Got-A-Nerve?

02/21/2010 | Being around for some long 10 years and staying true to one own ethics and believes, after having gone through your fair share of line-up changes and difficulties, I think, is a living proof that a project, or a band, is not just a passing phase but something on a very different level where passion and will to work your ass off really means way more than being the coolest punk around cause of what you wear and listen to.
Crema, Italy, based five-some SPLEEN FLIPPER celebrate this year their 10th birthday and are still here to deliver some old-school, sang in Italian, hardcore in their own brutal way.
After the review of their latest output “Alchimia Del Dolore” (the alchemy of pain) I arranged this email interview with Topper (vocals) and asked them all about their history, musical influences, “Alchimia Del Dolore”, singing in Italian, covers, and their goals for the future and much more.
Well, I’ll read on what Topper had to say. And make sure to go see any of the shows the guys are gonna play this March in Germany (for dates and updates you can check out band’s myspace).

GAN!: First off, I’ll let you introduce yourselves?

Hi! We are SPLEEN FLIPPER, hardcore band from Crema, a very small city near Milan.
We play old school hardcore with grindcore and death metal influences.
We are 5 guys, Nicola (drums), Little (bass), Katta and Mario (guitars) and Topper (voice).

GAN!: In 2008 you recorded your latest output entitled “Alchimia del dolore” (The Alchemy Of Pain). Do you think those songs still represent what SPLEEN FLIPPER are really all about today?

I think that a part of those songs represent Spleen Flipper actually, because those songs was written with 3 drummers.
Due to various changes of line-up and the time that has passed, now we are more technical and powerful.

GAN!: Are you guys working on new stuff?

Sure! We have 3 new songs ready and we’re working on other 2.
We hope to record a new album the next year.
I think that it will be our heavier release ‘till now.

GAN!: Your hardcore mixes Italian oldschool, metal and grindcore. What are some of your influences (music-wise and personal-wise)?

Yes, our sound is influenced by Italian hardcore (Negazione, Indigesti, Raw Power, Sottopressione, Wretched) but we like to mix it with extreme music.
We are great music-consumers, we listen all kind of music, from Jimi Hendrix to Regurgitate, hip-hop, reggae, tekno, a lot of different sounds…

GAN!: What about the decision of singing in Italian? In my opinion the songs sang in one’s own language get a very different feel to them and are more straight forward than when they are sang in English.

Yes, I agree with you.
I wanted to write in Italian because I was afraid of not being able to express the same metaphors and honestly, I didn’t care to use another language.
But then we played several times abroad, I realized that it’s better if I try to write some lyrics in English and so I’m doing, in fact the new songs are all in English and I like it!
I don’t exclude however that I will still sing something in Italian on the new album.

GAN!: I saw that you guys play a cover of Negazione (“Qualcosa Scompare” off “Lo Spirito Continua”) at your shows. Do you find these guys influential as far as your view of hardcore-punk goes?

Negazione is the greatest hardcore band! Their music, their lyrics was amazing!

GAN!: This April it’s ten years that you guys are around. Quite a long time for a hardcore band. What are some of the best moments with this band you’ll bring with you forever? Any bad period you wanna really forget?

Yes, we are fuckin’ old… mmm… best and bad moments… dunno…I think that the best moments we’ve spent on tour around Europe, a lot of funny things.
The bad period for me, was when our second drummer left the band; he played with us for 8 months only and we found a real good feeling with him. We searched a new drummer but it was very difficult, ‘cause in our city there aren’t hardcore drummers and we tried with some drummers without find what we needed. We haven’t played shows for a year, it was terrible…

GAN!: The track “Solo Merda” (Just Shit) has got some really in your face lyrics. Where do you get your lyrical inspiration from?

I wrote those words thinking about our city. It’s a very shitty place, there isn’t a live-music club, no place for a squat ‘cause local institutions are very hard with antagonist movements; only fashion bars and fashion people.
But if you want, this lyric is adaptable to our society, where the most important thing is to appear, to become someone…just a sea full of shit!

GAN!: I know this might be a tough one. In your view what hardcore punk is all about?

I think that hardcore it’s to play what you feel and don’t care about the trend that is in vogue. Play faster, play louder and scream something with a sense.

GAN!: You guys will be hitting the road to go play some gigs in Germany this March. How are you gearing up and what are some of your expectations on this mini tour?

Oh we’re very excited! This is the 6th or 7th time that we go to play in Germany and is always a wonderful experience. We don’t expect nothing, we go there to play our music and to have a lot of fun!

GAN!: What do you guys do besides the band? Hobbies, work…

Everyone have a work, factory workers, car mechanic…
Mario and me organize shows in some venues in Cremona and in other small villages.
Katta loves to draw a compose music with pc, Nicola it’s a sportsman and he composes a little music with his pc too.

GAN!: In your opinion what hardcore-punk can communicate to kids of today who many times are more into the fashion side of the thing than being opened to listen to any kind of messages?

To be yourself, only you must decide what you want to be, without stupid and useless trends.

GAN!: What all bands are you digging these days? Any other Italian bands worth checking out?

In these days I’m listening a lot the new Darkest Hour’s album it’s a very good work!
Italian bands, De Crew, La Crisi, Nettezza Umana, Cripple Bastards, Strange Corner, The Infarto Scheisse!, Raw Power…

GAN!: It’s really time to wrap this up and thank you for taking the time to reply my questions. Do you wanna add something more? Shout outs?

Thanx a lot for this interview.
See you guys on March, check out the dates on our myspace! See ya in the pit!

Check: myspace.com/spleenflipper

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Category: Interviews
Posted by: marcs77