MatraK AttaKK Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?

MatraK AttaKK is a 6 piace crust/grindcore band. We all come from different bands. Most of us are busy with music since quite a lot.. Some of us where playing hardcore/D-beat,some anarcho-punk/crust, some Thrash/black metal, some punk/ska. And we are mixed up in the darkest way, but with a lot of energy.
MatraK AttaKK comes from the ashes of S.Y.N. :4 of us where playing here since 2013, then in 2014 the drummer and one singer left, so we kept on playing with a different drummer and singer.We changed so much in a positive way, that we decided to change name.

2.In June you had released your first album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?

All the songs of the CD are a mixture of what we were since 2013, when 4 of us where toegether in the band S.Y.N. : when the new drummer and new other singer joined, it was clear that we were going to change, and gladly!Everything became faster,shorter and louder.
So now, in grind we crust, no doubt about it!

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

There we also put our different backgrounds: in the CD most of the lyrics are anti-psychiatric, then some are about war, shit-system, post nuclear visions...

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

I guess it just sounded cool when Mosh, our singer, send us all a message for having a new name.After some of us, gave a meaning to it. It's about 'one of the thousand victims of psychiatry and fascism'. A Matrak is the police's cosh (baton, billy club, nightstick).

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

If you see MatraK AttaKK live, you see a lot of people on the stage and 4 going crazy: a lot of energy, rage, cables everywhere, falling pieces of drum, falling drummer, falling singer, singers running around, guitar in the front...check on youtube if you're curious :)
Show at Kinky star gent with Altered State https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRxlz6DO42E (Duisterdom)
Show with MDC and Silence means death in aalst : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt1EfuIkbHA (Weapon of mass destruction, newer song)

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

yes soon! In September a gig at a friend's birthday and 25september with Napalm Death and Silence Means Death in Brussel, and we can't wait for it!About a future tour it's going to be in march, but has to be fixed with a driver this time.Last tour was amazing but we went with 2 cars and 3 of us driving.We went to Rotterdam,Groeningen,Luik,Bremen(2 times),Leipzig and Berlin(2 times) so it wasn't that much of driving, but to go further we need some help to drive, and to be all together in a van :) for 2018 we are going to Indonesia, if i can fix everything so far, but I'm already busy with it, some friends there are going to help us!

7.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?

We received the help of 2 DIY labels to release our CD(Vleesklak Records and Dead Punx Records), but we are never going to be signed with a exclusive contract: it takes away all the freedom, and mostly bigger labels just ask you money to tour with big bands. we dont need this shit.we like the DIY scene.

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

I'm experiencing it now on stupid facebook: before there was myspace to do all this.I dont like using fb, but it's a easy way to share your music.We fixed the previous tour online, in the DIY network. A lot of people from all over the world are sending us greetings and appreciation: that's nice.some want to do splits with us,some want our songs for compilation: that's all great!

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

We are going more and more grind, but we'll never be purely grindcore: we are 6 people in this band: our drummer is a grindcore fan, and you can hear it!I personally like 80s sounds in punk/crust/hardcore and grindcore, the other singer likes black/thrash metal as well, our bass player likes punk, the 2 guitars are also really different ppl, one likes it more crusty and the other grinds more.The results are the latest songs of the CD : Fuck shit up, Matrak AttaKK, Duisterdom...you'll hear the new unreleased songs in the next recordings around october 2016.

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?

We are two people answering the interview luckily, so you won't read too many bands:
Jona  : Black Sabbath, Nirvana, Haemorrage, old Sepultura, Obituary, some grind
Cristina : Plasmatics, Thulsa Doom, old Detente(w/ Dawn Crosby), Harum Scarum, Lost World..and fuck yes, Bonnie Tyler as well.

11.What are some of your non musical interests?

The wrong two ppl to ask ehe..we run a little diy booking thing and we organize other bands in belgium,therefore we make flyers, we cook and we make party's.The others of the band like to travel, but they are also too much into music.ehe

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

Thankx for giving us the opportunity to  say something and spread our music and message(s) :) we are on youtube and bandcamp.just check us out.hope you enjoy.