Two new Jawbreaker releases have just been unleashed upon the world!
First out is Krematorium, a thrash band from Rijeka, Croatia that on their latest EP Altar of Lies has incorporated more of a speed metal sound into their music. The tape is out now on Jawbreaker Records and contains three tracks of furious speed/thrash. Limited to 100 copies on blood red tape.
Next up is Commando. This demo tape is their debut release and contains two tracks of darkened heavy metal. Limited to 100 copies on hellflaming orange tape.
Get your hands on JAW-016 and JAW-017 or die trying!
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Recently we had the pleasure of interviewing Nonoy Padrejuan, guitarist/vocalist from Paganfire. Hailing from Quezon City, Philippines, Paganfire has been wreaking fear and death for the last 15 years. True underground warriors to the core, the band has never been taking it easy or waited for success to suddenly come knocking on their door. Instead they have been collaborating with countless labels and bands from around the globe, spreading forth their brutal thrash metal like a horde of plague-ridden black rats.
Paganfire has been active since 2003. Tell us how the band got started!
N: Greetings mate!!! Actually me and Jay [Drums] got together in 1999, under a different name, playing covers of our favorite bands. After 2 years, our then bassist/vocalist Dennis thought of the name PAGANFIRE, and we used it since then. Come 2002, Alvaro [bass/vocals] and Rowell [guitars] stepped in, and we played around the Metro Manila area actively. It was 2008 when Rowell got replaced by M.A. and from then there was no turning back!!
Judging from Metal Archives, you guys have released only one full length album [2013’s Wreaking Fear and Death], but an extreme number of splits and other releases. How come? Do you even keep count of them?
N: Apparently it took us quite a while before we managed to do the debut album, we are not on a rush anyway, and right now the 2nd album’s creation is slowing down too, but no worries, we are keen on working on it a lot sooner. There was no conscious action to flood the world with splits, it just happened, WRITE, RECORD, RELEASE, D.I.Y. or die!! Let’s just say we never backed down from any project proposal, it is always a pleasure to work with fellow maniacs from everywhere anytime! NO, I haven’t counted them lately, perhaps when I update my list, but for now, the barrage will continue. BARRAGE OF NOISE!!!
How does your song writing process usually take place?
N: There is no definite time frame when we work on a song(s), some just take a few hours and sessions of rehearsals, while others are way too hard to finalize. Normally it’s either me or Alvaro who presents a new song or two at rehearsals, and from then we work on it, letting the METAL flow naturally, jam and bang our heads to it. That’s the way we do it, and let’s see if it will change sooner or later.
To my ears, your music sounds like thrash metal of the most extreme kind – a bit like Sadus, Hypnosia or early Kreator. How would you describe your own music? What are your influences?
N: AARRGGHHH!!! I am glad you are reminded of such legends with what we do! Paganfire plays true underground thrashing metal, no more, no less. Bare, raw and filthy thrash metal!!! As a band we are into thrash, heavy metal and punk, as individuals musical influences are many! And it is indeed excellent that we have a common area of interest and that is thrash metal! Other non musical influences would be movies, books and the fact that we are living in a third world country that will swallow itself whole very soon!!
What kind of books and/or movies is that?
N: Practically we read and watch a little bit of everything, but most of the time it is the horror/occult movies and books that stand out, and of course the biographies of some interesting personas like dictators, serial killers, criminals, despots etc etc.
Tell us more about the situation in the Philippines in general.
N: The Philippines is in a near self destructive state, I think it is just a matter of time before everything spills over, ravaged by politicians and their self appeasing ways. I bet you have read about the thousands killed by the useless drug war, the endless political bickerings, social media propagandists, and now our soaring inflation rates. Would you believe we have third world wages against first world prices?? Our president is a lunatic to say the least. In general, the Philippines is in a poor, zombified state. Now we’ll see what the future will bring.
How’s the metal scene over there?
