To say 2007 was a strong year for independent art, punk and DIY music in general feels like an understatement. There were incredible releases at every level from dozens of hard working labels, artists from all kinds of different genres were releasing noteworthy records nearly every other week, and in the midst of it all, there were dozens of masterpieces making their way through the vastness of this year’s catalogue. Many of them did not receive instant praise, most of them won’t get much attention at all, but thankfully there are independent institutions like Alerta Antifascista that carefully select their offerings and source them directly in cooperation with dedicated artists from all over the world. The effect is more of a slow burn than a wildfire, but, it’s utterly important to keep the torch burning and have the right ethics in place. Today, we’re teaming up with Alerta Antifascista’s founder Timo Nehmtow to take a look back on the highlights of this year’s releases and I can assure you they are all worth a solid check.
Timo shared his thoughts on the passing year:
2017 was a super strange year for me as a person and also for Alerta. lots of difficult things happened, some good moments were there too, I wrote about this on my Facebook page, I think it’s good to have an insight into what goes on behind a record label. It’s hard to survive as a smaller label that fights against the capitalist way and always tries to make records and merch as cheap as possible but maintain a high quality standard for each release.
2018 will be a bit quieter for me. Not as many releases, perhaps working as a social worker so I don’t have to struggle as much, as I have done so for 18 years! To have a little more security in life, because a day job means that I know that by the end of the month there is enough money to pay the rent, health insurance, just enough to pay the basics. and that was what made me sick the last years. I want to keep the label alive, and working so much for the label and supporting the DIY scene often leaves me unable to pay my bills!
But I can’t stop myself, so 2018 Alerta will release a new MORROW.
LP and I am re-releasing both REMAINS OF THE DAY LPs.
Thanks for your steady support of my label and for asking me to do this here.
DÖDSRIT – Dödsrit LP (Alerta Antifascista Records)
I asked them a while ago If I can do a TOTEM SKIN LP, but sadly those guys broke up and Christoffer asked me if I would be interested in releasing his solo-project. and holy shit. this is the best combination of atmospheric black metal and Tragedy-esque crust.
HYENA – s/t LP (Various DIY-Labels)
The best neocrust I listened to in years. Reminds me so much of the “old” days when Madame germen and Ekkaia were still alive.
ABKEHR – In Asche LP (Sick Man Getting Sick Records)
Very good black metal style from the north of Germany. I can’t really tell why this hits me so much, but i think its just amazing!
LAS CASAS VIEJAS – Goule/H 2xLP (Alerta Antifascista Records)
A mixture of down-tuned hardcore punk with seriously dark metallic overtones and atmosphere piercing through waves of thick reverb. Lyrical overtones paint a bleak existential foray into the decay of society, poetic without sounding contrived.
PROCRASTINATE – s/t LP (Selfreleased)
I always loved bands from Greece and when I found these guys on bandcamp i was just overwhelmed. these guys are just amazing. Straight forward d-beat HC punk with lots of melodies!
TURBOSTAAT – Die Tricks der Verlierer 7inch (Pias)
This is something totally different. German spoken emo-punk. I love this band and the people involved since they started out of our old living collectives basement back in the early of the 2000’s.
AMENRA – Mass VI 2xLP (Neurot)
Its the perfect record when you think that everything you have falls apart. its so sad and this pushes me always in such a weird mood. just genius!
ARCHIVIST – Construct 2xLP (Alerta Antifascista Records)
I am such a big fan of all the bands Alex is/was in and it seems that we just get exactly the same taste for music, but this is my favourite record he participated in. Construct is the second album from Austrian/English/German collective Archivist, consisting of ten intricately composed tracks of audacious, atmosphere-drenched Post-Black/Post-Metal/Post-Rock proggery designed to infiltrate and stimulate both the body and the mind.
