From #1: ALL PIGS MUST DIE

So I like good shirt designs. I love shirts. I can wear a new shirt right from my closet every day for 2 months straight… A shirt for me is what shoes are for a woman… And so I’m a regular visitor for the Shirts And Destroy webhome. And one day they showed this new shirt of a band I had never heard of. It showed a wolf holding a necklace with symbols attached… you could tell immediately that it was a Florian Bertmer design. The band name said APMD, All Pigs Must Die. I went looking for the record, searched their myspace and listened. Over and over again. And I gotta tell you, this is some brutal shit! With members of Converge, The Hope Con and Bloodhorse you know they’ll deliver… I urge you to check out their stuff asap, in the meantime read what Kevin had to say about this project…

-So that name... did you get it from the "Death In June" album? Tell us all we need to know... 

*Yes, it came from that. It is a very powerful statement that embodies many ideas and sentiments. Now you should ask Douglas P. where he got it from and why.

-Well if I’m not mistaken Douglas referred to the cops when he used the term Pigs. And he’s basically shouting his disgust about the “police state” item… Was that what you were aiming at as well? Would you say you’re a band with political ideas?

*Our use of the term Pigs simply means individuals that are corrupted by absolute power. It is way broader then just a cop. It could mean many things from a cop to the Pope and everything in between. It could even mean you or me. We are not a band with political ideas. Politics and religion are inventions by the pigs to control the masses. This band is more interested in exploring and observing brutality through our music.

-You guys come from some of the hardest bands around (the Hope Con, Converge, Bloodhorse), how did you guys get together?

*We are all very good friends that have played some form of music together in other bands over the years*. The time just seemed right to do this project now.

-You released a 5 song 12" without playing a single show... Is it easier with your backgrounds to start this band?

*I guess that all depends on what you mean. We started this band with no intention of ever playing out. Our main focus was writing the heaviest songs we could and record them for our own satisfaction. We didn't feel we had to prove anything to anyone live or otherwise to get some stamp of approval from people that don't matter. The way we see it we'll just do what we want, when we want and how we want. No schedule, no contract, no pressure. Since we were paying for it we don't have to worry about anyone telling us what we can and cant do. As long as we are satisfied with the result than that's all that matters to us. Anybody else that picks up on it from there is certainly an added bonus.

-How did the recording of the 12" come around? You worked with Kurt Ballou @ GodCity, does he really make the difference?

*Yes, Kurt is the best out there for what we want to do in the studio. He has a proven resume spanning well over a decade. He is also a great friend and a neighbour so there is no travelling to get there. We live 2 blocks away from each other.

-Your 12" is the first release on the NonBeliever (Shirts & Destroy imprint) label. Can we say this is a friendship-based co-op? The sleeve is designed by Florian, Kevin prints for Liberated Images (who prints everything for Shirts & Destroy), Ben is band mate with Kurt who recorded... Seems like a real Boston project to me? Tell us the story of the 12"...

*NonBeliever and Shirts & Destroy is indeed a partnership of like minded individuals. None of us had ever released a record before and we wanted to give it a try so this came at the perfect time. Thanks to a stockpile of great riffs stored away by Matt Woods the songs were written and the money was there to see the project through from start to finish. We even have our friends at Deathwish helping with distribution which has been a big help getting the record out there to people. Florian is not from Boston but he is part of the collective. A mind like that can only come from Germany.

-So how did that work with the German mind? Did you ask him to draw something based solely on the song “Hungry Wolf, Easy Prey”? Or did he just take a walk with the info you gave him?

*Because I wanted the EP to be a gate fold I had a very specific idea of 2 wolf heads joined in the middle by the neck. It was based on the song "Hungry Wolf, Easy Prey". The image had to be stark, cold and powerful. It took a while to get the point across but after some shitty sketches and rough mock-ups back and forth the idea took shape. From there Florian ran with it and nailed it perfectly in my opinion. We are very happy with the way the whole thing looks. 

-What’s with the symbol necklace?

Well everyone should know what a cross and crescent each represents. Christian faith for the cross and Muslim / Islamic faith for the crescent moon. The two largest religions in the world! Two opposing forces and ideals that are at war while rational, intelligent, open minded people are caught in the middle. The life rune "Algiz" on the wolf's head is an ancient Nordic and Anglo-Saxon runic symbol that has existed for thousands of years. It was used as a letter or sound but also represents honor, nobility, or protection. The Nazis adopted it much like other ancient pagan symbols and this creates a bit of a stigma and misconception but the true meaning should not be lost because of that. We are not a fascist band in any way shape or form.

