded a 2 or school, bass and back up vocals). Sidney, which is 15 minutes from 3 song demo. the the city of Victoria, on Van- Melodic hardcore and punk rock. TOMORROWS’ HOSTILITY: 1988- Played a few shows, (one with couver Island. 89 (15 yrs. old, vocals). Canadian- Just a few things that cross my NOFX, whom I’ve never liked), re- style punk rock/hardcore with corded a demo. We were pretty mind lately that I like are: nature... absurd lyrics. We did four differ- 1920’s-1970’s films... travelling... good, but Glen’s vocals, ouch! ent amateur studio recordings Glen reformed PEZ as THE STUPES bikes... records... anything or- (about half was lost by the engi- ange... language... islands... and released a pile of 7”s. neer who moved to Europe in ’89). BLACK KRONSTADT: 1992 clean air... sincerity... meeting We played live once. new people constantly... listen- (drums). 100% Anarcho-crust. I STICK FARM: 1989-91 (16-18 yrs. was the original drummer in BK, ing and playing all kinds of mu- old, guitar and secondary vocals). sic... how's that?! and we played one great show In As MRR said: "a mix between Vancouver with the pre-SUBMIS- ? What musical projects NOMEANSNO and NEUROSIS", have you been involved in SION HOLD group INSULT TO IN- well they were rather accurate. JURY. Our whole set got encored!! previously? What's the situ- We were into alot of the more ation now? Did you make any strange harcore and punk groups, progress as a musician over but definitely preferred the heavi- the years? ness of metal and grunge. Quite I first started playing music with good socio-political and poetic lyr- others and writing to people in ics, some silly ones too. We were the ‘underground’ (then there still quite successful; had two 7”s was one) when i was 11 years released, and appeared on a old; 1984. number of vinyl compilations and In the early ‘90’s I counted how cassettes. I like our first demo the many groups / projects I’d been most. Lots of concerts too... in and it came to 20. I’m gonna (now is where it starts to get restrict it to the ones that DID get VERY hazy, because i was quite out of the basement, or released a ‘band slut’, playing in 4 different I was working long shifts at a lo- THIRD WORLD PLANET cal restaurant and the rest of the group (unemployed) kept forcing me to jam at 11 pm after 8 hours at work, it was too much so I quit. I have a recording of our songs, and they later appeared with a different drummer on the first 7”. Wolf is still a good friend of mine and has a new group named ISKRA. ENFA/LAK: 1993-94? (drums). Anarcho-feminist experimental punk with multiple basses (no guitar), violin; 3-4 women depending on the line-up. Lots of gigs and one pathetic sounding demo which I simply can’t listen to; it's horrible! MEXICAN POWER AUTHORITY: 1991-97 (vocals and secondary Gigged in the USA, toured nitely therapeutic for us both. percussion). I won’t label us. But Canada, toured Europe. Released That’s the last thing I’ve completed. I will say it is still to this day the a flexi, a few 7”s, an LP, and a lot Now? My friend Kuba should be- best musical experience I have of tapes. Had a pretty pathetic gin working on a lo-fi soundtrack ever had. We presented a per- ending, but when we were a Ca- for a film he’ll create, but I don’t fect satire of underground music, nadian two-piece, we ruled!.. Past know if it’ll really happen. But I have and people couldn’t take their eyes is past. jammed with his group, off of us live. It was brilliant. I miss I also did guest appearances on a MIKROFLOTA. I’ve played in some it very much, and nothing seems lot of recordings; SUBMISSION other groups here in Poland, but to match the professionalism and HOLD, ULTRA VIRES, NINTH nothing serious or substancial has execution which we obtained. HOUR, etc. But for the groups I come from any of them. We released many tapes, 7”s, LPs was in, that’s all I can recall. There Progression? There has been a and CDs. One tour of Canada. Lest definitely were others, and there huge personal style progression. we forget... are no doubt recordings to ac- Now I haven’t played anything SEAT BELT: 1992-94 (guitar and company them, but everything is seriously since 1999, and when I vocals). Post-rock / pre-emo, I packed in Canada. I can’t remem- jam with people I’m often unsatis- don’t know what we were, but ber any more! fied with them stylistically. I want we played a few instrumental In 1999 I started taking singing les- so much to play, but if there’s no gigs, and released two 60 minute sons of traditional folk songs of magic, or it’s something that I’ve demos. The second tape has a Eastern European countries; Bul- already played, then it’s simply bunch of guest women vocalists. garia, Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus, unsatisfying. I try to be patient... Eric is in HANGED UP now (they Estonia, etc. I also fell in love with I’m looking forward to being in have a few albums out on Con- Middle Eastern hand drums Canada again. stellation Rec. from Quebec), and (darboukas, tablas, etc.) This Fanzine Damon also has a successful turned into my girlfriend Anna and In 1986-87 I started a fanzine group, but I don't know the name. I creating a repetoire which we named "Dethrip" covering HERMIT: 1992 (or 93?) and again took to the streets of Switzerland hardcore punk, death metal, and in 1998 (drums, noise). HERMIT is/ for busking. We were very suc- the beginnings of grind. The whole was/always will be Eric Boros, cessful. We did it again over a few "crossover" between metal and however I appeared on the first summers, and then stopped. punk was occuring and everything ever HERMIT 7” EP (also recorded In 2002 I did a song with my close was pretty mixed up. All that said, it), a few tapes, and also the first friend Pille Weibel, in Winterthur, it was still a rather physically dan- one ever recorded in Europe... and Switzerland. It appeared on a CDR gerous time to be in-between the played a number of shows. compilation released by Dhyana. I two scenes. The fanzine lasted THIRD WORLD PLANET: 1995-99 sang in very broken Polish (now I through my high-school years until (drums and vocals). Ever-chang- speak quite fluently). The song 1989, and did rather well in its 4 ing heaviness – from crust, to ni- isn’t itself that good, but working issues. hilist noise core, to experimental with Pille was a great pleasure, Radio and monumental eclecticism. and the lyrics/music were defi- From 1988, through until 1995 I hosted a number of weekly radio their first groups and had no clue grey reality; the macho attitudes, programs on CFUV 102 FM, which how to release vinyl or even a the alcoholism, the cynicism, the was broadcast all over Vancou- tape. I guided them thru every step apathy... sometimes it really gets ver Island (a BIG island), as well of arranging the production, but me down. Sometimes it’s too much as reaching other coastal towns they paid for it, and I took no per- compromise for me. And for that in British Columbia (Canada) and cent for myself. Later I started reason, after living here three Washington (USA). (I even recall charging a token $100 for a full years, I’ve had enough. sometimes getting collect call re- session, as long as it took from ? Does your name mean quests from prison in-mates in start to finish, but still no profit on someone who flows or some- some small US towns!!) The most the releases. I definitely have my one who blooms? popular show was for about 2 favourites and most sentimental/ Never thought about that before... years doing Friday night 10-12, but magical recordings I look back on, my name comes from that which personally the most important was and others which were complete blooms. I’m told it was originally the self-conceived "Scene flops... some great recordings "fleur" or "flouer" and later became Ventage" program, which was a were: JONAS, SUBMISSION what it is today. I like flowers, and half hour spotlight on new local HOLD, READYMEN, M.P.A., the I luckily don’t have asthma or groups (interviews, promos, etc.) Frenzy Anarchist Festival (live), hayfever! Each show ended with an un- RENDER USELESS, DRONE, etc... ? There has been, I assume, known local classic. For me it was but in the end one of the craziest more than one record label like educating the youth as well stories must be that I recorded the that you did start. What are as stirring up some sentiment in first punk band of the 14-15 year their differences - in policy the older local musicians/on- olds who later went on to become and elsewhere? lookers. stars in the groups 3 INCHES OF There’s been three, but the first Out of "Scene Ventage" on air, BLOOD and HOT HOT HEAT!!! Their hardly counts. came the monthly scene report of name was PILOT LIGHT. 1 - Dethrip Productions. I is- the same name, featured in Off- ? What can make a Canadian sued in an extremely small number beat Magazine, a local student move to Poland, of all places? the Dementia 2 song tape some- magazine which unforunately af- Foolishness, blind ignorance, in- time in ’88, and in in early ’89 a ter 40 years of existence has sanity, self-punishment... love! classic German punk and hc com- now been stopped. Well, I’ve always been interested pilation tape titled (with a French Sporadic Studios in things unfamiliar to me... Hon- name) "L’union Fait La Force!" In 1989, after I experimented re- estly, I wanted a challenge and Dethrip had a planned compilation cording some of my own bands, I adventure. I’ve been intrigued spe- tape to accompany it final issue, started offering to record other cifically with Poland since 1987, but I never released it (but I have local groups. Many groups had when I saw a TV documentary the masters!) already come and gone over the on Polish jazz and bought a pirate 2 - Break Even, began in early years, never recording anything cassette copy of the Polish comp. 1989 as an outlet for the record- because they couldn’t even afford LP "Jak Punk To Punk". I was al- ings I’d started doing. The first re- the other cheap local basement ready writing with people all over cording I did for a band that I didn’t studio prices. I simultaneously the world, and made some Polish personally play in was DIS- decided that if I was gonna help contacts, of which all were lost TORTED INFLUENCE (with my record, then I wanted to offer my when communism fell. My desire friend Andy, ex-TOMORROWS' help releasing them as well. In all to go to Europe was well planned, HOSTILITY). I recorded them, of- honestly, there was no financial and when I first came in ’97, I fered to lay-out the cover, have gain at all; zero. It was experience, stayed. I didn’t move to Poland them duplicated, and generally both technical and social. I have however until 1999, when I met a promote the group in return for always been very sentimental to sympathetic woman named Anna, them putting "Break Even" and my the Victoria music scene. By help- who spent Winter 1999-2000 address on it. In case you don’t ing document it, I knew I was do- teaching me Polish. We’ve been know "Break Even" means to only ing a good thing. In 1991 I bought together ever since. Ah, love... get back what $$ you put out. my own recording equipment and anyways, I’ve been thru all the Thus began my d.i.y. recording up until 1997 recorded an insane Balkans a few times, as well as career. Nearly every release on number of local groups, both at to ex-SSR Georgia. the label was recorded at one of home and also in concert. In many But man, if you wanna hear about my mobile studios. Later I started cases these represent the sole my opinion on Poland, woah! Be- doing 7”s, then an LP, a few CDs, recordings of these groups' ex- lieve me, it’s no sweet story of and even a flexi. I’d say I paid for istence. sentiment! This place can be so less than half of them; instead I These were mostly very young incredibly nerve-wrecking! The theoretically worked for the musicians who were playing in post-communist mentality; the groups in exchange of them putting "Break Even" on them and Even, with some firm standards nor whether they had the oppor- creating the illusion of a label. which will from now on always tunity to have made a proper re- Eventually it became quite popu- be there: high quality packaging, cording, or had some photographs lar to be on Break Even; the young tons of information, DMM master- taken. The archives I compile are and active groups were getting ing, and exclusively archival re- authentic to the original material international exposure, and so leases. Supreme Echo may even which was discovered. was I. Break Even released some reissue some of the older Break Yes, there must be a value in these 40+ cassettes, with productions Even material, but in a far supe- releases because people are varying anywhere from 30 cop- rior form. It takes a LOOOOOONG learning from them, the artists are ies to 1500 copies, about 20 dif- time to complete my releases, and thanking me for what I’ve done, ferent 7”s, maybe 5 CDs (?), an I think it’s clearly evidential why, they get positive and even out- LP, and a flexi. I was not discrimi- when you see/hear/read them. standing reviews, they slowly but nant of any one style – if it was ? Some of the releases you surely sell, and I enjoy the work independent I was willing to help. did are of pretty much archi- of creating them! Styles ranged: electro noise, sXe, val character. ? To my knowledge, some of neo-classical, death metal, punk On the contrary; if people would your releases have not been rock, thrash, grind, post punk, dig a bit deeper and start to un- properly authorized by the emo, grunge, crust, hardcore, derstand the roots of the current artists. experimental, etc. Each release groups they listen to, then they Not exactly. Any release with my had very different packaging; might discover some unturned name on it is either 100% author- many of the covers were pro- stones and actually get inspired ized, or every attempt possible duced for free or for very cheap, to create something new rather has been made to contact the art- and this helped keep their sale than just copying the latest trends. ists. price considerabely lower than As well, most genuine archivists But that is not enough of an another local releases. I’d always are bringing to attention some to- swer, so I will explain the excep- been obsessed with the history tally obscure artists that influ- tions: the Bulgarian Archive was of Victoria underground, and so enced a whole generation and a co-release with Ivailo Tonchev, ended up remixing and legitimately were never credited. Or who have from Bulgaria. Ivailo said that many re-issuing a number of old groups reached a huge cult status, yet of the musicians had in fact dis- as well, such as THE NEOS, never had their true story told - or appeared / left Bulgaria when SLUDGE CONFRONTATIONS, etc. a completely unknown artist that communism ended, and a few 95% of the Break Even releases was so incredibly talented and were now stars, he thought they were local or Vancouver Island innovative, yet never publicly rec- would have wanted ridiculous groups, and all but one were Ca- ognised... you get the idea. I think amounts of money for recordings nadian (until I moved to Europe, it’s incredibly fascinating to reveal that they in fact didn’t even own and then everything changed). In the mysteries behind the past. I (the Bulgarian state owned any ’97 I made a conscious decision try not to romanticize it, but I do officially released material from to try and start to generate some want to shade in some colours communist times). So we released income for myself from the sales. and give people some impressions 500 copies with the clear state- Break Even in Europe – while in with my words. ment on the cover in English and Canada I’d always exclusively ? What do you think is the Bulgarian that it wasn’t authorized, traded Break Even releases value of (re-)issuing the re- but our intentions were not of against "exotic" Eastern European cordings that have a bigger profit, but simply sentiment. Later and Central/South American un- historical, rather than Ivailo in fact made contact with derground music. When I got to aestetical, value? Can't throw- nearly all the groups on the com- Europe I decided it was time to ing resources in old crap pilation, so in the end it wasn’t a start realising some my own hinder the development of a boot at all! dreams of semi-exotic releases; current scene? CRISIS / MILLENIUM split 7” – I was Bulgarian Punk Archives, Nepali/ WE must remember, (and I say this in India 6 months, and found two Indian Metal, etc. The miniscule without any tragic or apathetic tapes, but no actual musicians. I amount of profit DID help me, be- feelings) that more or less every- sent letters, included IRC’s, and cause I was squatting, and my thing HAS been done before; it’s got no response. In the end, my costs were very low. Having all regurgitation. I prefer the more good friend Pavel Tusl (in Czech) pocket money seriously helped me authentic and less studied raw and I issued 300 copies, and even survive, but only marginally. Last expressions opposed to the retro/ sent copies to Nepal and India, but Break Even release I did was 100th generation garbage. There still no response. The 7” has since 1998?.. is a lot of crap out there. What I become a collectors item and been 3 - Supreme Echo - is some- document is history - I'm not re- bootlegged twice; on LP in Brasil, what an evolution from Break sponsible for their compositions, and on CD in Sweden. The boot- MPA

