Boston’s PanzerBastard have been pummeling the east coast underground with their relentless aural onslaught since 2006. Their music could be described as somewhat of a more unique hybrid of thrash and crust than what most listeners are probably used to. I say somewhat because while their approach is unique, their sound is also very old school. As straight forward and blasting as their stuff is PanzerBastard contain a firmly nestled experimental center. Their willingness to experiment with weird crap like good production and catchy hooks doesn’t slow them down either. Having successfully toured the UK with crust punk legends Hellbastard (I want to shake the hand of whoever’s idea that was) PanzerBastard have shown to the world that they’re a force to be reckoned with. Their abrasive sound and attitude finds an audience with the punks as much as with the metal heads and thats no coincidence. Like Motorhead, these guys bring the rock n roll.
I talked with lead vocalist, bassist and band leader KPanzer about the bastard’s sound, influences, and goals. Hold on to your butts.
Wes: What does the name mean and how did you guys come up with it?
KPanzer: The name has absolutely no significance other than sounding metal as fuck and having a wonderful effect of upsetting tight-assed PC assholes who deserve to get their feathers ruffled. For all the clowns who think we are stormtroopers of the fourth reich here’s the scoop – I was sitting around trying to come up with a name for our new band and nothing was coming up that was worth a damn. I was writing down everything that came to mind, good, bad or otherwise. I was getting frustrated and took a break to clear my head and threw my YOUNG ONES dvd on. Vyvyan has a cut off denim vest with ‘Very Metal’ written in studs on the back. I thought to myself ‘what’s very metal? Well, Iron Maiden of course. Hmm, whats a cool two word name? What’s the most metal words I can come up with? Panzer?……..not bad, not bad…. Bastard!!! HAHAHAHA fucking ridiculous! No way….. Wait a minute…… So I wrote PANZERBASTARD in the MOTORHEAD lettering and let it sink in for a few. Then I called the rest of the guys and threw it out there. Every single one of em had the same reaction. ‘That’s ridiculous!…… actually that’s not bad.’
And the rest is infamy.
Wes: You seamlessly blend elements of hardcore, thrash and even black metal into your sound, How did you guys first decide to play like that? Did it all come naturally or was it a conscious effort to infuse all your influences into one thing?
KPanzer: The only concrete decision we had at the start was to not be bored. We all were feeling a void in our lives music-wise and all we wanted to do was to be the band we wanted to always be in. The blending of different styles is a natural extension of us as people. We honestly just do what makes us happy and try to do it to the best of our abilities. And pretend we’re Motorhead of course!
Wes: Every great band has a theme song – Sabbath, Vitus, etc. your track “PanzerBastard” is also pretty radical! How did this track come about?
KPanzer: Aha! You’ve been listening to my stage banter haven’t you, you cheeky fucker?!
But seriously folks…. “PanzerBastard” was the first song we wrote as a band and it came out of nowhere and pretty much defined us as band. Musically, lyrically and attitude wise.
We haven’t played it in a while and I promise it will be back in the set by the time you lot are reading this. I fucking love that little ditty.
Wes: At the end of your now out of print 2006-2009 collection you did a sweet cover of “Ace of Spades” and your follow up EP, 2011’s Centurion seems to be wholly dedicated to Celtic Frost. With two sick covers and a brilliant outro that would make Mr. Warrior proud. Why Frost of all bands? Besides the obvious musical lineage, what is the personal significance?
KPanzer: The Celtic Frost/Hellhammer influence both individually and for the band itself is immeasurable. As I would hope it is with any real headbanger. Both bands combined the cerebral with the primordial in a way that has never been equaled.
In hindsight putting out a four song EP with two Celtic Frost covers might not have been the most brilliant idea but we meant well. It wasn’t a concrete plan, we just went with what was recorded at the time. I am actually very proud of our versions and especially of the fact that we did “I Won’t Dance”. I got a chance to try my hand at some ‘clean’ vocals and snuck in a Lemmy-esque little bass solo at the end, yay me!
Wes: Do you have any not so obvious influences, like non-rock or even non-musical?
KPanzer: Non-obvious? I don’t think that word applies to us in any way, shape or form! HAHAHAHAHA! With us it’s what you see is what you get. Outside of our very obvious musical influences we are absolutely influenced by the chaos that seems to surround us constantly in our personal lives. You might love us, you might hate us but you can’t say we don’t live what we write about. We are booze, drugs, violence, puke, piss and blood.
Wes: What are the ultimate goals for the band?
KPanzer: Ultimate goals? Not dying! Other than that, we just want to be able to to deafen people all over the world for as long as we possibly can. I am lucky to have found three blood brothers, form a killer rock n roll band and have met some amazing people so far. More of the same if you please, and when I die I will have no regrets.
BASTARDS DIE HARD!
2012 is the year of the Bastard so go back and check out PanzerBastard‘s current releases and look for their blistering God’s, Thugs & Madmen EP available now as a 10″ or digital download and their upcoming split 7″ with Hellbastard due out in May from PATAC Records.
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