Fuck the Facts Interview

Interview by Dominik Pachala with Topon Das of Fuck the Facts

For the readers who don’t know who you guys are who and what is Fuck the Facts?

Topon Das: We’re a band from Ontario. We’ve been around for a little while, we started years ago. There’ve been a few band member changes over the years.

So you guys have done a bunch of splits with a bunch of different bands, is there a band in particular you guys want to do a split with and are there any upcoming splits with any bands we should know about?

Topon Das: We don’t have any upcoming splits lined up but , yeah, we definitely have talked with a few bands about doing something. It would be cool to talk to the guys from Kill the Client to try doing something. Yeah there are a ton of bands we’d like to do something with but it all comes down to finding the time on our end and on their end to get the things worked out. The last split we did was with Leng T’che, that was really cool because after we became friends and we really liked the band.

So somewhat similar to the question before, what bands would you guys like to tour with?

Topon Das: We did a tour with Anti-Gama in Europe and that was really awesome because I was a fan of the band beforehand. So that was the first time I was a fan of the band before we toured with them. I know that when you tour with a band and you see them for 30 nights, that’s when you really start to get into their stuff. That’s how I got into few bands like Unearthly Trance. There aren’t a lot of offers that we get to tour with bands like the tour we’re going to be doing with Ken Mode. Me and Jessie (Ken Mode) have known each other for quite a bit and we got in touch with each other and talked about doing something. That’s what we’re used to when it comes to touring.

You guys are playing free show in Edmonton on May 2^nd at Filthy McNasties. Will you guys be concentrating your set list on the newer material or are you guys gonna play older material also?

Topon Das: When we started doing shows this year, we did a bunch of 10-year anniversary shows. So we went back and played a bunch of really old songs. So for this tour we’re really focusing on the newer stuff, we’re playing stuff from Disgorge Mexico, the split with Leng T’che, the unnamed EP and a couple new songs that are going to be on our next album.

So how do you feel your music has evolved since Vagina Dancer?

Topon Das: Every time I hear that album title, I try figure out what I was thinking. For one, that tape was basically noise. That dates back to pre-band era. Like when I was talking about the 10 year anniversary, that’s when the band started around 2001. The tape came out sometime around 1998. So from then, it was a solo project, it’s changed a ton. Our music is always evolving we don’t want to limit ourselves to just one thing. I’m happy with the evolution of the band, it’s definitely been influenced by the different members that have come into the band even from 2001. One of the main purposes of the band is to keep evolving.

So you guys have been signed on Relapse, what sort of difference have you guys noticed between releasing records with labels vs DIYing?

        Topon Das: It’s been a long time since we worked with Relapse, I think its been 5 years. I think a lot of people thing that when you get signed to a label, management will deal with more stuff. But you end up doing a lot more stuff than you would do otherwise. We have a huge DIY ethic, we released a couple of DIY things while we were on the label. I think it was awesome that we could work with them since the label is recognized in the scene and they have contacts that we don’t have, but at the same time they didn’t allows to do whatever we wanted even for other realizes and independent stuff .

 Can you talk about John Zorn’s Naked City and how it influenced Fuck The Facts?

Topon Das: I pulled the band name off of a Naked City album. This was a long time ago… I was really into the album, I still think it’s a really awesome album. I haven’t listened to it in a while but it has a lot of really cool shit going on. When I heard that, I just really want to have an extremely open mind to music and do whatever I wanted to and not worry about being a grindcore band, a metal band or even a really weird experimental band. I felt that that album mixed the noisy stuff with the smoother stuff. I feel that we’re kinda like that. We’re doing the stuff we want to do and not really forcing ourselves to do anything weird or different or anything.

Finnish Metal Tour Review

Finnish Metal Tour: A Personal Review

February 15th, 2011

Writer: Lacey W.

The night appeared doomed to a slow start, with only a handful of people in line when doors were opened at eight. The frigid weather, made worse by a biting wind, may have factored into this but it seemed strangely appropriate for a night when four bands from Finland were slated to play. A quick stop at the merchandise table made me wish I was able to afford the price wanted for the hand drawn artwork of Finntroll guitarist, Skrymer.

            There was an abysmal lack of concert goers in the Starlite Room as Barren Earth took the stage. Although the music of Barren Earth was not particularly appealing to me, they performed a solid set, sounding somewhat like Opeth at times. By the time Rotten Sound made their appearance on stage, more fans had trickled in. The fast and heavy stylings of Rotten Sound served to energize the crowd, creating an atmosphere more appropriate to a small venue filled with loud music. All of those at the front were quickly caught up in the headbanging and those back a little further created an impressive pit considering the number of people participating. Rotten Sound knew exactly what to do to pump up the crowd, encouraging moshing that was equally as hard and fast as their music. Even those who were unfamiliar with the band seemed to thoroughly enjoy the set.

            Unfortunately the people behind me during Ensiferum made the set slightly less enjoyable but Ensiferum seemed to be the highlight of the night for many fans. (Perhaps because english lyrics are much more accessible than the Swedish language lyrics of Finntroll.) A friend commented that this was possibly the best set he had heard Ensiferum play on their numerous stops in Edmonton. Long time fans of the band were delighted to hear Token of Time, from the band’s self titled debut album. From Afar, Deathbringer From the Sky and Ahti were favorites with the audience, with many shouting out the words along with vocalist Petri Lindroos. Victory Song was another huge hit with the crowd, as well as the final tune, Iron. The beer was flowing and the crowd was rowdy and excited throughout the twelve song set. In the final minutes of the set, guitarist Markus Toivonen impressed the crowd by playing a solo behind his back. Ensiferum, with their trademark kilts and black war paint, were solid and crowd pleasing.