leggers never thought to contact paralelling here! I don’t consider never recieved copies of. me, haha! any of my labels' work bootlegs. ? Do you happen to view punk The Polish Archive I did has 14 If it's got my name on it, I’m proud rock as something of any groups, twelve authorised and of the work, and I can recall all the value politically? two unauthorized - one solo artist interaction with the musicians and Well, yes. But I prefer "punk" rather is dead, and the other group I have people who helped make it a real- than "punk rock" and we must re- never been able to contact but their ity. member just how violently differ- inclusion was imperative to the Bootlegs don’t have an interaction ent each person's opinion can be overview I presented. with the artist at all. They are fan- of what "punk" means and repre- For me, the biggest profit I can made, and made in secret. sents. For me it’s self-sufficiency have from my work is meeting the Again, if it has my name on it, I / grass roots, complete freedom people. Meeting old Polish punks, stand behind it 100%. I know many of expression, non-aggressive, old Canadian punks, old Georgian bootleggers around the world and the right to be freaky, to be non- punks, etc. is a real life experi- what I do is very different than discriminant of race / sex / reli- ence and exchange. People show them. Such allegations of me be- gion / diet / habits / artistsic pref- me who they are TODAY, and also ing on the same grounds, are fruit- erences etc., and creating some- speak about their past, it's very less and unfair. thing of yer own. But even saying exciting and rewarding (also sad ? When do you think it can be that, every person will interpret sometimes). For this reason, I ab- a justified practice? those morals according to how solutely see no reason why in If someone feels they absolutely they personally envision those most cases you shouldn’t attempt must do a bootleg, then they values. to contact the group! should do it as high quality and I find that most people I meet nowa- All 6 of my new releases are ar- with as much accurate informa- days that blatantly tag themselves chives, and they are all author- tion and as attractive as possible. "p-u-n-k" are the biggest fascists ised by at least one member of They have no royalties to pay, so of all, with their set of orthodox the group. they should invest it into being a conservatisms associated with ? Do you see much if any prob- quality product. They could also whatever sub-genre they have lem in the existence of boot- bootleg something and still have it claimed they are a part of. It’s sad. legs - as you do some reis- anonymously sent to the group. I We are all just people. I understand sues that may or may not remember METALLICA once say- that there are times in our lives cover the same ground? ing that the only bootlegs they when we feel we need to alien- You're making some trickly didn’t like were the ones that they ate ourselves from society and diversity, but man people can be nizing them. They’re extremely All this said, I only distibuted for- so judgemental and so much want- important and they shape the eign language music when I lived ing to be labelled. The most whole communal traditions which in Canada, and I slowly but surely judemental people disappear as Europe is based on. In Europe, as did sell / trade it all. So these are quickly as they appeared in the a general rule, people do not of- again, just generalisations. first place. ten steal each others' shit. There ? Now that Poland has become At the more serious core, the ex- is at least some level of humanity a part of NATO and is about to tremely passionate and creative and morale even in the stinkiest enter the European Union, people who are simply exchang- drunkard shit-holes in Europe. does it stand a bigger than ing their ideas / concerns / crea- Whereas in North America, squats previously danger of having tions across all borders / lan- can be sketchy. North America in its culture (including punk guages - THAT IS punk. Every general, despite once been hippy rock culture) polluted, cor- generation has had their own ver- heaven, is a pretty immoral conti- rupted and destroyed by the sion of punk, it's always existed. nent, and people's desires to be outside influences? ? Do you still get much kicks extreme often result in them over- It’s already too late, I don’t know if out of music? looking basic customs like hospi- there would be much difference Kicks - Well, it’s 2004. I’m not a tality. without NATO. Poland IS a cor- teenager anymore. I can’t do the Concerts: rupt country filled with under-quali- same thing twice, I can only move North Americans may be nice, but fied bureaucrats at every level. forward. Working with my friends they generally don’t know how to The EU will economically hit peo- in M.P.A. was just such a profes- treat touring groups. European ple aged over 60 years old very sional experience, as well as be- hospitality guarantees a beautiful hard because they won’t be able ing hilariously fun and somehow hot veggie meal, endless beer, and to adjust to further changes - they even spiritual, that I find it hard to a place to sleep even IF you only are already poor and alone. They match up to it. I’ve been too tran- get paid $100 (but usually more is will continue to go generally sient to settle and work on any- given). In North America you’re uncared for and slowly die. Poles thing. I need a lot of peace to be lucky if you get $20, some pasta, have lovingly embraced super- creative. Victoria always gave me and a safe place to park your van markets, malls, and the big yankee a lot of tranquility and inspiration. to sleep in. Those are just gener- style mega-markets. But that's Here in Poland, my life is too dis- alizations, but they are rather true. their democratic right, and people tracting; I’m struggling to get things Europeans in general smoke 10 always want what they’ve never done and pay my rent... every- times as much tobacco and drink had. Unfortunately the result is body lives in flats, it’s so damn far too much. Gigs start so late the perpetual closure of small busi- impersonal. I’m looking forward to that the touring groups would of- nesses and further expansion of moving back to Canada and start- ten prefer to go to sleep than per- Westerm corporations. I know ing a new band with some people form (DROP DEAD, DETESTATION, Russia must be going thru their I really love playing with. BATTLE OF DISARM - just to name own crises in many ways, but ? As a person actively in- a few I’ve seen hand on). In here we are in the absolute hub volved in punk scenes in Canada, you can’t even smoke between East and West, and truly North America, Western and inside of bars!!! I love it!! My apolo- the center of Europe. Poland has Eastern Europe, can you gies to any of my friends who been changing drastically ever come up with any observa- smoke cigarettes, but fuck you and since communism fell. And sadly tions as to how they are dif- yer stinky habit!!! but understandably, many of Po- ferent as far as principles and Now more than ever, North land’s most educated and ambi- general conditions are con- America is embracing the exoti- tious young people are leaving cerned? cism of foreign languages in punk Poland to seek the life they de- Well I was active in North America. rock. But it will NEVER match up serve - one where they have a In Europe I just toured once with to Europe. Europe has always good standard of living and are T.W.P. I know a lot of people still, been open-armed to each region / treated as valuable INDIVIDUALS but my personal role / position in country's unique language in mu- of society. "the scene" has drastically sic. That's why South American Polish punk? It’s already nearly changed due to being so transient and Asian groups have more luck obliterated by the over-bearing and having to re-priorise my whole touring Europe. People are so ex- monster of American culture. Eve- life... but ok I am active, only in a cited to be exposed to it. Whereas rybody looks to the American different way, so... especially in America, people com- bands. Ten years ago it was RE- In Europe squats are the living plain that they don’t understand SIST and MASSKONTROLL / DE- extension of alternative culture. 30 what the people are singing about FIANCE... now it's HIS HERO IS to 40 years of their existence has - but it's more or less xenophobia GONE, TRAGEDY, and NEUROSIS. resulted in society at least recog- and laziness. Sure bands generally still sing in Polish, but very few groups re- scene in North Korea when safe: Jason Flower / 2185 Amity semble a musical extension of Bush Jr. bombs it into civiliza- Drive / Sidney, B.C. / V8L-1B2 / what the past has laid down as a tion? Canada. foundation. It's happening more When some monkey-faced People who are interested in ac- and more everywhere. What can yankee farmer (whom I don't even cessing my recordings from my be done? Nothing. like thinking about) bombs the fuck studio, obtaining old and new re- ? What sort of experiences out of North Korea, I’m more con- leases - there are over 70 titles did you have contacting or cerned about the entire popula- and you are welcome to contact viewing the world of ex- tion, and not just some middle me! USSR? What are your favour- class suburban teenage boys' People who trade old rare records ite bands and the least cred- ambitions to sound like LIMP - I love trading all styles. From ible stories outta here? BIZKIT! What can I say?! Russia and ex-USSR I’m most Canadians were NOT fed anti- ? Do you in any way view your- wanting these: Alexandr Gradsky communist propaganda thru our self as a researcher or an ex- "Romans O Vlyublyonnyh" LP, education system... well, at least plorer? Alexandr Gradsky my generation wasn’t in the ‘80’s. Tricky words here - I feel like I’m "Razmyshleniya Shuta" LP, BUT as North Americans we did being compared to Christopher BAYAN MONGOL LP, SOYOL have a first hand glance at all the Columbus, haha! In the sense of ERDENE LP, OB'YEKT stupid patriotic American films discovering / researching and NASMESHEK LP, IVERIYA 7” EP making out the "better dead than exposing little known alternative etc. red" kind of attitude. We were cultures from unheard regions of People who know of some ob- definitely told very little about Rus- the world - ok, yes. Look at Luk scure old recordings that they feel sia. There was a Russian ex- Haas, the guy is a genius; if ever are worth being exposed - it's change student in my high school. there was someone to roll out the never too late to document the I remember there were some red carpet for, it's Luk. I like to think past. Recording quality is not im- pretty stupid stereotypes, but of it as underground / alternative portant - raw energy is important. when people saw how she could ethnology. But in these cases, Anyone who is a personal friend drink alchohol, she quickly became there’s no cultural imperialism from of, and can introduce me to Egor popular! (I just know this via gos- our sides because the imperial- Letov - I would love to meet this sip - I wasn’t much of a drink / ism has already arrived by itself! man. I don't care about all the ru- party guy in high school). ...and we need to remember, that mours - I am sure he must be a Cheap impressions fed to me that this is still counter culture. This ain’t very interesting man. DID affect my view – it was grey, Mongolian top-ten techno on com- I gotta say - "active" is a funny a lot of industry, winter all year- mercial radio, it's the working word for me. I am still very active, round (!), always behind the fash- class people of the country but being an archivist means hun- ion of the West. Of course all screaming for a change. dreds of hours cleaning music, these views changed as soon as Anyways, despite people's interviewing people, travelling, I had contact with people there. naivity, there HAS been a youth- and working on images. It's not My first contact with Russians music scene in even very isolated like when I was at every gig and was with some metal guy in St. places since the 1960’s; people constantly recording new bands. Petersburg who sent me heaps may find it hard to believe there I’m glad I haven’t been completely of punk and wave records. I had were psychedelic groups in India forgotten! much more luck with contact in or Mongolia, but there were. Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Where the scenes are still young, Czech / Slovakia, ex-Yugo coun- that's where punk is still thriving. tries, etc. NY, SF, LA, UK all rocked in 1977, Some favourite ex-USSR groups: and now in 2004 the Middle East / KONETS KAPITALIZMA, Lado Central Russia / Southern Asia are Burduli and RETSEPTI, punk as fuck! MANDRAZH, Yanka & Egor Letov ? How can you be traced & GRAZHDANSKAYA OBORONA, down and contacted? Who J.M.K.E., INSTRUKTSIYA PO and why should do it? OBORONE, all Tornis Rec. bands, Email is certainly the best. I have David Tuhmanov, ARIEL, (early) my hotmail address TELEVIZOR, LIKSMA ([email protected]) set to MASTURBACIJA, OB'YEKT be quite exclusive, but personal NASMESHEK. emails should get through without ? Do we stand much of a problems. Otherwise my perma- chance of finding punk rock nent Canadian address is 100% WHEELWHEEL OFOF DHARMADHARMA ence consisted exclusively of shit- punks and fascists. I fucking kicked them in the face when they tried to get to the stage. Szarapow: Now we only have shit- punks left. Punch: All in all, people change. The scene is changing gradually, getting more positive. Szarapow: And how did you change? In those ten years... Punch: Molecularly. I grew older. Perhaps I learned to scream better. I lost edge (laughs). But it’s bullshit, maybe I will find it again soon ‘cause in my heart I remeained a straightedger. No, KOLESO DHARMY (Russian for corded a solo album while in Fin- seriously, I think of myself as a non- WHEEL OF DHARMA) has formed land. This interview was conducted drinker. At a certain moment it in the South Russian town of in January 2004 at Troitskiy Most helped me somehow, and I do not Volzhskiy (near Volgograd, with cafe, after WHEEL OF DHARMA treat [drinking] as a hobby or a pas- some members actually coming played in St. Petersburg (Moloko time. from the bigger city) cca. 1993. It club and Klizma squat)... the con- [Wisa arrives.] was perhaps Russia’s earliest versation was partly in Russian and Szarapow: I think I only asked how straight edge band; it was made up partly in English. For more informa- this visit went compared to your of punks and it played raw punk tion etc. please refer to their previous visits to Russia. rock - with lyrics that were quite website - www.wheelofdharma.tk. Wisa: The one at the squat was political and rather radical, espe- really different from all the other cially for the time. They’ve recorded Punch - vocals, Tuomas - guitar, gigs, I think maybe it resembled a couple of demos in 1994 and Wisa - bass, Jere - drums (but I more the gigs that WHEEL OF 1995 and played in St. Petersburg may have confused their voices at DHARMA has been playing when at TaMtAm club in 1994 - the times - sorry!) it was all-Russian band, but it was singer, Punch, broke a bottle over really cool, I really liked the vibe in his head and the stage was all cov- Szarapow: How were the gigs that the squat. And I think the gig in ered in blood. The band has been you played at Moloko, at the squat Moloko was quite OK. going through lots of lineup and in Moscow compared to your Tuomas: Wisa’s very critical to- changes, with the music getting previous visits to Russia? wards our own performances. harsher and more metally over Tuomas: I think they were getting Szarapow: A friend of mine said time; the next demo that had some better than the previous ones in that as much as he watched, he sort of circulation, “Zoon Politicon”, both places. We’ve played Jerry didn’t see you do a soundcheck [at was recorded in 1999. A couple of Rubin once but not in Moloko be- Moloko], you just plugged in and years later Punch moved to fore. And we’ve had a very good went ahead. Tampere, Finland, and a new era time. Jere: Yeah, that’s true. for the band had started - some Szarapow: And compared to the Wisa: We did a short soundcheck, Finnish musicians were recruited, first visit of the band to St. Peters- at least me and Jere, I don’t know and two CDs released - self-titled burg ten years ago? about you. It was very short, ev- demo and “Purgatory” album. The Punch: More friends. erything seemed to be in order. The band did a tour in Eastern Europe Szarapow: Didn’t you know any- gig in Moscow wasn’t as good as in 2004 with Finnish band BASTA one then? the last time. BASTA, with whom they’d released Punch: We didn’t know anyone Punch: The longest souncheck a split CDR. Punch had also re- then, and in general... The audi- was in a squat! (laughter) Szarapow: Anyway, how did the And then we got together, had was supposed to play, and then we Finnish version of the band come some rehearsals - in short, twenty heard that there was no drummer to being? days after I arrived we had our first coming and I was supposeed to Punch: KOLESO DHARMY has gig, at Black and Green Days [fes- play drums for them. I just got a died away by the year 2000, it was tival]. We played old songs. We did tape of KOLESO DHARMY, and I gradually dying down... a recording, and then Tuomas listened to it when I was going to Szarapow: The inertia was fading. joined and I was just doing vocals. school or whatever. I just had it on Punch: And when I’d decided to Zhenya [Knives&Forks zine]: my headphones and I tried to fig- move to Finland, me and [guitarist There was also a band called ure out how to play these songs, Oleg] Adzhigitov have decided to SOK... and then Punch came and we had start something anew. We were Punch: There was a band called maybe one or two weeks for prac- going to go together. Mira [Punch’s SOK, Wisa and Jere played there, tice... Punch came alone, we got then-wife] found two people who it was a sort of art punk project. It Wisa in and we practiced very hard could play bass and drums for us. was before I arrived, they’re for two weeks. The gig was well- And at the last moment, when we friends, school chums, classmates. [received], and it was a great privi- already bought tickets, Adzhigitov Szarapow: You didn’t know them lege for me to play. said: “I’m not going.” He had some before...? Punch: They had played without sort of depression, inner issues. Punch: Mira found them, they me, just before... And he was like: “Go alone.” Of were from the same school. Jere: Songs from the tape, yeah. I course I went. I also got pissed off Jere: I heard about this first gig that