AGNOSTIC FRONT

RAISED FIST INTERVIEW WITH VOCALIST ALLE HAGMAN BY NICHOLAS SENIOR I t’s rare for a band to hit a new creative that aren’t afraid to say something - but afraid to bring the big riffs either. Vocalist high seven albums in, but Swedish hardthe energy is the most notable aspect here. Alexander “Alle” Hagman describes the core punk act Raised Fist have certainly Raised Fist are hammering it home with the band’s mindset going in. pushed back against being typical. Their best songs of their storied 26-year career. approach has always aimed to unify rather “The aim was basically just to give it 100 perthan divide, and that’s never been more There’s a sense of adventure that lifts this cent. No stress, no limitations in budget or obvious than on Anthem, out now via Epitaph record especially high. Many of these songs time, but still not [to] overdo the whole thing. Records. They’ve delivered big, bold songs are insanely catchy, but Raised Fist aren't It's a delicate balance, and if you tip off in either direction, it could become a pancake very fast. We wanted to feel like we did when we worked, produced, wrote Sound Of The Republic. I always felt that creative atmosphere we had back then was so nice. We have tried to replicate it in the past, but without success. I took the time to analyze why that writing process was so rewarding and fun, and I think I found the answer. We copied the same process, and it felt great! The mantra was always, ‘we don't accept any shortcuts, it's all or nothing.’” 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.”

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. PHOTO BY DANIEL HOLMGREN “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,” 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.” �� �� WOLVES LIKE US INTERVIEW WITH SINGER/GUITARIST LARS KRISTENSEN BY ADDISON HERRON-WHEELER W 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,” since 2010. Now, after a five-year Kristensen says. “The lyrics have to ring true PHOTO BY JULIA MARIE NAGLESTAD hiatus, they’re back with a new record, Batto 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 perfor“I’m stoked to have new material for the mances later. Plus, I’m Norwegian, and Enfirst time in five years,” says guitarist glish is not my first language. So, it takes a lot and vocalist Lars Kristensen. “It’s a great of tinkering and rewriting to get to a place feeling to be able to write set-lists with I’m comfortable with, to get the meaning new material, and I’m looking forward to and grammar of it all right. Additionally, I meeting new and old fans again.” don’t believe in explaining lyrics too much. I try to write in a way that is open to interSo, why the long hiatus between records? pretation. Whatever the listener thinks is the right meaning is the right meaning to them. “It took a while,” he admits. “We’ve all been It’s not my business to interfere with that.” 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, We recorded it with friends, kept it really Wolves Like Us are stoked to promote informal, and went for energy over detail. the new album and see what’s to come. Still, And I think it worked out great.” they’re not blind to the bigger issues out there.

Still, after so many years off, the band wanted to get back in the studio and create a record to serve as an emotional release for all the pent-up creative ideas they had during their five-year hiatus. What resulted is an album full of some serious riffs, as well as introspective lyrics. “Please recycle and stop using fossil fuels,”

On a more elemental level, what makes something an "anthem" to Hagman? What is the central anthem for Raised Fist?

“In this polarized world, we try to deliver ten songs to reunite scattered bits of what was once one,” he answers. “When we crank up ‘Anthem’ live, we want the vibe to be old school hardcore, like when Gorilla Biscuits sang, ‘My room’s a mess, and I can’t get dressed.’ We leave the deep, political statements to the side, and just break down all walls in a massive pit. This record is our anthem! That is the whole thing!”

Kristensen asks before signing off. “We would like to avoid total societal collapse. And vote for Bernie. Every little bit helps.” Speaking of every little bit helping, don’t forget to grab your copy of Battle Bones, out now, and look for the band on tour in the coming year. �� �� ��