Pastoratet has just released a split album
together with N: a Hospitalet and it is very
nice with the Swedish singed punk and I felt
compelled and had to do an interview with the
group. February 2021
A little story about the group?
-Mattias: The band was started in 2009 by all
members except our dear bassist Sleif who came
in 2012 (and which we are very happy about). We
had played a lot together before but wanted to
bet on
something new and more serious. We felt we had
the capacity to become a good punk band that
hopefully others would appreciate as well. So we
have since the beginning the whole
time worked to reach out to Sweden, and still
evolving to do our thing.
Tell us a little about each member, age, job,
family, band ibeforeand band and on the side?
-Mattias: I play guitar and write a lot
of lyrics and music in the band, I was born 79
and have played in several bands before. In the
90's I played in a skatepunk band called New
Deal, which had the honor of playing bands for
the big bands in the genre, such as Millencolin,
NFAA, Randy, Satanic Surfers and more. Those
were wonderful times. I am married, have 3
children of different ages and have been working
as a salesman in the paint industry for a couple
of years now.
Thomas,
the second guitarist is 38 and works in the
industry. He is responsible for hard rock in the
pastorate and has a child and wife and has
played in some of his own projects.
Goran,
44, is a singer and works as a supervisor. Has a
wife and daughter. He sang in the 90's in the
pig punk band Väs, where Henke and Tomas were
also involved. (not to be confused with the Nazi
compilation album V.Ä.S now just for hell. We
probably got that confusion at the time)
Sleif,
45, plays bass and works at Volvo. Also plays in
Vänsternäven and Snutjävel
Henke
44 years, drums. Is a leader at a youth center
and a student assistant. Cohabitant and has 2
children. Also plays organ in the ska band The
Liptones and has also screamed a bit in
Vänsternäven.
I can hear a lot of melodic trallpunk but also a
little harder things, I hear right? Was it
better before?
-Mattias: You hear right, I think, it's melodic,
catchy and interspersed with heavier riffs. We
have never called ourselves trallpunk, but
usually call ourselves melodic punk or melodic
hardcore, with some elements of bothmetal and hc
- A punk hybrid. But absolutely, we are a great
punk band with some heavier elements! In terms
of influence, much of the melodic west coast
punk from the states is the cornerstone. By
that, I mean to begin with the 90's wave with
classic bands from Fat Wreck, Epitaph, Hopeless
and others, but also bands from Swedish Burning
Heart, Dolores, Bad Taste and Ampersand. In my
opinion, everything started there and then, in
the late 80's and early 90's. The genre
delivered lots of good bands, the stage was
immensely popular and the bands drew a large
audience. Of course, the 90's was really fun in
that way, the bands could also earn a penny
because the record sales still existed on
another level. Spotify in all glory, but damn
how fat it must have been at the time to be
allowed to release a record through a record
company. At the same time, there were probably a
lot of really good bands that never made it
because the opportunities that exist today did
not exist then. Today, anyone can release music
on Spotify, without reaching a record contract.
So I probably still think it's better now,
everyone has the same opportunities to reach out
with their music!
Pastoratet, are you happy with the name? If the
best band name had not been taken, what name
would you have chosen then? I mean, what's the
best band name besides yours?
-Mattias: We are happy with our band name, it
sounds a bit brutal at the same time as it is a
bit comical. But there are fantastic band names
that are both cool and fun, such as Gamla
Pengar, it's a damn fun band name but it's also
good in the mouth. But in my ears, Rich Kids on
LSD is probably the best band name, partly
because the name is good, but also because the
band's name shortening is even better, RKL!
What is the best thing about playing live? Do
you miss it now in covidtider?
-Mattias: It must be the kick of being able to
perform their songs to an audience that is there
to listen and watch us, or to win new fans and
to get the audience to dance loose. We miss that
shit a lot, because that's about 50% of the
reason why you do it, so we need to play live!
Where is the best to play, where is the worst?
Do you have any gigs booked?