don’t know how Punch feels about at him and decided: “Fuck him, I was going to be at Black and Green this all, I just think it was very fun. will play guitar myself and sing.” festival where KOLESO DHARMY And when we met I think right along it was quite a nice feeling of playing. Also this practice was really nice. I was very happy when he decided to stay in Finland that we were able to continue with the thing. Szarapow: So it was first professional acquaintance / contact, and then it got personal? Wisa: I knew Punch from 2000 when I was in Volgograd with a circus group. I’ve found out he’s such a good guy, that’s why I told Jere it would be a good opportunity to play drums for KOLESO DHARMY on this gig. Szarapow: So how did you come into picture? Tuomas: After the Black and Green Days gig there was about one year pause with the band, and Wisa asked me to join because Punch wanted to concentrate on vocals only, he didn’t want to play guitar simultaneously. Of course now he has a solo career but that’s a totally different story. But Wisa knew me because earlier we were playing in the same band for a while. We just started rehearsing in 2002. In the beginning we rehearsed more intensively, there’s maybe some months that we go with no practicing at all, and then there comes a more active period. Wisa: I think now the rehearsals acoustic stuff, the type that people tion. are easier than in the beginning, sing around the fire when they Szarapow: On a world-wide scale. we don’t have to rehearse that drink. All of our country is made up There are much more political much, or that often. We don’t have of old tourists, students, engineers, bands in Finland. a rehearsal space of our own so a very high percentage of people Punch: What else there is to sing that’s a bit of a problem. who listen to and love acoustic about? The man has two worlds - Jere: We have to crash into other music. It’s anarcho-blatnyak. I have inner and outer, and that’s it. Ev- bands’ rehearsal spaces and play recorded four songs already, I want erything else is just variants. there. to do eight or ten and do an album. They’re fucking chickenshit, they’re Szarapow: Are there any other The cover is finished, it’s called scared. Or they’ve got such atti- bands that you guys play in? “And Then I’m Coming Home - tude, like they don’t give a shit, this Jere: Yes. Are we supposed to talk Author’s Military and Patriotic sort of careless apathy. It’s old, I about them? Songs for the Littlest Ones.” In the don’t know, Siberian punk... I don’t Wisa: I play in a power pop group like this attitude to what happens called JADECROON. Then I play in the world, in society. You have in this sort of improvisational to at least be free in your soul, but project. these people don’t even want to... Tuomas: There’s this punk / ga- There were ordinary criminals rage / whatever band BLUBBER- [blatniye] in GULAG, and there HEADS, we have been playing were the politicals, who got there over ten years but it’s not very ac- for 58th article [in Stalin-era Crimi- tive nowadays anymore. But then nal code]. The blatniye never ever I play drums in a band called A.V.K. mentioned Stalin’s name, they and that’s like Finnish rock or didn’t criticise him. Why? Because something. Then there’s this they respected this power, they pseudojazz group SPACE didn’t give a crap, they’ve made a ROCKET, I play guitar in that. world of their own. But they didn’t Szarapow: So basically WHEEL criticise this authority, they were OF DHARMA is the most extreme afraid. It’s the same with the people hardcore band either of you is in- who don’t touch the politics [now] - volved in? “We don’t care for politics, we’re Tuomas: Definitely. punks.” They probably think it’s Szarapow: Lyosha, can you talk easier to survive this way. Right, a about your solo stuff? spirit of attitude to children. You shit-punk will drink with the nazis, Punch: I’ve spent a long time think- see, I feel pity for people, they are then with somebody else, won’t say ing and scheming, and in the end I like children. People who believe anything from the stage, and decided that it’s time to put pres- in a big state, believe in a master, everything’s alright. And he’d die sure on the people who do not lis- believe in some kind of authority - next to a ryumochnaya [a type of ten to punk rock. It’s already obvi- they are like children, they can’t cheap bar] when he’s 45 or 50 and ous with people into punk rock - if take any criticism. They become a that’s it. I don’t really care for these they like WHEEL OF DHARMA, part of the system and they act like people at all. It’s a pity that it hap- then at any rate they will pay at- children “because that’s how it’s pens like that in Russia, and I’m tention to the lyrics etc. If people, got to be.” A kid is asked - “Who do trying to show some example, to say, aren’t interested in punk rock you want to be?” “I’ll be this or that”. do something. And lately there or hardcore then they will never And grown people just become that have appeared lots of young punks find out what we sing about, right? and they continue like children. who think with their own heads. They wouldn’t even want to hear it Szarapow: Speaking about the Szarapow: Although you live in at all. And here’s some blatnyak [a things that people should be do- Finland, you have a lot - most in type of criminal urban folk music ing. There’s a cliche saying that fact - of lyrics that deal with Rus- in Russia], but the lyrics are totally hardcore bands should be political. sia, with developments in Russia. different! It’s a subtle idea, involv- Why do you think KOLESO Punch: It’s not like that, I’d only ing humour. It’s the same thing DHARMY is one of the few Rus- lived there for two years. There basically as [seventies singer sian-language bands that embody would be lyrics about Finland, but Vladimir] Vysotskiy. A lot of people this cliche? the stuff that happens in Russia is love Vysotskiy and sing his songs. Punch: If we’re one of the few, really bloody full-on. It affects me And you can put a lot of meaning what sort of cliche can we talk the most. War in Chechnya is the precisely into these songs, into about? It means we are an excep- most important thing. I will keep trying my damnedest, while I can still breathe, until the war is over, I will try to do something about it. Szarapow: What do you lads think of lyrics of the band being concerned almost exclusively with Russian issues, and none of them really with Finnish realities? Wisa: I don’t think they’re all exclusively Russian issues, especially the newest lyrics of Punch are this more general attitude towards humanity or something. Anyway I think the function of the group... It’s understandable that Punch has more preoccupations with Russian reality than Finnish. Szarapow: Why don’t you write lyrics yourselves then? Wisa: Thus far we have thought that it’s better that they are sung in raising the awareness of Finnish Szarapow: I think one of the rea- Russian, and I think that Punch is people about Russian problems sons was ‘cause most of the pretty good with words, so there’s because even though we are next people could understand the lyrics. really no need to. to this country I think most Finnish I think it was Jere who told me that Jere: I don’t know what would be people are unaware of Russian you intend to record a new album. the reputation of our band if WE politics and situations. I think it’s Wisa: Yeah we intend. Some new wrote the lyrics in Russian. It could also good for the Finnish to get to songs which we performed here in be a disaster! know something. St. Petersburg on our gigs now, all- Punch: We have a plan - some Szarapow: I think you’d also new material, and I guess there song I can sing of course in En- played outside of Finland and Rus- won’t be much recycled from the glish and Finnish too. About Tony sia, I think in Latvia? old stuff in the future because now Halme - it’s a Finnish right-wing Tuomas: Yeah, once [at Tabuns we’ve been writing new stuff and politician, he’s a bodybuilder and festival in Kuldiga]. we make new songs. But we don’t a boxer, very fat and baby-faced. Jere: And we are hoping to do that yet have enough for a CD. Something between big and baby. more in the future. Szarapow: Why did you decide to This politician has some tattoos Szarapow: Which country do you put out “Purgatory” on CD instead and some gold hammer of Thor, play most often? of CDR? and in his back, a little bit [higher Punch: Russia. (laughter) Tuomas: Because we ran out of than] his arse ‘exit only’ tattoo. Wisa: But Latvia was really a the CDRs, and releasing a CD is Wisa: As for lyrics, on “Purgatory” strange experience, it was fun play- almost the same price [in Russia], CD there’s only one we’ve done in ing there but it was quite a big fes- it’s not that much more expensive Finland - it would have been pretty tival. It’s a DIY punk festival, one - why not do it as well as you can, stupid if we tried to include some of the best festivals i’ve ever seen if it’s in the same price range? Finnish issues there because it’s but still it was a festival and that’s Wisa: And because not all of the a theme album [about] Chechen something I never ever in my life CDRs seemed to be working and war and stuff related to that so it’s thought I would do. In a way it’s it’s very annoying to get feedback very logical... nice but it also kinda of feels stu- or some review for a magazine Szarapow: So it’s like a big pid - “What am I doing here? Why saying that it looks very promising rock’n’roll concept album? have we ended up here?” but unfortunately my copy didn’t Wisa: No, it’s DIY punk rock con- Tuomas: We were the support for work, as was the case with some cept album. Or demo. But we’ll see DISCHARGE [at Puntala Rock fes- Canadian magazine. what happens in the future. tival in Finland]. Who gives a fuck Szarapow: In general, how do you Jere: Of course [the lyrics are] about the thirty other bands that divide the responsibilities within the dealing [with] Russian issues were there. But I think the response band? mostly, rather than Finnish issues, in Latvia was pretty good. Most of Tuomas: Wisa and me invent but I also think it’s quite good that the people thought that we were some riffs, and then together at a we’re doing it in Finland as we’re something. rehearsal we argue about what is good and what is not. Nikolai] Rastorguyev with his rot- mental ones. One t-shirt is ready, Wisa: Sometimes of course there ten talk of “daddy commander.” Of available through [Epicenter] may be some argument but I think the songs that we’ve played at infoshop. It’s a skeleton in a hel- we also use quite a bit of this im- Moloko [the album] will include met and with a machine gun, hold- provisation in the songwriting thing “The Enemy Within”. It’s influenced ing a scythe that says “anti-terror.” which is really nice. When we do a by Erich Fromm, his idea of psy- It’s a real criminal tat, “showing rehearsal, we play some of our old choanalysis of people who submit teeth to the authority”, but originally songs, then Punch takes out the to totalitarianism and authoritative it said “Glory to KPSS” on the lyrics for some new songs that he power, how they want to serve and scythe, so it was cutting people has an idea for and he explains a rule at the same time, it’s a type of down, likes. But it’s modern history bit what it’s about and what feel- sadomasochism. Wisa has already now. We need to do at least some- ings would be nice and then we done “The Enemy Within” t-shirts, thing. Ah yeah, besides that our start messing around and usually he liked the title. And there are song “Ichkeria” will feature on the it’s all shit of course but sometimes some songs that are personal, Old Skool Kids compilation which you find something really nice and emotional, for instance, “You Die will be a benefit for Chechen refu- then we start to work at that more. Today, I’ll Die Tomorrow”, life-as- gees. Jere: We don’t really have to think serting stuff. I’ve remembered Szarapow: Speaking about anti- about how we’re gonna share our some old songs, I would like to re- terror - do you see a critical differ- responsibilities because it’s a col- record “Legal Fascism”, ‘cause the ence between Bush and Putin? laborative effort anyway. recording done [in 1995] was lousy, Punch: There’s no really critical Whoever’s got the time and the the sound guy was rotten, some difference, there are some other energy can do what they can. We Soviet pop fan - he made the vo- aspects in which they differ, but don’t have discussions about that, cals loud and put the guitar to the they both play the same role. They we do lots of stuff together. background, as per usual. are real imperial leaders with all Szarapow: Alexei, can you talk Szarapow: Wisa, can you tell a bit the corresponding components. about the contents of new about your artwork? To me it looks Bush has more dough, he’s more KOLESO DHARMY songs? a bit like work of Sakevi from GISM, rich. Putin’s more chickenshit. Punch: “School Of Men” basically all those collages of violent im- Szarapow: Are you gonna vote in deals with the popular superstition ages... March [at Presidential elections]? of army being the school of men. Wisa: If you’re talking about “Pur- Punch: Probably not. We will do hardcore versions of at gatory” CD artwork it is of course Szarapow: Is this a principled de- least some of the songs I’ve al- related to the lyrics, it’s not that my cision, is not ‘cause you won’t be ready done acoustically. It’s gonna main interests in art are in Volgograd at the time? be really full-on. There’s also schisophrenic and violent, it’s very Punch: No, it’s not that. I won’t do gonna be another song, the lyrics much connected to that project. it at all. At least that would give me are finished, and we’d started do- Now me and Jere are going to take a right not to recognize these ing it, it’s dedicated to [patriotic part in this exhibition in Lithuania people who would be elected presi- pop] band LYUBE and [singer in the spring [of 2004] so now we’re dents etc. For me they are the painting for that, I have done some same people, the same shit. Be- animations and video work as well. cause if I took part in the elcetions Jere: What I would compare the and somebody was elected, I have collages or what I would say you to consider them fair. As Diogenes were inspired quite a lot is the art- of Sinope said, “If a donkey is ist who makes these for CRASS - elected to serve as a horse, he still Gee Vaucher. I think he has been won’t become a horse.” a bit influenced, in my eyes, I don’t Szarapow: There’s an opinion that know if that’s true. personal is political. How do you Wisa: But I wouldn’t compare... balance the inner and the outer she’s somewhere out there. Of world? How do these worlds inter- course that’s true. sect within you? Szarapow: What do you do apart Punch: Well, they vibrate. Some- from writing songs about war? times I’m more self-obsessed, Punch: I sing them, then I squarrel sometimes I’ more... with shit-eating punks at punk.ru Szarapow: I mean, as a [forums] about it, I do t-shirts. I’ve songwriter. got a concept of turning blatniye Punch: Yeah, as a songwriter and tattoos into anti-war, anti-govern- as a human being. Sometimes it’s this way, sometimes it’s the other, sometimes it’s equal. For instance, when we have gigs or some other movement, then you obviously pay more attention to the outer side of life, and then when you’re on your own, start to learn something new, read, think, then —. It’s the same with everyone. Szarapow: To which extent is WHEEL OF DHARMA a pacifist band? Punch: I’m a pacifist. Szarapow: For you to be pacifist is to be against the war, but you accept violence? Punch: Anti-militarism. A good question. Szarapow: Where is the dividing line between pacifism, anti-militarism and violence that you accept what the man is, what the system Joensuu? on a personal level? ‘Cause I think is. It’s just fiction, an invention. Wisa: Yes. Exactly. (laughter) So I you do accept violence as a Szarapow: Would you condemn found out you can’t deal with these method of dealing with nazis, for somebody in Russia to such a guys peacefully except by running instance. Some people do not fate? Do you think that there are away but you can’t do that every agree with that, I was in people who are personally respon- time. [Violence] is not something Copenhagen last Summer and the sible for the things that are happen- that I glorify, it will never solve any- band from there, LACK, they were ing, for war? thing anyway. saying from stage that people from Punch: I think yes, Putin is directly Szarapow: I think Punch has been Anti-Fascist Action eventually be- personally responsible. Just like glorifying all this stuff, [martial arts] come so obsessed with violence Hitler, it’s his personal responsibil- etc. Before one of the gigs in that in a way become like nazis ity. The same with Yeltsin. They are Volgograd he went out with his themselves. the people who led to this situation. mate and they were showing all of Punch: I think beating of nazis is Everything depends on their small- this fighting stuff... a pacifism. Because of the self-de- est movement now, that’s how they Punch: Was that when I was fense. I have no plan to kill nazis. built the “vertical of power,” so breaking something over my head? Just kick arse. I like this process. there’s no fucking use denying it. There were lots of things written in (laughs) It’s very funny. They won’t be able to blame it all “Pulya” [Punch’s old punk bulle- Szarapow: Do you agree with the on their generals then. tin]... results of Nuremberg trials? I Wisa: I think that sometimes when Wisa: I think martial arts is a dif- mean, do you think that the likes you’re dealing with stupid violent ferent issue, it’s not about violence. of Kaltenbrunner or Goering de- fuckheads like neonazis some- Punch: There might’ve been some served to be hanged? times it’s unavoidable and in that kind of a joke, I don’t remember. Punch: Yes, I think. Although I regard it’s acceptable to use vio- It’s fun, it’s