            As Finntroll took the stage, many people seemed content to sit back, drink a beer and watch the show. After using the song Blodmarsch as the introduction, Finntroll burst into a thundering rendition of Solsagen. Throughout the set, a handful of fans were screaming for Ett Norrskensdåd and Eliytres and left satisfied as both songs were included in the set. Although Finntroll’s drummer was apparently quite ill and other band members were recovering from being sick, one never would have guessed from the energetic set. Vocalist Mathias ‘Vreth’ Lillmåns demonstrated an impressive lung capacity, screaming and growling throughout the set. Although Finntroll are known for occasionally drinking too much before going on stage, it didn’t happen in Edmonton. Vreth didn’t hesitate to get down and scream right into the faces of those in the front row,  and touring keyboardist Aleksi Virta could be seen grinning throughout the show, which seemed a little uncharacteristic for a band with darker music, but it suggested that he was enjoying the show as much as the fans. As the end of the set approached, Lillmåns announced that there would be no encore due to the drummer being ill, but the ensuing antics of Maktens Spira made up for it. Drunken members of Rotten Sound ran out on stage, complete with oversized, glittery top hats, huge novelty sunglasses, and various funny masks; joining in on some of the vocals and making their own party on stage. Members of the other bands apparently found it as hilarious as I did, as Petri Lindroos could be seen laughing and snapping pictures from the side of the stage. Members of Turisas were apparently in the crowd as well, having played earlier in the night in Edmonton. Finntroll, and every other band on this tour, certainly didn’t disappoint and my only regret is that I was only able to catch one show. Overall, the show was excellent.

Ripper//Cutter and others - Concert Review

Ripper Cutter
Point Break
Hominid
Suicidal Cop
Dysplasia
Avonmore Hall Saturday January 29, 2011
Writer: Gabby Riches

As I jammed my pockets full of cheap beer, an emergency flask full of whisky and enough money for a cab ride, my eagerness for local crusty grind quickly increased. For adults, all age’s hall concerts means brainstorming various strategies for smuggling in beer (the backpack seems to be popular) and failing to see most of the bands due to cases of immediate urination, social dealings, beer chugs, and car hopping. Tonight is Ripper Cutter’s last show, or so they claim, and the guitarist has been drinking all afternoon. The line-up looks top notch despite the fact that the opening act (Dysplasia) is lacking a bassist due to a short notice resigning.

As a three piece, Dysplasia’s energy and audience interaction increased with each song. The hall was quickly becoming saturated with leather, patch jackets, chains, tight pants, combat boots, and it was still early; I was only down 2 beers. Despite my developing buzz, I became irritated by the inaudible guitar, the temporary fragmented rhythms and the skinny, gangly punks that obscured my view. By the end of Dysplasia’s set everyone was up close and personal with the band by wedging themselves between the monitors, the drum kit and other perspiring youth, making it difficult to vacate the vicinity. I kept thinking to myself “Why do I still have my jacket on?!

From the downstairs bathroom, the sounds of harmonious melodies, catchy rhythms and heavy thumping permeated the community hall. Making my way upstairs, I went to the only merchandise table and bought three 7 inch EPs for a mere fifteen bucks. I decided to slip out into the frigid night for a quick sip of ale when I spotted some friends taking refuge in a car. Both the car and the company were comfortably warm. Due to subsequent in-depth discussions about hockey team updates, upcoming shows, politics, dead end jobs, and music, I missed both Suicidal Cop and Hominid. The regret consumes me to this day.

When Point Break, a raw punk band from Calgary took the floor, it was apparent the level of talent and intensity of the acts were increasing as the night progressed. By the time Ripper Cutter was ready to start, the crowd was properly primed. There was a palatable energy in the air, mingling with the smell of sweat and second hand smoke stained jackets. Blast beats erupted from the drums and there was a blast of ear piercing feedback. Ripper Cutter were surrounded by seventy enthusiastic fans all trying to balance the crowd’s ebb and flow. The tattooed singer quickly became lost in the sea of bodies and throughout the set he was constantly getting the microphone chord entangled around his ankles. Normally a moshpit doesn’t emerge until the middle of the set, but the pit formed immediately upon the first song. For every band that played that night, a certain percentage of attendees were outside, but for Ripper Cutter the majority of patrons were present. Due to the increased audience interaction and excitement, the moshpit had fewer brief skirmishes and more sustained momentum throughout the set. As I peered at the audience, I noticed the crowd was an amalgamation of metalheads, punks and crust kids, and it appeared to be multigenerational bunch as well. At the end of the night the band and audience alike were winded and the aggressive desires were both satiated. The ritual of the all-ages hall show had completed its full cycle and steamed billowed out of the front doors as the audience poured out into the freezing night.

Extreme Art Gallery

Currently HMoC is working on the Extreme Art Gallery, which will be featuring various local artists who are involved in the metal community. The gallery was intended to be held on December 18th of 2010, but due to the constrictions of holidays and the lack of advertising we had to push the event back location and date TBA. Fortunately this will allow us to organize media coverage for the event, as well as organize bands for the night of the final showing. Below are some examples of some the artist's work.

The Butcherer

by Kib Sreng

vii

by Roxana Xenia Dushkevich

 Artwork for Adversarial's Full Length

by Danille Gauvin

And many more!