-Mattias: The best place I played at is
Eldslandet in Jönköping, the place was
demolished many years ago now but I had the
privilege to play there in the mid 90's when it
still existed. The place was full of people and
it was a fucking mess from start to finish.
Otherwise, I do not want to say that any
specific gig or place has been the worst, all
gigs are important in their own way. It can be
just as fun even though there are a few people.
How is it like to play this kind of punk in
Sweden today? Is punk dead as people have
claimed since 1978?
-Mattias: Everything goes in waves, for a while
a certain style is damn popular, to stay out and
then become popular again. At the moment, I
think that the kind of punk we play is on the
rise in Sweden, I get the feeling that the
melodic punk has come back more and more in
recent years, with many new good bands and so
on. Hopefully it takes a long time before it
drops again, but the feeling is nice. From being
told that we play exhausted trallpunk to feeling
welcome and longed for is warming and positive.
Punk is definitely not dead, it has never died.
Henke: That's just a ridiculous, nostalgic
expression that came when the first punk wave
died out. After that, there has been as much
good punk as possible. A slogan that only
survives for some reason that does not exist.
How would you describe your music in three words
to someone who has never heard you?
-Mattias: Melodic punk rock
What does punk mean to you, is it just a word or
is it a lifestyle?
-Mattias: For me, punk is a way of thinking or
being. It is unpretentious, unpretentious and
relaxed. It is a freedom to be able to do as you
want and feel yourself, without any framework
and regulations for how things should sound or
be.
How do you see on downloads, mp3s and the like?
Have you made a record, do you think even if it
is only released digitally? Is it important to
get physical discs out? Vinyl or CD or both?
-Mattias: The thing about downloading is
twofolded for me, the positive is that your
music can be spread as much as you like, the
negative is that you do not make any money on
it. To do music usually costs more money than
you get in, at least at our level. It costs to
have a rehearsal room, it costs to buy
instruments and everything needed in a rehearsal
room, it costs to record in the studio, it costs
to release the music in physical format. So I
buy the whole piece by only releasing digitally,
because you can not afford to print CDs with
cases, or maybe even more LPs. Then it is easy
to just put a few hundred bucks and you have it
at least digitally worldwide. But the feeling of
releasing a physical record as a band is
unbeatable, with pictures, lyrics and thank you
lists. Physical records are the right thing to
do, those who are growing up now and do not know
what a cassette tape is, it´s a pity. Our latest
split record with Norra Hospitalet, "Bara Skiten
Avtar", is the first time we have released
something on vinyl, it feels damn fat!
How do you think it is to live in Sweden today,
politically? SD + M + KD, covid?
-Mattias: Unfortunately, it's not a good feeling
in my opinion. It is segregated, hostile and
full of injustice. I get angry at how some
professions are so damn underpaid while others
have and get as much as they like, they don't
even have to do the right thing for themselves,
they get their millions anyway. It makes me
really pissed! I think politicians have failed
to keep us united, they have instead thought
about how much money can be made by selling
welfare to private companies. Think it's blowing
right winds all over the world, everyone has
only one thing in their head these days, it's
themselves. Have only one thing to say about
Covid and that is die!
Are there any bands in Sweden today? In your
hometown?
-Mattias: There are lots, many younger teenagers
who start punk bands, it's so
fun! In our hometown there is not much,
but in Skaraborg as a county there is a lot. Can
take the opportunity to mention some of our
friends around here: Kardborrebandet, Deny,
Blisterhead, Ruter Dam, Snutjävel, Vänsternäven,
Slaveriet, Körsbärsfettera, Mähälium, The
Liptones, Dystra Li (I hope I have not forgotten
anyone now) are all bands around here on "schlätta.
Do you play anything outside Sweden?
-Mattias: No, we have never done that, but it
would have been nice to do one day.
Other good bands from abroad?
-Mattias: Can rabble me to death but chooses to
keep me short by just saying Fat Wreck, Epitaph
and the like.
