CHEAP DRUGS

Antwerp/Ghent, Belgium hardcore punk band.
CHEAP DRUGS  are pretty cool. Wanna know why? Read this.

Each year, January seems to be that period as exciting as (I have to say) depressing for a single reason: I always blame myself for not having listened to a shitload of great releases... And, of course, CHEAP DRUGS's latest LP on Hardware Records, simply titled "Angst", is one of them. So, first things first, I'd like to know what your favorite 2015 (hardcore & non hardcore) releases are, to let the readers know what kind of hardcore punk advocates are you?

Sam: My favorite release was the G.L.O.S.S. demotape just because it was boiling with anger, great riffs and strong lyrics. It had been a while since a demo kicked me in the teeth like that. My friend Joris just turned me unto this CHAIN RANK lp from last year, pure Boston 80s hardcore vibe like NEGATIVE APPROACH and BOSTON STRANGLER. I really enjoy the INSTITUE LP which I guess is more postpunk than their 7"s, but still totally awesome.  Jens and me are also into a local hiphop talent called Woodie Smalls who released a sick debut album last year.

Jens: The best release of 2015 is definitely "Soft Parade" by Woodie Smalls. It´s all about passing the dutch these days. Other bands that really got my attention in 2015 were JUNGBLUTH and G.L.O.S.S..

Pie: Talking about my favorite hardcore records of 2015, "Preservation Measures" by GAY KISS is on top of my list. Next comes "Self Portrait" by LOMA PRIETA. I also like SHEER MAG’s second 7” and the G.L.O.S.S. demo. Other great records that came out last year are "Deeper" by THE SOFT MOON, "Beach Music" by Alex G and "Before The World Was Big" by GIRLPOOL.. 

What are your audience reactions about this new LP?  And what about your personal thoughts about this release?

Sam: The reactions couldn´t have been better. The release show is probably the craziest show we´ve ever played and it´s been a great year. We did a lot of great shows with bands we love and played some nice festivals for the first time. Personally I am very proud of the record. It sounds like we wanted it to sound, looks like we wanted it to look like… 

Jens: I still get goosebumps when I watch video's from our release show. It must be one of the sickest shows I've ever played! Although I didn't record the drums on the record because I had some trouble with my ears, I'm very proud of how it sounds and how it looks like. Big shout-out to Martijn for recording the drums. His band ANGSTGEGNER also recorded some new songs which are gonna be released this year.

Pie: As said before, the releaseshow of the record is something I’ll never forget. People got rowdy from the very first note we hit. Same thing happened on Crossbonefest. I believe ‘Angst’ got us to support NEGATIVE APPROACH and to play Ieperfest too. I’m really happy with how the record turned out, knowing that we all put everything we had into it. 

That's your third release on Hardware Records, how did you get in touch with this record company? Why do you still work with them? They worked with a lot of great bands in the past years like ANTIMOB, VAASKA, NUKKEHAMMER, SLANG, OMEGAS, SICKOIDS, KREMLIN, CRIATURAS, THE SENTENCED, RASH TONGUE, RED DEATH, CONCEALED BLADE, GAS RAG... The fact they worked with tons of great current bands was a pretty good reason I guess? 

Sam: After my previous band VOGUE split up I stayed in touch with Chris Hardware. I sent him every rehearsal recording, he got stoked and it was a pretty obvious choice to work with him for our first 7". He runs a great label from his flat with the best hardcore punk bands from around the globe. Basically we stuck with him ever since because he is down for everything we want to do and he gets our vinyl in all diy distros around the world. Check out IMAGINERY DICTIONARY and JACKALS their releases on Hardware too!

I guess that coming from Belgium, you guys are/were listening to a lot of great early 2000s hardcore bands coming from Belgium and Netherlands? These two countries were kind like a Mecca for hardcore punk 10 years ago and more; chilling on CHEAP DRUGS Instagram, I saw you posted something about DEAD STOP, telling it was Belgium's best band. Do you still think the same thing?

Sam: For me it was a very influential band while growing up. My bandmates at the time were already into their 7" and got me a copy on cd. After seeing them live in my hometown a new world opened up for me. I had to see dead stop as much as possible, I even skipped school to roadtrip to the Netherlands or Germany to see them play. Every show they played the crowd went berserk. I don't think any other Belgian band had such a following as them. They were just fast, aggressive, energetic and better than all the touring bands they played with. They were hyped, but they did never dissapoint. RESTLESS YOUTH was the best Dutch band from that era. Great guys, still run into them now and then, they now have a band called RICHIE DAGGER. 

