Truckfighters
are a band that need no introduction. They've been playing their own
blend of Fuzz/Desert/Stoner Rock to the masses for over 15 years now.
Countless tours have seen them labelled as one of the best live acts
around within the Desert/Stoner Rock scene.
With
album number five around the corner – Originally titled V. The
Truckfighters juggernaut shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.
The new album builds on the sounds created on Universe with the
sounds of their previous albums making a welcome return. Though it's
still a different kind of sound that will only enhance their
reputation further.
For
this interview I've teamed up with Matthew over at Taste Nation to do
a joint interview with Oskar aka MR OZO where we discussed their new
album, touring plans and Fuzzorama Records.
So
sit back and ENJOY THE FUZZ!!!!
OOTS
– Outlaws Of The Sun
TN
– Taste Nation
OOTS
– Hi Oskar. Thanks for doing this joint interview between Matthew
and myself. Hope things are well with you all in the Truckfighters
camp.
Yes,
everything is amazing actually. Every time you finished a new album
and just sit and wait for the album to be released is awesome... We
don't sit that much just relaxing, but you know what I mean. The hard
work finishing an album is always a very, very hard work, not only
time wise, but it takes a lot of energy from your mind as well.
TN
Congratulations on reaching the your 5th 'V' album milestone and your
"Unholy Union" with Los Angeles based Century Media. Would
you like to share the catalyst of partnering with Century Media?
With the label in my backyard, Steve can agree that I'm a bit
obsessed and curious on why you chose Century Media solely based on
their roster of bands who bring more fake blood and face paint than
Fuzz.
Haha,
yes, you could look at Century Media as a label who releases a lot of
heavy stuff and Truckfighters are without no doubt one of the softer
acts. Well, we got interest from Nuclear blast, Napalm and Century...
All are three good labels, but in the end we trusted our instinct, it
seemed like Century Media where the most inspiring label and the
label that where most eager to work with us and understand our
potential haha ;)
OOTS
– Yeah V is a stunning album. You've been busy with releasing your
Live Album and releasing V in quick succession. In regards to the
Live album. How has the response been to that record. Our reviewer –
Bruno loved the hell out of it. And I did as well. Why did you choose
that London gig to release as your first Live album. Will you be open
to releasing more live albums in the future.
Ohh,
two questions in one :P Well, first of all, thank you so much for the
kind words, we couldn't agree more... I personally spent extremely
much time just to get everything the way I wanted and as good as
possible, I spent alone approx 4 months with the bass and vocals,
full time! I almost lost my mind, but I can't simple just leave
something that doesn't feel like it's spot on.
We've
been a bit lazy recording our shows live with a proper multitrack
thing for the past (well, all years) years... London always has been
a really good place for us, so we decided to record it... We had
ideas to maybe get equipment on the road and record more than one
show so we could choose the best gigs, but we did only one
recording... no rooms for errors haha :P We will probably do it
sometime in the future as well, but we need to release at least a few
more albums so we can play some new songs ;)
TN
Want to share your approach in making this album compared to previous
releases? With your ever growing fan base, was/is there more
pressure to satisfy your loyal fan base while appealing &
attracting to new fans. A fine line most bands never have a chance
to experience. Is it a good problem to have or do you even think
about such things?
This
might sound weird and arrogant, but that's the least thing I am...
but when I'm in the state of creating music the only thing I care
about is that I must love it... I mean you can't do art or music if
you're not true to your passion and what you're heart tells you to
create/do. My main goal is to do something that I'm satisfied with...
But what a great life we have, when a lot of people like it! We
couldn't continue doing what we do if it wasn't for you fans of
course, so thanks :D
OOTS
– V has quite a different sound compared to Universe. Some fans
have commented recently they want you to return to your earlier FUZZ
based sounds. Did you notice those comments from your fans
yourselves. Would you ever go back to the fuller Desert/Fuzz sound
you created on your earlier albums.
We
never look back, we never want to do a copy of ourselves... But if we
do an album that is more fuzzy and might sound familiar to our old
works it won't be because we're looking back and trying to re-create
this sound. We intentionally always change something in the recording
and sound shaping process. Change drums, mics, the way we want the
finish product to sound like... anything that makes it more
interesting and "new" to us as well.
TN
V' seems to be a bit of a Sea Change for the band particularly from
your prior 2014 release 'Universe'. The Fuzz Pedals are at 11!!
Bass-lines are heavier and the vocals muted from start to finish.
(Also See Pennsylvania's Nothing) It appears you traded in riffs for
heavier hooks and grooves and clean vocals for fuzzy, muted making it
a 4th instrument and also making this one of your heaviest releases.
hmm,
is it... It's hard for us to see that this almost is so much
different than Universe. For it it feels like a natural evolvement...