lots of fun. think it makes no sense, they just lence in self-defense and stuff like Jere: Although I like the lyrics of died and that’s it, they should’ve that but I hate violence myself, and WHEEL OF DHARMA very much done time in prison. It’s nothing, a I would never kill anybody, and I and I agree with Punch on most man had died - went to sleep, and didn’t go to army, and I regard my- points I think that sometimes he it’s over. They should’ve gone to self as a pacifist. can go a bit too far with these prison, so that people could walk Szarapow: Do you get a lot of things but that’s life, you have to by and look at them - here’s a man neonazi violence in Tampere? deal with different persons, and who is to blame for a few million Wisa: No, not really. But lately also I think a band shouldn’t be... deaths. And let them look, and let there’ve been some sightings. In It’s a collective of people and... him get frustrated. ‘Cause many of my hometown where I lived in my Szarapow: ...not the same people, them were putting all the blame to youth there was this big nazi prob- cloned four times. Hitler, “We’re but a part of the sys- lem. Jere: Yeah, yeah. tem.” These pigs should think of Szarapow: Was it a place like Wisa: If I had to play in a band with myself cloned four times I would kill work out a way to bulid a more Szarapow: What do you think of myself four times. humane society as a whole then... the use of antifascist history to pa- Tuomas: I strongly agree with Just to offer people other options triotic ends - like, we were fighting Wisa about the violence thing. I to have meaningful lives, apart fascists in Hitler times and now think the same way because usu- from being out in the streets, be- we’re fighting the terrorists in ally I try to run away... ing violent idiots. It’s not just a Chechnya. Szarapow: There is this Welsh question of how to deal with one Punch: This is imperial bollocks. pop band MANIC STREET person, it’s a big question that con- They don’t treat Hitler as a fascist, PREACHERS, they have a line in nects to lots of other. they treat them as Germans, as one of their songs [“If You Tolerate Szarapow: So maybe learning aliens. Whether that’s fascists, or This Your Children Will Be Next”] martial arts will make the fascists capitalists, or communists, or who- that goes like “if I can shoot rab- less violent. ever - it’s “them”, it’s the enemies. bits then I can shoot fascists... and Jere: Could be, yeah, it depends For them fascism is just a word. if you tolerate this then your chil- on the martial arts, the guru... Szarapow: Why didn’t Finland, dren will be next”... Wisa: ...the environment... which also took part in the siege of Punch: Sometimes fascism is like Jere: But I don’t recommend start- Leningrad etc., get the honour of a mental illness, maybe you need ing martial arts schools for fascists. being an enemy? a doctor to explain the reasons of Punch: Well, I think that really they Punch: It’s ‘cause they quit the war their fascism, some psychoanaly- exaggerate. Really exaggerate. as soon as it became clear that sis. Szarapow: It’s a poetic method. Hitler’s going to lose it, and they Szarapow: What can be such a Punch: Yeah, it’s a hyperbole. made an arrangement with Stalin. doctor? Besides violence? Zhenya: It’s made up bollocks. They’d never have became Punch: Thinking! (laughter) Punch: See, if I jump a fascist I do [Hitler’s] ally but Stalin fucked it up Wisa: Communication with people. it understanding that he is scum himself. Russia attacked Finland, Punch: Such things happened. I that will kill and not give a fuck, he’d then they had no allies, America or read Erich Fromm books, it’s very... kill a child, kill whoever. He’s got a Europe didn’t help them, they were Wisa: He’s slowly turning into a finished concept of why’s and on their own, that’s why they got hippy. (laughter) Don’t worry, how’s, for what reason and which together with Hitler. But they there’s still some work to be done. child, exactly ‘cause [the child] is weren’t really doing much, nothing Szarapow: One of the things this of such nationality. I an defending outrageous. lyric I’d quoted has been suggest- at this moment, I’m not propagat- Szarapow: What do you think ing is, in my understanding, vio- ing any violence. I can talk to [fas- about “Russia Bombs Finland”, the lence against other beings leads cists]... I really remember in Mos- Propaganda Records compilation? to violence against human beings. cow metro how I was running after Wisa: It’s a great compilation, I I don’t necessarily agree with that those nazis with a knife, in the car- think everybody should get it. Well, but it’s the same pattern of thought riage they were violently beating I don’t take [the title] too literally. - if you’re superior to animals then this Caucasian guy, kicking him on Szarapow: Well, we once did. you are superior to other human the floor... There are photos, by the beings. Does anyone of you agree way. Contact: [email protected] or disagree with that? Wisa: I understood this slogan a bit differently, I thought it was sort of [about] putting the fascists in their place... Szarapow: “And if you tolerate this then your children will be next.” Wisa: Well, there are other ways of dealing with things you can’t tolerate than killing everybody so of course it shouldn’t be tolerated. Jere: As for other ways of dealing with nazis than violence - of course sometimes it’s necessary, there are situations when you can’t avoid violence, it’s life, but it all connects to bigger issues - how the whole society should be built and if we could “356-0-356” tape (Monopolka /REFUSE Stauro- many | www.hoehnierecords.de) provided, and these explanations are pygial) nice, mostly covering social issues. Classic Finnish punk rock on this one. Pretty much a collaboration between The cover is quite crap though. The LP combines material from “Huora” people from Monopolka and Stauropy- AK47 / NOVEMBER 13TH split EP 7" and “Ei Raha Oo Mun Valuuttaa” 12", gial, recorded live via a phone line with (Disyouth / Oi Free Youth / Wolf Im both from 1983 and both on Propaganda a newly invented noise tool. It’s got Schafspelz: Nils Casper, Judenstr. 35, Records originally - mark of quality! weird electronic-soudning noises, wall- 37073, Gottingen, Germany | n.i.l.l.e@ Moderately melodic, not over-the-top of-sound shite, lots of teeth gnashing gmx.net) raw yet undeniably powerful mid-tempo (very loud and scary), heavily distorted Split record with a band from Croatia (by contemporary standards) punk mouth-organ, toys (of course) etc. and another one from Germany. AK47, rock. The rather uneventful insert has Extra comic effects can be achieved from Zagreb, are doing one long song a couple of band pics and the lyrics for if you speak Russian, from like hear- of epic melodic crust here (sung in title track in Finnish and English. An ing Fil (Monopolka) trying to persuade Serbocroatian). Good lyrics, and the alright reissue of great material. Roma (Stauropygial) to sing a song song is great. South Germany’s NO- ARSYKE / KAUNIIT POLIISIT split EP about cunt. VEMBER 13TH are almost an after- (Pitaa Ny Kattua) ABDUKTIO / THE DIVISIVE split CDR thought in comparison, but their metally These two Finnish bands have not only (NEKAC Distribuciya: Rumbas 6-12, / gloomy punk of the TRAGEDY school shared this seven incher, covered each Kuldiga LV3300, Latvia | delamuit is quite good nonetheless. Lyrics in other’s songs, but apparently co-re- [email protected] | www.nekac.lv) English and German. Worth it for both leased it too. Quite traditional punky A fairly nice split CD with two Finnish sides, but AK47 win. punk stuff; ARSYKE (www.hullunihmi bands. ABDUKTIO kick it off with 8 ANKYLYM “Instrumenty” tape sentauti.cjb.net) feature a female songs of metally modern hardcore (not (Stauropygial: Roman Pavlov, PO Box screecher, while the boy-fronted KP metalcore, mind you). They’re good but 429, St. Petersburg, 191123, Russia | (www.kauniitpoliisit.cjb.net) are slightly not perfectly my cup of tea. THE DI- www.stauropygial.spb.ru) more melodic. The lyrics are as Finn- VISIVE (13 songs) are doing the me- Quite weird, and slightly funky at quite ish as the bands’ names. lodic old school thing that pretty much a few times, alternative rock / punk / ATTITUDE PROBLEM ¹34 zine (PO leaves me cold as it borders on pop ska mix, made even more freaky by Box 326, Leeds, LS7 3YR, England | punk quite a bit. One remarkable thing elements of Asian / Arctic music, throat [email protected]) in Eng- is that they seem to use acoustic gui- singing, Jew’s harp almost throughout, lish tar at times. Both bands are quality but along with horns, partly self-invented. One of the best zines I’ve read lately - I’m not into them for some reason. I The lyrics are dorky as hell, covering fairly simple recipe (interviews, re- didn’t get a lyric sheet, so the only philosophy, ecology, political science views, rants) yet the passion that came comment I have on lyrics is that etc. - two songs are dedicated to an into this tasteful project cannot be de- ABDUKTIO seem to mostly sing in overiew of Thomas Hobbes’ ideas on nied. The design is in classic cut and Finnish, whereas THE DIVISIVE cling the nature of the state. At least a cou- paste style, with everything written by to English by most part. I wonder whose ple of tracks are multi-lingual (Russian, hand - and very nicely so. Steve vents face graces the cover? French, German, Spanish, English are his feelings relating to animal rights in ABERRANT “14 Tracks Of Brutal among languages used). As a bonus, general and fur in particular, and to the Grind” tape (Niesperas: www.niespe the tape includes an acoustic track war in Iraq. The reviews are to the point, ras.narod.ru | [email protected]) that’s more representative of and cover some records and some Just as release title says, brutal grind- ANKYLYM as it is now. zines. It’s the interviews that are the core here, all the way from Colorado, “Anticomfort” comp. tape best (and biggest) part of the zine. USA. The cassette includes stuff re- (Defectapes: Alexandr Vasilenko, SEVERED HEAD OF STATE, BORN / leased (on a split 7" with UNHOLY Shkolnaya 7, Lomovichi, Oktjabrskiy DEAD, PILGER and URO all give GRAVE among other sources) and r-n, Gomelskaya obl., 247302, Belarus) lengthy answers to thought-out ques- unreleased. Quality studio sound. AB- Great international hardcore punk com- tions relating to the band members’ ERRANT aren’t too metal, quite fast, pilation - classic type. Handwriting + outlook on life, political views and such. and at times crust-influenced, so I give cut + paste = cover and booklet. Bands URO’s 8-page interview was especially them my vote. Full-colour cover in- featured are mostly of the crusty amazing. cludes full lyrics, at times a bit full-on hardcore variety - largely East Euro- AVSKUM “Punkista” CD (Prank: PO but quite well-written. “Caught In Shane pean stuff (Belarus, Ukraine, Croatia, Box 419092, San Francisco, CA 94141- Embury’s Dream” has lyrics “written etc.), but some well-known international 9092, USA | www.prankrecords.com) entirely from titles of NAPALM DEATH bands - DROPDEAD, TOTALITAR, New album by this long-running Swed- songs from the first two albums” and ARTIMUS PYLE, etc. - are tossed in ish punk band. Musically, they deliver has to be read to be believed! as well. All bands have 2 or 3 songs the goods in the basic crusty discore ABNORMI “Avunhuuto” EP (If Soci- which does help to get an understand- style, good heavy recording (I liked ety: www.ifsociety.com) ing of their sound and ideas. The com- one of the cymbal sounds), great throa- Finland seems to have an unlimited pilation’s varied (noise, melodic punk, ty vocals, a few guitar solos but not supply of great hardcore punk bands. grind are the included deviations from too many (it’s punk discore not metal ABNORMI are one of them; they play “Anticomfort”’s general direction) yet discore), the whole works. On the one mid-tempo to fast relentless and slightly consistent. Highly recommended! hand the CD is just under 27 minutes, melodic hardcore. The sound is great, APPENDIX “Money Is Not My Cur- but on the other it’s 15 songs so it’s blown-out and raw. The lyrics are in rency” LP (Hohnie: Andreas Hohn, An pretty much a full-length. The lyrics Finnish, with short English explanations Der Kuhtranke 7, 31535 Neustadt, Ger- are in Swedish (5 songs) and English (do the math); English ones are quite kind of sounds weird), and good visu- grams. The thing is, this is actually an basic political stuff (sample song ti- als - multi-camera shots, some band, AVCD (apparently, England’s first re- tles: “Fight Back Capitalism”, “Fight some crowd. CAPTAIN EVERYTHING! lease in this format), and first two Back Racism”, “United States Of War”, frantically play speedy pop punk, and tracks feature a video for the title track “The Children Of War” - gimme a break) are the most fun to watch of the bunch. (in two different formats). It lasts the and Swedish are beyond my under- They look like right nutters, and act it whole of five minutes but it’s far from standing. Tape version of the album is too! DIVIT have all those dramatic gui- boring, the editing is very dynamic. out on Defectapes. tar in the air moves and stuff but it Concert footage of the band is inter- BATHTUB SHITTER “Fertilizer” EP sorta looks standard. They’re not say- twined with political newscasts. London, (First Blood Family: www.firstbloodfami ing anything particularly funny really, Genoa, Gothenburg, Prague, Seattle: ly.com) and the music’s mid-tempo emo rock, cops stepping back under hail of stones, Punky grindcore from Osaka, Japan, bordering on just plain mainstream gui- people in colourful costumes dancing recorded in 1999. The song structures tar pop. Although the bit where the singer in the streets freed from the cars, are kept simple and straightforward, put the guitar behind his back and McDonald’s windows smashed by the sound raw (the two live tracks are as played a solo this way was quite a nice crowd throwing cobble-stones, police airtight as the studio material), the vo- touch. BELVEDERE jump about quite a cars set on fire, body of Carlo Giuliani, cals are of the usual grunting pig / bit, and musically they’re quite alright - a participant in anticapitalist, “antigloba- squealing pig variety. Nice outro. The can be described as very melodic lisation” demonstration who was killed lyrics are all about crap. Not my cup of hardcore. As far as facial hair goes, by a carabiner in Genoa. CONFLICT’s sake, thank you, but the layout is nice. CAPTAIN EVERYTHING! members song is not the first to be dedicated to BLACK COBRA CD (self-released: display it most prominently, and it does Giuliani’s memory; PETROGRAD from www.blackcobra.net) look cool - almost Lemmy-cool. DIVIT Luxembourg and LOS FASTIDIOS from 3 tracks in 6 minutes by this American have some but it’s mostly standard Italy sing about him already. The Brits duo (members of CAVITY and 16), play- goatees, nothing that would make you have included his death in the context ing sludgy, techy, metally downtuned turn your head (except maybe away). of the fight of capitalists and states punk. No lyrics provided, but there is a BELVEDERE are even worse - the only with any and all protest: “Should we barcode printed on the back of the CD. thing worth a mention (and a negative fight with fists when / They use guns, The band is good, especially for a two- one at that) is their drummer’s mous- planes, bombs and tanks? / Do we plead piece, but what’s the point in 6-minute tache. C’mon! All in all, the DVD was a then beg forgiveness / As their con- CDs? It’s really good, but I wanna hear nice thing to watch before going to sleep. crete paves our way / As they chop more, and I wanna know what it’s all Might’ve felt better if I could dance on down our Sherwood Forest / Their bul- about. my bed but the only kind of dancing lets murder love with hate? / Do we BOLESNO GRINJE / SODN’ DAN split available was dancing with myself and forgive and forget those terrorist LP (Humanita Nova) I prefer a different kind of video for whores? Do they bollocks! Come on! Great split record with two crusty that kind of activity. War!” The song doesn’t bother with a hardcore bands from former Yugosla- CHANGES “Alone” CD (Old Skool Kids chorus yet it keeps the tension con- via - SODN’ DAN ([email protected]) Records: Sergei Voloshin, PO Box 64, stant; agonizing pause mid-song, and are from Slovenia and BOLESNO Moscow, 109147, Russia | oldschool an explosion before the last verse: GRINJE are from Croatia. Both sing in [email protected] | www.oskrecords. “Make sure the more they kill, the their respective mother tongues, but com) stronger our will”. Besides the title track SODN’ DAN also provide translations Debut MCD by Moscow’s melodic old the single includes a song called “A in English, and their lyrics are political school hardcore band CHANGES. The Gaping Hole.” It’s written in trademark in nature. They are somewhat more bands this is most commonly compared CONFLICT style, driving, energetic discore-influenced of the two, and there- with include ENDSTAND and AMULET. punk rock, without choruses, with sev- fore maybe a bit closer to my heart, The songs are quite fine, and the dual eral intertwined vocal lines. The lyrics but BOLESNO GRINJE are good too. guitars rock and roar. The band is re- are all sentences starting with the same CALL ME LORETTA “Crosswind” CD ally quite good but not much of their letter: “Nuclear nightmare nearing now. (Dead Bees: www.deadbees.com) goodness translates well onto record- No! Never! Organized opposition op- French indie band that strongly reminds ing - the drums sound weird, the vocals posing oppression. Overthrow! Over- one of SONIC YOUTH. I mean, really, are muffled. The lyrics deal mainly with come oblivion!”, A to Z. except all songs sound fronted by Kim personal empowerment. Doh. CONFUSE “Old God Meet New God” Gordon and there are no epic guitar THE COLLYWOBBLES “Excellent LP (Absolute Power: no address) wankathons, so all in all this is an im- Barfighters” CD (Deadlock: