TRENCH ROT - DIY Hardcore Fighting Social Isolation ! (Sweden - D-Beat Crust HardCore - Interview with David).

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? 
My father was a jazz-musician so I grew up hearing him practice his trombone in the living room usually he practiced when I was supposed to sleep but I stayed up so I could hear him play. Growing up I got in to heavy metal and punk at an early age, made a bunch of friends at different gigs in my small hometown (Luleå) and it just went on from there. Started a band when I was 15 or something that played local venues. When I moved to Gothenburg in my twenties I hadn’t been a part of the scene for a while and saw that some people who called themselves Filler was putting on a show. I went there and instantly became friends with a bunch of people. Started doing my own shows at that venue, started a cassette label. I’ve always been surrounded with music and always known I wanted to be a part of music in one way or another.

Tell me about the band... How you met - the current line-up - past experiences - and above all - WHY the need to form THIS band?
Peter (Guitar) and Dick (Drums) wanted to play fast and gritty hardcore, they made a bunch of songs and went online to find a bassist and a singer. That’s when me (David, Bass) and Rille (vocals) came in. Rille quit the band shortly after we recorded our first album and we contacted G from "Fredag den 13:e" who’s an amazing singer and friend to everyone in the band.
All of us has been active in the scene in Gothenburg and we’ve seen eachother at various gigs in town. Dick comes from a bunch of bands like Cheapshot and The Inseminoids, Peter played in Kendolls, G has been active in a bunch of bands since the 90’s and David has spent the last 10 years putting on shows in Gothenburg and running the label Papercut.
In this day and age I think bands and especially DIY bands are needed more than ever. The political climate tells us to isolate and be afraid of eachother so starting a band is a way of bringing people together.

Describe your sound and explain why I should listen to YOUR band at all cost ?
Noisy hardcore with crust elements. F.O.A.D Records said ”If you like noisy D-beat. This is good for you!” and if that isn’t enough to listen to us we’re also semi good looking.

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 ? 
Peter and Dick who writes the songs are inspired by a lot of bands but I would say mainly Torsö, Coke Bust and then we cram in some blastbeats and call it day.
Our lyrics tend to touch the subjects of being a citizen in a world falling a part in every way, hatred against the capitalistic society which tells us to always be productive and always struggle to be something else.

About your latest release ? 
Our full length album was recorded at Studio Oljud in january 2025. We booked the studio 2 days and wrote some of the songs a week before. We have a lot of friends working on this album with the artwork, putting it together, mixing, mastering all of it has been a group project. It’s available at some streaming services (except Spotify), as a 12” vinyl and maybe soon as a cassette. You can order it from a bunch of places around the world or catch us at one of our shows and buy it there. You can also book us to your venue for the sole purpose of buying it. We love to play live.

Future plans ? 
We’re currently writing new material for a split LP due to be released this fall on Flyktsoda Records. We’re playing Malmö Massacre and Norway in August and hopefully a small tour in Sweden with our friends in Brainwasher in october. Some sort of releaseparty will probably happen with the split-LP as well.
Next year we hope to play Finland and a festival in Prauge. And sometime in the future we’ll pack our bags and go to USA to play the amazing Skull Fest in Pittsburgh.

Your most insane dream with the band would be ?
To open for Bolt Thrower ! (Well, I'm afraid it'll remain a dream.. oops.. unlike you know something from the Brit's ! - Ed.) 

Your BEST & WORST concert - as a band - and why ? 
We haven’t really had a concert that’s been bad. It all depends on the general mood I guess but every concert is different and we try to work with what we have, we stay respectful of eachothers needs if someone needs time to themselves they get it.
The best concert for me is when we played Bornholm, our dear friend books shows there and it was an amazing night with a great gig and a great afterparty.

Next live-appearance(s) ?
1st August – Malmö Massacre Festival
7th August – Barrikaden, Oslo
8th August – Gjerstad Ponrokkfestival

Some words on your local scene - bands you're friends with and you'd like to name ? 
The local scene is very good, we played a show recently in an industrial area in Gothenburg promoted by Punkpöbeln who also runs the festival Fragile Mountain. It was such a good show and lots of younger kids which is always nice to see.
If you like good music you should definitely check out Brainwasher, Synapse, The Inseminoids, Fredag den 13:e, Rawheads, Böset, Laugh Track, PMS (Post man syndrome), Gefyr, Kronofogden...
 
Last word is yours.. 
Stop gatekeeping punk, you’re not tough or cool because talk shit about other bands.