Rockezine.com interview with Phobia on Jun 07, 2005

with Shane McLachlan on Jun 07, 2005


		A little while ago Obscene Productions re-released two of your albums. Was there a special reason to do so? Yeah, we have learned that it is easier to license our material through Europe so that the fans can obtain the material. It would be a lot cheaper than them having to maybe pay importing costs, or trying to find it somewhere. It’s just easy for a good label to release it, so that it could be found any where and any time.
		Is there a special reason to release ‘Grind Your Fucking Head In’ and ‘Get Up And Kill’ separate? I mean, both albums could have been released on one CD. Yeah, they could have been released on one CD, but they are 2 different releases. They both have their own concept, so they need to have their own existing individuality with being released. It’s not a discography and they both have domineering artwork; I feel that needs to have it’s own space. I think that people who want to have Phobia stuff want to have the releases, not something that is combined out of convenience.
		Are you happy with the cooperation with Obscene Productions? Oh yes, I think it is great!! We get a long good. Obscene has been good to us; with the record, with the European tour. It was a good move for us to work with Obscene. I think we have learned through the years how to deal with labels, and it is really easy in this occasion, because in the past with certain companies it hasn`t been so good!
		You’re in the music business for quite some time now. Did you notice any changes in the grind core and crust scene? Yes, I think it has a gotten way more fabricated over the years. I mean, it seems that people are not as sincere as they were back 15 years ago when the scene was fresh and new. I think back then it was a complete privilege to see a grind core band or a good crust band, because the scene was small. Nowadays everybody tours; tour of demos, tour of 7"’s… I think that`s all shit!! It saturates the market for bands that have a name and have been doing it for a long time, because there is nowhere to play, because every fucking band and there mother is touring. It seems a lot of the grind crust influence has dabbled its way into the new metal hard core movement also: singing with growling vocals, low tuned guitars, stuff like that. So it has had a big influence on this generation of kids, it really has made a big contribution to how music is today. Lots of people don`t realize that and these kids don`t have any punk or metal history. I think the changes have also innovated the grind core and crust scene, because there have been bands that have really done something with these influences and brought it to another level in music and I think that is great!!
		Phobia is regarded to be one of the biggest influences in the grind core and crust scene. Are you honored when you hear something like that? And what do you think of the cult status Phobia has? Well, it’s something that I never attended on, I just really wanted to take my music to another level; make some noise, sing with some conviction, and I guess it has made some sort of impact on the scene today. I am really appreciative that people would think that, it really means a lot to me!!!
		‘Grind Your Fucking Head In’ contains an acoustic hidden track, which I think was great. It shows a different side of Phobia, but it has the same political laden lyrics as your other songs. Can we expect more of this in the future? Well, I don`t know about that, hahaha!!! It is just something that I wanted to do… change it up for a minute, have some fun, you know?? I love playing acoustic, so I thought why not throw a little hidden song for fun. I don`t want to be confined down with the band, I want to be able to do what I want to do, no limits you know???
		What’s your opinion on the fact that most of the world thinks that the United States is a red neck, right winged country that wants to show its power by “declaring war” on every country that goes against the grain? Well, you have to separate the politics from the people. "American politics" is a fucked up thing, but you have to understand one thing. This has nothing to do with American people. People that think that we are all red necks and right wings are fucking stupid and ignorant for even saying something like that. I`ve seen these types of people all through out Europe, because these people exist everywhere through out the world. The American government declares war, not the American people!! Lots of people don`t support the Bush administration here in the States. We don`t support the imperialism and his foreign policies! What these people don`t know is that this really disrupts the normal family living situation here in the States. It has really disrupted the poor, financially and economically. We have our own problems here trying to keep our head above water.
		You’re dealing with George W. Bush in some of your lyrics and he even shows up in the artwork on ‘Get Up And Kill’. Is he really as bad as some of us think? Yeah, he is the new Hitler!!! He has got to be the worst president ever, and that`s not saying much, hahaha!!! I think it’s basically the Bush family; it’s their agenda, their family business… it has something to do with capitalism and loss of life to fulfill the job. I think having a political agenda there are lots to inform about Bush and the hierarchy that imposes its plans on the world. It’s not sane, it’s just murderous!! So Bush keeps us really busy here! He is such an ass, so there is always something to say, you know?
		You’re from California. We only know Arnold Schwarzenegger as an actor, but how is he doing as a governor? He`s a fucking idiot also. He`s just an actor. He falls in with the right wing, he has been doing a lot of damage over here with money; taking money away from school programs and basically borrowing money to back his investments and agendas and doesn`t think he should pay it back. He a fucking asshole too!!
		On your website is a video of a guy that tries to kill the band. What was the deal with that? I’ve answered this question a thousand times, so I’m going to keep it short. He started shit with me on stage and we have been warned about this guy. He tried to grab my microphone and I broke his nose. They took him out, he came back and tried to attack us. Bruce cracked the bass over his head, end of story. He probably had a big headache the next day, hahaha.
		On ‘Return To Desolation’ Raymond Herrera (Fear Factory) is on drums. How was the collaboration? Are you still in contact with him? We haven`t talked to him for a while. He was actually going to play drums on ‘Get Up And Kill’, but then he got busy and we ended up not doing that. It’s a shame, he is an old friend. The collaboration was always good with him. He is an excellent drummer, easy to work with, and things went quick.
		For the laymen under our readers: how much different are the newer albums in comparison with the older ones? I like the new ones way better. I think the song writing is better. I have progressed in a lot of ways and I’m happy about it. I really don`t ever think about topping any release, just write and whatever comes out, you know? Every release serves its purpose independently.
		What can we expect from Phobia in the near future? A new album? A tour in Europe? Just more brutality as always, straight-up grind core… the way we have been doing it for 15 years. Hopefully we can make it back to Europe, but doesn`t look likely. But we are doing dates here in the States and we’re working on a new record right now.
		Some last words to our readers… Thank you for your interest in the band. All the fans, readers, promoters: you make it all happen. Cheers!!!
(Lars van Bergen)