PO Box No address means a bootleg, and Ab- provement over actual SONIC 324, 7900 AH Hoogeveen, Holland | solute Power means a well-done one. YOUTH. The booklet has nice draw- www.deadlock.nl) The LP is pressed on extremely thick ings but lyrics are not represented which “Real men, real rock ‘n’ roll” says the vinyl and contains two rare recordings a doh because the paragraph or so in CD insert. The lyrics (in English, judg- by noisy hardcore masters of Kyushu, the insert is very nice writing. I’d fancy ing by song titles) are not provided. Japan, - CONFUSE. Side one has their reading more. (Turns out, there IS more Competently played, not entirely de- “Indignation” demo from April 1984 and on the band’s website, and the text on void of energy but fairly uneventful side two is a live set from December the insert is a collage made up of lines punkish rawk by these Dutch dudes. of the same year... The year when they of the songs). Decent enough soundtrack to getting were perhaps at their noisiest and thus CAPTAIN EVERYTHING! / DIVIT / BEL- drunk, but as a home listening? best. The booklet compiles all the in- VEDERE “Live At The Camden Un- CONFLICT “Carlo Giuliani” AVCD formation related to the recordings con- derworld 31/01/2004” split DVD (Mortarhate Records: PO Box 448, tained herein and provides the com- (Punkervision: www.punkervision.net) Eltham, London SE9 2QS, England | plete discography of this weird and A split DVD ft. England’s CAPTAIN www.conflict-uk.com) wonderful band. Three cheers for Ab- EVERYTHING!, America’s DIVIT and Recent single by UK anarcho punk solute Power! Canada’s BELVEDERE. All were filmed vets. First two tracks of the disc my COURTIS & THE SOVIET SEX MA- during a gig in London, all have decent CD player interprets as screechy noise CHINES (Monopolka) sound quality (though the kick drum that quite reminds of ZX Spectrum pro- Split tape featuring Monopolka’s main- stays SOVIET SEX MACHINES’ live produced circus band, weird and angu- DISFUNKTSIYA “Korporativnaya set from August 2004 - mostly it’s the lar and noisy (but not too noisy) and Popsnya” tape (Dysfunction: www. usual wall of harsh noise with weird- fucked-up (but in a controlled kind of dysfunction.pesni.ru | dysfunction@ arse sounds coming through - toys, way). Looks pretty nice but doesn’t rock mail.ru) musical instruments, something that my socks off. Quite lively punk rock here from Mos- sounds like a chainsaw, samples and DENY LIFE “Soundtrack To A Mass cow - a bit more energy than on their such. Even a lecture about circus Riot” CDR (Guillot Pierre, 10 rue debut three-song CDR (all tracks off clowns. They yell a lot, too. COURTIS Francois Couperin, 78590 Noisy-le-Roi, which are re-recorded herein). It’s defi- is from Argentina. At first it sounds like France | [email protected]) nitely eighties-influenced, classic punk, someone eating (using delay and dis- Like many Parisian bands, DENY LIFE maybe the guitar would’ve better been tortion pedals instead of knives and play heavy, moshy hardcore, in their overdubbed - the sound is a tad too forks), and then like someone flushing case somewhere between metalcore spare on guitar solo bits. The lyrics (in a toilet with delay and distortion pedal, and grind, with occasional sludge bit or Russian) appear to be good and then like someone taking off on a two. The recording is really good, and (DISFINKTSIYA singer and guitarist jet plane or a space rocket. Then sud- the band is tight on both their NYHC- Vladimir Kozlov is a published writer denly he meets up with god (some type bits and their blastbeat fits. How- with a couple of novels to his credit) slightly distorted organ parts make me ever, this 6-song demo lacks lyrics; but aren’t printed on the cover; with the think that). Something weird happens half the song titles are in French and vocals quite high in the mix the words then for the remainder of the cassette half in English. are easy to comprehend though. One (I can’t be arsed thinking up wacky DIRTY DOGS “Petualang” CD (Bro- of the songs is a Russian-language metaphors any longer, sorry). SOVIET ken Noise: Norhafizi (Jimbo), No. 12, version of “Pull My Strings” by DEAD SEX MACHINES definitely win out by JL Lembah 24, TMN Desa Jaya, Johor KENNEDYS. punk points. Bahru, 81100, Johor, Malaysia | DISTRESS “Fuck The System / DAMAGE DEPOSIT “Straight To The www.diy-noise.tripod.com) Propaganda” CDR (via Total Punk) Bottom” EP (Havoc) This took, like, three years to record. Brutal Russian discore - this CD has Second - and last - EP by Minneapolis’ Does it mean it’s a masterpiece? Un- two of their demos put together (7 hardcore ragers. The sound is more fortunately, the answer is no, not re- songs, 11 minutes). Relentlessly pow- rough, less polished than on their debut ally. It’s just rough punk / hardcore with erful noisy sound with hoarse scream- 7" “Do Damage” (which, apparently, are electronic drums and growling vocals. ing of Sasha “Malysh” on top; the lyr- the words that Fred Durst said to the While this is an improvement over ics, which are translated into English crowd at Woodstock ’99). The music is chaos punk of THE DIRTY DOGS’ early on the insert, critisize conformism and still mostly influenced by youth crew recordings, it’s still somewhat primitive violence - quite typical of the genre. hardcore, and has all the things that in songwriting and unappealing in sound. One of the songs is an ANTI CIMEX make it work - sing-alongs, breakdowns, Some of the guitar leads are positively cover. Well-done CD by one of the thrash parts, sarcastic lyrics... Not so cheesy. The booklet includes lyrics in best punk bands in St. Petersburg cur- sure about the last point though - where Malay, and a short history of the band rently. the fuck is the lyric sheet? Well alright. formed by three brothers in Kuala Lipis DOGPRINTS ¹4 zine (Yellow Dog, PO Amazing black and silver artwork. Oh in 1993. Last track is a ROCKERS co- Box 550208, 10372, Berlin, Germany | yeah, colour vinyl, though my copy of ver. www.yellowdog.de) in English the record looked more soiled than col- DISCIDER “Drinking To Forget The Free zine that is published by Yellow oured! Future” EP (First Blood Family) Dog Records. Last few pages are taken DAMN DIRTY APES CD (self-released: Fairly primitive crust fare here, on first over by their catalogue, and there’s a www.damndirtyapes.co.uk) EP by this American punk band. Very few ads in here. However, most of the Fairly strange punkish rock from Bir- simple rhythm and ugly vocals - all zine is band interviews - WOLFBRI- mingham, England. Lots of electronic four members do ‘em. It’s inventive in GADE, SELFISH, SAYYADINA, noises inbetween the rocking bits, and places and it’s got potential but it’s just SNOWBLOOD and several more. Fair- weirdly muted vocals complete the pic- not there yet. Decent political lyrics. ly nice, for a freebie even more so. ture. I’d say alternative rock (maybe a Clear vinyl, nice and simple layout. DONA MALDAD “Y El Estado Hipocrita bit like less structured WILDHEARTS) F.B.F. has some better releases to of- Continua Asesinando” LP (Alerta but I wouldn’t say it sucks. It’s just fer. Antifascista / Les Nains Aussi: Nicolas nothing special. No lyrics provided with DISFACE / KOBAYASHI split EP (Oi Retiere, 1 rue Edgar Quinet, 38000 this 3-song CD. The 4th track is a spo- Free Youth / Tofu Guerrilla / Falling Down Grenoble, France | les_nains_aus ken-word appeal to book the band which / Moskito / Alerta Antifascista / Grita O [email protected]) then turns into wacky sound collage Muere / Behind The Scenes / Faul / There are people whose general atti- thing. Disyouth: Postfach 120811, 68059 tude to melodic punk is rejection or at DAYMARE EP (Ratbone / Stonehenge: Mannheim, Germany | least mistrust, and I’m one of those. BP 46, 33031 Bordeaux Cedex, France [email protected]) But this time I cannot resist. DONA | www.stonehengerecords.com) One of those irritating EPs that have MALDAD have the frantic energy of D-beat hardcore from France, but sides played at different speed. Re- pogo-punk, apparently without the usual slightly more melodic and dark than leased by a variety of German labels associated brainlessness - the Span- just discore (thus somewhat in line with (with one from Spain), the EP features ish lyrics appear to be of political / FROM ASHES RISE and such), raw two seriously rocking melodic punk anticapitalist variety. Venezuela’s the sound. Social / personal lyrics, trans- bands. DISFACE from Spain, despite next big thing, I tell you that. lated into English and Spanish on the the name, are a strong pop punk band DUFUS “Neuborns” CD (Iron Man: insert. Great artwork. with great, almost operatic female vo- PO Box 9121, Birmingham, B13 8AU, DEEP TURTLE “Turkele” CD (Zerga: cals. Pretty good lyrics (in Spanish) England | www.ironmanrecords.co.uk) www.deepturtle.net) with a political bent. KOBAYASHI (“zee” Arty indie stuff from New York that Finnish rock with organ and vocals in German band) here quite remind of kind of goes nowhere, balancing be- Spanish - I think, song titles are “Perdi- PETROGRAD, well, the lyrics (in Ger- tween folk and alternative rock influ- do”, “Pesadilla” etc. but no lyrics are man) are quite political as well. Full- ences. It’s consciously trying to be included. Sounds like a Steve Albini- colour cover. weird but just strikes me as very, very pretentious and thus quite crap. And I otherwise strongly reminiscent of the ko” (a contribution to “Twinkle Stars And hate the guy’s alternarockTM vocals. opening cut on OI POLLOI’s “Fuiam Lullabys” compilation) is not included. I’m not at all surpised that it sat Catha” LP. The songs are strong, short HARUM-SCARUM “The Last Light” unreleased from 2001. Lyrics included and brutal, the band tight, with boy LP (Partners In Crime: PO Box 11787, for just one song (but a four-page press vocals that sound either inhuman or Portland, OR 97211, USA) release went with my copy). Some acou- tortured, well, maybe the sound is The final record by these gringa anar- stic stuff as bonus tracks. slightly tinny. The lyrics cover scene cha-punks. A lot more melodic com- EPIDEMIA tape (Nothing Special: issues (including Christian hardcore pared to their early stuff, and thus [email protected]) bollocks), and relationships between slightly less their own, though powerful This tape, a benefit for “Abolishing The man and the rest of nature (not very and driving anyway. The lyrics are Borders From Below” zine, features the favourably for the man, too). Even the mostly political - war, violence, gov- entire recorded output (aka a demo) of insert’s nice AND readable. ernment - but sometimes this bleak Berlin’s international band EPIDEMIA - FUN “Szklarska Poreba LP” CD (If outlook is extrapolated on the inner which featured four Poles and Saira Society) world: “Electric chair or laziness. It’s all from US band DETESTATION. The band Rejoice all of you (us) SHELLAC and systemic.” Brill. was playing crusty hardcore punk that’s FUGAZI fans! FUN, from Finland, HERO DISHONEST “Climbing Up On totally raging and relentless. The drum- comes your (our) way, and it’s neither The Way Down” EP (If Society / Drugs ming is fucking amazing! And Saira’s good (it’s quite bad-arse in fact) nor Kill Your Mind / Enslaved / Myrsky vocals aren’t too shabby either. The clean (it’s distorted and ugly). The CD Market / Crime Scene: Box 13, 83 lyrics, presented in Polish and German is a bit of an improvement over their Colston Street, Bristol, BS1 5BB, Eng- (along with information on the band and debut ten-inch, though mostly it’s the land | [email protected]) the benefitiary), are of political nature. sound quality. The band is much, much Killer raw hardcore from Finland, with It kinda reminds of an older Berlin squat- tighter than a nun’s cunt, is quite bloody dual vocals. Has some melodic ele- ter band, NKD. inventive, and has the hooks down. ments, and what some people would EXHALE / SKITKIDS split EP (Putrid The lyrics are in English, and try as term “sick breakdowns”, but is much Filth Conspiracy: Box 7092, 20042 they might they aren’t shocking to any- better, and no less powerful than these Malmo, Sweden | www.putridfilth.com) one except said nun perhaps. Good art descriptions might lead you to believe. All split seven inch records are an evil though. “Deadline Twist” even has some ex- waste. They include too little music, GRUPA VILNIS “Man Ir Amurs” (Brkuls perimental rock elements. Great lyrics and require too much resources. Even Prod.: [email protected]) (in English): sharp, witty, sarcastic and if one of the bands is good the other Kuldiga, Latvia’s instrumentalists heart-felt. tends to seem shite in comparison, and GRUPA VILNIS (“group wave”) are also HOSENFEFER “Knife In My Back” there’s not enough of good stuff any- known as GRU.VI. - a fitting abbrevia- EP (Tian An Men 89: Antipodes Souter- way. I know all of that perfectly well tion, as groovy they indeed are. The rains, 28 Rue De Soultz, 67100 Stras- yet still I can’t bloody resist. EXHALE very minimalist lineup of just bass and bourg, France | www.geocities.com/ from Japan play noisy, rocking and drums brings to mind SABOT, but tam89rds) powerful traditional Japanese hardcore GRU.VI. do not simply play like a Tight punk rock and roll from Kosovo, (the type that has guitar solos), while rhythm section without the rest of the lyrics in English. Good recording, good Danish / Swedish SKITKIDS are just band, no, they are inventive, jazzy, cover, but I am kind of unimpressed. fucking crushing. The stuff I under- freaky and, yes, groovy. It kind of No lyrics on the insert. stood on the insert includes a few lines reminds of the later, jazzy stuff that HUMANEATERS / THE MALCHIKI of EXHALE lyrics (the rest in Japa- the bassist’s old band VONOSONO- “With Incredible Sound Of Their nese), and comments to SKITKIDS LOPPUS played. The sound is surpris- Deep Dark And Wet Wet Grave” split songs (the words themselves are in ingly full - with many an effect distort- tape (Nov’yo: [email protected]) SweDISh). Rounded out by a nice ing the sound of Edzs’ bass guitar, and Two garage-sounding projects from St. cover. Spanis’ drums occasionally sounding Petersburg (or Tosno, or Turukhtannie FAK’FOOD ¹1 zine (klown@ramb as if played by someone with 3 or 4 Islands in the Gulf of Finland, or what- ler.ru) in Russian hands. This CD is a compilation of live ever). The music (hardcore and me- First issue of a new zine from Irkutsk, recordings done over a few years in a lodic punk for HUMANEATERS, garage East Siberia. Fairly standard content- few places, but the quality is quite good. punk covers for MALCHIKI) sounds wise, columns and interviews form the I am not so sure how well GRUPA rough, the vocals are even rougher and bulk of the zine along with articles on VILNIS might’ve played without feed- it’s quite impossible to make much lyr- vivisection in Irkutsk medical schools ing back from the audience. One track ics out. Weirdness all around. The cover and followers of Leo Tolstoy’s anar- features guest screeching by INOKEN- envelope, conveniently enough, only chist teaching. Interviewed are TIJS MARPLS frontman Dambis. features pictures and band names. For PLYUSCHI, TARAKANY!, COSIA HACKELSTORM / LAPSHA what sounds like a one-off both bands RUIM, INFECT, PET NIHIL and KAFKA, BYSTROGO PRIGOTOVLENIYA split are very lively and competent. most of the columns have a sociopo- tape (via Stauropygial) IN.STORA “How Come You Don’t Get litical nature and the zine’s rounded out Tape’s packed in a bag from instant Bored Of All The Happy Ends On with a St. Petersburg scene report. noodles: LAPSHA BYSTROGO PRIGO- Screen?” CD (Kablio Muzika: Kestas FILTHPACT CDR (demo: Dave TOVLENIYA, one of Stauropygial K., PO Box 3041, 2026 Vilnius, Lithua- Rowlands, 19 Albury Place, Aberdeen, Records’ many noise projects (using nia | www.kablys.hardcore.lt) AB11 6TQ, Scotland | distorted guitars by most part, with Excellent contemporary hardcore from www.filthpact.com) sludgy ambient noise results), is named Latvia. It’s sort of tech-y, somewhat Self-described as “crust violence”, this after Russian expression meaning this metally, more than a wee bit emotional new Scottish band rocks the fucking type of meal. HAKELSTORM, an ANKY- - in short, it’s got a bunch of different house. Just six tracks on this one, and LYM side project, play poppy instru- influences. However, it doesn’t make the first of them, “The Watering Down mental music with bass or guitar (de- the thing eclectic, neither it’s all blended Of Hardcore”, is a spoken-word affair, pending on the track), synth and drum together. IN.STORA takes the various with the text written by Chris Bickel machine. Unfortunately, their brilliant elements and makes them their own, (MRR / GUYANA PUNCH LINE), but version of Russian folk tune “Yabloch- so even when they hit a reggae streak (on “Another Typical Antiwar Song”) THE KILLING SPREE EP (Rimbaud: ously explores the quite populated they still give it a sound of their own. www.rimbaudrecords.com) LEATHERFACE / HUSKER DU terri- There’s a lot of stuff packed in here - Mostly instrumental (vocals only on the tory of melodic punk, they do it well. lots of noises mixed in with the music first track, and there’s not an arseload The vocals, though, are not as harsh (a must-have for arty emometalcore of ‘em) band from North Ireland, musi- and strong, but the songs are not ru- bands), lengthy English lyrics in the cally somewhere between noiserock ined by the execution. The intro starts booklet touching on politics and non- and post hardcore, powerful and inven- off in an almost AMEBIX mood, and conformism, four videos and a few tive. No lyrics but a nice screen-printed one of the songs even reminds me of dozen pictures in the multimedia part. cover nevertheless. Limited to (I think) a MANIC STREET PREACHERS bal- IN.STORA “Miasma” CD (Old Skool 500 copies. lad (a good thing - to me anyway). The Kids) KOBAYASHI “Disko” LP (Falling Down lyrics combine a look at the ills wrought Latvia’s IN.STORA have released their / Moskito / Malinke / Alerta Antifascista: on this world by