N: I cannot call it a “scene”, it was always a group of individuals whose activities resemble a “scene” to me. Sure enough you have the standard (bands, zines, maniacs) which is not totally a bad thing, but I want more, more hardcore metal maniacs, more controversial zines, more hyperactive non trendy bands, etc etc. Perhaps we can say I don’t like the scene? Whatever!! Whatever works for them, as far as Pagafire we’ll just walk our own path and do our thing, regardless of what is happening or is popular to do in this “scene”.
With several new releases coming each year usually, you don’t seem like a band who like to sit still. What’s next for Paganfire? Total world domination?
N: Kudos to you for noticing that!!! We can say that we are very active indeed, as I reply to this interview, we just did a pair of weekend shows in my hometown, we went 500 kilometers from Manila, and it was a worthwhile experience to say the least, and we are now planning the next shows. If somehow the possibility of touring Europe and other continents happens we’ll gladly do that, but as of now, none of that will happen soon. As for the release onslaught, keep your eyes and ears open, as I have been informed that the test presses for the next vinyl release will be ready and some months ago our friends from Brazil’s VDM productions vomited forth their version of our debut album “Wreaking Fear and Death” with different layout and bonus tracks of course! And yes, as far as I am concerned that is what a true D.I.Y. underground band should do: write, record and release!!!
Jawbreaker Records would like to thank Nonoy and Paganfire for the interview, and give our eternal respect for their dedication! This is the true spirit of the underground, this is the way it should be done – WRITE, RECORD, RELEASE!
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Jawbreaker Records are extremely proud to announce that Mindless Sinner – Master of Evil is now officially released. Shipping of all the pre-orders (thanks everyone!) has already begun, and for the rest of you: now is the chance to lay your hands on this masterpiece of Swedish heavy metal history. For a limited time only, both the yellow (limited to 100 copies) and the red (limited to 200 copies) will be available in the web shop for a special heavy metal price of 66,6 SEK.
It’s hard to believe, but remember that this is the first time EVER that ANYTHING by Mindless Sinner is officially released on cassette! So hurry up and get your copy while the stock lasts.
Swedish heavy metal legends Mindless Sinner need no further introduction. This is a official re-release of the band’s groundbreaking debut EP from 1983. Limited to 100 copies on yellow tape and 200 copies on red tape. Never released on tape before.
Includes six rare bonus demo tracks (also recorded in 1983)! These tracks are previously only available on the 2003 CD re-release by Metal For Muthas.
Tracklist:
Broken Freedom
Key of Fortune
Master of Evil
Screaming For Mercy
Heavy Metal Will Never Die*
Mindless Sinner*
Taking My Life Away*
Higher and Higher*
We All Go Back*
City Games*
*Bonus track.
This release has been made possible due to a collaboration with Night Crawler, who has contributed an awesome design for the release. Horns up!
Brace yourselves for JAW-014: The official reissue of Mindless Sinner – Master of Evil on cassette! This is the first time ever that the heavy metal legends’ groundbreaking debut EP will be available on cassette, which of corpse is the most metal of all formats.
This release has been made possible due to a collaboration with Night Crawler, who has contributed an awesome design for the release. Horns up!
Swedish heavy metal legends Mindless Sinner need no further introduction. This is a official re-release of the band’s groundbreaking debut EP from 1983. Limited to 100 copies on yellow tape and 200 copies on red tape. Never released on tape before.
Includes six rare bonus demo tracks (also recorded in 1983)! These tracks are previously only available on the 2003 CD re-release by Metal For Muthas.
JAW-013 is out now, and for the first time ever a non-Swedish band is offered on tape by Jawbreaker Records. Germany’s Cherokee play old-school, 70’s style heavy metal with incredible melodies and twin guitar harmonies. This firewater will make your head burn!
Limited to 63 copies on yellow tape and 37 copies on orange tape only.
This new cassette is the debut 4-track demo by brand new metalpunk band Knallpulver. This power trio from Gothenburg, Sweden is an infamous bunch of misfits consisting of Kalle Mossberg, Niclas Ingelman (Armory) and August Holmström (Armory).
Read on for a short interview with guitarist and songwriter Niclas “Ingelmeister” Ingelman.
Hail! Can you tell us the story behind Knallpulver and how the band came into being?
