Archagathus Interview

Archagathus interview!
1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?

Right now we are all trying to get rid of the weird skin rashes we acquired on our recent 6 week European tour. I am still very itchy and we have been home for almost a month! Aside from that, taking a short break from playing live to focus on our other bands.  This winter we will record for some new records and splits, the next two that will be released are a split 7" with Self Deconstruction from Japan on Agromosh Records (USA) and a split 7" with Sram from Russia that will be released by Grindfather (UK) and Mono Cannibal (Spain).

2.In the last couple of years you have released a great amount of material, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recordings?

Well it is all grindcore, for one.  I guess in recent years we have started tuning lower and using more pitch shifted vocals...also playing faster, which makes it sound a little more death metal or goregrind than before.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

Our latest LP "Dehumanizer" has a variety of topics.  "Gaybasher" is a song against the kind of people that perpetrate homophobic violence, and the institutions and leaders that enable this kind of activity to go on.  For example, Putin and the laws passed in Russia that make it illegal to express any sort of pro-gay message in public.  As well, various religious institutions and right wing extremists.  They can all fuck right off. Oh we also have a song called "Drunk as Fuck" and it's about how we are drunk as fuck.  "Coconut Bonk" is about the danger of coconuts conspiring with gravity to crush your skull...etc...

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Archagathus'?

Archagathus was a descendent of the Greek tyrant of Syracuse, Agathocles. Even though Agathocles has been dead for over two thousand years, he is still releasing an incredible amount of grindcore split 7"s.  I admire his persistence and as such chose the name Archacatush to honor his legacy.

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Oh, we have played so many amazing shows in so many amazing cities that it would be very difficult to chose! We have played absolutely great shows in Los Angeles, Lima, Baltimore, Chicago, Athens, Kragujevac, St Petersburg, Moscow, Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Nagoya and many more! Stage performance? Well, sometimes we are pretty good and play our songs decently and are in tune and have good sound....but other times we do not. We just try to be drunk and have fun!!

6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

Not the immediate future...hopefully we will tour Brazil in 2015!!

7.So far this year there has been a good amount of material released, does the band put a lot of effort into writing and creating songs?

No, not really.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of grindcore?

Grindcore enthusiasts all over the world have given us a lot of support and respect and this makes us very happy.  We love the international DIY grindcore community and hope to tour all over the world to meet and play grindcore with our friends! And keep pumping out the records of course.

9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

Grindcore!!

10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Old Scandinavian hardcore punk, early 90's grindcore and death metal, crust!!



11.What are some of your non musical interests?

Physics, skateboarding, drinking, kitty cats, marijuana, unemployment!!

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Thanks for the interview, anyone can feel to contact us at archagathus@hotmail.com . Peace!!