capitalism with more new album on Moscow’s Old Skool Kids PO Box 2318, 24913 Flensburg, Ger- personal themes. The song “Brother” label. That’s the most remarkable many | [email protected] | www. combines the sentiments of a typical change - they kept the hyper-technical no-pasaran.org) youth crew hymn with slower anthemic emometalcore style of theirs. There are This is “zee” German KOBAYASHI, not rock that seems like a more natural just eight tracks on this CD but each the great, late Austrian band of the combination. A strong and varied ef- has enough musical ideas, melodies, same seemingly non-generic name. fort, even if it sounds a bit themes for two or three normal songs. “Zee” German KOBAYASHI is playing mainstreamish, it still is as DIY as it Math-metal bits are intertwined with the melodic punk with political lyrics in vari- gets. more elegiac pieces - mid-album we ous languages. A bruise or two instead LOA LOA “Bolshe Net, Spasibo Za encounter a track that’s played on pi- of smoking ruins - guys, it’s like calling Emotsii” CD (Retrotrasher: zzzrecords ano and violin. The chaos is always your band DISCHARGE and playing @hotmail.com) near, and the band is scared, but they weak metal. Huh. Nice record though, This may well be one of the weirdest playing is so tight that they keep on thick booklet ‘n’ all that. and most chaotic CDs ever released the edge of the abyss. Everything’s KOMATOZ “Nenavist” tape (Total Punk: by a Russian band. Moscow’s LOA LOA under control! Don’t panic! Kaspars’ Alexandr Yakovlev, PO Box 127, St. fit their 14 tracks in just 19 minutes. It lyrics are predictably lengthy and com- Petersburg, 192171, Russia | totalpunk sounds like a FANTOMAS or a NAKED plicated, in English and Latvian. He @hotbox.ru) CITY record on 78. Short bursts of noise seems to be screaming largely about This is a full-length cassette album by and bits of conventional rock; screechy, the ways that the consumerist society St. Petersburg punk band manned most- insect-like vocals and squeaky key- is influencing people who live within it. ly by the same people that play in DIS- boards; violent structures and unpre- Who are breathing in its miasma. TRESS. Musically it’s not very far dictable emotional outbursts. The lyr- INVARIANT ¹2 zine (PO Box 149, apart, kind of similar to early EX- ics are really well-written, though some- Almaty, 480000, Kazakhstan | www.al PLOITED / GBH / DISCHARGE al- what cryptic, but they’re totally impos- maty-liberta.boom.ru) in Russian though at times some bits remind of sible to make out, which, perhaps, is It’s the only theoretical libertarian zine I old school hardcore (the intro to “Cops” the point. A record is as great as it is know from Middle Asia. This 40-page might’ve fit well on a GORILLA BIS- unlistenable. Which, perhaps, is the issue contains just one in-depth essay CUITS album except it didn’t). Vocals point. that covers the relationships between are of the screamed variety, dealing MACHETAZO “The Maggot Sessions” the proletariat and the work, and not a with cops, wars, beers and Britney EP (First Blood Family) single picture. Now that’s brave. The Spears, not always exactly in a PC Spanish death / grind recorded live in text first looks at the way that workers fashion though. The cover is full-col- the studio. Apparently for them it’s big behaved in revolutions and strikes our, with lots of picturesque punks (in- deal as this is the first full lineup re- throughout the history of capitalism, cluding the band members) featured. cording. Decent sound, lousy - too and then provides the methodological No lyrics printed though. metally, not too fast - music, and I observations, with one of the conclu- LAMANT “Pizdets” CDR (self-re- don’t like the growled vocals at all (in sions being that “the fundamental con- leased: Igor Konik, PO Box 205, Minsk, general, so nothing personal mucha- tradiction of our society (proletariat - 220107, Belarus | [email protected]) chos!). No lyrics (songs are in Span- capital) is only potentially deadly for Fast, relentless thrashy hardcore from ish) presented on the otherwise very capitalism if the worker confronts his Minsk, with former members of HATE cool insert; great artwork by Dennis work, that is not only the capitalist but TO STATE and SELFSHIT. Some jazzy Dread. what the capital makes of him.” I quite bits in a couple of places but with the MARDICORE ¹0 zine (Elik Seitov, like the analysis employed here - sort raw sound that the recording, originally Yunus-Abad 10-1-83, Tashkent, 700212, of reminds me of “Lefty” Hooligan col- meant as a demo, has it’s got just the Uzbekistan | [email protected]) in Rus- umns in MRR. right amount of experimentation, with- sian JACK “To Hungary With Love” tape out overt artiness. Great sarcastic / Brand new zine from Uzbekistan, Mid- (Defect Apes) surrealistic lyrics in Russian and Bela- dle Asia - dedicated, quite logically, to Powerful, fast and tight thrashy hard- russian. Covers of songs by DOOM the punk and skin scene in “exotic” core from Hungary here. Crust and (English band) and CHIMERA. The CD countries of the world. The issue in- grind influences are well present. Some- is housed in a great cardboard cover cludes reports on the skinhead scene times it is metallic in a good way, that that’s done very inventively, and in- in Lima and on punk scene in Tashkent, is, metal sound but not metal song cludes great fucking graphics. Highly an interview with STRAIGHT ANSWER structures. The lyrics - translated into recommended. from Indonesia, plus a few rants about English and hand-written - are excel- LAST UNDER THE SUN “Windfall” work, skinheads and such. Fairly nice lent, repeatedly pointing to consumer- CD (Iron Man Records) and definitely interesting! ism and capitalism as the roots of all Somehow this record took a few years MARSCHAK CD (Homo Sentimentalis evil - such as media manipulations, fur to materialize - recorded in 2001, mixed Recordings: Andrei Skvortsov, PO Box industry, and wars. The tape’s closed in 2003, it was only released in 2004. 59, Moscow, 125080, Russia | endishe with an electronic remix of one of the But this is precisely a case of better [email protected]) tracks. late than never - while the band obvi- The aesthetic of the underground emo scene is lovingly recreated on this CD, MORE THAN TALKING “Communica- core punk band NIKMAT OLALIM. The first for Moscow’s MARSCHAK. Hand- tion Means” CDR (Nekac) recording is rough but energetic, the made packaging with the band’s name Godawful band name - though the kids vocals are somewhere between snarled silk-screened over brown cardboard, in this Latvian hardcore four-piece are and sung, and the music in general in melancholy weave of guitar melodies, probably too young to know how many quite cool, not too melodic, not too ge- and incomprehensible lung-tear of the memories of the beat-up MODERN TAL- neric, but with some tunes and some vocals (thus the “screamo” tag the band KING tapes it does revoke. Other than recognizability. The cover includes two wears with some pride). The verbal thing that, they’re okay. Okay but hardly lengthy essays, and the insert is one is also done “the way it should be” - more than that. Musically, it’s hardcore side a graphic collage, one side lyric someone’s name as band’s moniker (a by the numbers, some bits are thrashier sheet (in Hebrew and English); it took Soviet children’s poet this time), pre- and faster, some are more metally in me three listens to this 6-song 7" to tentious titles (“Gilles De La Tourette structure though the sound isn’t as read all the English-language materials Syndrome”, “Not To Be Human”) com- heavy as the style requires. The lyrics herein! The songs are dealing with po- bined with schoolboy-level (unless we (most in English, one song in Latvian) litical, social and environmental con- talk Arthur Rimbaud this level is hardly are also a bit run-of-the-mill personal cerns met by the people of Israel. high) poetry about, you guessed it right, stuff mostly, one track concerns meat- NNY “Don’t Happy, Be Worry & Live” feelings. Emotions. Which are sup- eating. The band has potential, and now CD (Manufracture: 5410 Bergen-opposed to be larger than life, in a way. a good debut recording. zoom, Nanaimo BC, V9T 2M2, Canada Musically, it’s not as varied as I might MORGENMUFFEL ¹12 zine (PO Box | www.noiseweb.com/manufracture) ’ve wanted it yet there are just eight 74, Brighton, BN1 4ZQ, England | International jazz punk band that ex- songs on the CD, some additional in- [email protected]) in English isted from 1999 to 2001 has released a struments (namely cello and key- Very cool cartoon zine from the UK. CD version of their sole album, with a boards) are employed, and some of Isy draws and writes about tree climb- live recording from Spain tacked on as the build-ups are quite bloody beauti- ing, West Papuan freedom fighters, an extra. However, the CD is housed ful. Neat neat neat. social club she’s involved with, pro- in an LP sleeve! It doesn’t include lyr- MASHA I LAPSHA tape (Stauropygial) tests against an arms fair in London, ics but has varied rants and statements A tape of Slavic harsh noise, done in a working, yeast infections, hospitals, and instead. It’s quite similar to the band 2/ typically minimalist and unpretentious there are a few other doodling subjects 3 of NNY later formed, VIALKA. The manner by Stauropygial Records boss - book reviews, anarchist prisoner pen- music’s constantly changing, not cha- with two collaborators. There basically pals; all of it non-fiction. The flow is otically of course but still unpredict- are two layers of sound, one sounding good, the subjects are interesting, the able enough; I think it can be described like something slowed down and over- drawings are cool. Issues 2 - 11 have as a sort of condenced art rock with loaded (bass might be the case), and now been reprinted as a book. punk sound. It’s fun, but over an hour the other more like feedbacking guitar MOTHER GOOSE “Psycho Acoustic of this stuff is a bit hard to stomach. (or something). Some voices are also Nomadic 45 For The Jukebox In Yr “Noise And Drum ‘N’ Punk” comp. occasionally present. The information Heart” EP (If Society) CDR (Meet Next Life) is provided in Russian and Church Sla- From Finland, and quite bloody DIY A compilation of experimental electroni- vonic (spelled both in Cyrillic and Glago- and all. First track is acoustic arena ca from various towns in South Rus- lic letters). rock that kind of reminds me of PEARL sia. The bands range from noisy techno MAXIMUMROCKNROLL ¹244 zine JAM, only this is better. B-side is a bit (BIOROBOTS) to more pop type stuff (PO Box 460760, San Francisco, CA like BIG BLACK but the recording isn’t (NEOBILL, one of whose songs re- 94146-0760, USA | www.maximumrockn extremely clean. Alright music, but I’m minds of MUM a tad). The CD is packed roll.com) in English not into it somehow. I want my arena in a hand-made paper bag and is ac- The world’s premiere punk zine still kicks rock to be cheesy. companied by a booklet with lyrics for much arse. Coordinators change, col- MUKEKA DI RATO / HERO DISHON- the few songs that have any. I’d hon- umnists resign, cover price goes up EST “Burzum Marley / I And I Walked estly expected something more ex- (from this issue on, $4), trends come The Line” split EP (If Society / 625 treme but it was a pleasant listen none- and go, yet the spirit remains. The col- Thrash: www.625thrash.com) theless. umns (which make me spolied, it’s kind Split EP by Brazil’s MDR and Finland’s NO HUMANS INVOLVED tape of hard to dig most other zine writings HERO DISHONEST, co-released by ([email protected]) after having been exposed to so much Helsinki’s If Society and NYC’s 625 Now, this is a seriously disturbing band good stuff here), the interviews (the Thrash. Both bands are melodic and name (it is explained on the demo’s most incredible ones are with BOXED raging, Brazilians are a tad more tune- cover). This Danish all-girl band plays IN and RAI KO RIS), the reviews (which ful, the Finns are more desperate. quite simple, even primitive punk that’s are sometimes insightful, sometimes MDR’s first song is a mix of black metal totally great and rocking. The insert has incredibly funny... Shane White!!). Punk and reggae (!), HERO DISHONEST lyrics in both Danish and English, as movement worldwide seems to be so close their side with a killer cover of well as explanations. Well thought out divided into small sect-like subscenes, “Warsaw” by JOY DIVISION. Great political stuff I’d say. Denmark seems and it’s things like MRR that give it design: full-colour cover and comic in- to spew forth so much good traditional some sort of bond, and political edge. sert. According to the insert (they all punk rock, it’s amazing. What I like is It’s not too US-centered, which I love. SCREAM, and for some things I need that most of these bands have political “Metal Dub Sound System” comp. translations), HERO DISHONEST have lyrics, and sing in their native tongue. CDR (MDSS: [email protected]) much better lyrics (in English) than MDR Something’s rotten there but not punk A compilation of non-commercial un- do (in Portuguese). rock. derground musics - jazz, dub, electroni- NIKMAT OLALIM “Self Devouring NOVIY SVET ¹58 newspaper (Alexandr ca, funk. Very nice, mellow, groovy Land” EP (Boshet: 44 Shabtai Negbi Yermakov, PO Box 32, St. Petersburg, and absolutely unpretentious. Metal St., Apt. 2, Jerusalem 93825, Israel | 194291, Russia | www.novsvet.na Dub Sound System’s 2nd compilation www.gutzy.com/boshet | rod.ru) in Russian features Russia’s SKAFANDR and [email protected]) Russia’s most consistent and longest- Belgium’s ORANGE KAZOO, among Very cool “Lord Of The Rings” sample running anarchist paper. It is crammed others. opens this EP by Israeli political hard- with information bits and reactions regarding terrorist acts in Russia and war also tip SELFSHIT from Minsk. DE- alright most of the time (and at times in Chechnya, all sorts of anarchist ac- VIATION from Grodno could’ve been great: “There are positive people and tion reports, confrontations with authori- another highlight but I think these songs good things, too / Like music, ice cream ties, ADA (Association of Anarchist aren’t really their best recordings. Then and I think you”), nothing more to ask Movements) congress in St. Petersburg, there’s KARIES from South-West Pe- for. I’d not mind removing that annoy- small press reviews, etc. etc. Highly tersburg, and they go for UK’82 type ing piano bonus track that closes the recommended. of punk. Ok, but again not much more CD though. ODYSSEY “Eleven Reasons To Live than ok. PROTEST ¹666 zine (http:// Eleven Reasons To Die + 3 Songs” “Pank-rok Bez Granits Pt. 2” comp. protestzine.cjb.net | protestzine@ tape (Old Skool Kids) tape (Primitiv Distro) yahoo.com) in English Cassette version of this Brazilian band’s Before long, the “Punk Rock Without Great old-style zine from Ireland - CD, augmented with three compilation Borders” compilation series is contin- started in 1989, stopped in 1997, and tracks. Musically ODYSSEY are doing ued, and it’s certainly an improvement re-started in 2004 after having been a powerful, contemporary-sounding old over the first volume. The layout is website for a while. The interviews are school hardcore with somewhat hys- better, the selection of bands is better with DISCHARGE, EXTINCTION OF terical vocals. The lyrics, which are (though quite a few familiar faces stuck MANKIND and a few British and Irish printed in great, full-colour insert, are in around). The standouts are Lithuania’s bands I never heard of. “The usual zine English (with Russian translations also DR GREEN with their ska punk and bollix” (sic) are reviews, bits on censor- provided), and are slightly vague in their BORA with their brutal metallic hardcore, ship, hitching, General N. N. Loan and personal self-centeredness. Some (if THE DAUNZA CAUSE fron Belarus such like, and I haven’t seen these not most) are dealing with unhappy with their weird but powerful hardcore, topics covered that often. Excellent love. Duh. Poland’s SILIKON FEST doing a KINO design. OUT COLD / VOORHEES split LP (De- cover, and American anarchopunks PULGASARI “Sampler Oct. 2004” ranged Records: PO Box 543, Stn.P., CZOLGOSZ. Would’ve been cool if CDR (Musiro) Toronto ON, M5S 2T1, Canada) any lyrics were included. 