Dutch Metal Scene - Terzij de Horde

So far, I've been focusing on the Noord-Brabant Hardcore scene, but I thought I'd look at other bands from the Netherlands in general, as there's no shortage of quality bands out there.

Terzij de Horde are a black metal band from Utrecht, who play abrasive hardcore/black metal in the vein of Wolves in the Throne Room. They have toured around Europe, including the UK and Germany and have graced stages alongside the likes on Annal Nathrakh and Altar of Plagues.

The band currently have released two CD's. A demo titled - Exposed Barren and Windswept and an EP titled - A Rage of Rapture Against the Dying of the Light.You can buy their EP from their Big Cartel page - terzijdehorde.bigcartel.com, or you can e-mail the band at terzijdehorde@gmail.com.

The band have a myspace page - http://www.myspace.com/terzijdehorde and they are on Last FM, where they have a song available for free download, which is called - Non Timetis Messor.

I was lucky enough to ask Bass player - Johan a couple of questions about the band. Here's what he had to say:-

What has been like for you as a band playing live and in some of the places you've played?

Since most us come from the hardcore scene, playing live is what it's all about. The passion, the frenzy, the rage, it all falls into place when the songs are performed. We tend to have very intense live shows, where we try to convey all the emotions in the songs onto the audience.

So far, the reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. In the beginning, we played lots of hardcore and screamo shows, since that's where we came from, and they were great, but we really wanted to play more metal shows, people at those previous shows couldn't really fit us in.

This summer, we started playing more and more metal shows, did an amazing tour of the UK and Ireland, ended up in Germany a couple of times and started playing bigger venues with bands like Altar of Plagues, Year Of No Light, Anaal Nathrakh and Liturgy . So far, this path we've taken leads to bigger heights still. Amazing.

What does the future for hold for Terzij de Horde?

At this point, we're writing songs for a full-length, probably to be released next year's summer. We'd like to find a label for that, but the EP was done completely DIY and that worked out really well, so we'll see. Furthermore, we'll be touring Europe during summer, and perhaps even beyond.  That's the near future, as for the far future, it's all about making our time count. Meeting new people, playing new places, sharing our music with those who are willing to open themselves up for it.   

Jim.

 

Scene Heads-up - As Darkness Surrounds

As Darkness Surrounds are a metalcore band from Doncaster. They are a relatively new band and have three tracks posted on their myspace page for you to enjoy.

They have a show coming up,at The Priory in Doncaster on the 26th of November, so if your in that neck of the woods, go check em out.

Jim.

Interview - Pim (Vocalist, Said and Done)

Here is my interview with Pim, vocalist with Dutch hardcore band - Said and Done. It was really insightful to here from Pim and what he had to say about the Dutch scene.

How have you found playing in the UK? How does it compare to playing in mainland Europe?

We always love to play the UK. We've been there a couple of times now since 2007. First time we played the PLS MSH fest in Brighton, organised by the one and only Rob Boyce. He also introduced Guitar Hero and Anchorman to us. Something we're still grateful for haha. I think so far we went over there every year? Twice this year though. We played Le Pub in Newport (Wales) a couple of times, hooking up with Alex B. Alex and Caroline in Nottingham were always good to us. And then there's the boys from Carry The Weight / Never Again, who we did a weekend with in May. Great lads. They also released our "Weight Of The World" 7" and invited us to play Carry The Weight Fest two weeks ago. Which was a blast.

As for comparing the two? They're pretty much the same in a lot of ways. One difference is that in the Netherlands you more regularly get drinks and food at the shows you're playing. But it's probably because a lot of the promoters in the Netherlands don't have to pay for the venue etc while you guys in the UK have to come up with the cash yourselves. And it seems that shows getting cancelled / bands pulling out on a show happens more regularly in the UK in comparison with the Netherlands. I have no idea why that is though. That's all I can think of right now.

I've been doing a lot of research into bands from your scene recently. Where do you see the scene going in the future?

I think it will remain pretty much the same in the long run. We always had lots of cool bands from this area of the Netherlands. Pretty diverse bands too. At the moment it seems a bit less active though, less people coming to shows. But I think that's something that's happening in hardcore in general at the moment. For certain in all parts of the Netherlands. It's all going in waves. It always has, as far as I know. One of these days a (couple of) band(s) will stand up and will get more people excited again. Remember the Dead Stop / Justice / Restless Youth period? But yeah, I think it will just go on like it's now for some time. Bandwise we have a pretty strong scene and I don't think that will change anytime soon. Let's just hope more new kids will discover hardcore. More new blood would be welcome.

