Happy Friday, all! Let’s take a moment and roll the calendar back just a little bit before we head into the weekend. Back in June, Vienna-based noise rockers (more to it than that, but we can use that as a jumping off point) Desolat released Get Sick And Let Me Watch You Die through Reptilian Records. Formed in 2018, they’ve created a sound that calls on a number of assertive styles – death metal, punk, sludge… you get the idea. The point being, it’s assertive and it’s awesome. So, if you’re in need of something riotous to get you into the weekend, you’ve come to the right place. Hit play on the embed below, and read up on Alfred’s Profile responses (and Mentl’s in one instance) to get more of a feel of what Desolat is all about. Enjoy!

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How and when did you first get into playing music, or metal more specifically, and how did your band get its start? Any pushback from family/those close to you?

Wanted to start our 1st rockband when around 14. Tried some rock covers, it was dreadful and I don’t think we did meet a second time. When I was 15 we started a Deicide wannabe Death Metal band, it was dreadful but we didn’t care or were not aware and even played one show which was for sure a joke for everyone who was really able to play music. With 16 I had my first punk band and this started the liberating era of my life, personally, psychologically, politically, musically. Punk is one of the greatest things in the world. Family never understood the thing but was always supportive. We played for 9 years and split up when I was 25. We started Desolat in 2018, I’ve been in countless bands in the meantime, now it’s 2024, I’m 47 and always play in 2-4 bands or so, I love it, it’s my life.

How would you describe your band and what you play to someone who is completely in the dark?

We play all the music we loved when we were young in the 90s and still love and have an “anything goes” attitude. It is Rock music, loud, distorted guitars, intense and heavy drumming, screaming instead of singing, but overall not too fast, very apocalyptic and dystopian atmosphere which we sense very joyful.

Is there one (or more) thing about your latest / upcoming album or about your band that no one will find in any interview or review that you care to divulge?

There would be one more song. But just when we were about sending it off to the label for the pressing plant we realized it’s too long for vinyl. So we had to cut this one longest song to make it fit on vinyl.

Any funny stories from playing shows / tours / festivals, etc?

We once had a little tour in Czech Republic. Just the day before our show in Prague we got the chance to play a little but legendary DIY festival in Tabor. We are working class and it was doable if we’d play there early so we did it. After our show we still found time to watch their annual kettle water boiling speed competition on an extra stage. The teams were split in watt demand of their kettles. Lovely nonsense! And the festival was organized by the people from the band Sabot whom I adore a lot and got the chance to see them many times live in Vienna back in the days in the late 90s.

What do you see as some of the great things happening in and around the metal scene (yours or just in general) and what are some of the worst things happening right now?

Honestly I don’t care about the metal scene in any way. As I do about any other music scene we also might fit in. The DIY anarcho punk / squatter scene is close to my heart but this has political and societal reasons.

Most folks have passions for a cause or causes that are close to them. What, if any, are some of the most important issues (social/political/humorous/etc.) for you / your band and how do you insert those issues into your music?

We all come from the DIY anarcho punk/hardcore/squatter scene. Although we don’t have much of that in our music stylewise anymore it’s still the scene that is close to our heart. Although I wouldn’t call us “active members” anymore we care about what’s going on there. And the most important topics for humans were always the front topics for those activists: equality, justice, criticism on capitalist use of resources like food, not just talk and creating awareness but also rock = practical activism like food not bombs, people’s kitchen; housing / rent / property / slumlording / gentrification / squatting; environment and some more. Topics of class inequality and exploitation and violent fantasies of class war are regulars on the songs of our first 3 records. But not so much on our new album, it’s more sound orientated, abstract and even humorous.

Do you have day jobs or hobbies you want to share?

Yes, we are not the youngest any more, we all have jobs, teacher, tree inspector and tourbooker, I even have a family with 2 kids.

What advice do you have for music critics and outlets out there? How can we all better serve the genre in the eyes of a hard-working musician?

I generally enjoy media where I have the feeling they don’t serve promodeals or company collaborations and who are really nosy about new, interesting, good music and don’t just cover all the things everyone else also covers anyway. But I know it’s not easy, for all sides, media, bands, labels, agencies… Sometimes I believe the best things are done by people who do it as a hobby with no financial interest and out of passion. On the other hand I would of course love it to make a living just with playing music. It’s difficult and ambivalent.

Any specific long term goals in mind?

As Reptilian Records from the US is now releasing our new album and hopefully also future releases we hope to be able touring in the US.

When you’re not obsessing over your own material, what are some of your favorite albums to listen to currently?

Alfred: Dead Bob – “Life Like”, Lagwagon – “Railer”, Alice Donut – “The Untidy Suicides Of Your Degenerate Children”, The Dwarves – “Must Die & Blood, Guts & Pussy”, Terrorgruppe – “Melodien Für Milliarden”, Blacklisters – “Adult”

Mentl (drums in desolat): Mogwai – “Zero Zero Zero”, Isis – “In The Absence Of Truth”, Amenra – “De Doorn”, Faith No More – “Angel Dust”, Tool – “Fear Inoculum”, She Passed Away – “Belirdi Gece”.

What is the near future outlook for you or your band? Any specific events on the horizon that the masses should be aware of?

Album release concerts in Vienna, Bregenz and Bratislava in June/July and some more of those after summer.

Summarize your band in one word.

Easygoing.

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Many thanks to Alfred and Mentl for the time!

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Get Sick And Let Me Watch You Die is out through Reptilian Records. For more on Desolat, jump over to their Bandcamp page.