10 tracks in 125 seconds - South Ko- Vinyl version of a split CD originally PARTIYA “Pank - Moya Zhizn” CDR rean noisecore in all of its (dubious) released by some British label. Five (Primitiv Distro) glory. The recording is quite so-so, but short, fast and to-the-point hardcore Really simple punk rock here - two that befits the genre; however, I’d be songs by New England’s OUT COLD dudes (one with a hoarse voice) and interested in reading lyrics to songs and as many just as sharp cuts by Old one dudette play 18 songs. Mid-tempo like “Tabooed By Feminazi Bitches” - Blighty’s VOORHEES. Lyric sheet is (and the tempo does not change), a bit the title seems dodgy as hell. One of angry. Rock! of drive (wish it were a tad more driv- the tracks is a PATARENI cover. Good “Paint This Octopus” tape (Monopol- ing), raw recording (nothing in particu- layout. ka) lar). The lyrics, all in Russian, are even PYLESOS “Zhizn Tamagochi” CDR In fact this is a split tape ft. SOVIET more simple than the music; ridiculously (demo: Mihail Kolesnik, Alexandrov- SEX MACHINES (which is obviously simple. Some of the sentiments are skaya 47, Tara, Omskaya obl., 646530, another new name for TALONOV NET) nice though. Still, a progress over their Russia | [email protected]) and Scotland’s NECK DOPPLER. early stuff. Heavy alternative rock from West Si- S.S.M. are doing whatever, harsh noise, PEST OF A CHILD CDR (Jekabs beria. I’m slightly at a loss for compari- radio noise, noise with toys, meeow Janusevskis, Rudens 10-146, Riga, LV- sons, not so much ‘cause it’s such origi- noise, BLACK SABBATH noise, which 1082, Latvia | [email protected]) nal stuff, it’s rather ‘cause I’m not that keeps their side of the split fairly en- There are perhaps thousands of bands well acquainted with early nineties al- tertaining all the way through. The Scots of this kind all over the world. Ska punk ternative rock. Inbetween metalcore are creepy. The music is kind of noise- fad doesn’t seem to fade away com- and noiserock I’d say. It’s a tad techy, based too, with whispered vocals on pletely, and there are reasons to that - a tad metally, maybe a little like HEL- top, the end result kind of reminding a the music is generally fun and easy to MET or something. At times some sort little of those dodgy esoteric English comprehend. But I’m not the only one of nu metal sentiments are felt though. bands like, I dunno, NURSE WITH to have noticed that, and thus ska punk The lyrics, inasmuch I can pick them WOUND or something. The cover in- genre is overpopulated by thousands up by ear, are quite good. cludes hand-painted pictures, and is humourless jerks milking the formula RANCID NEWS ¹9 zine (PO Box 382, rad. dry. Anyway, this lot are from Latvia, 456-458 The Strand, London, WC2R “Pank-rok Bez Granits” comp. tape and this alone makes for some differ- 0DZ, England | www.rnzine.co.uk) in (Primitiv Distro: Sergei Myshkovets, ence. Some of the track titles are in English PO Box 389, Minsk, 220090, Belarus | their native tongue, though only one There’s more to the UK zine scene than [email protected] | www.distro-fik.tk) song is in fact sung in Latvian. Most the handwritten / copied / anarchopunk The compilation’s title translates as lyrics are in fairly competent English, zines, and while I don’t give a toss about “Punk Rock Without Borders”. The and they don’t include the beach / most of music that Rancid News cover, majority of 17 bands (at two songs each) goodtime cliches - most of topics are and I find too many major label apolo- are Belarussian or Polish (from Poland political, questioning the consumerist gists featured to be really comfortable, itself or Berlin squats and wagenburgs), attitudes, capitalist greed etc. Another it does have a nice political / direct the only New World band being SOLI- thing that sets PEST OF A CHILD apart action vibe going on. The people I’ve TARY NEGLECT from Massachussets. from the sea of THE MIGHTY MIGHTY heard about covered in this issue were There is at least one other American BOSSTONES or GOLDFINGER clones LEFTOVER CRACK (who came across punk involved here though - EPIDEMIA (not the sea that PEST OF A CHILD as really intelligent), LE TIGRE (who I from Berlin (who open the tape) fea- set out to sail, hopefully) is their horn think are full of it), and the kid who tured Saira from DETESTATION on section. It consists of trombone and wrote “Evasion”. The contents are col- vocals. Most of the bands are of the clarinet, and the latter is a very rare umns, articles (largely political ones), somewhat melodic yet punky punk instrument to be found in punk, and interviews, reviews (some of which variety. The standouts (for me at least) indeed a charming one if PEST OF A could benefit from spell-checking, and include the harder and faster bands, CHILD is anything to go by. The mu- adding more information - such as the besides the ones mentioned above I’d sic’s good and it’s varied, the lyrics are mention of releases’ formats) - the MRR formula. It was a nice read. what would’ve otherwise been a good quite the extent of what I can say about RETIVIY PITEKANTROP “Old Songs record. this release. - New Mood” CDR (Nov’yo) SHESTOPSALMIYE / POPA I SODN’ DAN tape (Defect Apes) Lo-fi music at its goofiest and nicest. IGRUSHKI split tape (Xerotika: Really nice if a little standard crusty Starts with approximation of ska, con- [email protected]) hardcore punk from Slovenia. The vo- tinues through weird pop, drunk sing- Elaborate cardboard / sticky tape / rope cals tend to growl and the whole record- along on “La Bamba” and such. Four / plastic bag packaging, two inserts (one ing somehow sounds as if has been songs, original design. for each band), and a cassette. SHES- transferred from an mp3 file. The lyr- RUDIMENTARY PENI "Catastrophe - TOPSALMIYE from Minsk, Belarus, ics are mostly in Slovenian but a cou- Live 1982" LP (no address) appear to be, I dunno, a homegrown ple of tracks are in English (including a Bootleg LP with archival recordings by NURSE WITH WOUND, minimalist yet HELLBOOZERS - whoever they are - England’s most obscure and dark weird music mixed with noises and spo- cover). The booklet is really nicely anarcho punk band. The material herein ken word. POPA I IGRUSHKI from St. done, with translations and illustrations has been recorded at different gigs and Petersburg, Russia, produce chaotic - “Pizda Rt Joski” with its story of a soundchecks throughout London in Win- noise using accordion, piano, screams date rape is even made into a comic. ter and Summer of 1982. There are all and other crap. Good. in all 27 tracks but some songs are SI DOU LE “A Dream In Our Hearts” “Sonic Warfare 1” comp. CDR (Peace repeated - you get three renditions of EP (Depraved And Devilish: Ingo Or Die: PO Box 31045, Cincinnati, OH “B-Ward”, for instance. Like many boot- Rohrer, Sonnhalde 85, 79104 Freiburg, 45231, USA | www.peaceordierecords. legs, the sound quality here is not per- Germany | [email protected]) com) fect though it is better than some live Two songs of well-recorded, fairly me- Well-done compilation CDR by this new recordings, largely thanks to the trio’s lodic ’77-style punk rock from People’s American label. Great looking artwork, tight playing. The artwork is meagre at Republic of China - apparently SI DOU but there’s no lyrics printed - just the best - just a couple of pixelated pic- LE were the first punk band from there contact info. I was instantly suspicious tures of Nick Blinko’s artwork; com- to do a European tour... which ended of the music though, 16 tracks (two parison to the schizophrenically detailed with band members fighting each other each by eight bands) in 48 minutes original pieces isn’t favourable for “Ca- using broken bottles (or so I was told). means long songs. The genres cov- tastrophe”. Besides the lyrics, insert includes an ered are punk/hardcore and metal/al- SAIRAAT MIELET “Extended Plays” essay by quartet’s leader Zhang Hai. ternative, and none of the bands really LP (Passing Bells / Kamaset: Mecheli- Excellent design, as is always the case made me fall off my chair and take ninkatu 24 B 30, 00100 Helsinki, Fin- with Depraved And Devilish releases. notice. I was moderately bored all the land | [email protected] | www.punkinfin SINIAALTO “Hakala” EP (If Society) way through. Thank you but no. I’d love land.net/kamanen) Ex-leader of SISSY SPACEK Ilai’s new to see more of Chris Christ’s illustra- Just because the band’s straight edge project; pretty much ambient noise with tions though. it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s got some kraut rock influence. They use SPACE TO BEING / TASTE OF FLESH much of an edge. But this does not vintage electronic equipment, and have split EP (First Blood Family / Beer Is apply to SAIRAAT MIELET - Finland’s nice, free-floating melodies. No vocals. Not Drink / Mass Suicide Society Con- original SxE band. It’s raging punk rock The artwork is weird (clear blue vinyl spiracy / Thrash Steady Syndicate / from start to Finnish, played by dudes 7", plastic sheet with record-shaped pic- Garfield / Phobia / Disastro Sonoro / with huge mohawks and studded leather ture, and a plastic insert with informa- Rage Dis / Vinyl Disease / Drugs Kill jackets (there’s quite a lot of pictures tion). Your Mind / Templetton / Undislessed / on the gatefold cover). Music-wise, it’s SKITSYSTEM “Gra Varld / Svarta Outcry: Alexandr Volkov, PO Box 59, more akin to traditional, Propaganda- Tankar” CD (Havoc: PO Box 8585, St. Petersburg, 194223, Russia | style Finnish hardcore, but it’s slightly Minneapolis, MN 55408, USA | www.outcryrec.narod.ru) more controlled. The album compiles www.havocrex.com) Fastcore slash thrash of the fast-fast- everything SAIRAT MIELET recorded Half an hour of great, powerful and fast variety here from Czech Republic in 1990-1992: two EPs, a demo, outtakes tight Swedish discore (if this term is and Indonesia, released by a collabo- and rehearsal tracks. still in use). It’s got quite good (and not ration of more than a dozen interna- SELFSHIT CDR (demo: c/o Green, Igor over-the-top metallic) sound, the songs tional labels. Both bands are not only Konik, PO Box 205, Minsk, 220107, are to the point but not too short. How- fast-fast-fast but also tight-tight-tight. Belarus | [email protected]) ever, there were no lyrics included, at Czechs SPACE TO BEING do a Two-man project with drum machine least with my copy of the CD. I had a CHARLES BRONSON cover and In- normally spells disaster, but not in this very hard time trying to decipher them donesians TASTE OF FLESH are more case, no. The music is mostly extreme in English-language songs (of which high-pitched. Both have lyrics in gram- hardcore or even grind, but it’s more there are three or four), and I have no matically incorrect English. The insert varied (the intros in “VVP” and “Fish’ka” clue whatsoever what the Swedish songs lists companies that do not test their are psychodelic weirdness and post say. It’s great listen, and I’ll be among products on animals. punk drone respectively, for instance). first to admit it, but punk records should STOP ASKING STUPID QUESTIONS Besides their own songs (with short, have lyrics... Or singers have to sing ¹2 & ¹4 tape (Stauropygial) pointed and brilliant lyrics), they play in a somewhat different manner. Which A tape compiling two demos of Rus- covers by LAWNMOWER DETH and probably won’t be very punk rock. sian harsh noise project. On ¹2 the JOY DIVISION. Very cool. SOCIALISTIC JONNY GOBLET / ZLOJ music is brutal, primitive, and uncom- SENSA YUMA “Up Yours!” CD (Red POP split tape (Perineum Productions: promising. Noise that is noise, not Giants / Iron Man) Armantas Geciauskas, PO Box 3, pretensious wank. ¹4 is slightly more Classic-type melodic punk rock outta Jonava, LT-55002, Lithuania | easy on the ear but weird and fucked England. Somewhat streetpunk-influ- [email protected]) up nonetheless, at times actually the enced, somewhat ’77-ish, quite good if Instrumental psychodelic stuff from wall of noise is as thick as on the other a tad too soft. Good lyrics - mostly po- both America’s S.J.G. and Russia’s side. litical but sometimes personal as well, ZLOJ POP. Quite abstract, nice and LOS SUPPOZITOS / STOMACHAL however, the cover is REALLY yucky! soothing, lots of delay pedals used. CORROSION split tape (Vendredi 13 I have to point that out, it really ruins Both bands sound very similar. This is Recordings: 25 Rue Goudouli, 31240 Saint-Jean, France) ing toys (lots of toys!), vocal sam- bloc, graffiti, prisons, demonstrations Nice and simple stuff - grindcore all ples, household appliances, even gui- and other such things of interest to the way through but grindcore with a tars, yet still they do not lose their anarcho-punks. Really cool. twist. French LOS SUPPOZITOS have harsh edge. There’s still enough of their “Twinkle Stars And Lullabys” comp. a keyboard that’s doing its own stupid trademark bump ‘n’ grind brutality. One tape (Monopolka) bit among all the other silliness - they’re of the more interesting and listenable A compilation of tracks created with totally solid though. Brazilian oldtimers releases on Monopolka. The cover’s Casio synth as a basic means. The STOMACHAL CORROSION (some of good, too. music ranges from primitive electropop their recordings here are from mid-nine- TEKKEN / TERROR REVOLUCIONA- to wacky experimental stuff to all-out ties) have a bit of powerviolence influ- RIO split tape (Musiro Records: #303 progressive rock. Among the bands ence and cover ROT and Oryung Green Villa, Yeokchon 2-dong featured are CO-VESSELS, TEA MAN AGATHOCLES. No lyrics provided for 46-20, Eumnpyeong-gu, Seoul 122-900, WITH TEA GUM, HACKELSTORM, either band (choice song titles: “James South Korea | www.geocities.com/ PRIPADOCK etc. - no contact infor- Nausea Bond”, “Wowowo Wawawa”, musirorecords | musirorecords@ mation presented on the (generally pic- “This Again”) but the cover is nice. yahoo.com) turesque) cover. What’s weird is the SVINI’I V KOSMOSE “Tomorrow” Very fine split tape with two extreme fact that this compilation, started a few CDR (Karma*Mira Records: Kirill Mihai- hardcore bands. TEKKEN are from years ago, sounds remarkable similar lov, PO Box 51, St. Petersburg, 198332, France and play grind-influenced fast to some of today’s trendiest pop. Russia | [email protected] | www.diy.spb. hardcore with literally one-line lyrics and UMLAUT “Havoc Wreakers” LP (Com- ru) covers of songs by BEASTIE BOYS bat Rock Industry / Pathetique: PL 843, A limited edition four-song CDEP serv- and RAMONES (which somewhat con- 13501 Hameenlinna, Finland | ing as a teaser for the Vyborg-based tradicts the label’s motto of “Thrash [email protected]) band’s forthcoming full-length. While not NYHC”, hardcore versions of songs They fucking sold out. Gone is the “all SVINI’I V KOSMOSE started off as a by NYC bands = NYHC). Brazilia’s songs under 30 seconds” rule - the first punk rock band, on this one they play TERROR REVOLUCIONARIO are track is like 40 seconds long for fuck’s a mix of hardcore and nu metal, with more metally in sound but also have sake! Anyway, this secret CATHAR- metal elements unfortunately prevail- grindcore influence. The lyrics are SIS side project is playing crushing ing in most songs. However crushing somewhat lenghty, if only compara- heavy crusty rock’n’roll hardcore like they may be, the overall impression is tively so, but they are in Portuguese nobody’s business, and with great somewhat spolied by rap-metal tenden- so I can’t possibly comment on them. fucking lyrics too. Everything about cies of some of the songs and lack of The cover is really nicely done. this record is top notch, seriously. power in the sound. It’s of course good TOXIC NARCOTIC “Shoot People Not URO “Requiem” LP (Plague Bearer: but not heavy enough for metal bits, Dope” CD (Rodent Popsicle Records: PO Box 604, 2200 Kobenhavn N, Den- of which there are plenty. The lyrics PO Box 1143, Allston, MA 02134, USA) mark | [email protected]) are fairly abstract but have a some- Either I can’t stand big quantities of Perhaps the gloomiest and yet the best what sociopolitical bent. The music is TOXIC NARCOTIC’s brutal sneer, or record that was released lately. A fuck- promising, it’s got variety and imagina- their best songs end up on EPs. This ing masterpiece, up there with “Un- tion but it’s not there just yet. Hope- CD is a 5-song affair, mostly their known Pleasures” and “No Doves Fly fully SVINI’I V KOSMOSE will pull it off singalong metal-punk, but some reg- Here”. This is dark anarcho punk from on their album. gae dives are present (namely on the Copenhagen, reminding me of a mix SWINGKID ¹2 zine (Gunter Meinhardt, last track, “Cockroach”), and are nice. between SHARPEVILLE, ZOUNDS, Seelenbinder Str. 69, 12555 Berlin, The lyrics are intelligent and nihilistic, CONFLICT and CHIMERA, and while I Germany | kamillentee.waldesruh@ mostly dealing with the violence that describe it thusly it’s actually very origi- web.de) in English humans unleash on each other and on nal, has a sound of its own - the com- Quite decent fanzine focusing on “ex- themselves, oh, and sellout bands are parisons are just to give you an idea. otic” punk / rock scenes. It’s got inter- given a mention too. One of TOXIC The album’s more gloomy and control- views with bands from South Africa, NARCOTIC’s best releases. led than their debut EP, and features Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, as TRAVOLTAS “Travoltas’ Party!” CD cello and keyboards quite prominently. well as a New Zealander living in Viet- (Knock Knock: 394 Hewlett Avenue, The booklet has great lyrics (in Danish) nam, anarchists from Iran and Euro- Patchogue, NY 11772, USA | www. and great artwork (by one of the URO’s pean bands KALASHNIKOV and AK- knockknockrecords.com) three singers). Slit your wrists - you’re 47, some of which was quite amusing. Dutch pop punkers TRAVOLTAS are fea- provided with plenty of good reasons It’s got a fairly lengthy article about tured here with an unplugged record of now. (The band is no more, too). music and censorship, a shorter one theirs. Acoustic guitars, handclaps, VIOLA “Acoustic Romantic 45 For abour rockers in Rangoon, travel stuff, some organ, a fair bit of woo-hoo vo- The Jukebox In Your Heart” EP (If arseloads of reviews - there’s a lot of cals, and the good times had by the Society) stuff in general, and much of it is good! participants are reflected well in the Finland’s indie pop band VIOLA has However, the layout (cut and paste, sonic vibes. Besides their own songs made an unplugged record - with just sure enough) might’ve been more eco- the band plays covers by BEACH two songs. They sound quite as dy- nomical - a lot of space is wasted. Good BOYS and BAD RELIGION. No punk namic and charming here as they do zine, look forward to more issues. here at all, just nice, if a little retro, on their proper records, maybe a bit TEA MAN WITH TEA GUM / feel-good acoustic pop. less-fi; with guest violin player they CEMENTIMENTAL “Pockemon In My TURN LEFT FOR THE REVOLUTION somehow remind of what PULP did in Database” split tape (Monopolka: ¹18 zine (Ralf Baeuerlein, Gartenstr. the 1980s. No lyrics included and very Nalichnaya 27-73, St. Petersburg, 26, 79098 Freiburg, Germany) in Eng- little in the way of packaging, unfortu- 199406, Russia | www.noiseweb.com/ lish nately. monopolka) This long-running newsletter from the VITAMIN ROSTA “Samosohraneniye” St. Petersburg’s noise monsters prettiest town in Germany is now more CDR (Sampizdatsozdat: Dmitry Novi- TMWTG on this collaboration with UK’s of a small zine, there are a few music kov, PO Box 23, Nizhnekamsk-9, Tim Drage are doing somewhat more news inside, but most of it is writing by 423579, Tatarstan, Russia | www.vita experimental stuff than normally, us- Ralf and a few of his mates about black minrosta.narod.ru) A