Pie: Since I’m a few years younger than Sam. I only saw DEAD STOP and RESTLESS YOUTH once. Unfortunately, it seems that I missed what had to be the glory days of Belgian hardcore. I started going to shows around the time that RISE AND FALL was releasing their "Into Oblivion Record". 

Tom: I still remember the first DEAD STOP show, because it opened a new world for me and one I was looking for. It was in Kortrijk in a fancy bar and there where 2 kinds of people. Hardcore kids and crusts punks and they truly hated each others guts. The crusts sat on the floor in the corner while the hardcore kids where chilling at the bar with some soda's (back then a lot of people were sxe). Everybody united when DEAD STOP started playing, but there was still a lot tension in the air. Hardcore kids moving from side to side and it annoyed the crusts. Suddenly everybody in the pit ran to the side and there was 1 crust punk in the middle with some fireworks. I think he was to drunk because it blew up where he was standing and it made him lost his shoelace and he had no idea what was happening which was really funny. DEAD STOP was still playing but the microphone was dead, maybe because of the fireworks. I don't know. So al the HC kids ran back to Lino to sing as loud as possible and it didn't sound like there was no microphone. It was just a regular dead stop show. Not only DEAD STOP but also REPROACH, SUNPOWER, ABUSIVE ACTION, RESTLESS YOUTH, TURN THE SCREW etc got me into old school HC. It was a great time, not only there where tons a great bands going around but almost everybody was involved. Either you were in a band, making zines or doing shows. Good times!

What about late 90s H8000 and metalcore bands? I must admit I'm fond of bands like ARKANGEL, CONGRESS or KINDRED just to name a few. Have you even been into these bands? 

Tom: I've gotten into hardcore around 2000 and there where still a lot of great H8000 shows but you could tell it was running towards the end and I knew I missed out on a lot. I was really into LIAR and ARKANGEL and somewhere deep inside I still am. ARKANGEL was brutal and I mean Brutal! I don't think I have ever seen more brutal shows than ARKANGEL, maybe the first NEGATIVE APPROACH reunion which for me, ended in the hospital haha. But I didn't like the fights and the violent dancing and when ARKANGEL dropped there edge I was out too. I never stopped listening to ARKANGEL but I didn't want to see them wasted on stage again. It just didn't make any sense with their lyrics. I know they're playing shows again, but I don't know if I should go.

I believe Belgium has been pretty concerned by INTEGRITY and Holy Terror (Dwid lived or currently lives here, no?) with bands like RISE AND FALL, AMEN RA... What's your opinion about this trend? I believe AMEN RA became something pretty big isn't it?

Sam: The singer of RISE AND FALL was very supportive when we started playing our first shows in 2004 with TURN THE SCREW. In fact my very first hc show I've played was with them and JUSTICE in our hometown. Yea, AMEN RA/CHURCH OF RA… not my cup of tea.

Pie: I really like the "Into Oblivion" record of RISE AND FALL. I also enjoyed going to their shows because of the band’s energy on stage. I don’t have any AMEN RA records at home but when seeing them live, the head banging clears my mind. 

What about Ieper Fest? I've never been there but it has the reputation to be a legendary festival. You played last summer edition, how was it?

Sam : Ieperfest was a great experience. We're not a festival band since we don't like high stages and security. We agreed to play the Trench stage which is basically a tent with a knee-high stage, no security and lots of people up close to the bands. When we played the tent was fully packed and the crowd was wild. Our friends up front, great vibes, good times.

Jens: Playing Ieperfest on the same day as DISCHARGE, DOOM & TOUCHE AMORE was a dream to come true. This definitely was one of the best hang-outs of the year!

Pie, Ieperfest sure was great. Though my gear usually gets broken when playing for a lot of people, like an amp that suddenly shuts down or a string that breaks, this time everything kept working. 

pics by Anne Carolien Köhler

In your opinion what are the best current bands hailing from Belgium?

Sam: ADMIRAL FREEBEE! COCAINE PISS is without a doubt the most exciting punk band at the moment. My wife and me released their tape last year and now they are gonna record an LP with Steve Albini. They are blowing up really fast. LOTUS is my favorite band to watch live as they get better every show and people seem to finally notice this band. Besides those three I would recommend REPROACH, SUNPOWER, LIFESPITE and VVOUNDS.

