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!