But I can agree that it somehow seems heavier, but in the same time a
bit mellower perhaps? I wonder how next album will be? :P
TN
Admittedly, it took me a few extra listens of 'V' to wrap my
pedestrian brain around it. I'm glad I did I'm finding this to be my
favourite release to date. It's somewhat refreshing to hear a new
album from a band of your calibre and not have it over-produced. Was
that your intention going in the studio. Did you plan to make a more
gritty, heavier album or let things flow more organically??
yeah,
we had maybe one idea before we started recording and that was that
we wanted it to sound a bit more aggressive, gritty and heavier in
the sound... other from that we just created what ever song that came
to our mind at the point. But you're totally right, it's probably a
more in your face album, but without feeling over produced or over
limited, we still want it to sound very natural in some ways.
OOTS
– It seems that Fuzzorama Records have been going from strength to
strength recently. Congratulations on your recent success. Originally
you just distributed your own albums. When did you decide to release
other artists on your label.
Actually
we did a compilation with a lot of other bands as record number two,
called The ultimate fuzz-collection. We decided even before we
started the label that this is not just going to be a demo band
creating a label just to release their own shitty stuff haha... Our
intention with Fuzzorama where to do it as a real label and become a
really good label. Now when I can compare with a label like Century
Media I'm proud to say that Fuzzorama is probably the best smaller
independent label there is.. We worked really hard for many, many
years... We got some of the best distro deals in the business and
we're constantly trying to improve and never settle with "just"
releasing stuff.
OOTS
– Was it a hard decision to release another band on your label. Or
did you need to expand more.
No,
it was a must to become a "real" label in order to become a
label that could land good distro deals and so on.. It's not enough
releasing an album every 2 or 3 year... + we think it's so much fun
running our own label :)
OOTS
– Do you have a set of rules and ideals when signing a band to your
label.
No
not really, we sign bands we like, that's it. The only rule that
might apply is that we don't wanna sign bands that sound the exact
same, they should differ a bit in sound, but still be rock of course
;)
OOTS
– Apart from your own album being released soon, Do you have any
other releases being released soon. I've heard that you maybe
releasing Asteroid's long awaited new album.
Yes,
that's actually true, the new Asteroid album "III" will be
released this fall, 11th of Nov in EU and 9th of Dec in US, six years
have past since the previous album so it's a long awaited album for
sure... seems like the buzz around the band only grew bigger when
they where away... Maybe that's the effect a break have on great
bands :P We will of course send you their album for review etc, don't
worry... starting next week ;)
TN
What would you like to share with the new Truckfighters fans here in
The States about the band and new album? For those living outside
Sweden and want to avoid international shipping, is this where
Century Media's role comes into play? Help expand your footprint in
America?
Yes
you can order the album directly through Century Media from the
states and in that way get cheaper shipping of course. BUT our
fuzzoramastore ships worldwide, and we use fixed shipping so only one
rate no matter how much you order, so if you order more than one item
I reckon the shipping is too bad + we have two vinyl colours strictly
limited to our shop, as Century Media also have... so in the end you
might be forced to order from both :P Or see us live, even better ;)
OOTS
– Truckfighters have a phenomenal live reputation on stage. I've
seen you guys multiple times in concert and you always impress the
hell out of me. It looks you'll be busy again promoting the new
album. What can people expect from the new tours. And is it becoming
harder for you as a band to keep doing all the energetic performances
your band is known for.
Sure
you're always trying to improve, not only the scenic part of the live
shows but also the sound and the way we perform, of course it's
getting harder the older you get but we're also one of those bands
that realised very early in our career that you need to look after
yourself and your body in order to last for a long time. None of us
been into drugs and to party (that much at least). We've always been
interested in keeping us in shape and these days that is even more
important, I usually exercise 5-6 times a week and feel stronger and
more focused than ever. + the music gets more interesting to play and
also demands more of us. But I think you need to challenge yourself
all the time in order to keep doing what you do and to keep in being
interesting for the audience ;)
OOTS/TN
– Well guys thanks for doing this interview. All the best with V
and future tours. Hopefully we will see you in concert on both sides
of the Atlantic soon. Matthew in the USA and Steve in the UK.
Yes,
hope to see you to guys, let me know when we're close by and we'll
put you on the list, maybe we can have a chat as well. Thanks for the
support in the band and the label ;)
Words
by Steve Howe, Matthew Thomas and MR OZO
Thanks to Oskar aka MR OZO for taking the time
out to talking to Matthew and myself. V will be out available to buy
on CD/DD/Vinyl from Fuzzorama Records and Century Media Records - US.
Truckfighters
Links
Fuzzorama
Records Links
Taste
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