Jens: I really like listening to LOTUS. Their shows are so tight and energetic that you can't stand still while they are playing! Other bands you should check out are LIFESPITE and REPROACH!

Pie: LOTUS, DAGGERS, COCAINE PISS, VVOUNDS, TOXIC SHOCK, …

Tom:  COCAINE PISS, VVOUNDS, LIFESPITE, REPROACH, SUNPOWER, PRICEDUIFKES, ...

I come back to this DEAD STOP post on Instagram; who has posted it clamed that DEAD STOP "brought 80's hardcore back and taught us a bunch of good hc history lessons [...]" What lessons are you dealing with? Do you think these lessons are still valid nowadays? If so, for what reasons? 

Sam: I think DS was a great influence on me while growing up. Every time I went to see them they would play another cover and I would discover another 80s band. They were a total DIY band, having their own label, booking their own shows… and they never changed their sound or style. It might sound obvious, but some great bands of that era suddenly thought they should write longer songs or start singing differently… DS never did that, the last record was as good as the first 7”. “Fuck that progress, we regress…we are, we are dead stop!”

It's funny because, in a manner of fact, there is something really "80's" in "Angst" LP and CHEAP DRUGS too, for several reasons: CHEAP DRUGS's logo - really simplistic and effective (like the 80s USHC bands logos featuring in Steven Blush's first pages of American Hardcore anthology) - the black and white imagery and aesthetic, these bored and depressed sensations we feel while staring at "Angst" cover art, the detail of the skateboard...  What can you tell me about that? Where do your inspiration and influences come from?

Sam: I've painted the logo based on the VIOLENT MINDS logo, one of my favorite hardcore bands -ever. They were also a band from that 2004-… period.  I think every hardcore punk band needs a logo. All the rest of our artwork is done by the wonderful Bart Bling. We wanted to have one person for all the artwork so it would be recognizable just like the black flag stuff. The Lp cover is the result of all the bandmembers' ideas and grew as we wrote and recorded the music. The music, the art, the message...it's all connected and pretty clear. Someone told us they didn´t like the cover cause it gives you and exact idea of what to expect… to us that was exactly what we were going for with that cover art haha.

By the way how and when did you start the band?

Sam: The band was formed after VOGUE quit, but it took Pie and me a while to find a drummer and a singer. After jamming with a bunch of people we finally started CHEAP DRUGS around the summer of 2012 with Tom on vocals and Jojo Vogue on drums. After a few shows it became clear that Jojo didn´t have a lot of time, so we had Jens to jump in on drums.

Do you play in other bands? 

Sam: At the moment none of us does any other bands. We always had several bands going on, but since the "Angst" LP we decided to totally focus on this band and quit all our other bands. Jens just did some shows with TOXIC SHOCK since their drummer had some little accident and Tom did some guestvocals for ANGSTGEGNER in the studio.

What are your projects for 2016?

Sam: We decided to play less shows this year because we have been playing shows almost every weekend since October 2012. Right now we are taking a break to write some new songs & rehearse a new cover until Crossbonefest in March. In April we do a small tour through Germany and Sweden with DAMAGED HEAD. We are opening a show for NIGHT BIRDS in Gothenborg which we are really stoked about. After that we are gonna work on a new record. This summer we are playing Fluff Fest in Czech Republic, probably the best DIY hardcore fest in Europe. It hasn´t been announced yet, so you´ve got the scoop haha.

CAUSE FOR SCREAM INTRODUCTION + REALM OF TORMENT

I'm so stupid (and excited about dealing with bands and records I love) that I forgot to wait for DROIDxRAGE's chief-editor's blessing before making an interview with these young lads. DROIDxRAGE is a youth crew/posi webzine so I guess most of the bands I listen to during my cold shower every morning does not fit with the editorial line of the zine... And that's why I decided to start this blog: right now, I really need to write about EVERYTHING I want, like this band REALM OF TORMENT, or straight edge hangovers, vegan recipes, chick flicks...whatever.

So here is an interview with Southampton REALM OF TORMENT. If you're definitly into metalcore/death metal or H8000, check it out.

- To be sure I own a real metal credibility, is the name "REALM OF TORMENT" a tribute to BOLT THROWER's 2nd LP on Earache, mixing the name of the last couple of  songs of the records which are "Drowned In Torment" and "Realm Of Chaos"?

Jonny - Haha no, I came up with it from Crawlspace’s Enter The Realm Of Chaos, close though. Haunted is one of the meanest songs.

