Interviews

Introducing: Romanian crusty, blackened, anti-racist hardcore act ANGER DOSE

7 mins read

Formed in 2019 with the intent to play some high energy melodic hardcore tunes, Bucharest, Romania based ANGER DOSE shifted gears into more crust and black metal infused territory, aptly pairing it with their DIY anti-fascist stance. Carrying their torch after playing in various punk and metal bands, the band unveiled their new project through a new single called “Dividers” and to celebrate, we sat down with vocalist Viez to tell their story, give you some details on their new work, and share their perspective on the COVID-19 pandemic, their local music scene, some of Viez’s all time favorite songs and additional commentary on his bleak outlook on the world today.

When my old band Killer Victim disbanded at the end of 2018, I didn’t feel like quitting so I talked with my friend Vali, who played guitar in the local bands Breathelast and Till Lung Collapse, that we should try to work on something new. When Mishu (Ropeburn, Drop Out Of Life), our drummer, joined us and later Ciprian (Church of Cthulhu) and this became our steady line-up, the songs we made together turned into something great, we think.

We managed to have a few shows before the lockdown, even did a small trip to Iasi and Suceava, two cities in Romania where bands don’t reach very often, opened for Polar in Bucharest and for the Bulgarian bands Outrage and Perdah. Overall the feedback was pretty good and we were eager to play some more shows, maybe even book a spall tour this year, but those plans are on hold right now.

We also got to record our first song and it’s finally out, so at the moment we’re waiting for some feedback from people, but the plan is to start working on a full album. Since we can’t play shows anytime soon we thought this is a good opportunity to get our shot together and do this sooner than later.

Intro sample from a speech by Michael Parenti, Drums and vocals recorded by Rares Constantinescu, Mix and master by Petre Iftimie

β€˜Dividers’ was one of the first songs we wrote together.

𝐼𝑑’𝑠 π‘Žπ‘› π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘–-π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘π‘–π‘ π‘‘ π‘ π‘œπ‘›π‘”, π‘‘π‘Žπ‘™π‘˜π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘Žπ‘π‘œπ‘’π‘‘ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘›π‘” 𝑒𝑠 π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘π‘–π‘ π‘š π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘ , π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘  π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ 𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 π‘π‘œπ‘›π‘“π‘™π‘–π‘π‘‘ π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘›π‘” π‘π‘’π‘œπ‘π‘™π‘’ π‘œπ‘“ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘ π‘Žπ‘šπ‘’ π‘π‘™π‘Žπ‘ π‘ , π‘€β„Žπ‘–π‘™π‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘œπ‘›π‘’π‘  π‘€π‘–π‘‘β„Ž π‘šπ‘œπ‘›π‘’π‘¦ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘π‘œπ‘€π‘’π‘Ÿ 𝑔𝑒𝑑 π‘‘π‘œ 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑒𝑠 π‘€β„Žπ‘œ 𝑀𝑒 π‘ β„Žπ‘œπ‘’π‘™π‘‘ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘’ π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘“π‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘‘ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ π‘›π‘œπ‘›π‘’ π‘œπ‘“ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘šπ‘’π‘ π‘  π‘Žπ‘“π‘“π‘’π‘π‘‘π‘  π‘‘β„Žπ‘’π‘š, π‘œπ‘› π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘π‘œπ‘›π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘¦.

ANGER DOSE band

I wanted our first song to make a stand about who we are, not just musically, but to make our message clear from the beginning. Even though we are different individuals in this band, the things we most agree on are equality and distrust of authority.

A full album is in the works, we just have to find the right time for us and the producer but hopefully we will get to work soon. The album will probably have 8 or 9 songs. Maybe 10. We’ll see! As soon as the restrictions are up we will try to play some shows but until then I see no point in playing a hardcore show with a social distance.

𝐼𝑓 𝑀𝑒 π‘π‘Žπ‘›β€™π‘‘ π‘šπ‘œπ‘ β„Ž, π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘  π‘Žπ‘–π‘›β€™π‘‘ π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘£π‘œπ‘™π‘’π‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘›!

Continued below…

ANGER DOSE band

Covid-19 pandemic

This pandemic had a huge impact for the whole scene in more bad ways than good. Related to the scene, this is our hangout place, this is where we see our friends most of the time, get to hang out, have a laugh and so on. We can feel this missing more than anything.

On the good part some of us got to work from home and I think this lockdown demonstrated to the companies that we can be productive from home, probably even more so, and now more will have to offer this option to workers. The problem is I think they will find a way to fuck that up somehow and find new ways to control us. I’ve heard of cases where the company takes a photo of you through your webcam so they know you are there working!

My take on this is a bit reserved, since I realized I can’t trust the news (for much longer than this pandemic) so I won’t make any big statement about conspiracies and whatnot. I prefer to be on the safe side and stay at home more..keep the distance (which I totally agree with in general), wash my hands and have patience until it blows over. It’s kind of fascinating living through this because I never thought I’d live through something that affects the entire world at the same time like this. Even in a war you might have chance if you run away and find a safe place. This time no one could run away, we we’re confined in our homes and after a while they felt a bit like prison cells.

Let’s hope it all ends soon.

