DAGGERS - Channelling Pain Into Raw Sound... (Belgium - HardCore/Metal - Interview with Thierry & Thomas).

Hello ! Can you introduce yourself and tell us how it all began for you - your encounter with this musical universe, what appealed to you, what fascinated you and what made you want to get into music?
Thierry: Hello Rough Times! I first got into this kind of music thanks to Matt, Tom’s older brother, Tom being our bass player. He was really into bands like Prodigy, Sepultura, and Nirvana, and we used to hang out in Tom’s room playing those tapes and CD’s. The energy and the freedom of this kind of music attracted me immediately. They later went on to do a ska-punk band with Yannick, our drummer (saxophonist at that time) and I was kind of their roadie.
Thomas: Hey Rough Times, as a kid my dad was playing in a rock band. He was the one who introduced my brother Matt and me to rock music. As we grew up, we went deeper and discovered punk rock, metal, and hardcore. I remember the first time I listened to Dookie, The Fat of the Land by The Prodigy, and Roots from Sepultura. That universe really hit me and shaped me as a person; and it still does.

Tell me about the band... How you met - the current line-up - past experiences - and above all - WHY the need to form THIS band?
Thierry: I actually formed the band with a completely different line-up at first, and we were playing something closer to mathcore. Our guitar player brought in Kris as our first singer, but we went through a bunch of line-up changes even before playing our first show. At the last minute, Yannick  joined on drums and I switched to guitar.
In the end, every change came down to bringing in friends from our teenage years, we all had different bands back then and used to play shows together. Yannick is my brother, Thomas was our next-door neighbour, and I met Greg through Matt (yeah, that guy again) when I was 16, on a internet forum. I was actually trying to join his screamo band as a drummer at the time. Our line-up has been the same since around 2012, and honestly, I don’t see it ever changing again.
Thomas: Thierry sums it up pretty well; I joined the band in 2012. At that time, I thought I was done being active in a band. I had moved back to my parents’ place and started working. So when Greg, Thierry, and Yannick asked me to join, I felt alive again. We did a few practices, and during the second or third rehearsal Thierry stopped and said, “You’re in the band!”

Describe your sound and explain why I should listen to YOUR band at all cost ?
Thierry: Don’t listen to Daggers unless it’s loud as hell. It’s an outlet for everything that’s fucked up in your life.

Lyrical and musical inspirations/influences ? How important are the lyrics for you ? Are there any specific messages or thoughts you try to develop and share through your lyrics ? 
Thierry: Our musical influence has been really broad. Yannick and I listened to classical music when we were kids, in my teenage years I started to listen to ska-punk and punk rock (Voodoo Glow Skulls, Millencolin), then had a metal period (Hypocrisy, Moonspell), then emo (Envy, Poison the well, Thursday) and discovered Hardcore through Refused and The Hope Conspiracy. Nowadays it varies from OST (Kingdom Come Deliverance II) to Bambara.
Thomas: There's no specific message. But what’s always present is our values as human beings. To me you can’t be part of this scene without having values, without being aware of what’s happening around you & caring for each other. I hope that anyone who knows us or the band understands that we stand firmly against all forms of injustice and oppression.

About the band's discography ... Imagine someone who doesn't know your band at all and wants to get interested in.. Which release would you recommend to start with, and why? 
Thierry: We definitely have something for anyone into darker hardcore, we always try to reinvent ourselves while having fun with it. If you’re more into punk/hardcore, I’d suggest checking out our latest EP "El Mundo Kaput", or even our first EP.
If you’re looking for a full album experience, something you can really dive into: It’s Not Jazz, It’s Blues and Neon Noir Erotica are probably the best fit. And if you prefer something a bit more melodic and less dark, then Fable of the Bees might be for you.

About your latest release ? 
Thomas: "El Mundo Kaput" was recorded live by Gilles Demolder (Oathbreaker, Wiegedood, SiemReap) at Jetson Studio in Kortrijk. For this EP, we wanted to write something more violent and fast—something closer to the early days, but still with all the ingredients that define Daggers. We’re really happy with the result; the three songs are angry, rapid, and give you no respite. Thanks to Shield Recordings, the EP is available on 7-inch vinyl in black or orange (limited to 300 copies). After two self-releases, it felt great to work with a label again. The artwork was designed by Thierry and reflects the universe of the video clip for the song “With Rue”. It was made using only oil pastels and a photocopy machine.

Future plans ? 
Thierry: We will try our best to record a full length for our 20 year anniversary next year ! We still have some shows coming up and we have a small tour in Switzerland this fall.

Your most insane dream with the band would be ?
Thierry: Getting old with those friends and still playing music together. 
Thomas: I would definitely love to be able to play with them until my last breath.

Your BEST & WORST concert - as a band - and why ? 
Thierry: I think it was the worst and cathartic at the same time. We had to bury a friend of ours in the morning and play in the afternoon at a small festival where everyone knew her. It was a very emotional show. (Can't even imagine... ouch.. Ed.)
Thomas: Worst concert was probably that time in Vienna at Venster99, when I tripped over my cable while playing and hit the wall. I got up and carried on playing (there’s a video on YouTube—go find it). I was way too drunk! 

Next live-appearance(s) ?
02/05 - Wham Jam Fest, Kortrijk
09/05 - La Zone, Liège w/ Bezette Stad, Vaag
23/05 - AZ, Aachen
We are also planning a small EU tour this November.

Some words on your local scene - bands you're friends with and you'd like to name ? 
Thierry: Definitely check Vaag, Bezette Stad, Dögmën, Cancelled

Last word is yours.. 
El Mundo Kaput !