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What is The Bombs of
Enduring Freedom exactly, and why was it formed?
The Bombs Of Enduring Freedom was formed partly to
continue my own musical expression and experimentation
along with some other people's creative involvement, and
also to comment the state of the world as it is today
(global terror, the war on terror and all that other
crap). I couldnt continue with Ewigkiet, because it had
to much association with the death/black metal scenes -
which are totally conservative and afraid of progression.
Also, I did want to put all the work into another album,
just so that the bastards who released my previous album
could sell more CDs.
How did things get started with this new project?
It's started where Ewigkeit finished. Most of the songs
were actually intended for the next Ewigkeit album, but
I'd had enough of the way I'd been doing stuff ; writing
an album, giving it to a record label who would then
proceed to sell copies and keep all the money.
On top of that, they expect you to conform to what they
want you to sound like ("the next album should be
heavier" etc etc...). Which is all absolute shit, and
goes totally against what art and expression is about.
The launch of The Bombs Of Enduring Freedom goes hand in
hand with DEATH TO MUSIC Productions, which will be the
label for all my previous stuff (which I have reclaimed
in the interest of artictic freedom) and any new
projects I have, and any other artists I want to release
work of.
What are the main influences, and how would you
describe your music?
What we want to do with The Bombs Of Enduring Freedom,
is to create interesting and diverse heavy music that
reflects the world around us. So, basically take the
musical influences (metal, rock, electronic, sample-based
music) and stick in a heavy dose of lyrics about the
state of the world. You can call it something stupid
like "current affairs metal" if you want ! Some people
just call it "good music with a message" ;-)
A while ago, a video appeared on the internet on
where you burnt all your preverious record contracts.
What was the reason behind this all?
Because I had dealt with record labels for too long. I
nievely thought that if you got to a bigger label,
they'd definitely pay you some sort of royalty.
Unfortunately this was wrong. You get conflicting sales
figures from different people, and never get any money.
Whoever is reading this and is in a band - dont waste
your fucking time with ANY record label. They are all
fucking scum. When I made that video, I also stated that
I was reclaiming all my previous work. I now own all of
it (11 previous releases), and I'm currently giving it
away free to people on the 'Death To Music productions'
mailing list. So if you want some free stuff, submit
your email addres to ; death.to.music@ntlworld.com
October 12th will bring the release of the
self-titled debut album. It already recieved some
positive comments until now, including the one on our
zine. But, what do you think of the album yourself, and
did you expect this positive feedback?
I like the album. Everyone involved is real pleased that
we managed to get a product finished and (soon to be)
released by ourselves without the involvement of any
fucking parasitic record labels. We'd rather sell 500
copies of really interesting and challenging music and
cover our costs, than sell 30,000 copies of
middle-of-the-road shit and be fucked like a bitch by
any record label. By the very way it has been released,
it's pretty much a case of not giving a shit what people
thought. However, very positive reviews have resulted,
and thats not a bad thing !
What can people who blindly buy it expect of it?
Well, if they heard "Conspiritus" by Ewigkeit, then it's
pretty much part 2 - with the exception that Conspiritus
dealt with a hypothetical reality, and "The Bombs OIf
Enduring Freedom" is dealing with the world as it really
is. (worringly, there's not much difference !)
The album is limited to 665 slightly less evil
copies. For what reason did you decide to release the
debut on a limited amount?
I always found it funny that completely humourless black
metal bands released limited edition stuff with 666
copies, so on that basis I just came to the conclusion
that 'The Bombs' album wasnt "evil" enough to have 666
copies, so we settled for 665. It's limited because it
is a test to see how far we can take it, without
submitting to commercialism. The music has great
commercial potential, and it's really a statement that
you dont have to be underground and sound shit, and
neither do you have to play listenable heavy music and
be signed to RoadRunner.
What's your favourite track on the album and why?
Hmm... Not sure. I like each one for different reasons.
Some highlights for me are "Television", "Religious
Suicicde" and "End Times".
What is the message you want to spread lyrically?
Well, just that people should be lookign at where we are
headed with western society, following the Washington
concensus. We're living in the times of "Pax Americana"
- it's really fucking disturbing. Just look at the
fucking mess they've caused by interferring in their own
back-yard in central and south america with thier
fucking mental foreign policy ! They cant even sort out
the lack of equalities in their own country, so what the
fuck are they doing preaching to the rest of the world
about peace ?! A 'War on Terror' to 'Fight for Freedom'
is obviously the ramblings of some lunatics with their
own fucking agenda. My favourite contradiction was
"Military Operation ; Enduring Freedom", hence the name
"The Bombs of Enduring Freedom".