The story about Knallpulver begins a night at The Abyss [Gothenburg’s local heavy metal pub – Editor’s note] in April 2017. The singer Kalle who plays in pop band [!] nowdays wanted to scream and yell on some songs and asked if I had some project in mind. I told him that I had thought about writing some metalpunk-songs and it would be awesome if he would like to write some lyrics and do the vocals. After that I wrote 4 songs really quick and Kalle wrote the lyrics. Then we needed a drummer, so we just told August that he had to lay down some drums on the tracks. He had no choice then, so he did it. Everthing was recorded in the summer of 2017.
Should Knallpulver be regarded as a side-project or a full-fledged band? Will there be more releases and perhaps live gigs in the future, or is this a one-off release?
Knallpulver is a side-project, we have never even had a rehearsal. But I want to record more songs and do more releases, nothing planned right now but because it is a side-project I don’t feel any hurry. We haven’t really talk about any gigs, I think it would be fun to do at least. We will see when the first request comes in I guess…
Tell us about the name Knallpulver. How did you choose this name, what does it represent to you, and how would you describe its meaning to non-Swedish readers?
The name is awesome. Knall means bang, thats pretty cool and pulver means powder, pretty cool as well. So bangpowder becomes super cool.
The lyrics seems to be filled with satirical humor and with no small dose of social criticism. Any comments regarding the lyrics and how they should be interpreted?
Kalle wrote all lyrics and he describes it like this: “The lyrics have a genious balance between substance and humour. The kind of lyrics you feel compelled too like because you fear to be perceived as dumb or have lack of humour if you do not like them. The lyrics are like a more complete and mature literary version of Mulholland Drive and Dr. Strangelove.”
Finally, let’s talk about the actual music… What influences where incorporated in the writing of the songs? How would you yourself describe Knallpulver’s music?
Well at least I tried to do punk songs with the classic HM-2 guitar sound. I was influenced by a lot of Swedish crust acts such as Skitsystem, Disfear and Martyrdöd. But because I am a metalhead and love to play guitar it always comes in a lot of influence from heavy metal as well, especally in the guitar work. If you would like to spit in your boss’ face [who wouldn’t?], then Knallpulver would be the perfect soundtrack for it.
Anything you can tell us about the recording process?
The recording process went really easy. I recorded the guitar and bass at home and then re-amped it in a rehearsal room with a real amp. The drums was also recorded in the rehearsal room and was done by an evening. And after that we just recorded the vocals one evening there as well. Then I mixed and mastered it and everything was done. Went really fast and smooth.
Thanks for answering these questions. Any final words?
To get ourselves ready for the upcoming release of Nidhöggr’s new tape Draugr here on Jawbreaker Records, we decided to interview the band’s guitar player and mastermind Hveðrungr about Nidhöggr’s origins, present and future (as weaved by the norns). Give it up for Hveðrungr, who some of you might already know from speed-thrashing-Exciter-style outfit Under Attack or from his past in Pagan Rites and Styggelse.
Can you tell the readers a little about the idea behind Nidhöggr? How did the band come into being?
I (Hveðrungr) started this band myself. I recorded one song and tried to recruit other members. This was in 2013 when I left Gothenburg and quit as bassplayer for Styggelse. I also quit my role in Pagan Rites for the same reasons being the number one reasons, distance. I could not travel this long several times a week. Later in 2014 I found myself in Nidhöggr with members in four different towns. Not a change for the better but we manage to go forward.
Why have you chosen the Icelandic/Norse theme?
The Norse theme is chosen as a perfect way to describe what going on in the world today. Ragnarök is upon us as all countries are busy showing of muscles. It does not need anything big to tip this mountain of shit over and make us all start killing each other. I also feel a connection to all of what some call “Norse mythology”. Like all religious stories it is all basically metaphores to describe other things. Iceland itself has nothing to do with me but the language is the closest we get to old Norse dialects today. But we only got half a lyric, a verse in old norse so none should get hung up on this.