Your lyrcis, what are you influenced by? Never a
language other than Swedish? Who does the lyrics?
-Mattias: When I write lyrics, I am influenced
by things that have happened to me, or things
that affect me in different ways (anger, joy,
anxiety). In Pastoratet we have only made songs
in Swedish, at least so far. Me, Henke and Goran
are probably the ones who are best friends with
the pen when it comes to text writing.
Henke: I work a lot with young people who have
gone wrong. Broken families, anxiety problems
and stuff like that and it gives me a lot of
inspiration for lyrics.
Tell
me a little about following songs
Äckel:
Is about how people who do not understand music
and our lifestyle think that we are immature who
go around to gigs and party loose. Playing
football and drinking goes well, but if you play
in a band and are over 40, it is considered that
you did not have grow up.
Tro, hopp & hat:
Is about when the lie becomes the truth.
Something that is very topical unfortunately.
People are so fucking stupid these days and it's
okay to be mean and selfish apparently.
Öppna kort:
When nobody want to listen to you even though
you are right. An extension of the theme of
Faith, hope and hat, one might say
Is there anything you will never write about? Or
is there nothing which is sacred?
-Mattias: I've never thought about that, but
probably not. The imagination has no limits ..
another thing with punk that is so fucking nice,
freedom to write about what you want. If you
want to write a text about your new shoes, the
trade union municipal, Fredrik Reinfeldt or
brandy, then you do it .. it's fantastic.
Politics and music, do they always belong
together? Or should you not tell people those
things in music?
-Mattias: Not always, but often in punk. If you
want, you get. We may not always write such
political texts, and when we do, it may not be
so crystal clear. We choose to express ourselves
in the way we feel suits us. There are bands
that are really good at writing political lyrics,
so we leave it to them. At the same time, I
think it can be annoying to just listen to
political texts, it's good with variety. But to
hear a really well-written political text, it
can trigger a really hard start.
Best political band/artist?
-Mattias: My 3 favorites are Bad Religion,
Propagandhi and Good Riddance.
Do you think music can change someone's life,
then I mean lyrics etc? Do you have any examples
for yourself?
-Mattias: It can undoubtedly change someone's
life, it changed mine too, I guess. "Less talk,
more rock" with Propagandhi is a record that
gave me an outlet for my political views when it
came. But it does not have to be political, it
can be emotion-based ... like pure and simple
fucking anxiety. We have written some songs that
are about the night black anxiety, and have been
told by friends who work with inmates on drug
rehab, etc. that many of the users appreciate
these songs, because we put into words something
they have been through or live in. It's both fun
and quite sad at the same time, anxiety is just
heavy and nothing we need very much of, but
unfortunately a part of life.
Your cover is really cool on your latest album,
who did it. Is it important to have a cover that
you understand the type of music you play? Which
is your favorite cover of all time?
-Mattias: Thank you, we are very happy! His name
is Christian Wallin and he is a freelance
illustrator that Henke found by chance on
Instagram. He has done stuff for Hardcore
Superstar and
such bands, among other things, so we
contacted him when we were going to make new
T-shirts. We were damn happy with the result, so
when it came to making a record, we contacted
him again ... and the result was as it was. He's
really good! Covers are important, an
eye-catching cover is something special. The
cover should have something to do with the
content of the album, otherwise people can be
confused and don´t give a damn about the album
if the cover does not appeal. At least for a
band that is not known. Black metal for example,
almost all covers are black and white and have
their own special style that makes you
understand what it is, then it does not work
that it is Bröderna Djup on the record. My
favorite cover of all time is probably Love Gun
with Kiss, could sit for hours and stare on it
when I was little. It was something magical.
Is there a good record store near you?
-Mattias: Noone I´m sorry to say. We had Jannes
Wax in Skövde who had a lot of good records, but
sadly it stopped when people stopped buying
records. We can go to Gothenburg if we want to
go to a record store.
Please tell me something really funny that
happened during your career on stage or behind
the scenes etc?