A practical question: why are the lyrics of the track
'Wargames' not available in the booklet? A matter of
self censorship or just a lack of space? ;-)
Lack of space. It's all pretty understandable. Just some
fucking rednecks enjoying killing innocent people (the
original military video is on our myspage page (
www.myspace.com/TheBomsbOfEnduringFreedom ), and then
some chanting of soldiers shouting "Oooh Ahh ! I wana
kill somebody !" taken from a recording of military
training. Are we gonna censor ourselves ? Thats the last
thing you should expect.
One of the lines in the lyric of 'Guatanamo Bay
International' is "It's Auschwitz in the sun". Can you
explain to me and the readers why you compare Guatanamo
Bay with one of the blackest pages of the holocaust in
history?
Well, a famous man once said that by using either the
Nazis oif The Holocaust in your argument, you have taken
away any validity - however, I wanted to make the point
that with inprisonment without charge (largely of those
of Arab or North African descent) is comparable to
concentration camps, which is one step closer to death
camps. If these people are fighting the US soldiers in
their country, I dont personally think you could expect
them to do anything else ! The US army werent invited
into Afghanistan or Iraq - they are there on official
buisness of their masters.
The lyrics of 'Television' are more or less a kick in
the asses of today's youth. According to the lyrics, the
kids lose reality because of it, and with your past
project Ewigkeit you also released a video on ´It´s Not
Reality´ with more or less the same message. Don´t you
think the abandonment of reality has more to do with
education, internet and computer games? And - are there
any television shows you DO like?
I think abandonment of reality is coming from living in
a surveilance society (the UK has more CCTV camers per
person than any other country in the world), from
"reality" TV (the WORST form of Television) and, yes,
sufficient education (or lack of). People are
sleepwalking into a life-time of debt to banks, buying
trash that they see on TV, eating the Mc Shit which is
killing them - i could go on forever...Its basically the
ills of the consumer society that we live in. People
dont want to know - it's too terrifying for them.
When I take a closer look at the artwork inside the
booklet I see a picture of Mickey Mouse disguised as
Adolf Hitler. What is the purpose of this picture, and
what flag is it on the background?
That is the flag of Texas (home state to the Bush clan).
Geroge W. Bush is a mickey mouse Hitler. It's one of the
pictures in the exhibition that is being launched the
same day as the album is released.
What are your own views when it comes to politics?
I personally dont have anything to do with any political
party at all. For me, the extremes of Left and Right are
as bad as each other. I strongly believe that all
politics are the tools of manipulation of the ruling
elite of each country.I think that once you take a side,
you have lost your freedom.
And what about religion?
I go to church every Sunday.
Not.
What are your views and/or opinions on the following
subjects: propaganda, censorship and the 'American
dream'?
Propagada is everywhere - in soap-operas, in movies, in
pop-songs on the radio, in glossy magazines etc etc...
Propaganda is especially noticible in the news on TV,
and once you start to notice it, you can never ignore
it. Censorship goes hand in hand with the propganda. In
fact, quite often, the propaganda is not what they say,
but what they DONT say.
As for the American dream ? Its called that, because you
have to be asleep to believe it.
You're from England, which was one of the countries
who suffered the most on Muslim terrorism. What were the
effects of this on you personally, and on (your) daily
life?
It doesnt affect my daily life at all. There are stories
all the time in the news, and a general anti islamic
gloss over everything you see these days, but as long as
you are wise to it, it shouldnt affect you.
Coincidentally, I dont believe that any muslims were
involved with the attacks on the London Underground. If
that sounds bizarre, then search on google and you will
find some interesting stuff (try www.infowars.com for
starters)
Will The Bombs of Enduring Freedom remain only a
studio project, or can we expect some live activity of
it as well?
Well, this is depending on the direction and nature of
future material. One thing is for sure - I'm never
wasting my time trying to play to a mainstream "metal
only" audience ever again - it's a fucking waste of time
(unless you specialise in cliche crap).
What will The Bombs of Enduring Freedom bring us in
the near future?
Join the DEATH TO MUSIC mailing list and you'll find out
! There is a free EP coming late 07 / 08 - thats all i'm
gonna say for now.
Well, the end of the interview lays here - thanks a
lot for your prescious little time. If you have some
final words to add, please do it here.
Well - thanks for the support ! Be sure to check out
some of the tracks at
www.myspace.com/thebombsofenduringfreedom - then, break
the habit of a lifetime and buy an album that you wont
get bored with after 1 listen. All profits go back into
DTM Prod. and will finance any future free or limited
edition releases. We look forwards to hearing from you
all ;-)
Interview by: Gerardo (September 2007) |
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