SHLAG DIVISION
Tekno punk rap, BZH
« Survet », « Sans débouché », « Peur Bleue », « Gestapo », « Cyborg », « KO technique »…
Shlag Division from north west of france has finally released a 6-track EP
A meticulously crafted through aggressive guitar riffs, direct lyrics, and an explosive electronic production that blends drum’n’bass, techno, and hardcore!
Always spontaneous, Shlag Division is also the result of long-term work, honed by experience, and relentlessly fueled by its collective energy.
We met them in a remote, icy Brittany, with roads blocked by the snow!
Interview by Polka B. | Pics: Papyaprod – Translated by Julie B
How did the Shlag Division thing begin?
We had another band that lasted over 10 years, it was called “Shock!”. The project finally fizzled out. Let’s just say that after a while, when you’re constantly living on top of each other, relationships goes aggravated.
There was a bit of a respite. Some of us wanted to continue, but we didn’t see ourselves continuing with the same name. So we decided to start a new project and sound.
In the end, we still embrace rap over techno, with heavy guitars. We just do it in a different way. The goal is to go beyond simply shouting revolutionary lyrics over a heavy drum bass.
How many of you are on stage?
We are five: a DJ, a guitarist, and three singers. We also have our own sound engineer.
Did you already have an idea of the project’s musical direction before you started making music?
Actually, not at all! Aside from “Shock!”, two childhood friends who have been making music together for a long time joined the band. They were into punk, but not really like us. I think it happened organically. So, it couldn’t sound the same.
We also couldn’t ignore the work we made with “Shock!”. You could also see “Shlag Division” as a continuation of this one…
Do you see Shlag Division as a project directly linked to the free party movement? Is the band primarily intended for playing at raves?
We don’t see it that way. Quite the opposite, we enjoy stepping outside the free party network. We’d hate to only play at raves. We like playing in bars, venues… We like mixing audiences. It’s boring to stay in just one scene.
It’s a bit complicated to bring bands to a rave. There are a lot of technical constraints that make it difficult. The conditions are often mediocre. Most of the time, we are disapointed with the sound.
The album came out quite late after the band was formed. Why?
We released a lot of EPs and kept the tracks we liked. We tested what we were doing live to see how the compositions affected people.
We mainly wanted to be sure of what we had before spending money on a studio in Rennes.
It was a good experience, but in the end, we realized we weren’t losing out by recording at home…
It takes more time. But by taking more time, you make better tracks. You can be both DIY and professional. And above all, it’s cheaper!
Listening to “Par Zéro”, you can sense a double requirement in the album.
It had to be playable live with instruments, but also enjoyable on its own. Would you agree?
We definitely want the vinyl to be playable in techno sets. That’s also why we wanted that very clean mix. The sound couldn’t be too synthetic either. We didn’t want people to think it’s a completely different track live. We like that margin of error, that live feeling.
One of the new elements in your sound is drum and bass!
There are some crossbreed fans in the band! (Laughs) It’s a subgenre of drum and bass on steroids, with hardcore influences. We also like drumtek. We all kind of obsessed with it, only to realize we enjoyed making it too.
It was a challenge to record over it! The rythmic places aren’t the same, it’s less binary in terms of rhythm. You don’t get the kick drum on every beat. Let’s just say there were quite a few false starts (Laughs).
The album cover is splendid, but the aesthetic is a real shift from your previous visuals! It’s urban, cold, and darker, looks like a cold-wave album cover.
The truth is, it wasn’t really a conscious choice! (Laughs) We are terrible at visual design. We gave free will to some friends of ours who are really good at drawing (Sabaku_no_Tako, Parya prod & Enora Helar). They gave us several proposals, and we went with this one because we think it’s stylish. But it’s a bit off-topic, I get what you mean.
There’s a real artistic choice, even if it’s unexpected for a Shlag Division album.
And at the same time, there’s something about it that resonates with the darkness of the lyrics.
You set up a pre-order system for the album. Did it work?
It did! Enough to pay for the recording and pressing.
The support of your community seems essential. Could you define it?
Well, we had the presale form with some information, including dates of birth! There are a lot of young people, and very few between 35 and 50. On the other hand, it surprised us, but quite a few people are over 60! (Laughs)
Old punks and young ravers, let’s just say! (Laughs)
Is it thanks to this community in particular that you find your gigs?
We’re lucky to know people who organize parties. We’ve been immersed in that scene for quite some time. Over time, you get a big network. We might have an easier time in that regard than others.
It’s also worth mentioning that the band is organized around the SHK sound system collective. The organizational aspect is really inherent to how we operate. We know the realities of the organization, and have the capacity to be independent.
Have you noticed any differences within your audience compared to your previous band?
Most of our friends prefer Shock! (Laughs) Maybe it brings back memories, a period that left its mark… In any case, we still regularly get requests for our old songs.
And those who didn’t know Shock! prefer Shlag Division. Before, it was more punk and less techno. That’s perhaps where the difference lies. Back then, we made do with what we had. We didn’t really know how to make techno.
Which tracks has best live impact?
As always, the slower tracks work less. The drum and bass sounds seem to work well!
Honestly, it’s hard to be objective.
What are your goals for the year to come?
Promote the album as much as possible. And create new tracks, pushing the mixing process much further. We’d also like to incorporate new guitar things!
Last words?
A huge shout-out to everyone who follows and supports us! Thanks to everyone who’s booked us ! Contact us if you’d like us to come to your place!