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[title]A Place to Bury Strangers – or otherwise known as New York’s loudest band – is a trio that blends heavy post-punk with shoegaze pop, drawing references, not without reason, to The Jesus and Mary Chain; there are the custom-made effects pedals, the dark, dreamy melodies, more texture than structure.
‘Transfixiation’, their fourth LP, is a wall of ’80s noise; but they still sound as reverb-infused, as visceral as ever, largely thanks to founder, frontman, and only remaining original member Oliver Ackermann maintaining a singularity of sonic style and substance through the band’s decade-over existence. Ahead of the band’s show in KL, Oliver chats to us about their latest album and what to expect from their set. Spoiler: they’ll probably ‘break things’.
‘Transfixiation’ is the first A Place to Bury Strangers album to feature Robi Gonzalez. What was the writing and recording process like this time around with the addition of Robi Gonzalez, and how does it compare to the previous albums?
It was really good and natural for us this time recording. Robi had been in the band for over a year, and we had been constantly on tour since he joined. The shows had been so killer; we were playing so super exciting and dangerous shows so when we went into the studio, we just tried to capture that. In the past we would spend more time working on recordin¬g particulars, but this record we just wanted to capture this energy. I think it’s really worked, and captured a real moment in time for this band.
How would you say your sound has evolved; what are the stylistic changes?
It has gone in a lot of different directions. As time goes on we listen to different music and see new bands play, and a lot of that is extremely inspiring. I think we have become more aggressive, and really cared less about details and focused on just feeling it.
The band has been quoted as saying that you’ve ‘tried to keep things as pure as possible’.
By pure, we mean direct translation of emotion and feeling without letting anything else get in the way. If the song isn’t interesting or something, we’ll judge it later but at the time we just let go and let the emotion come out. Whatever it was, complex anger, hatred, misery, love; those are feelings that make songs resonate and breathe life all on their own without some sort of fancy razz matazz sprinkled on top.
It’s been more than a decade since your debut. Do you find that your influences are the same as when you started out, or has it all changed over the years?
It has definitely changed and that is pretty interesting. I do think our band still holds on to its roots of punk and new wave, and that inspiration only branches off into new directions as we destroy it.
You’ve been described by many as ‘the loudest band in New York’. What do you think of this tag?
We are pretty crazy loud so it has helped us out when we blow up someone’s PA. They were warned.
You also assemble your own gear, pedals, recording equipment – do you write songs to fit your existing equipment, or do you design new equipment to create new sounds?
We do both. Sometimes effects inspire new songs and we also build a lot of gear to make sounds that we want.
It’s also been said that the rhythm section is a lot more prominent on this album than the previous ones. Was this a conscious decision?
It was. The songs were a lot more primal in their creation. Everything was a little bit dumbed down in a way, which promote gyration and rhythms and that built the songs. Even the guitar playing is a lot more than just sound effects and blasts that add small shifts and textures, rather than complex interweaving melodies.
Following up on that, you’re known for your, well, loud live performances. How much work is put into creating and recreating that atmosphere and that intensity show after show?
We are always increasing it and pushing to do that. Once we have reached the boundaries, the band will end. I don’t want to be a band in the decline ever. It is always disheartening to see a show that was worse than the last time. Sometimes shows aren’t always the best, but I believe we are on an incline of increasing intensity.
You’re known to break things onstage. What can we expect from your KL show?
We will break things.
‘Transfixiation’ is out now. www.aptbs.tumblr.com