- I guess BOLT THOWER and tons of 90s death/thrash metal bands had, without any doubt, an obvious impact on metalcore bands. What are your different influences, from hardcore to metal, lyrically and musically?

Jonny - I’m into all sorts, but I grew up on metalcore & deathcore (Parkway Drive, Killswitch Engage, Salt The Sound, Despised Icon, Carnifex) so that is obviously the main thing I write around & is the basis of my style of writing. I try to mix that kind of thing around all sorts of other different metalcore bands like Disembodied, Red Sky, Unearth - any & every band I like. You get a lot of people saying metalcore sounds the same but there are so many different bands doing different thing, you can really create quite a varied style minus the obvious things like breakdowns. I love melodic death metal too (The Black Dahlia Murder, At The Gates) so try to add in other influences like that here & there which I think are noticeable. We also now & then have some more straight up hardcore / beatdown kind stuff on the album as well which changes things up, like the LBU kind of groove part In Cold Dead Hands.Lyrically I personally get influence from bands using well thought out & intelligent lyrics like Shai Hulud or Trial, anything that’s critical & meaning like that.

Gingerdope Photography//Oli Johnson Photography

- I guess you guys are definitely involved in that 90s metalcore revival, what are the different nowadays bands playing this kind of music you so like?

Jonny - Yes I would say we are in that but we are trying to aim our style more around the early 00’s.I think the main ones for me are (not doing to name the obvious ones we all know) Vatican, In Tongues, Witness The Fall, Drawing Last Breath, Sanction, Decadence, Incitement, Gaia Bleeds.

David - Ithaca and Vegan Jihad.

- Now, can you introduce REALM OF TORMENT:

1): When and how did you guys met?

Jonny - We just met through local shows & bands. Jack mainly through his band then the others through going to shows at different points. I knew of Andy for while before we got things going as met a few times & talked about football & stuff.

2): How many are you in the band? What do you do?

Jonny - Works at the council for our region

David - Works in IT

Jack - Goes to University here & works at Ikea

Nathan - Works at Halfords

Andy - Works doing building construction (I think)

3): Who usually writes the songs and the lyrics?

Jonny - Musically me & Jack will write the basis one a song structure on guitar then we’ll go to practice & go through, edit / add / take out anything we feel as we go along. Lyric wise for the album we have 2 old songs by the old vocalists, 4 by me (2 new & 2 from the album promo last year when we was changing over vocalists) & 4 by Dave. In the future most will be Dave now everything is settled, but I’ll do bits & pieces still / making sure he doesn’t write crap. 

4): The band comes from Southampton, do you all come from here? How's the scene like here?

Jonny - The scene is great, shows have been really quiet for our music for a while due to venues closing down, if we can get a regular venue again the shows will pick up, but there is still lots of screamo / punk / pop-punk / emo going on so there is always something. We have a big all-dayer coming up in March though for Rage, that will be amazing. We all hang out though outside of shows & talk daily on the internet & see who can make each other cry. Myself & Nathan came here for uni some years ago but now live here, David is from just outside Southampton & the other 2 are from here.

5): Were you playing in other bands before joining REALM OF TORMENT? Do you guys play in other bands?

Jonny - I played in No Excuse, now play in Nihility & Overturn. 

David - I played in a metalcore band and a hardcore band that didn’t really do much.

6): Can you introduce Rage, Bound By Modern Age and Cold Hand, the different labels companies you are working with - If I'm right Rage will release your first LP titled "Testament's Of Hope & Despair"?

Jonny - Rage is my label & Jack + our friend Oli joined in the last 6 months or so helping out with it, I started it just over 5 years ago, originally it was just a zine then it quickly became a label, then I stopped doing it a few years later then restarted it about a year & a half ago. BBMA is done by our friend Tim from Germany, crazy guy who loves Irn Bru. CH is done by Devin in Texas, we met at This Is Hardcore 2014. Those 3 labels are releasing the vinyl, but also now my friend Patrick has started a CD label called Mark My Words so he will be doing that too. Everything should physically be out end of January / start of Febuary.

- You've already book a Euro tour next March/April + three UK shows, how do you feel about it?

Jonny - Well we are currently still booking it & waiting on confirmations for 60% of the shows from venues & such, so atm we are still trying to get everything solidified, in a bit of an awkward middle ground. If anyone reading wants to help out get in touch! We just got our first European show confirmed today though for Belgium which is exciting. We’re going to be working on the tour everyday hoping to get all the shows confirmed by the end of them month.