-Let’s talk lyrics, shall we? After reading them again and again I can’t help but have the feeling that your answer on the second question roots pretty deep in you? So from “Hungry Wolf Easy Prey” comes this line: “ugly world, smash upon sleeping heads // praise your gods, hell is what is left // strangle what you hold, so dearly in your heart // cursed seed fuelling me, chaos is the law”. Also the lyrics for “Die Ignorant”… It seems like you don’t feel a lot for religion, am I right? Explain.

Religion is an invention of man. In ancient times it was something that created answers when there weren't any. It is the source of war, pain, torment, ignorance, oppression, repression, false hope and guilt. It has crippled mankind in a way that can never be repaired. Man has written the script for his own end and now the fanatics will see it through. We live in a world where dangerous people are financed, armed and very willing to kill and die for their beliefs no matter how ludicrous they may be.

-“Sermon for the End” has a very apocalyptic feel to it. Do you have the feeling like we’re destroying everything and everyone? Still you’re having peace with it “as it is, so be it”… Tell us.

That song is based on a process church hymn. It is the acceptance of the way things were, the way things are now and where they are headed. You cannot live your life in fear. You cannot stress out about things you have no control over. All you can do is live your life in accordance to what you believe and have faith in yourself even if everything is fucked. Create art, make music, love your friends and live life to the fullest till its over.

-“Noxchi Assault” and “Death In My Wake” have the same feeling of mass destruction all over them. What moves you to write these lyrics. When do you write?

That is the feeling of the music and the lyrics should reflect that viciousness. It is a focus on the dark side of things within the world and within man. This isn't music for a self help seminar on friendship, goals and abstinence nor is it some bullshit political soap box outlet. If someone wants that they should steer clear of this. World events and the headlines in the paper are what move me to write the lyrics. You can go to the BBC online and find a treasure trove of great things to write about every day. I write when there is new music to write for. I do not write unless there is music. Its just not in me.

-Enough lyric stuff. There are a couple of shows planned with Trap Them. Can we say APMD isn’t a project anymore but a full time band? Can we thus expect more releases?

*We are and will always be a project. Our main priority is to write and record as often as possible. If some chances to play out with some good bands come up from time to time we will do it, but it is not a priority. As of right now we are finishing up work on an LP. It will be called "God Is War". We start recording at Godcity December 15th.

-So we mentioned it at the beginning, you’re all busy with well known projects… Can you tell us a little more about your work at Liberated?

*Liberated Images is a full time job for me. It is how I earn a living. I manage the day to day operations there which includes everything from payroll to production. We have a small group of guys that work there and they do an amazing job.

-Well I can hear that it’s your job, period. But to a lot of people it’s the company that delivers the raddest screenpints out there… Do you feel you’re different that other screenprint company’s? And how does it feel to print those awesome designs from other people? I’m thinking about the screenprints and shirts for Florian, the Justin Bartlett, Seldon Hunt, Thomas Hooper, etc… Shirtdesigns. Who are your favourite designers?

*We just do our thing and do it the best we can. Our main goal is nothing should be done unless it can be done right. Quality is everything when it comes to art and reproduction of it. This whole thing has been a huge learning process for everyone involved and we are still learning to this day. All of the artists and designers we work with are extremely talented and it is a huge honor to be given the opportunity to do so because none of this would be possible without their amazing vision and abilities. Each one of them is different in their approach and it is a great reflection of their individual personalities. Florian Bertmer and Thomas Hooper are my personal favorites.

-And now that we’re at it… What’s up with the Hope Con?

*As of right now nothing. I am the only one still living in the Boston area. Jonas moved to Oakland. Jim lives in Brooklyn. Neeraj and Jarred live in LA. We still keep in touch and check in with each other as often as possible. Maybe someday we can write and play again but as of now there is no plan. I think everyone is very busy with life in general.

-Allright, well I’m definitely looking forward for the full record (also on NonBeliever?) and hope for the Hope Con to re-appear someday… Any last stuff to add?

Thanks so much for the interview and thanks to everyone that bought the record. The APMD full length is finished and will be out on Nonbeliever sometime in 2011. We are planning on releasing a limited single from the record with an exclusive b-side so keep an eye out for it. Take care.

- K