What was it like for Said and Done when you were starting out?

Exciting times! Said And Done was the follow-up to a band (with the same people) we were doing before, but the sound had changed, we changed and we wanted a fresh start. Enter Said And Done. I think within the first year or something with Said And Done we made our first trip through Europe, released a record on vinyl and played with some great bands we listened to a lot ourselves (Cro Mags for instance). So yeah that was a nice rollercoaster ride to say the least. Everything was new to us and it felt great. It totally showed how cool the hardcore scene can be. It's a small world and if you really want something, it can be achieved.

The scene seems to be a lot more DIY than say, the US scene, do you think that has helped to build the community spirit within the scene and across mainland Europe?

I've never been to the US and witnessed its scene so I can't really comment on that. I have no idea how it's over there exactly, you only know what you read on the internet etc. I can say that DIY is very important to me / us. It's the thing that, aside from the energy, attracted me to hardcore in the first place. With Said And Done I take care of the website, do the designs for our records (aside from the drawings that are done by proper artists, I can't draw myself), help the labels with promoting / releasing the stuff, we always have booked tours ourselves and never worked with tourmanagers or anything etc. etc. Being in control is important. You know how you want things to be, so why don't take care of it yourself too? You make a valid point though. While DIY is mostly about doing things yourself (uhuh), you need the help of others too. They have to let you play, offer you a place to sleep, they make that drawing for your record etc. You can't do this alone. So you're probably right and it did help to build a community. I never looked at it like that.

How have you seen your scene change as you guys have progressed?

Like I said, it goes in waves. When we started more people were into it I think. Or atleast it felt like that. That's one. Things were more about metalcore in the beginning, which was the first hardcore I got in touch with. But soon the whole oldschool explosion took over the scene. It seems that it's getting to be more about mosh / metalcore these days again. We'll see. There's plenty of stuff for everyone, whatever stuff you're into. Things got pretty diverse in time. For example, World Collapse combining stuff like Depeche Mode and the Cro Mags. Loved it. I guess that's good. No barriers. Just do whatever the fuck you want, if it feels right and you mean it, do it.

What are your plans for the coming year and beyond?

We're writing a new record. Should be out somewhere next year. No idea when yet, or who is going to release it. Early next year we're playing some shows with Supertouch in Germany. In March / April we're doing a tour in Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. After that it's all open. We love to go places we haven't been before. So if anybody reading this wants us to come over, get in touch!

Scene Heads-up - With One Last Breath

With One Last Breath are a metal band from York. They formed in 2008 and have shared stages with many bands, including Asking Alexandria and Edguy.

They released a self titled EP earlier this year. You can get details of it from their myspace page. Unfortunately they don't have any songs posted on their page at the moment, but they do have videos you can watch.

Jim.

Scene Heads-up - While She Sleeps

While She Sleeps are a awesome metal/hardcore band from Sheffield.

They are about to embark on 3 UK shows with Rinao and a European tour with Shadows Chasing ghosts, which you can find out about on their myspace page.

The band have a record out called -  The North Stands for Nothing, which you can pick up from HMV, Play.co and their bigcartel store.

Check this band out and show them your support.

Jim.

Scene Heads-up - Fuck with Fire

This band is a local band from my town, Harrogate.

Fuck with Fire are a melodic hardcore band, who have a number of releases to their name, which are available through Dead end records.

They are a band that like to enjoy themselves and make sure their audiences are having a laugh as well.

Check em out!

Jim.

Scene Flashback - Cutting Class (2008 - 2010)

This is second band that I have done a flashback on. I'm doing flashbacks because I don't just want to focus on active bands, but all bands who have helped shape the Yorkshire scene.

Cutting Class were an awesome hardcore band from Leeds, in the vein of American bands like The Loved Ones.

The band have their entire recorded output available for free download via Mediafire. The link is on their myspace page.

Check them out, cause they are still relevant even if they aren't active!

Jim.

Scene Heads-Up - A Day for Heroes

A day for heroes are a young band from Leeds.

Their music is a bit more melodic than some stuff you'll find on this blog, but that's not a bad thing, especially when one of their influences is Funeral for a Friend.

The guys are trying to get votes to help them get to an event called - Eurodemo in Santander, Spain on the 2nd of December this year. So go to their myspace page, listen to their tracks and vote for them!

Cheers.

Jim.

Noord-Brabant Hardcore Scene - Cracks In the Wall

Ok, so this is my last post about bands from the Noord-Brabant hardcore scene for now.

