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PANZER BASTARD:
'We Have No Political Agenda As a Band
Outside of
Fuck You!'
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A few weeks ago I reviewed 2006-2009, a compilation including all of the recordings during this period of the Boston band Panzer Bastard. I was interested in the band for a few reasons; first, the way in which their music balances out the power of great metal and the fighting in your fucking face mode of hardcore is just perfect. War-perfect. There is a Motorhead vibe running through their music that surprisingly is all their own. And we all know you can’t go wrong with that. Also, Panzer Bastard is an apolitical band. However, they sing about war and all that comes with it. Despite this, this quartet has been unjustly accused of having racist leanings. Wanting to know it all about this band I approached bassist KPanzer. Read on and spread the word…
 - Panzer Bastard is based in Boston, MA, a city and area very well known for its quality hardcore scene. I was surprised to find out about all the bands the members of the band have been involved in. Most seem to have a ‘more purely’ metal sound than Panzer Bastard, considering your punk and hardcore scented sound. Do you think the location has had an influence in the sound of Panzer Bastard?
K - For me personally, I would have to say yes. Being a little older than the rest of the band, I grew up in the mid-late eighties and Boston had a legendary hardcore and punk scene. I was never told that you weren't allowed to love Venom and SS Decontrol at the same time (thankfully). As for being influenced by Boston in a purely aesthetic sense, I would have to say without a doubt. It's a city full of history, contradiction and atmosphere. We as band, were definitely influenced by our surroundings - we are surrounded by idiots, assholes and shit talkers who bring out that warlike anger in our sound! 
- How is the scene in the area? Is there a scene? Any bands you may feel some sort of kinship with or that you would recommend?
K - There are many excellent bands here that we are proud to call brothers. Hirudinea, Cold Northern Vengenace, Nothing But Enemies, Sewer Goddess, Hammer & The Nails, Blessed Offal, For The Worse, Rampant Decay, to name some. Boston has had a strong presence in metal, punk and hardcore since the beginning and these bands and others carry that tradition on. A lot of the bands share members and the scene is fairly incestuous in a positive way. It is a good moment in time to be a part of.
- What is that brought you guys together as a band? Was there a motivation behind forming the band? Protest something, manifest something? Simply love of music? How did the band members get together/become a band?
K - We came together out of common interest, boredom, friendship and restlessness. I had never been in a band with people who were just like me before. I had always been the headbanger in the hardcore band for what seemed like forever( no disrespect to any of my previous bands/bandmates) and we all met through a variety of circumstance and coincidences that brought us together quite naturally. The motivation to do this was the fire to play loud we all share. We wanted to create the band we were longing to hear.
- I was pretty surprised to find a statement in your MySpace page regarding your alleged far right leaning by some anti fascists groups. Could you please care to comment on what exactly the issue was regarding this and what is your actual stance on the subject?
K - You don't call your band PANZER anything and expect to not have some people think the worst. We have no political agenda as a band outside of FUCK YOU. I stopped caring a long time ago about the color of a mans skin. Shit comes in all colors.
- The artwork on your records and the lyrics of your songs seems to delve deep in the topic of violence and war. Do you seek to simply describe these realities and integrate them to music that is aurally violent or does Panzer Bastard take a stance on the subject and uses the music to make a point?
K - Four tattooed scumbags aren't going to change anything the beast called man is bound by nature to do to itself. I am fascinated by war from the primal to the cerebral aspect. Violence has been a part of my life, for better or worse and any anger expressed in our music is genuine. I use this music as a release.
- 2006-2009 was recently released through Patac Records. The record compiles all the recordings from the band and provides a pretty accurate picture of your sound. I say that because I enjoy the ‘live’ quality of all the recordings. What can we expect from future recordings from Panzer Bastard? Is there anything that you would like to improve (compared to those featured in 2006-2009) on as far as the recording itself?
K - Our sound on record is exactly the same as us live and this can be attributed to two factors. We are damn good at what we do and most importantly, the skill of our engineer/producer 5th member Eric Braunschweiger. He is our right hand, a brother and is a kindred spirit who knows exactly what we want and how to get it. He is our Martin Birch and will always be involved in every recording we make.I am very happy with the '2006-2009' record and our future records will be more of the same.
- Regarding the style of the band. The Motorhead influence is obvious and 2006-2009 even includes a cover of Ace of Spades. Have you guys worked on new material? And if so, is it in the same vein or can we expect other forms of extreme music showing some influence?
K - We really don't try to over analyse what we do. Each song happens at it's own pace and the bottom line is-do we like it? The minute we start writing with outside ears in mind is the minute we start betraying ourselves.
- When writing the music (not lyrics) do you specifically search for certain hooks, or is it speed? I say that because the songs are very memorable and catchy and yet they are all super aggressive. Can you please describe the process of creation of the music?
K - Our writing process is very natural, some songs, 'Fatherless..' for example were written in minutes, whereas a number like 'No Gods' took a bit of nuturing because it demanded that extra attention. Like I mentioned previously, we don't think about the process too much, it just happens.
- How did you join forces with Patac Records? How has your relationship been so far? Would you be working with that label in the future?
K - Dan contacted us through mutual friends and he has become the 6th member of the band. In all my years of playing in bands and dealing with labels, he is the most honest, hardworking & loyal individual I have ever met. We are family and whatever happens with us or wherever the future leads it is with him & PATAC. We are one in the same.
- Please name a few albums that have had a great influence in getting you into music.
K - KISS Rock n Roll Over. The first record I ever bought, the minute it started I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. MOTORHEAD Ace Of Spades. No other band has had such a profound effect on me or my life. BLACK SABBATH. Master Of Reality. I had never heard music so terrifying and ominous.-SS DECONTROL. The Kids Will Have Their Say. It took everything I loved about heavy metal and stripped it down to something new and pure. VENOM Welcome To Hell. The band that brought punk and metal together for me.
- Please name a few albums that you are currently spinning.
K - I hardly ever listen to new music even though I am always keeping my ears open for things that will blow me away.I will list what's in the disc changer of my stereo as of today.....Proclamation, New American Shame, Iron Maiden, Bathory, Jet.
- Where would you like to see Panzer Bastard in the near future?
K - The only real desire I have outside of us simply being true to ourselves is to tour Europe and have the experience of playing one of the festivals. That would be a huge milestone.
- Any last words?
K - I would like to thank you for the great interview brother and to any one reading this who supports us? You have our respect and gratitude. BASTARDS DIE HARD.
MySpace
Images taken from the band’s MySpace, credited to ReturntothePit.com
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