Madrileno punkrockers Muletrain have already received their due praise on this page, so we wouldn't be bothered with them if it wasn't for the fact that their second album, "The Worst Is Yet to Come" (reviewed elsewhere this issue) has just been released on Beat Generation, and is even better than their first. Thus, I had no choice but to hook up with the black-clad gents once again, if only to hype them a bit more.

By Jon A

LowCut: "We have the keys to your back door" - I suppose that's an homage to anal sex, no? Are you celebrating the Spanish legalization of gay marriage?

Mario: Well, we obviously celebrate the fact that gays can get married, but that song is about the fact that we're all basically under control; about the fact your computer probably has a back door through which they can check your shit; the fact that they can enter your house whenever they want and accuse you of whatever they want; the fact that they control what we know about them, what we read about them, what we see of them. Who's 'them', then? Well, I guess we all know, call me paranoid, but that's the way I think.

LowCut: You recorded your new album with Santi García, who's recorded a lot of Spanish artists by now. Why did you chose him?

Nacho: We tought that he could understand the essence of powerful hardcore-punk, the idea of our music, because of his experience with so many different bands, but still mixing it in a way so that you could hear each instrument perfectly. Something simple, yet directly in your face, with unity and aggressiveness. When you don't have that much money to record your songs, every detail is essential, and I think that Santi obtains great results from the basic idea of guitars-bass-drum and voice. He is a crack. He is going to be one of the greatest music producers/recorders of Europe.

Ivar: Santi is a guy who speaks the same language we do. Everything was easy with him. Personally, I never enjoyed recording an album so much.

Mario: He's a fucking amazing sound engineer and knows about the music we play, understands it 110%. What else do we need?

LowCut: You've played a few hundred shows: What's been your weirdest experience? I remember you playing in a squat, La Rata, outside of Madrid, with no light, no heating, and a catastrophal sound!

Mario: You were lucky enough to see the worst - and shortest - show we've ever played, as a matter of fact it couldn't have been worse, as you can testify. Apart from that, every show seems to have a memorable moment in it. There are too many to mention.

Nacho: Never did a name say more of a place: "The Rat". You could read on one of the walls: "Don't worry: Nothing is under control". Right.

Ivar: That place was a nightmare, it wasn't a good experience.

LowCut: "Jag hatar dig" is sung in Swedish by a mysterious "Sueco". How did that come about?

Ivar: Jag är halv svensk - I'm half swedish. The idea about a song in swedish started as a joke, "why don't we do a song in the Swedish crust way". It was at a time where I was really pissed of with some people, so. "Jag hatar dig" ("I hate you") is about when you really want to smash someone's face; it's quite simple and also funny in a way, and short, of course.

LowCut: "The Worst Is Yet to Come" seems to me to be a bit more melodic and a tad slower than "Demolition Preaching", is that how you see it yourselves?

Mario: It's more anthemic and sounds at least ten times better - in fact I think I've searching for that sound forever!!! - but the fury's still there, and there's tons of it on "The Worst Is Yet To Come". Anyway, some people seem to think the other way and think it's wilder and rougher, which is fine with me. I like the fact that there are different opinions, people are seeing different things on it, and I like that.

Nacho: Maybe it's easier to listen to it the first few times because of the mixing. But the anger and the fury are still there. I think it's more direct.

Ivar: I also think there's more melody, but I don't think there's less fury. Fury with melody is a good combination!

LowCut: As on "Demolition Preaching, the packaging is awesome. I suppose it's very important to you how the record shows itself in stores?

Mario: Thanks a lot mate!!! It's very important to us, just like everything else related to the band is. We have a concept that fits us pretty good, which we believe in, and the "design" - how I hate that word - is an important part of it. If somebody's paying for something I have done, I want it to be the best possible thing, and I want it cheap too!

LowCut: Since "Demolition Preaching", Mario has also released an album with Chingaleros. Has the work with them influenced your band in any way?

Mario: Muletrain and Chingaleros are two completely separated identities, but obviously, with everything band-related, you do you learn something new, which, I guess, you end up applying. It goes the same in both directions, but both bands really have two different ways of working, writing or recording.

LowCut: Why is alternative Spanish music so unknown in the rest of Europe?

Nacho: Bad distribution, no support, neither from the media, nor from the institutions; labels that don't take risks. Everything is DIY, and most of the time, it's difficult to make an effort if you have to work Monday - Friday from 9 to 6 to pay your rent.

Ivar: I also think a lot of people are of the opinion that Spain is all about paella and sangría. And, of course, there's less rock and roll tradition here if you compare with other countries.

Mario: But there are also amazing bands we keep for ourselves, hehehe. You don't know what you're missing!

LowCut: "The Worst Is Yet to Come" is dedicated to the memory of Pig Champion of Poison Idea and Kike Turmix of Pleasure Fuckers, two guys who were something like Godfathers in the punk scene, right?

Nacho: Kike, with all his good and bad things, was someone who helped create something like a punk-rock atmosphere in Spain, bringing lot of interesting bands and talking, playing, selling, living the rock and roll as his way of life. We know him since our Aerobitch years, and we respect him. Pig Champion, simply, was essential part of one of the greatest bands ever, probably one of the reasons that Muletrain feel and play music in the way we do.

Mario: Kike was always cool with us, he liked the band and tried to help us, apart from treating us great. I miss him. Tom was a really smart guy who played in one of the greatest bands ever. Both of them where huge and both of them where cool!

"The Worst Is Yet to Come" is out now on Beat Generation/Munster Records
http://www.munster-records.com