We are normally described as grindcore, crustgrind, deathgrind or some other formation of those words. I think those terms are all fitting, it slots somewhere between hardcore, punk and metal. Grindcore. It’s definitely grindcore.
Our songs are generally themed around the suppression of human rights, miscarriages of justice, the slow erosion of liberty, the toxic permeation of our lives by far right ideas, war crimes, genocide, ecocide, historical examples of all of the above and the odd song about feeling like shit. An expression of frustration with the human condition and the problems it engenders.
Human Cull has been going since around September 2011. Sam (drums) and I were in another band prior called Gran Toucher which played a similar style. From that group we brought with us Morrish (ex-bass) with whom we recorded two splits, the ‘Stillborn Nation’ album and our first release, ‘Split Second Extinction’. We also toured the UK a few times with him. Morrish left in September 2013 and we were joined by Luke. With Luke we have recorded the free digital EP ‘The Persecuting Society’ and have done two very short UK tours and a European tours. As a swift plug here, ‘The Persecuting Society’ is now available as a limited cassette along with ‘Stillborn Nation’.
There’s something really satisfying about holding an electric guitar. Preferably low slung and low tuned with the fattest strings you can find. I just pocked up guitar to play in a band when I was 15 turning 16. I saved up and paid 100 quid for a second hand guitar and little practice amp. I still have the amp in my room. 12 years down the line I’m still bashing away. I can’t speak for the others really, but in terms of pikcing up drums, Sam had always fancied it I think and since we didn’t have a drummer in 2011 he decided to teach himself, and a pretty good job he did of it too I think!
It’s been received really well, especially if the number of shares on free music blogs is anything to go by. I really like that, its cool to see people from all over the world engaging with something I do for fun. When we write we simply try to make music we enjoy and would like to listen to repeatedly, so if what we’re doing connects with other people that’s just an added bonus really. Obviously I would prefer people to purchase it off us to help recoup the costs of production, but I don’t expect not to lose money doing this, as long as people are listening to it I don’t care really.
In terms of reviews they have been very positive, and it’s cool to see a magazine I read as a teenager, Terrorizer, pay attention to us, kinda makes you feel a bit fuzzy and shit. Of course there’s been the odd negative review, one in particular where the bloke described us as ‘worthless death metal with worthless grunt/growl vocals’ which was probably my favourite. If you aren’t irritating someone thoroughly playing this kid of music then you’re probably doing something wrong!
The artist is Stiv from the band Visions of War. His work is fantastic, densely dot shaded nightmare visions of decay and degradation and the odd skeletal cider-drenched crusty. The albums cover was his idea. I gave him our title and some ideas we had, but he came up with something much more unique and interesting which I am very happy about. It relates to the lyrics in the sense it is based on the title, which in itself encapsulates the overall theme of the album. Where can a stillborn nation go? What is already dead cannot be kept alive.
Touring is, or at least should be, fist and foremost about having fun. It’s basically a holiday, so I try not to worry about money too much where possible and just enjoy the travel and meeting of new people. We toured Europe last month with Oblivionized and it was fantastic. We went from Belgium and the Netherlands through Germany to Poland and the Czech Republic which meant long drives which can be a bit grueling, but ultimately it was worth it. Good crowds, good promoters and great smash. 10/10 for Europe. We toured the UK with Oblivionized in 2012 as well and that was good, but not anywhere near as good. Some issues here and there and not getting fed much like you do in Europe can be a bummer, but whatever, it was still good. We tend to do UK stuff as shorter weekenders and they have been really good in the last 2 years.It feels like the grind/punk/hardcore/crust sort of scene is quite strong at the moment.
Temples was cool and kind of surreal. Playing on a massive stage to more people than we have ever played to before at 3 in the afternoon is odd. Get a few early drinks in you however and you’re ready to smash it. I think we played well and it was really cool to meet people from as far away as America afterwords for a chat about noise and shit. Good weekend. Oh yeah and Repulsion, Doom, Unkind and Wolfbrigade were fucking awesome.
Whom have you been touring with recently? Anybody in particular you think we should check out?
We have toured with Oblivionized and The Atrocity Exhibit. Both are fantastic bands. The UK is full of good stuff at the moment, The Day Man Lost, The Afternoon Gentlemen, Razoreater, Let It Die, Wheelchair Wheelchair Wheelchair Wheelchair, Sufferinfuck, Gets Worse, Bulletridden, Atomck, Warprayer (split up but they have an unreleased EP on youtube called ‘Heil Mary’ and its fucking heavy), there’s so many right now. Overseas stuff that I’ve eben into lately includes SIXBREWBANTHA, PIZZAHIFIVE, Powercup, Chiens, Whoresnation, Nihildum and Black Code.
The last 6 months we’ve been very active gig-wise and we’re going to be doing slightly less for a bit. We have a gig next Wednesday in Bristol with Napalm Raid, who are a fantastic crust band, well worth going to check out on their UK tour this month if you can get to a date. Then I’m putting on a gig in Exeter. Exeter is in the middle of nowhere, but people should come down cos the line up is great, with Leeds grindviolencers The Afternoon Gentlemen, ourselves, Plymouth noiseginrders Godsick, sludge/black Cornish duo Monolithian, really extreme cathartic hardcore from Tendrils and a few others. We are also playing Obscene Extreme Festival in the Czech Republic in July.
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