Basically we are a metal band. And we do metal. Our personal beliefs may differ and it does not reflect why we do what we do.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Inspiration comes from a lot of stuff. When I write songs I draw influences from everything in my record collection, like Bathory, Nifelheim, Tormentor, Root, Immortal, Emperor, Mayhem, Marduk, Master’s Hammer, Accept, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Exciter, Manowar, W.A.S.P…. But most stuff turns out to be quite 90’s black metal.
You have a past in Pagan Rites, Styggelse and a few other bands. How has your writing style changed through the years and bands you have went through?
The change from Styggelse is that I do write. In Styggelse I wrote one bassline and Larsson changed half of it. Haha.
In Pagan Rites we wrote a quite thrashing EP. Nidhöggr is not comparable to this, even though it sometimes might remind you of this (track 8 of Ragnarök, “The nine”).
Recently you also joined The Ancients Rebirth. Anything you can tell us about that? How is the scene in Falkenberg in general?
Ah… The Ancients Rebirth. We are working on new stuff right now and it’s stuff like I never use to play… Ever. Thoth is a real schooled jazz guitarist and use language I do not. But we seem to understand each other and I practice a lot on my own. If I don’t, this can not work. We are making some progress though. But I can not tell you anything else of when a new release is due.. Not right now.
The metal scene in Falkenberg is small. Some bands and some tour a bit but most of them play a style that doesn’t exist in my own universe. Haha.
Any plans on hitting the stage with Nidhöggr?
We have to rehearse more. We live in three different cities so this takes a while. But this is our goal.
You also run the label Lake of Fire Productions. What’s your driving force that made you start the label? Any plans for the future?
Lake of Fire Productions was started because I was pissed that someone could make money of our records while you had to be a whining bitch to get your own cut. Lake of Fire Productions will only release my own projects in the future due to lack of time.
How would you describe Nidhöggr to someone who has not heard it before?
Hard to say. Second wave black metal. No suicidal whining bitching about how tough your life is bullshit. Our sound is still developing but expect harder and more power for future releases.
Any last words?
Anyone like this – great. Buy the records and order merchandise. If not… Fuck off!
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Welcome back Jawbreakers! It is time for another interview, and this time I managed to get hold of Penki “Disembowelman” Samuelsson – usually known for playing old school death metal in both Entrails and Gravestone – to talk about his latest project Facerip. This young band (back then as a power trio) from Växjö, Sweden released their debut four-track demo here on Jawbreaker Records earlier this year. The music sounds like it may have been hidden away deep down underground sometime back in 1987, and now dug up again 30 years later, reeking of radioactivity and dirtier and angrier than anything you ever heard before. It’s speed, it’s thrash, and it’s completely out of control… Let’s get it on!
Tell the readers how and why the band started.
Fucked if I know! I didn’t sign up for this. I wrote one song and asked Nukeromancer to put some nasty witchdemon vocals on it. We uploaded the track to Soundcloud and I thought that would be the end of it. Then Distroyer showed up. He really liked the song and he had some killer riffs laying around, so he basically forced us to put a band together. It all happened so fast that I barely remember recording my parts for the first EP. But hey, it’s one more reason to play fast music and drink beer, so I guess I can live with it!
Do you see Facerip as an active band or more as a fun side-project?
At the moment I would probably call it a side project, but we have yet to explore the possibilities. It may change completely. We do plan on playing shows and go to as many places as we possibly can, but so far there is no telling if it will be a few gigs a year or extensive touring. Only time will tell!
What’s going on in the Facerip camp right now? There has been some reinforcements to the lineup, right?
That’s right! We recruited two new members to the band. Dr. Fill on the drums and Bässripper on bass. We are finally a full-fledged band. There are also some new songs written, new riffs riffed and stupid ideas to turn into reality. We just need to find the time to put everything together. When the time is right, we’ll step back into the studio and record our first LP. Faster and dirtier than ever!
Where do you draw your inspiration from? Musically and otherwise.
To be honest, I don’t know. Of course I get inspired by the music I listen to, but mostly the inspiration comes out of thin air. All of a sudden I just have to write music or my brain will explode. I can’t explain it. It’s like I wake up with riffs in my head and I can’t go about my day until I get it out of my system.