-Henke: We are a rather strange band, we have
understood ourselves with quite eccentric people
so there is really alot things. Usually with
booze involved :) The story when 2 of us were so
drunk at a gig so there were only done 4 songs
and we started fighting with each other to end
of the evening with someone in the band said
that we would "shoot the heeead" of the owner to
the place (which is just our humor) is usually
appreciated by people but there is really a lot
more stuff that maybe only we think is fun :)
How does your audience look like? Which type of
people comes? Do you miss any types of people?
-Henke: It's a little different depending on
where we play. In the big cities, it's mostly
punk or rock people, while around here we appeal
to quite a lot of raggare and type..normal
people for some reason ... it's apparently damn
popular with punk among raggare and we do not
mind that of course. You could not believe it in
the 70s - 80s :) We just hope they listen to our
lyrics and take it to them too. We play for
those who want to listen.
Please rank five favorite records, five favorite
concerts?
-Henke: The impossible question haha :)
Fav records vary all the time and I have a damn
broad taste in music so it would be too
uninteresting for Skrutts readers but Pistol's
debut, Bad Brains first (which is actually their
demos collected) Anti cimex Scandinavian
jawbreaker, Jesus and Mary Chain with
Psychocandy and anything with Misfits are
records that play or have played a big role for
me anyway.
There are also concerts no matter how much ...
where do you start? The first to show up are
Refused on Hultsfred 96, Zeke on Tanto in Sthlm,
Nirvana on Sjöhistoriska in Sthlm, Casualties in
Blackpool and in fact I have to mention Skid Row
in Gothenburg in 1991 when they did Ramones
songs. It was big and I was 15 years:) .... but
tomorrow I might say some completely different
concerts.
Is it boring with interviews? Or is it not so
many?
-Henke: We are not spoiled with interviews but
lately there have been some and yes, I think
it's fun that people are interested and it's
also fun to explain what we stand for. I
definitely think that Pastoratet has something
to say that I think sets us apart a bit from
many other Swedish punk bands in the same genre.
If you could choose five bands from the history,
dead and alive to have a concert with your band,
what are the dream bands then?
-Haha..yes
... Bad Religion and Pennywise had been
great to play with (although now I realized that
I have already done it with Liptones haha) I had
also wanted to play with The Runaways on their
Sweden tour 78 but it's probably not possible
.... (or no ?? :)
Is music a good way to vent frustration and
become a kinder person? Are you angrier today
than you were as young punks?
-Henke: I usually say that it is a paradox that
you are the angriest and have the most energy
when you have the least problems in life. My
only problems when I was in my 20s were like
where the party was or how I would get the girl
I fell in love with..but the older I get the
more problems and idiots you meet. Jobs,
finances, neighbors, society ... It has made me
damn angrier now than before when you were
perhaps more "played" on being angry because it
was part of the concept. Now it's for real! and
I'm damn pissed off;) but it also gives me
energy!
What is the strangest question you were asked in
an interview?
-Henke: The question "Why don't you look like a
punk and have leather jackets?" I have for me we
got it a long time ago ... we are what we are
and do not go after a concept or suit. That's
not to say that those who look like that do it
either ... but it's just not the Pastoratets
thing quite simply.
Which is the question you never get, ask it and
answer it?
-How does guitarist Thomas manage to stay so
fucking fit?
Answer: He beats us down when he is not allowed
to play solo in every song :)
Future plans for the band?
-We have about 18 songs that are more or less
ready so it's just a matter of grabbing them for
a new ep! Hopefully it will come already this
year!
For yourself?
-Eat tacos and take my Friday sauna while I
listen to ... Roky Ericson..may it be today :)
Do not plan any further than that :)
Words of wisdom?
-Hellre en back i hallen än ett hack i ballen(Rather
a back in the hall than a notch in the balls).
(Hobbex catalog ... anyone remember? :)
Anything to add?
-Thank you for wanting to interview us and for
keeping the scene alive through Skrutt. Respect! |