Active Rebellion have released yet another classic album this year. And I was lucky enough to see the band in question Agnosy in London last year and was just completely taken a back at just how good they are. Now I could throw in descriptions like squatter crust punk or something along those lines. But they aren’t just bashing it out there’s a lot more going on here. Relatively a new band having only formed in 2010. They are old hands at this game now with members being in lots of other great bands in the past like Beginning Of The End, Give Up All Hope, Doom and 10 million other bands you might own records by. The interview was done by Chris (bass), Alex (vocal) and Rob (guitar).
1. Was Agnosy more of a transition from “Beginning of the End” or did you start before ‘Beginning of the End’ broke up? Is it a help to have been involved in so many previous bands to get gigs or is it a hindrance for constant comparisons?
Rob: Yes, you could say Agnosy was sort of a transition from BOTE. Basically after we broke up me Chris and Mark started jamming straight away. We did couple of songs and then we asked our friend Alex( bass player in Discarded) to have a go on vocals. After few more practices it was clear he was the one ;). With a few more songs done we started playing gigs in august 2010. That’s it really.
Being involved in bands for years definitely helped us to get this band going so quickly. Especially that 3 of us were doing bote. I guess it helps with gigs too. We’ve met and friended loads of good people over the years who put on gigs and they seem to remember us.
As for comprising i think it’s a natural thing and you can’t avoid it. I don’t have a problem with that. I do it myself as well :).
2. How long have you been together and what have the band done in regards to recording and touring? Any releases planned?
Rob: It’s been about 1.5 year since we started. During this time we’ve managed to play a lot of local London gigs. About a year a go we were lucky to jump on a short tour in England with Rudosa Immudicia from Vienna ( btw cheers to Badger for sorting that out). Also this summer we hooked up with Cry Havoc from Sheffield and did really nice and entertaining tour in mainly northern Europe( again thanks to cry havoc lads for putting it together).
As for the releases not long a go we received our debut LP from pressing plant. It’s called “Past the Point of No Return” and it’s coo-released with Active Rebellion here in UK and Scream Records in Poland. Check it out, hope people will like it.
3. Your music isn’t typical crusty/metal punk. There’s a lot of atmospheric parts in there. Is it hard not to go down a cliched route? What sort of stuff have you been influenced by? And what are you writing about lyrically?
Rob: I guess we’re just trying to do it our way a bit. Everyone of us are influenced by different stuff and what comes out is kind of sum of it.
Alex: Pretty much the sort of thing that you would expect from this type of music pink ponies and fairy tale stories etc… oh and war and armageddon, death and destruction and so on!
4. Now the big question. Do you think diy punk culture is a way of changing the world? Or a way of dropping out of societies norms?
Chris: Well most people think that punk died out with the sex pistols. They have no idea about DIY punk. We don’t have a chance to change the world there are just not enough of us. We can change our own lives and try to help to make our world stronger. It seems though that every day our rights are being eroded and society is becoming more brutal. It’s good to see support for the punks in Indonesia after the religious fascists in Aceh tried to change them into normal people. For me this is the best thing about DIY punk.
Alex: I’m not sure about changing “THE WORLD” but it has certainly changed my world.
5. London seems to have a huge d.i.y scene is there still a strong squatting scene there? Is it harder these days do you think?
Chris: It’s getting harder and no one knows what will happen this year when they criminalise squatting. They rushed it through hidden away in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill. They do illegally evict people now anyway, if the police are kicking down your door what can you do? But soon they will have the green light to do what they want. Bastards.
6. Anything else you’d like to add? Future ‘Agnosy’ plans?
Alex: Complete and utter world domination…..and getting some gnosy stickers printed!
Chris: Thanks very much for the interview and sorry for taking so long. We have the DIY festival in Gdansk lined up for summer so we will play in a few gigs/shows on the way there and back. Hopefully we’ll make it to the states in the autumn.
Agnosy at The Dew Drop Squat Pub, London
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