proper studio album by this Tatarstan- from one of the members and a review and current members of SKYGRAIN, based melodic punk band. Melodic as of one of the reunion gigs. It’s rounded TRI KRESTA and UNCONFORM refers in ’77, not as in ’94 though some of the out by some conspiracy theorizing, to the calibre of Kalashnikov machine songs are quite speedy. Even the band photos, and a brief overview of gun) play fairly varied music that song faster ones have some anthemic quali- some of Portland’s current bands. Great in, song out uses bright melodies, crush- ties. The music is nice and inventive, first issue! ing power and epic structures. Besides maybe the vocals are slightly weak. WATER INTO BEER ¹4 zine (Tim the lead singer Kirill “Student” Tolkachov The lyrics - which are excellent - cover Livesey, 48 West Park Grove, Leeds, the vocals are belted out by a whole antifascism, DIY, street crime, children, LS8 2AU, England | waterintobeer@ bunch of people, and the end result is love and other themes, both personal hotmail.com | www.waterintobeer.tk) in slightly schizophrenic - though it works. and not. The outro is using a quote English Unfortunately, the lyrics (which are from an Erlend Loe book. A really well- Quite thick (56 pages, not as in “sorta definitely a strong point here) are only done release here. Karma*Mira plans stupid”) zine by a bunch of blokes from accompanied by shortish English com- to put this out on tape. North of England. Interviews (bands ments. Perhaps this is one of last VITAMIN X “Badtrip” CD (Havoc) GBH, EIGHTY SIX, and SUAVE BAS- year’s best independent releases in The new album by Dutch hardcore mas- TARDS, plus randomdamage.net web- Russia. ters. It’s good but I guess I’m into their site), columns, rants and such. Musi- YARCHE TYSYACHY SOLNTS older fast hardcore stuff more. This cally their tastes seem to lean towards “Brighter Than A Thousand Suns” one’s rather more crossover, especially the pop punk thing, but the humour and CD (Old Skool Kids / Slowman) in the vocals. Some songs (“Burn ‘Em general niceness more than make up Eight-song mini-CD which is the first Down” for example) are even done in a for that. Great zine, though that does and simultaneously the last “hello / bye” later, metally BLACK FLAG style! It’s not apply to the layout. from the Moscow-based three-piece got enough variety for 21-song album, WHEN MY AUTHORITIES FALL CDR (featuring ex-members of SKYGRAIN but not quite enough of a focus for a (Xerotika / No Manipulation / Running and TRI KRESTA). Band’s name re- 25-minute one. The CD includes a full- Out: Valik, PO Box 283, Minsk, 220114, peats the title of a KILLING JOKE LP colour cover and a 16-pg. booklet. What Belarus | [email protected]) and describes (decries) the atomic I found rather odd is that the band re- Latvian hardcore band WHEN MY AU- bombing of Hiroshima. Now, to describe ferred in the lyrics to American history THORITIES FALL has a debut eight- the music contained herein... Hard-hit- and realities rather than those of their song CD released, curiously enough, ting, heavily noisy, calculated experi- home country - things like the KKK, in Belarus. Their music is heavily metal- mental rock - somewhere around the presidents, war on drugs (in its US ver- influenced but is still basically hardcore. pastures of Steve Albini and K. K. Null sion). The lyrics are mostly political / Soundwise, the dual guitars and dual but not precisely. Short songs (at just social in nature though which is good in vocals (one high singing, one low growl- under 100 seconds on average) with any case. Great sound (Menno Bakker ing) provide enough variation for the short lyrics mostly dedicated to vio- / Bunt Studios, need I say more?) Just band’s music as it’s slightly monotone lence and domination. They are trans- to get it off my chest: they look in large doses - and eight tracks is a lated into English on the insert, by the boyband-pretty on the back of the book- fair-sized helping. The lyrics are in Eng- way. A great record. I’d even go as far let. lish and Latvian, and are really well- as to call it faultless - it’s stylish and VOLNOSTS ¹2 zine (Anvar Kalanda- written. There are also comments for strong by all measurements. rov, Dustlik 6-35, pos. Ulugbek, Tash- each song, at times lengthier than the ZASRALI SOLNTSE “Soprotivleniye kent, 702132, Uzbekistan) in Russian lyrics themselves, talking about the / Zavisit Ot Tebya” tape (Meet Next Quite small-ish DIY hand-written zine ways that we can resist capitalist sys- Life: Alexandr Koptyayev, Pervomai- from Middle Asia - a good UNCON- tem - in our personal lives as well as in skaya 7-32, Novorossiysk, 353901, FORM interview, some reviews (largely the world at large. The last track, “Fu- Russia | [email protected]) for local stuff), and a few thoughts ture Is In Our Hands, Prepare To Work”, NY-style hardcore from Krasnodar in from the editor, who seems like a nice is certainly a standout with its mourn- South Russia, two mini-albums on one fellow. Sweet thing, if a little tiny. ful yet hopeful vocals and positive yet tape including also handmade paper bag WARCOLLAPSE “Crap, Scrap And critical lyrics. and booklet with lyrics (in Russian). Unforgivable Slaughter” EP (First WHEN MY AUTHORITIES FALL / AR- The music is mostly mid-tempo, with Blood Family) GUMENT 5.45 split CD (Old Skool Kids mosh tendencies and occasional me- This old Swedish crust band has un- / Slowman) lodic bits (actually, there’s a pop punk earthed some covers of English punk Split CD by two ex-USSR hardcore song each on both sides). Good re- classics they did in 1993-1994. The point bands - WHEN MY AUTHORITIES cording, and quite good non-conform- is slightly beyond me to tell you the FALL are from Riga, ARGUMENT 5.45 ist, anti-capitalist lyrics. truth, but the butchery is done taste- are from Moscow; four songs by each. ZOAMBO ZOET WORKESTRAO fully and respectfully, the sound’s good The Latvians have re-recorded choice “Svakoga Dana U Wakom Pogledu and the layout is nice. Covered is ma- cuts off their first disc, while the Rus- Sve Manje Naradujem” CD (Manu- terial by AMEBIX, ANTISECT and DIS- sian combo is debuting herein. WMAF fracture) CHARGE. Grey vinyl. feature former and current members Weird-arse jazzy rock from somewhere WARNING ¹1 zine (PO Box 40113, of CITA ATTIEKSME, PEST OF A in ex-Yugoslavia (Slovenia perhaps, but Portland, OR, 97240-0113, USA) in CHILD and IN.STORA and play tough, I may be mistaken). A lot of instru- English heavily metalized fierce hardcore with ments and styles are used. I tend to The new zine from “R’Lyeh Rising” edi- dual vocals. The new recording done in call this type of oddball music jazz- tor - H. P. Lovecraft stuff is gone but Riga’s Phoenix Studio sounds remark- punk, it’s got some sonic elements of punk’s not dead to say the least. There ably more powerful than the early ma- punk and has just as little concern for are interviews with BLOOD SPIT terial. Booklet includes not only the lyr- the listener’s well-being as (any half- NIGHTS and KONTATTO, an unreleased ics, but also their translations into Rus- decent) punk rock has but it’s still basi- WRETCHED one from 1985, and a few sian and English, as well as comments cally jazz, in compositional structrures things related to DISCHARGE - the in- that spell out the sociopolitical ideas and all that jazz. It’s quite rocking at terview with their road manager on behind the lyrics. ARGUMENT 5.45 (the places, but mostly freaked out and “Grave New World” tour, a letter to MRR name of the band formed by former fucked up techy wank. Dasha Z.MARSCHAK is a drummer in a few worldview of Timur, who’d be- has been... kinda emo guy :) and Moscow-based bands, the bet- come our new singer. Now we’ve for him his personal feelings ter known of which is made a new set of songs and we played a very large role and that’s MARSCHAK. She’s also an ac- plan to record a new album. As why the lyrics were like that. tive participant in the for the old one, we like it despite Though he wasn’t far from differ- anarchopunk community there, some screw-ups... Yes, you can ent ideas and initiatives, his lyrics and one of the nicest Muscovites always improve on something but weren’t social at all. Now the lyr- in the world. The interview was what you have is what you have ics have changed, as I already conducted via email. :) mentioned, but the songs haven’t ? So, what is your name and become explicitly political with calls what do you do? What are the for something or slogans, Timur most important things about prefers to write more existential you? and alienated lyrics that corre- My name is Dasha, I play in the spond with his worldview, but bands ENOLA, MARSCHAK and there’s political subtext to them. TEST NA ZOMBI, in all of them as ? What other bands have you a drummer. It’s probably most im- been involved in? Are there portant - three of my bands, each (m)any girls playing in Mos- separately, with all the bandmates cow punk bands? What do I am connected by much more than you think of “girl-punk” just music, it’s friendship, shared projects such as VOSMAYA ideas and views, shared pro- MARTA or BLONDINKA KSYU? test... For me the participation in I play drums for two more bands. the DIY scene is the most valu- ENOLA is actually my first band able thing in life right now. that exists for a very long time, ? How would you describe right now we’re temporarily not MARSCHAK? What was the playing any gigs, working on new history of the band? How did material, I think we’d soon surprise your music change over the everyone with our new stuff. And years? What do you think now also another band, brand-new, of your album? When are you ? Why did Andrei (first TEST NA ZOMBI, we play positive making another? singer) and Dima (first bass- SxE hardcore. As for girls, there In 2002 we got together with ist) leave the band? are unfortunately very few in DIY Andrei and Timur and decided to Andrei left because of a long-last- hardcore scene, and only some play emocore as all three of us ing conflict that destroyed our of them play any instruments liked this style of music a lot. But warm friendship and created a which of course is very bad. I at the same time we’d never sepa- huge gulf between us which at don’t know what happens in the rated ourselves from hardcore, the moment we thought could not so-called sellout punk scene we were always a part of DIY be overcome. As for Dima, he left ‘cause I’m not really following its scene, and for us hardcore was because he simply didn’t want to developments, there seem to be and is something bigger than only be doing music anymore, he’s in- some female bands but to me they music. For us it is important that volved in a number of initiatives are uninteresting and boring, and the band is active outside of mu- and had decided that it’s better to as a rule they are led by men sic and that everyone is person- dedicate himself to that, we’d sup- which is even worse. ally taking part in some kind of an ported him and remained close ? You seem to be involved initiative. After Andrei, the singer, friends. with organizing quite a few left, the music changed towards ? Do you find it weird that gigs in Moscow. What makes darker and harsher hardcore but most members of MARSCHAK all the hassle worthwhile? it still remained melodic. The lyrics are / were politically involved What are some of the better have also changed and have yet the lyrics were mostly memories you have of the started to reflect social topics and personal? What the lyrics are gigs you organized? Are view of the surrounding world about in newer songs? many of them politically- through the prism of the personal Oh well, that’s weird but Andrei themed / benefits? What do MARSCHAK at St. Petersburg School 32, 2003

you think of clubs in Mos- literature tables, films, free vegan economical and political domina- cow? food and flyers, and lots of good tion in the Caucasus region. Hid- Yeah, sometimes we do organize bands and people. As for clubs in ing behind false values, the Islamic concerts, and it’s a right hassle, Moscow, lately their numbers fundamentalists are waging a but it’s worth it when a positive have decreased... I mean, there “holy war” and destroy their own atmosphere is created, you see a are some, but I have no desire to people. In their turn, Russian au- lot of interested people, you get a deal with them. Usually because thorities are conducting the anti- feeling of solidarity, a feeling of of thug bouncers and financial Chechen campaign in Russia, this all not being in vain... but it arrangements, when the club is force their regime in Chechnya. happens rarely, you can only keeping 70 per cent of the door, No authority - neither religious fa- make good gigs at nice non-com- when we have to, say, pay the natics nor Russian imperialists - mercial places like Jerry Rubin out-of-town bands, it really sucks. has a right to force and install its Club, and at gigs at a place like R- So we constantly have to be in domination over Chechen people. Club the atmosphere itself isn’t search of new places that would Probably it would sound too Uto- very nice. And besides I’m not re- be more or less fitting for punk / pian, but the direct resistance of ally interested in just doing gigs, I hardcore gigs. Chechen people might’ve changed somehow want them connected ? What do you think of the war the situation, the actions of a to this or that event, I want the in Chechnya? Who do you feel united national front that would be people to get, apart from a chance more threatened by - independent of Islamic fanatics to have some fun, some sort of Chechen separatists or AND Russian authorities would’ve food for thought, some informa- Kremlin imperialists? What been capable of ending this war... tion about various initiatives and do you think are the sensible ? What’s your opinion on the also a chance to support them. ways of opposing the war, if political situation in Russia We’ve done some theme concerts any? right now in general? How do - in support of ALF and Food Not War in Chechnya is a war of two you like Putin’s regime as Bombs, anti-military concerts etc. sides, Russian imperialism and compared to, say, Soviet times The coolest one perhaps has Chechen nationalism, it’s a war in (if you remember any of been in St. Petersburg, we organ- which people, especially Chechen those)? ized it with our friends there, it people, are only treated as can- The situation we have is such - was dedicated to animals rights. non-fodder. It is obvious that both the former KGB man is at power It was really cool there, huge gym Kremlin and Chechen terrorists are in our country right now, and that hall in a school, lots of distro and playing their own game for oil, for explains a lot. It might seem that people have got some freedom gig we’ve managed to gather groups take part in the anarchist and that Soviet times are over, but some money which we used for initiatives. I think that most inter- as a matter of fact the freedom is the first action. There were just esting of these sort of events took constantly getting restricted, hu- about five of us back then, plus a place at environmental protest man rights are abused, and there’s group that came to support us at camp in Perm in 2004, as well as no freedom of speech (which our the serving. Then after a couple two actions as a part of President likes to talk about so of bigger actions, for instance, a antimilitarist festival in February much) to speak of, it’s enough to serving after the Critical Mass ride, 2005 in Moscow. Of course we switch on the telly and watch the people have gotten interested have some problems, for in- some news coverage there. Po- in FNB initiative. New groups were stance, the most urgent one is litical situation in Russia is an is- getting started. Today there are free food, it’s really hard to find sue in its own right, it won’t even four active groups in Moscow, sources of it but of course we make sense to explain everything each Sunday one of them is mak- find our ways around and keep in a couple of sentences... when ing an action at the square of three doing our actions. What matters you think of it, the words “Big train stations (Komsomolskaya most is that there are more and Brother’s watching you” spring to square). It all goes quite positively, more interested people, recently mind. in 15 minutes we give out about some new groups have formed in ? You seem to be involved 100 portions of hot vegan food, Russia - in St. Petersburg, Perm, with one of the Food Not as a rule it’s vegetable stew made Kirov - and outside - in Kiev, Minsk. Bombs groups in Moscow. of cabbage, carrot and potato, or So the activity is increasing, it’s How is the thing happening in buckwheat porridge with beans really cool. general? What are the difficul- or lentils, or soup. ? Anything to add? Contact in- ties that you face? What’s the Apart from food we are also giv- formation etc. difference between your ing out clothes and flyers that tell Right now we’re making a website group and other FNB groups about ideas behind FNB, our atti- for Russian FNB collective, I hope in Moscow? tude towards authorities and it’d start working soon. If you want It all started with the idea of doing wars, homelessness situation in to get in touch about FNB or just to a benefit concert dedicated to the Russia. Alongside regular Sunday have a chat, write to FNB initiative. After a successful actions some of the Moscow FNB [email protected].

Food Not Bombs in Moscow COMPILATION CDR - BENEFIT FOR ST... PETERSBURG FOOD NOT BOMBS GROUP 28 hardcore / punk / indie bands from St. Petersburg and nearby areas: SVIN'I V KOSMOSE, CUT 'N' RUN, FOR THE CAUSE, ENGAGE AT WILL, 5 CORNERS, CROWD CONTROL, DISTRESS, 8HZ, KOMATOZ, GARRET, VYSHKA, PTVP, SVINOKOP, OPARYSH OSOZNAL, POTOM BUDET POZDNO, SANDINISTA, WE BLEED CHARISMA, ANKYLYM, DJ ZHOPA, JUMBO JET, KOSMOS.COM, SKAFANDR, ARTTESTER, MORE&RELSY, IGRAI GARMON, BLITZKRIK, F_NOISE, STOP ASKING STUPID QUESTIONS. $6 / ˆ5 ppd. from Epicenter Infoshop [[email protected]] Yevgeniy Faizullin, PO Box 103, St. Petersburg,,, 190013, Russia