Again, Cracks in the Wall are another new band to me, but again another gem of a find. They play old-school hardcore, very much in a similar style to Negative Approach.

They are signed to Crucial Attack records and have some releases available, including a self titled 7"'.

They also have shows lined up the Netherlands and Belgium. So if you're in that part of the world, go check em out. You won't be disappointed!

Jim.

Scene Heads-Up - We'll Die Smiling

We'll Die Smiling are an awesome hardcore band from the Leeds/Bradford area of Yorkshire.

They currently have a record out called Avant Garde out now (on Holy Roar records), which quite aptly describes their particular brand of hardcore. Holy Roar records was previously home to other homegrown bands like Gallows and Rolo Tomassi, so you know they're gonna be a bit special!

They're currently looking for shows.

Check them out and pick up a copy of their record!

Jim.

Noord-Brabant Hardcore scene - Laatste Halte

The next band I'm featuring in my look at the Noord-Brabant hardcore scene are - Laatste Halte. Again, I have only just come across this band but I am impressed with them.

The band share two members with another Noord-Brabant band - Malfunction, who you can also read about in this blog.

They have a couple of releases out that you can find out about on their Myspace page and they also have tour dates coming up in Holland and Germany and are looking for more shows.

Much like a lot of the bands in their scene, they are typically DIY!

Check them out and show them your support.

Jim.

Scene Heads-up - Goatspeed

Goatspeed are an awesome metal band from Leeds.

They have shows coming up that you can see by visiting their Myspace page and should have a 7" record out soon.

Go check em out and show them your support.

Jim

Check these out - Zines/Blogs

First of all - http://xroldx.blogspot.com/ - a blog by Rold from State of Affairs.

Also, www.somewillneverknow.org - a zine by Said and Done vocalist Pim.

Jim.











 

Noord-Brabant Hardcore scene - State of Affairs

The next band I'm focusing on in my look at the Noord-Brabant hardcore scene in the Netherlands, is State of Affairs. These guys are a youthcrew, hardcore band that play oldschool hardcore influenced by bands like Youth of today.

They are one of the only youthcrew bands currently active in the Netherlands, however if you know of any more, let me know.

They currently have merch for sale, so you can pick a copy of their demo.

These guys are definitely worth a listen if you're positive hardcore.

Cheers.

Jim.

Interview - Toon from Malfunction

Earlier today I interviewed Toon, guitarist in Brabant Hardcore band Malfunction, as part of my look into the scene over there. Here's what he had to say.

So, you've been part of the Brabant Scene for 11 years now, how have you seen it change?

 

Yeah it changed a lot over the years.

When i was starting to go shows you had this so called 'eurocore scene'.

That was a big thing during half the nineties till i would say 2002. 

At that time bands were heavy influenced by NYHC bands.

Raw vocals, a heavy guitar sound and simple old school riffs.   

Bands like Backfire!, Discipline (early days), Tech-9, No Turning Back, Violation of Trust and Right Direction

were huge during these days. Some of these bands are still going strong, especially NTB.

I was a big fan of these bands.

It was a great time to be an teenager in that period. 

A lot of fun and a lot of beers haha.

No one was talking about the right clothes, the right caps and the right sneakers.

It's was an open scene. These bands were also playing with rock'n'roll, metal and psychobilly bands.

Nobody didn't care. During that time were Eindhoven (Noord Brabant) and Maastricht (Limburg) the

hardcore capitals. You had the 'European Hardcore Party's in both cities, lots of venues and the legendary

Dynamo Open Air festival in Eindhoven. 

Nowadays Maastricht is more dead than alive but Eindhoven is still good for considering loud music

and Tilburg (Noord-Brabant) too.

 

Nowadays the scene is more divited.

Most of the time you see shows with one type of hardcore

Only metalcore bands, only hardcore thrash bands, only nyhc bands etc.

At the other hand you see more diversity considering hardcorepunk music and that's a good thing.

Kids like to experiment more and create their own sound.

'This Routine is Hell' from Utrecht is a good example.

Great band with their own sound.

 

...You also see that quiet some young kids are starting to go to shows.

But you know, with these big (hardcore) bands on MTV and all these dresscodes it could also be a fase in their life.

Hopefully these kids start picking up instruments too and putting up some shows too in the future.

Sometimes you see only people on shows who are 25+ haha.

I hope kids would stay and put some new energy in the scene.

But i'm quit positive about the Brabant scene, there are a lot's of shows, cool bands and cool labels.

