RAISED FIST INTERVIEW WITH VOCALIST ALLE HAGMAN BY NICHOLAS SENIOR
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t’s rare for a band to hit a new creative high seven albums in, but Swedish hardcore punk act Raised Fist have certainly pushed back against being typical. Their approach has always aimed to unify rather than divide, and that’s never been more obvious than on Anthem, out now via Epitaph Records. They’ve delivered big, bold songs
that aren’t afraid to say something - but the energy is the most notable aspect here. Raised Fist are hammering it home with the best songs of their storied 26-year career. There’s a sense of adventure that lifts this record especially high. Many of these songs are insanely catchy, but Raised Fist aren't
PHOTO BY DANIEL HOLMGREN
afraid to bring the big riffs either. Vocalist Alexander “Alle� Hagman describes the band’s mindset going in.
this for other people, even though the business around music is meant to please an audience. Our edge has never been about how melodic our music sounds. The Raised Fist edge is etched into our souls and woven into our songs, no matter what we play. This is very obvious in songs like ‘Into This World,’ where we basically wrote a Motown-sounding guitar riff in the verse. I mean, if you think about it, what other [similar] band could do that and get away with it? When we do it, it just feels natural, no one gives it a thought before I mention it. It's because it has the RF edge.�
“The aim was basically just to give it 100 percent. No stress, no limitations in budget or time, but still not [to] overdo the whole thing. On a more elemental level, what makes It's a delicate balance, and if you tip off in something an "anthem" to Hagman? What either direction, it could become a panis the central anthem for Raised Fist? cake very fast. We wanted to feel like we did when we worked, produced, wrote Sound “In this polarized world, we try to deliver ten Of The Republic. I always felt that creative songs to reunite scattered bits of what was atmosphere we had back then was so nice. once one,� he answers. “When we crank We have tried to replicate it in the past, but up ‘Anthem’ live, we want the vibe to be without success. I took the time to analyze old school hardcore, like when Gorilla why that writing process was so rewarding Biscuits sang, ‘My room’s a mess, and I can’t and fun, and I think I found the answer. We get dressed.’ We leave the deep, political copied the same process, and it felt great! statements to the side, and just break down The mantra was always, ‘we don't accept all walls in a massive pit. This record is our any shortcuts, it's all or nothing.’� anthem! That is the whole thing!� When bands go in a more anthemic direction, they are often accused of selling out or going soft, but while Anthems is Raised Fist’s most melodic record to date, it's also their most daring. This album feels like a reinvention, where the band pushed their classic style as far as it could go. There’s no creative regression here.
That said, Anthems is just as visceral and fiery as Raised Fist have ever been. Hagman’s trademark direct lyrical approach and occasional humor (the joke about the breakdown in “Anthem� is hysterical) is as sharp as ever, but there’s even more focus than before. That was intentional.
“I don't think this album is daring in any way,� Hagman responds. “We are not afraid of writing our music, and we are not writing
“I wanted to be clear and direct,â€? he acknowledges. “[It’s not as symbolic as] I’ve done in the past. These lyrics do not need to be translated, or even interpreted.â€? đ&#x;’Łđ&#x;’Ł
WOLVES LIKE US INTERVIEW WITH SINGER/GUITARIST LARS KRISTENSEN BY ADDISON HERRON-WHEELER
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olves Like Us have been churning “I don’t really write thematically. I write out fun, heavy Norwegian rock more in a stream-of-consciousness way,â€? since 2010. Now, after a five-year Kristensen says. “The lyrics have to ring true hiatus, they’re back with a new record, Bat- to me, in a sense. You have to write about tle Bones, out on Pelagic Records. something close and personal to be able to reconnect to it several hundred performances later. Plus, I’m Norwegian, and En“I’m stoked to have new material for the glish is not my first language. So, it takes a lot first time in five years,â€? says guitarist of tinkering and rewriting to get to a place and vocalist Lars Kristensen. “It’s a great I’m comfortable with, to get the meaning feeling to be able to write set-lists with and grammar of it all right. Additionally, I new material, and I’m looking forward to don’t believe in explaining lyrics too much. meeting new and old fans again.â€? I try to write in a way that is open to interpretation. Whatever the listener thinks is the So, why the long hiatus between records? right meaning is the right meaning to them. It’s not my business to interfere with that.â€? “It took a while,â€? he admits. “We’ve all been very busy in our day jobs, so the band has gone through a lot to get to this release. With possible touring on the horizon, Wolves Like Us are stoked to promote We recorded it with friends, kept it really informal, and went for energy over detail. the new album and see what’s to come. Still, they’re not blind to the bigger issues out there. And I think it worked out great.â€? Still, after so many years off, the band “Please recycle and stop using fossil fuels,â€? Kristensen asks before signing off. “We wanted to get back in the studio and create a record to serve as an emotion- would like to avoid total societal collapse. And vote for Bernie. Every little bit helps.â€? al release for all the pent-up creative Speaking of every little bit helping, don’t ideas they had during their five-year forget to grab your copy of Battle Bones, hiatus. What resulted is an album full of some serious riffs, as well as introspec- out now, and look for the band on tour in the coming year. đ&#x;’Łđ&#x;’Ł đ&#x;’Ł tive lyrics.
22 NEW NOISE
PHOTO BY JULIA MARIE NAGLESTAD