- Can you tell us a bit more about this little UK tour you did with SPLITKNUCKLE in October 2015:

1): Did you know the SPLITKNUCKLE guys before touring with them?

Jonny - I’ve known them about 3 years & the rest of us / as a band we have come really close friends for maybe half the time?

2): Any particular anecdotes about this tour?

David - None that I want my mum seeing on the internet.

3): I like how SPLITKNUCKLE do not take themselves seriously on their Facebook page, it perfectly matches with the topics of their songs which are rather serious. Do you feel the same thing concerning REALM OF TORMENT? I mean, reading every lyric from "Testament Of Hope & Despair" I kinda realize you guys were pretty serious with what you are dealing with but I guess writing about such angry feelings make you want to pass on this cathartic energy to the audience when you're on stage? I guess you want to share this vibe with every people in the venue?

Jonny - Yes but no. I mean while we are actually playing the songs I would say we play them pretty seriously & try to get what the songs feels to us across, but between songs / around a show you will probably find me & david making jokes about the others & enjoying the freedom for normal life, doing stupid things.

David - I would say lyrically we take things serious, and we try when playing live. The issue is when the majority of shows you play are with really good friends it’s hard not to piss about.

3): I guess both your set during this week of tour were really powerful? Which one especially?

Jonny - The best was Glasgow because we played well & everyone in the crowd was up for a good time & we felt welcomed. We have lots of friends there as well so it was just a general good time. All the others were also good & all the promoters looked after us so all in all everything went really well.

David - Yeah Glasgow was brilliant, probably one of the best shows we’ve played. Everyone had drank a shit load of buckfast and it went off.

- This song "...From My Cold Dead Hands" is amazing. This extract from a Charlon Heston's speech (during the intro of the track) we can also ear in Michael Moore's "Bowling For Columbine" documentary about the ease of access to guns in America perfectly matches with the rest of the song: what this song is about besides gun control?

Jonny - For me it’s respecting others right to live & the ignorance people (specifically America for this song with gun laws) has towards violence & warfare. I cannot stand people who use violence above all rational thought.

David - I’m glad that people know what the sample is. It’s about ignorance in general.

- What I actually liked about this specific song is that passage "Blaming the influence, while still defending the access [...]" it really reminded me some kind of BIOHAZARD gimmick in that song "Shades Of Grey" featuring in 1992 "Urban Discipline" on Roadrunner Records, whereas it also reminded me some "cheesy" beatdown way of singing I usually hate haha but...I don't know, there is something special with this specific track. Like you wrote it with your guts! What do you think of it?

Jonny - Yeah this came out great & we’ve had a lot of people say the same. David wrote all the lyrics for the song but the guest vocal parts I did as I kinda had an idea how I felt each should be, when we first wrote the music we thought Joey doing vocals on that would fit perfect, considering the kind of riff / part fits into the Splitknuckle style a little bit.

- There are other movies sample featuring in the record, like this one I definitely can't remember ("[...] I will fuck you up...!"), why did you chose these references?

Jonny - Hahaha that one in Misanthropy is from Tropic Thunder, the song is a song from our demo & the lyrics are by the old vocalists about just the world being shit & a lot of them don’t make much lyrical sense, so the quote kinda worked in that it’s funny & stupid but sets what the president of the song is about.

David- There are about 5 more samples that didn’t make the album because apparently it would’ve been ‘overkill’. When we re-release this album in 10 years time we’ll do an alternative version with those samples on.

- On the album bandcamp, someone posted that comment: "[...] COME THE FUCK OUT TO THE U.S." Like a couple of days ago XREPENTANCEX and RENOUNCED were playing in Florida during FYA Fest Aftershows. Do you think you'll travel overseas to play with REALM OF TORMENT someday?

Jonny - As much we would all want to, realistically I don’t think we will unless someone out of nowhere can pay us a bunch of money for flights. 

David - Not until I’m 21.

Jonny - We can all agree on that.

- Got no further questions if you wanna add something!

Jonny - Heavy music isn’t just about moshing & being violent, take an interest in the things going on around the world & go vegan. ‘Shoutout’ to everyone in The UYC & Southampton scene & to the OG chat.

David - Smoke weed, go vegan.

Jonny - Listen to: Azriel - A Will of Fire, Red Sky - Knife Behind The Smile, Undying - The Whispered Lies of Angels