This answer probably doesn’t make any sense. It’s hard to answer a question when you can’t wrap your head around your own head. And now I made it even more confusing. I hope you’re enjoying this clusterfuck of an interview!
T.F. from Voodus answered something similar when I interviewed him some weeks ago, so I think it makes sense after all. Now, on to the last question; are you still active in your other bands (Entrails, Gravestone and Void)? How does it work to play in so many bands? Why do many people (at least here in Sweden) choose to join multiple bands instead of concentrating on just one?
Entrails and Gravestone are alive and well! Void has been dead for a while. The reason why I play in many bands is not because of creative outlet. For me to say that would clearly be bullshit, since two of my bands basically play the exact same kind of music. For me it’s about people. It’s refreshing to go from one band to another and do the same thing, just with another group of guys.
Balancing three bands is a matter of prioritising, scheduling and respect. If any of those elements goes out of the equation, a band might fall apart. I try to give every band the time and attention it needs, and I almost never run into any trouble. Sometimes you might have to turn down a gig because you were already booked to play with another band, but that’s just something you have to live with. Luckily for me, that has only happened once or twice.
Excellent! I for one really hope for a follow-up to “Radioactive Race”, as well as a chance to see Facerip live in the near future. Meanwhile, you will find the “Radioactive Race” cassette in the webshop. Also check out the following links for more info:
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Hello there again, Jawbreakers! The time has come to present the first of many interviews and articles to follow here on jawbreaker.se. The idea behind this part of the website is to give the artists released on Jawbreaker Records (and others too) a chance to express themselves and to give you readers an insight into their wicked minds. First up is singer/guitarist/songwriter T.F. from the infamous black metal band Voodus!
Hail! What has Voodus been up to lately?
Hail!
Well, first of all I have to say that we have been on a Scandinavian tour with Mayhem! That was a fucking blast! It was huge for us. To hang out with these legends… Unfuckingreal! We will perform at the Mayhem gig in Gothenburg the 27th October as well.
The day after we will be heading to the Necromorbus Studio for the recording of our first album!
Two years ago, in conjunction with the release of the Nightqueen EP here on Jawbreaker Records, you changed your name from Jormundgand to Voodus. What lay behind that name change?
We did not feel the force any more. All inspiration and magic was gone. We were lost and started to do music we couldn’t stand up for. So we decided to kill Jormundgand! Burn the corpse of the dragon and wait for what to come.
Under deep magical influence the force of Voodus came to me as a revelation. The rest is quite hard to explain, but the magic came back to us, as you can hear in our music! Especially if you listen to the new material! To change name was the best way for us to find our way back to the path again. To start from scratch, with clear minds and burning hearts!!!
Where do you draw your inspiration from? Musically and otherwise.
I don’t know. I can walk through a room and suddenly get a feel of… something… A connection to my creative part of the mind is setting up, then it is just to go with the flow!
Sometimes I get my inspiration from meditation, books, music, stories etc etc.
Can you tell the readers a bit of what your lyrics are about?
The lyrical theme is mainly about my own experiences and struggles with the abysmal depths of my self. The search and the longing for all the things that is beyond. And sometimes the strong connection I can feel between me and “them”, the dwellers of the nightside.
It has to be honest, that’s the most important thing.
The new album will have 3 songs with guest writers as well! I don’t know if they want me to go official with their names yet, so I’ll better shut my mouth about it for now. But the material they have written is true, black and dangerous art!
What do you think happens after death?
Well… I think it is highly individual. It depends on the powers you choose to connect yourself to. You can create your own destiny, both in life and after death.
What is your ultimate goal with your music?
My ultimate goal with Voodus…
If we could make the essence of Voodus to transform to a portal. A black hole of pure death and destruction! A black sun of true light! A sharp-teethed and venomous mouth of hell! Devouring the creator and the creation. Well, that’s a good thing to work for.
Voodus has released two EP’s, as well as two demos and a full-length album under the name Jormundgand. We are looking forward to the upcoming full-length album!
