Hjertestop : Heartstoppin’ K -Town Punk Brutality!

By Jens

Copenhagen has a healthy punkrock underground with outfits like Gorilla Angreb, No Hope For The Kids, Arrigt Antræk, Los Retardos etc. The latest band who really impressed me was Hjertestop and their amazing 6 track ep “Åårh, Fuck...Det Er Hjertestop!” on Kick’n’Punch Records. Many K-Town combos have a bit crustcore in their music, but not Hjertestop who seems greatly inspired by early 80s American bands like Minor Threat and D.I. which gives them just the right amount of both raging hardcore punk and really catchy wellmade tunes. Lasse (vox, bass) was kind enough to talk about the band. Other members are Nikolaj (guitar) and Hasse (drums).

LC: A bit of Hjertestop history, Lasse, you played in Incontrollados prior to Hjertestop?

Lasse: Yeah, I did sing in Incontrollados a couple of years ago. We killed the band after an on-stage fight in 2001 or something. I´ve been playing with a couple of other bands after that, but when Nikolaj (guitar), Hasse (drums) and Yogi (ex-vocals) were starting Hjertestop I didn´t really have any hobbies besides Valium, vodka and Playstation. So far we´ve put out a tape + a 7", and played a bunch of shows in Sweden, Germany and DK. Next stop, top 40 yeehaaa.

LC: Hjertestop was formed in 2003, you wanted to play Finnish hardcore, and then you released a demo on Kick'n'Punch/Maximum OD?

L : I think that Nik and Yogi were crazy about Kaaos, Riistetyt, Rattus, Terveet Kadet and all those crap bands at the time, and they had a couple of songs in the same alley as those bands when I joined. I was just supposed to play the bass at their first gig, so I didn´t really mind. Nowadays, I think it would be hard to hear the connection. Hjertestop wimped out, maaan
 
LC: Influences, I can hear a bit of Orange County punk ala D.I. as well as Minor Threat-esque hardcore?

L: Well, yeah... Adolescents, D.I., Fear, and a lot of those old California bands definitely made some bad-ass stuff, and we all like Minor Threat, so maybe you´re not so far off here. We´re uptempo most of the time, but still with a melody, and a few twists thrown in along with some guitar wanking. I think I tend to want to slow things down, and the 2 others want to play too fast for me to follow. Oh, the youth....

LC: The "Åårh, Fuck…Det Er Hjertestop!" 7" has an excellent sharp production?

L : Yeah, I´m pretty satisfied with it too. And the weird thing is, that the music is recorded at Ungdomshuset. We had Frede from motör-crusties Bomberegn record the drums and bass tracks. I recorded most of the guitar stuff, and Hasse did the vocals and final mixing. Sometimes I get so dissapointed when I buy a record by a great band, and the sound is so fucked that you could just as well stick you head out of a speeding car and sing along to that. I mean, why use hours and hours in the rehearsalroom, and then record it on a 4 track with a fuzz pedal plugged into it? Yeah I know we´re not really punkrock for saying this, but hey, that´s life.
 
LC: Lyrics, you sing about terrorism/paranoia ("Vi Er Overalt"), drugs ("Pis Mig I Munden") and violence ("Vold Vold Vold"), no chance of a love song anytime soon, haha?

L : No....probably not. Drugs, terrorism and violence is far more interesting. To me the lyrics aren´t all that important. I play music. I´m not a fucking poet. Most of the time I just come up with a title or a chorus, and then go "aaargh-na-na-na-na-yeah-yeah-bla-bla-fuckfuck!" until I know what words to fill in where. Most of our songs are in Danish anyway, not quite the most widespread language on the planet.

LC: Describe the personalities of the members of Hjertestop?

L: Nikolaj has a very short attention span, and likes to play airdrums on everything around him. Doped and confused. Of course he has his bright sides. Of course he has. But I don´t think anyone but his mother has seen them. Shouts a lot at people when he´s sleeping. Can´t cook an egg without leaving our kitchen looking like a fucking warzone, hehe. Hasse is more the down to earth guy of the band than Nik and I. He´s the member most prone to use his logic sense. Still thinks a Judas Priest record is more important on a deserted island than a crate of beer, though. Myself... well, I´m the singer and the bassplayer. Fuck me, please
 
LC: American punkrock fans seem to have taken a liking to K-Town bands? Why is that do you think?

L : Hmmm, for me personally it´s not so weird. I mean, listen to No Hope For The Kids, Young Wasteners, Gorilla Angreb... To me it´s way above 99% of what is called punk rock or hardcore or whatever. Maybe there is not enough good yankee bands around ? Anyway, for the last handful of years, Kick’n’Punch recs has put a lot of energy into pressing and distributing some of the local bands, making million after million on the DIY scene + you´ve got Bad Afro doing their thing too. It all helps spread the gospel
 
LC: What do you think of the punkscene in Copenhagen and Denmark?

L : Music-wise, it´s crap right now. You have a few bands that are good and then you have bunch of bands that doesn´t excite me too much. But hey, who said it had to? It´s just a matter of taste. Do The Untamed and Baby Woodrose count as part of the punkscene? Seems like people think that anything sufficiently fast and distorted is punkrock super de luxe, but to me it sometimes end up sounding like Polish black metal with an anti-police stance. These days there is a whole new generation coming into the punk-rock scene, and even though 80% are there for a few weekends of beer and fashion, there will always be people who are misfits, addicted to rocknroll and like to dress in sexy leather ´n bulletbelts.
 
LC: Any chance of a US tour? Gorilla Angeb is going back to tour the East Coast soon.

L : Yeah, those bastards. Of course it would be cool to tour The Great Satan. But it´s just hard without having someone there taking care of the details, and not many offered us to tour the place. We only have one 7" and a tape out...not quite a household name on the scene. Yet, of course.
 
LC: Favorite movie, drink and record?

L: Movie: "Dansk, Gravid & Bizar III" (Danish, Pregnant & Bizarre III). Drink: Milk. With a bit of Kahlua, vodka and ice, please. (I think you call that a White Russian, Lasse, haha. ed.). Record: something with The Feederz or Le Shok?

LC: You have a track on the upcoming "Detonate - Scandinavia comp"?

L : Well, no actually. I just got word today that it is cancelled until further notice.

LC: Anything to add?

L : Not really. If you wanna order records, look at pictures or download music or whatever, go to http://www.kicknpunch.com . For shows, info : Lasballade@gmail.com On april 21st you get a massive punk rock line-up at Ungdomshuset with Hjertestop + No Hope For The Kids + Sløseri Der Skader Os Alle and the best swedish thing since korv med mos: Regulations. And to the Irish readers: Look out! You´re gonna get a hjertestop in May Special bonus: look out for HjerteUnplugged playing at a bar near you !