Continued below…

ANGER DOSE band

𝑀𝑦 π‘œπ‘’π‘‘π‘™π‘œπ‘œπ‘˜ π‘œπ‘› π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘€π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘™π‘‘ 𝑖𝑠 π‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘¦ π‘π‘™π‘’π‘Žπ‘˜ π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ 𝐼 π‘‘π‘œπ‘›β€™π‘‘ 𝑠𝑒𝑒 π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘”π‘  π‘–π‘šπ‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘£π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘Žπ‘›π‘¦ π‘‘π‘–π‘šπ‘’ π‘ π‘œπ‘œπ‘› 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 π‘–π‘›π‘’π‘žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘™π‘–π‘‘π‘¦, π‘π‘œπ‘£π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘¦, π‘”π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘’π‘‘, π‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘› π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘’ π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘›π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘š 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘π‘œπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘¦β€™π‘  π‘ π‘œπ‘π‘–π‘’π‘‘π‘¦.

On top of all that we have the fucked up climate that is going to bring all kinds of changes to our lives much sooner than we would have liked but I think we are living in a time of great shifts in society and we might get to witness some things in this life you could only see in dystopic books or films. Just the kind of world to make fast, loud and angry music to. We will not run out of subjects to scream about any time soon, that’s for sure. Unfortunately.

I hope the lockdown will be over with soon so we can all get together again, play shows, hang out, travel and experience more of life in the short time we have on this earth.

Continued below…

ANGER DOSE band

Romanian heavy music scene

I feel the scene in Romania is kind of stagnant or in a prolonged coma for some time. There are some good bands in the diy scene but most only get local recognition. There are some that manage to tour, release records and stuff like that..but eventually most just break up since there aren’t many prospects to look forward to.

Some good bands include Void Forger, Ropeburn, VVVLV, Cold Brats, Fuck You! Dracu, Slicer, I Stared Into The Forest, Take No More, Damage Case, Crossbone. These bands range from sludge, crust, punk to black and crossover thrash metal, some play very often, some rarely play at all..

I’ve recently got into bands like The Wraith and Idle Hands, which are pretty different from what I usually listen to.

Both these albums are from last year tho’

From this year the band that really stuck with me is Together To The Stars. Both their albums hit the spot!

Continued below…

ANGER DOSE band

π»π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’’𝑠 π‘Ž π‘π‘™π‘Žπ‘¦π‘™π‘–π‘ π‘‘ π‘œπ‘“ π‘ π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ π‘œπ‘“ π‘šπ‘¦ π‘Žπ‘™π‘™ π‘‘π‘–π‘šπ‘’ π‘“π‘Žπ‘£π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘–π‘‘π‘’ π‘ π‘œπ‘›π‘”π‘  π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘š π‘ π‘œπ‘šπ‘’ π‘œπ‘“ π‘šπ‘¦ π‘“π‘Žπ‘£π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘–π‘‘π‘’ π‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘  π‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘ 𝐼 π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘˜ 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑑 π‘šπ‘’ π‘‘β„Žπ‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘’π‘”β„Ž π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ π‘¦π‘’π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘  π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ 𝑖𝑛 π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘› β„Žπ‘’π‘™π‘π‘’π‘‘ π‘šπ‘’ 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 π‘šπ‘¦ π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘  π‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘œ π‘π‘™π‘Žπ‘¦π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘‘β„Žπ‘–π‘  𝑠𝑑𝑦𝑙𝑒 π‘œπ‘“ π‘šπ‘’π‘ π‘–π‘

Fall Of Efrafa – Republic of heaven
Tragedy – Conflicting Ideas
Harakiri For The Sky – Funeral dreams
From Ashes Rise – Reaction
Idle hands – Give me to the night
Grave Pleasures – Joy through death
Dodsrit – A drowning voice
Martyrdod – Martyren
Ictus – Imperivm
Victims – Killing
Ekkaia – Mientras Dormimos
Disfear – Fear and trembling
Pavilionul 32 – Supunere? Niciodata!

“Dividers” lyrics:

Under the guise of ignorance
Lays dormant the deep hatred
These imbeciles…they multiply
Appearing righteous only to each other
Feeding on the lies they spread among themselves
Trying to make up for their insecurities
The hatred that dwells deep inside
Comes out swinging when one opens his mouth
All the excuses these people have made up
I will never buy one fucking word
‘Cause i know it’s fear that fuels their hate
And their discourse is sick and stale.

I won’t buy your fucking lies
For they feed the rethoric
Of a privileged upper class
That likes to kiss it’s own ass

This sickness we all swim in
Tears our bodies limb from limb
We can’t function like one unit
If injustice brings benefits

Under the protection of ignorance
Lays deep hatred
For the poor, the different…
For what’s not like you!
From you glass towers you feel above them all
But without your privilege you’d see that wall..
Our world functions on violent means
On the pillars of race and greed
You’re opinion becomes weaponry
You’re so hopeless, you’re the enemy!

Continued below…

ANGER DOSE band

ANGER DOSE live:

First show:

Opening for Polar:

Our trip to Iasi and Suceava with Damage Case:

Opening for Outrage and Perdah from Bulgaria:

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