For example  http://www.shieldrecordings.com

It's also good that younger kids support local bands more and more.

They are not only go to a show when a big US band like Madball is on the bill.

There still young kids who have heart for hardcore.

I've been doing some research about the scene and have found out about bands like Cracks in the walls, State of affairs and of course Malfunction. Is the scene growing and what other bands should people look out for?

There are quiet some good bands from Noord-Brabant. But as i earlier mention, a lot of these people, also in the bands are around for quit some years. It's growing a little but still the older people are most active. 

People definly should check out: Said & Done (crossover/hardcore), Human Demise (clevo hardcore), The Butcher (fast 80's), Milkman (fast 80's), On Fire (melodic hardcore), Righteous Kill (punk), Enemy Ground (beatdown), Screw Houston Start Screaming (new school), Noyalty (new school), Laatste Halte (screamo)

Check also the Blog from Rold, the singer of State of Affairs: http://xroldx.blogspot.com/

Do people give bands a lot of support in your scene, because it seems to me like mainland Europe has more of a community than here in the UK?

...Holland is a small country so you can better talk about the Dutch hardcore scene than the Brabant hardcore scene

because it's easy to play all across the country.

It's also easy to go Belgium or Germany to you know.

Especially Belgium has a good climate for playing shows.

There are a lot of youth-centres who are doing shows.

But yeah, bands support each other and you never play in and empty venue in Holland.

There are always kids who want to check out some cool loud bands.

 

PS: Other bands from Holland and not especially Noord-Brabant who are worth to check out are:

No Turning Back (nyhc), New Morality (nyhc), Cornered (nyhc), This Routine is Hell (hardcorepunk),

The Real Danger (punkrock), All For Nothing (nyhc), Antillectual (punkrock)

 

Do Malfunction have anything in the pipeline regarding recordings or gigs?
Our demo'10 is out now. We recorded it our selves because it's pretty expensive to hire a studio and

it's cool to do it by yourself. We are a typical DIY band. We like the raw old school sound so we are

pretty happy with our demo. It's not a clean, modern record, just a straight forward record.

 

....About gigs: It's pretty hard to get shows. We're a new band and we have are own sound.

I think a lot of people have to get used to us.

It's also about having the right connections because most of venues put up shows with the bands that are

around for a long time. But we keep emailing to people haha.

And if we don't have a show we put one up ourselves.

Last month we played two great matinees but our next show is in March so we defently looking for more shows.

Would Malfunction be coming to the UK to play any shows in the future?

That would be great! I think everbody in the band would love to do that!

If you have connections and people who want to help us out that would be awesome!

Our singer and other guitarplayer are also in the band Laatste Halte so it's easy to bring them too cuz it's

them with another drummer haha.

I know Frankie from Cracks in Wall and they have toured a couple of times outside Holland so maybe we can

bring them for the experience. And maybe it's a good idea to bring the straight-edge kids from State Of Affairs for

driving the bus because we like to have a good drink you know, hehe :-)

Allright...let's see what the future will bring, never say never.

Noord-Brabant Hardcore Scene - Malfunction

As carry on my look into the Noord-Brabant hardcore scene, I thought I'd share this band with you. Malfunction play old-school hardcore in the vein of bands like Black flag and Youth of Today.

They have a show coming up in March 2011 which you can find out about on their Myspace page.

Look em up and show them your support.

Jim.

Scene Heads-up - DEBTS

These guys are crushing!

DEBTS are from Barnsley. They play hardcore with a hefty doom influence.

These guys have posted their demo up for you to download through their Myspace site and are also looking for shows.

They're definately one for the future!

Jim.

Scene Flashback - Raw Deal

Raw Deal are a band I came across recently.They were a hardcore band from Grimsby, kinda in the same vein as Integrity and Strife.

Sadly they are no longer together, but some members have formed a band called - Hanging over. They are just about to start recording, so keep your ears to the ground for some fresh tunes!

Jim.

Audience participation!

My blog has been going for a few weeks now and I want to hear from people/bands who have been reading and checking it out.

If you want to comment on any of my posts, suggest bands I can check out, or just let me know what you think, please click on a comments link at the bottom of a post or e-mail me at stayaheadblog@yahoo.co.uk.

Cheers.

Jim.

Scene Heads-Up - Burn Alaska

 Burn Alaska are an awesome hardcore band from Leeds. They currently have their EP available for free download on their myspace site and have just been on a tour of europe with Empty handed (Germany).

Check them out and give them your support.