RETALIATION

Retaliation was one of the bands I got really into during the part of my life where I was buying anything that was Swedish and fast (especially if it was on Putrid Filth Conspiracy / Sounds of Betrayal). ‘Violence Spreads Its Drape’ was just mind-numbing for me. Since I did this interview, the new RTLN album, ‘The Cost of Redemption’ has come out, as well as ‘The Execution’ reissued on vinyl with six unreleased tracks, and a CD compiling the 7”s and demos. Answered by Henke back in November of 2006.

1) At thirteen years, I think that now makes you the longest-running Swedish grind band (and one of the longest-running overall), and yet in that time you’ve only done 8 releases (with two more on the way). I think the obvious question to start off with then is this: What caused such a delay in releasing music? Especially since it’s now been, what, six years since your last record?

Well, if you look at our history, we’ve NEVER been a productive band. In those 13 (soon to be 14) years all our releases have been spread out with years between them. The main reason for that being that all of us in the band have had other bands and Retaliation has always been a side-project. Unfortunately, me and the others in the band have different views on just how often (or seldom) we should put out our new stuff.

2) As far as I can tell, you’ve had the same four members (Henke, Jonas, Andreas and Jocke) since 1993, and added Jon around the time of ‘Violence Spreads Its Drape’. Had you ever thought about maybe replacing someone or changing up the line-up so you’d be able to record or play more often? Or it RTLN just something that only the five of you can do?

I’ve often pondered the idea of replacing members to get things rolling, but never had the heart to do it. Even though we are of different opinions ALL the time, and only me and Andreas are original members (we started as a 2-man-band), we’re kinda like a family. Which makes it hard to just replace someone. However, it IS tempting…

3) One of the things that I think makes RTLN good is that you have just a little of the Swedish grind sound, but seem equally influenced by Swedish crust and hardcore as well. Do you think that influence is there as well? Was it something you intentionally tried to involve?

In all our years we’ve never had the intention to sound in any way at all (apart from playing fast). When me and Andreas started the band it was mostly the bands that I listened to that we wanted to sound like. Back then it was the more classic grindcore bands such as Repulsion, old Carcass, old Napalm Death and so on that influenced me. Over the years new bands came along that has an impact on me, like His Hero is Gone, From Ashes Rise etc. But the Swedish sound? I dunno. I’ve always loved Disfear’s old stuff. And I’ve listened to a lot of Swedish crust since mid-late 80’s. So why not? Someone might get confused now coz I’m talking about the band like it’s MY band. But fact is that it’s mostly me who listens to crust/grind in the band, believe it or not…

4) Based on the song titles over the past few releases you seem to have pretty socially conscious lyrics, but never print them. But, then again, there are also songs named things like ‘Ejaculated Whore’. Is there a certain focus to your lyrics? Or are they even important.

I thought it was a well-known fact that we have never EVER used any lyrics? We use our vocals as an instrument, not to deliver a message. Our song titles do that. Lyrics are so NOT important to us…we’ve never had anything of value to sing about. And as far as ‘Ejaculated Whore’…welll, it just has a “ring” to it, y’know.

5) While we’re talking about content, do you ever come across other bands whose lyrics or art or whatever are so disturbing that it makes you unable to listen to them, even if you enjoy it otherwise?

Nope, never. The music comes first, last and always. What are we? The Moral Majority? Right Wing Christians”…Get real.

6) A couple of the covers you’ve done seem like odd choices for a grind band (Skitsystem and His Hero is Gone). Was there a reason you covered those songs (other than just liking them)?

I have NO idea why we did those covers…or ANY covers. Coz we totally butcher them. SO many people have complained about
the covers we play. Actually, Retaliation shouldn’t be allowed to play any covers at all. The only good response to a cover we did
actually play was actually Skitsystem’s ‘Jag Vagrar’, and I understand why. It was the easiest one to play (did it myself actually!), hahaha…We
recorded a Dropdead song many years ago, but it was never released.

7) You may not be the best person to ask about this, but when the Polar Grinder compilation came out I was pretty disappointed not to see any RTLN tracks on it. Was there any particular reason you didn’t contribute?

Actually I AM the best person to ask about it. We were asked to record some songs for the Polar Grinder, but never really got around to it. But we try to stand out, away from the rest of the Swedish bands that followed the leader on that mission. A part of me wanted to be on that sampler, another part of me said “no”. I want Retaliation to be different. A band that doesn’t care about “fame” or recognition or a HUGE fan-base. The only reason I really regret not being on Polar Grinder is that there were some good bands on there that I really like (at least I think so…can’t really remember, but Sayyadina was on there, right? Hehehe). The only time we agreed to be on a sampler was when Mieszko asked us to be a part of ‘Grindwork’. We can’t muster the strength to record stuff for samplers or the never-ending 3-way splits or 4-way mcd’s people release with one good band (RTLN, of course) and 3 totally unknown bands…

8) Are there any big differences to be expected on the new recordings, or will they be much in the vein of your past work? Is the 7” a full release or is it going to be another split?

I suppose the 7” you’re talking about is the one that was recorded at the same time as ‘Violence…’? That one was supposed to be a split, but Rodrigo (Putrid Filth… recs) never released it. I dunno why. We’ve been trying to get our hands on that master for a few years without any luck. There are a lot of people who said they’ll release it if we ever DO get it back, but so far no luck. As for future releases, Retaliation have always and will always sound like Retaliation. It would be a stupid mistake to change a “winning” concept and we’re not pretentious that way. People say we have changed over the years but the way I see it only the production changed. ‘The Execution’ sounded more metal, some said, but I think it was basically coz the production came out that way. A fuck-up on our part. Hopefully our next release, the mcd ‘No One Knows My Grave’, will sound just right.

CONTACT:

email: rtln.grindcore@gmail.com