TORNADO LOBSTER KILLER - Punk rock, redefined and refined ! (Italy - HardCore/Punk-Rock - Interview with Matteo).

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? 
Matteo: Hello everyone, I’m Matteo, bass player and vocalist in Tornado Lobster Killer. My story in punk rock began when I met Croma (guitar/vocals); if it weren’t for him, I doubt I would ever have joined a band.
For me, getting into music meant fulfilling a lifelong dream. I had always wanted to be in a band and make my own music — and not just any kind of music, but punk hardcore specifically. This is what I have been listening to ever since I developed some kind of musical taste, and even though my musical horizons have expanded over the years, I still feel like this is the only genre through which I can truly express myself.


 
Tell me about the band... How you met - the current line-up - past experiences - and above all - WHY the need to form THIS band?
Croma and I met at a concert in 2017 and decided to form a band, with Naná “Oktopus” Dalla Porta on drums.
Naná was a founding member of Lobello, local legends from the Oltrepò area — a band that Croma later joined, and in which he has been playing guitar for more than 15 years. I, on the other hand, had never played in a band before.
After spending several years as a nameless “rehearsal room” band, we decided to record our first self-titled demo: 10 tracks, with artwork by Naná himself. The album, released in 2022, was recorded, mixed and mastered by our friend Cris at the newly founded Cristian Masiero Music Studio in Castel San Giovanni, Piacenza.
After that, Naná left to pursue his career as an artist and focus on his family, and his role was taken over by Cris, who has been our drummer and dedicated sound engineer ever since.
With Cris — a skilled live musician, also active with The Moggies — we finally brought the project to the stage, opening for Italian punk bands such as Punkreas and Impossibili.
In order to enrich our sound, a couple of years ago we decided to bring in a lead guitar player, and that’s how Roberto Moro became part of the band.
After years of playing live together, in autumn 2025 we began recording Lobsteria, our second album, which was released in June 2026.
This band was born from Croma’s desire to write in English and tour abroad, and from my own need to finally try my hand at making music. 

Describe your sound and explain why I should listen to YOUR band at all cost?
Our sound combines a bit of everything the genre has to offer, and anyone who loves punk can probably hear something they like in it.
At the same time, we feel free to follow our inspiration even beyond the boundaries of punk rock, especially when it comes to melody. On the album, we bring in elements of rock, grunge, stoner and more — starting with the intro, which is inspired by Gregorian chant.
Lyrically, I think we are something quite new within our country’s scene: we have a truly “international” style. In that sense, the album is a mature work: it has great drive, strong coherence and a really powerful sound. There are no weak moments, and it is definitely worth a listen.

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?
Our musical references are quite varied: they range from classics such as Misfits, Ramones and Social Distortion to pillars of ’90s punk rock such as NOFX, Bad Religion, Rancid, RKL and Lagwagon. I am also a great fan of QOTSA and Mastodon, so the occasional odd chord might slip into the composition.
As far as the lyrics are concerned, I take on most of the responsibility… and it is definitely something we care about a lot as a band. Sometimes I translate and reshape lyrics that Croma has come up with, sometimes I write the lyrics with him and sometimes I write them myself.
Personally, my biggest lyrical influences are probably Fat Mike — I like his witty irony and the shock value of some of his lyrics — and Brett Gurewitz/Greg Graffin. I just love the sheer intelligence of their songs, the elevated humanistic ideals they convey, and the poetic beauty of some of the metaphors they use.
I also like to quote poets every now and then, simply because I think lofty quotes provide a perfect foil for brutal realisations or vulgar images… and vice versa. 
I would say our trademark is abruptly changing register, alternating elevated concepts with strong, visceral images.
What we want to convey through the lyrics is our own vision of the world — somewhat bleak and totally disillusioned, but still fundamentally positive: a proving ground for good souls.

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? 
I would definitely recommend starting with Lobsteria. The first record already contained the seeds of things to come, but we kind of feel it does not fully represent what the band has become, or what it will be in the future.
Lobsteria, on the other hand, feels like some kind of full-circle moment. I think it is the point where Croma’s songwriting and mine finally meet in balance. 

About your latest release? 
Lobsteria was recorded in autumn 2025 and released on June 19, 2026. The record was engineered, mixed and mastered by Cristian Masiero, staying true to the same DIY approach that has always defined the band.
In terms of content, I would describe it as a circular, almost meta-conceptual album. The overture embodies the inspiration behind the record, while the final reprise represents the urgency that led to its creation.
Thematically, the album starts from the outside world and gradually moves inward, dealing with themes such as alienation, economic precarity, addiction, loss, identity and resistance.
Musically, it marks a clear step forward for the band: it still comes from punk rock, but pushes the sound toward a faster, tighter and more focused melodic hardcore direction.
The artwork was created by Nanà “Oktopus” Dalla Porta, who has always been in charge of the band’s visual world. The physical editions really expand that universe, especially the vinyl and CD versions.
The album is available digitally on every streaming platform, as well as on 12” vinyl LP and CD. We also have dedicated Lobsteria merch, including a T-shirt and a tote bag.
You can get everything through our official shop, find it at our live shows, or just hit us up in the DMs for info and orders.
 
Future plans? 
In the immediate future, we are working on something really exciting.
Through their independent label, Gotta Gallo, Croma and Cris are organizing an event called Punkamania, a festival/pool party that will take place in Santa Maria della Versa on July 26, with an incredible lineup: Bro.Mo, Rubber Room, Libidine, Sludder, Tornado Lobster Killer, Bad Frog and Secoli Morti.
This is not the first show we have organized ourselves. As a band, we also try to create our own opportunities to play and build a sense of community from the ground up, and that is something we are all very proud of.
Our plan for 2027 is to expand the Lobsteria tour and bring the record across Europe and the UK.
 
Your most insane dream with the band would be?
Personally, mine would be to play at a big punk rock festival abroad. I could say something like “opening for our favourite band” or “headlining festivals” or shit like that, but the truth is there is nothing better than playing in front of people who like your music and care about what you do — and then getting off stage and slam dancing to the songs of the bands you like.


 
Your BEST & WORST concert - as a band - and why? 
My bandmates would probably have different answers to this question, but my favourite one so far was last year’s gig in Aie di Cosola, Val Borbera.
It is the place where I have spent my holidays ever since I was a kid, and all my friends were there. It was absolutely mental. Everybody got drunk and they literally ransacked the merch stall.
So much joy and so much hype in such a small community… we brought punk rock into the heart of the Apennines, where nobody thought it would belong. 
From a purely technical point of view, I would say our worst gig was the last one.
We played the first edition of a punk rock festival at a riding stable in Rome, and everything went wrong: Robi kept on snapping strings and had to change not one, but two guitars; Croma played the whole set out of tune; and his jack stopped working mid-performance.
The sound was a mess, too. Let’s just say the sound engineer did not exactly save the day.
But somehow, we managed to pull it off, and we met some fantastic people there — incredibly kind and welcoming. We would go back anytime!

Next live-appearance(s)?
After this big summer event, Punkamania, we have some great shows coming up: July 29 at Rock’n’Roll Milano, August 8 at Resina Lab in Longiano, and then we will close the summer properly on August 29 in our stronghold in Val Borbera. You can find all the dates on Instagram and Spotify.

Some words on your local scene - bands you're friends with and you'd like to name ? 
We would definitely like to mention Indispensabili, a band from Venice we have shared several shows with in the past, who have a really distinctive sound.
Then there are Bro.Mo, a band we discovered recently and who are sharing several stages with us on this tour. They are honestly one of the tightest bands I have ever seen live — their tempo changes are insane.
Another band we are really excited about is Libidine, who recently released their album Trip: great production and extremely high-energy punk rock. They are going to open for MXPX, Talco and Grade2 at Punkadeka Festival in September, by the way — can’t wait to see that.
An honourable mention also goes to Bad Frog, who are friends of ours and absolutely rip, and to Jaguero, who create some incredible moods.
Stepping outside the genre, I would personally recommend Meneguinness, an Irish folk band. Their latest album, Irish Caravan, contains a few gems — my favourites are “Night of the Banshee” and “October Sea”.


 
What’s the question you’ve always dreamed of answering but have never been asked? Just a heads-up: I’m also waiting for the answer that goes with it...
Question: What is so special about Lobsteria?
Answer: Lobsteria is more than just the title of the record. It is a place, or better yet, a state of mind. It is where we put all the things we had trouble processing — crisis, frustration, disillusionment, fear, but also friendship, irony and the stubborn will to keep going. In that sense, Lobsteria is probably the most accurate representation of who we are, as people and as a band. And for me, personally, it’s an achievement I can’t thank my bandmates enough for. It’s the first time that I actually feel a sense of artistical accomplishment. I feel like I’ve finally made the record I dreamed to make when I was a scrawny, depressed 14 year old. This means the world to me.

Last word is yours.. 
Thank you so much for giving us this space.