Why
did we choose Against Time to be the band of the month?
Because
they're one of the best dutch emo/punkbands at this time. Their
new album is really great and at live shows they really kick
ass!
Against
Time is:
Tjirk...........................................................................Michel.............................................................................Ivo
...
...
Justin.........................................................................Kees
...
(pics
taken bij Hanneke de Jonge and Cathy Schlee)
Biography
AgAgainst
Time
was founded early in 1994. The band started out playing covers
of their punkrock heroes, but it wasn't long until they became
more ambitious about their music and started writing their own
songs.
We
recorded our first album ‘and not for
anyone’ and signed with Meter
Records (Calgary, Canada). This was a big mile stone
for us, we went to Canada to promote our album.
We
went back to the studio to record our new album "never
forever". After having recorded the album we
faced a big change. Our original member
"Kioga" was replaced for"
Kees". This was very hard on us as we have gone
through som much together.
Kees
learned the whole album in a few days and we headed to Spain
the same weekend Kioga quit.When we got home, we all knew that
this was the band we were all searching for.
The
spark ignited, and Against Time started working harder then
ever, we packed our bags and in October
2001 we went back to Spain.
We
released `Never Forever` and
got in touch with two agencies that are going to manage the
Against Time bookings.
With
the release of 'Never Forever' Against
Time proove they have grown tremendously over the years, bringing
a mature sound in which they encompass all kinds of influences
and emotions. Great melodies, great songs on a well produced
album with which they can easily take up competition with likeminded
bands like Saves the Day, Hot Water
Music and Thursday.
There
are only a few punkrockbands who have what it takes to really
stand out. Against Time has got it all;
passion, melody, an emotional touch, intensity and
most of all; great songs! Having
played all over Europe and Canada, Against Time is a tight and
impressive live-act with international status!
Discography
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Against
Time proves that their act is world class by bringing
ear-scorching melodies, thundering rhythms and powerful
social messages to you from The Netherlands. "And
not for anyone..." is the band's debut effort and
was recorded and produced at Bunt's Utrecht by Menno Bakker
(famous for his work with bands such as Undeclinable Ambuscade
and NRA). If fast, solid beats, searing guitar solos,
and thick vocal harmonies are your game, do not let this
album pass you by.
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"For
You From the Underground" showcases the Meter Records
family of artists. Loaded with diverse stylings from straight-up
punk to math rock, to post-hardcore, to acoustic rock,
this sampler has been called "good stuff!" by
Muchmusic VJs and touted by record store staff to be "one
of the most exciting new releases of all time!"
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Forging
a dynamic compound of blood-pumping hardcore with honest
break-downs, Against Time has made an unforgettable record
out of Never Forever... one that will give you goose bumps.
Combine powerful introspection and social-revolution in
lyricism with buzz-saw riffs, cleverly driven beats, and
an addictively melodic sensibility... that is the essence
of Never Forever and one awesome, timeless record.
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Review
Against
time - Never Forever
Bergen op Zoom.
A small place in the very south of Holland. A place that used
to only be known to me because it's the last Dutch stop on the
train to Belgium. And now because of Against Time, who blew
me away with their sophomore record "Never
Forever".
On their first cd "And not for
Anyone" Against Time played fast
melodic punkrock. I expected this record to be a
little different, but not this different! Most songs are pretty
slow and emo-ish, And I
know that most people think "slow"
equals "boring and less energetic",
but not this f*cker. For this band slowing down means there's
time for nicer guitar riffs, better vocal melodies, and better
dancing and singing along to the record. Even though they've
slowed down the record sounds extremely
energetic. And "Never
Forever" also shows the band's growth as song
writers and musicians.
Most of the twelve songs on here deal with relationship
and friendship issues, and are very easy to relate
to (one of the qualities a good song should have in my opinion).
"Share" for instance
perfectly captures the feeling of being with someone you love,
knowing you'll have to leave later on. It's always hard for
me to compare a band to other bands, especially when they've
managed to find their own sound, but if I'd have to draw a comparison
Against Time sometimes reminds me of
Saves the day's "Through being Cool" record.
By the way, the artwork for the cd,
which is done by band members Ivo (vocals) and Tjirk (guitar/vocals)
is also amazing. Very well thought
out and it looks great. Hats off!
Forget Travoltas. Forget Face Tomorrow. This undoubtably is
the best punk rock/emo record from
a dutch band this year. Or maybe that's just my opinion.
The fact remains that this record will rock everyone's socks
off, and I think anyone who calls him or herself punk should
at least have this record in his/her collection!
Reviewed
by: Siebe......Rating:
90%
Interview
Can
you tell me something about your band and introduce all the
band members?
Against
Time is a emo/punk rock band from the south of Holland
the
current line up is :
Kees
- drums (`81) joined the band apil 2001 and is one of the most
hard working drummers I have ever seen, he was the missing link
and the spark that we needed to become who we are today
Justin
- guitar (`76) founded Against Time in `94, he does the accounting
and has developed the band's internet site (the technical stuff).
Justin is the band`s spokesman
Tjirk
- guitar(`78) joined the band when we started writing our own
songs, I believe it was `98 Tjirk does together with Ivo the
artwork of the band [website and CD cover] writes together with
Ivo most of the basics of our new songs
Michel
- bass (`74) substituted Gilbert early `91 He used to be our
manager back then, and rocks from his soul ever since
Ivo
- vocals (`75) is together with Justin the only member since
the birth of the band in `94. Ivo puts his heart into the band
by writing lyrics that have their own story each.
You've been a band for a long time now, what is the thing that
keep's you still going as a band?
We
are a hardworking people that are driven by the music we make,
we always have new ideas and want to translate them into music.
Being on a stage is something adore…...you are standing there,
playing in your own world and throwing all emotions towards
the audience….something we cannot live without…
Your
old drummer left the band a while ago, what's the story about
that? And have there been more changes in the line up over the
years?
Against
Time used to play fast hardcore punk, but over the years we
found the rhythm and melodic were we could drop our heart into.
Kioga is unfortunately not that type of drummer…it was a hard
period for us
You just released your new album
called: "Never Forever". What was it like to record
it?
It
was a complete new experience for us, Menno Bakker gave all
he could to create this awesome record. We also changed a lot
of the original songs resulting in songs like start over with
Menno singing together with Tjirk and Ivo. We just had an awesome
time with Menno!
Coming
out the studio with this record was like: we have closed the
'and not for anyone' period. And now we are going to rock the
world
You
released "Never Forever" on Meter records. How did
you end up, signing with them?
Our
first record 'and not for anyone' was released on Meter as well,
the story about the cooperation is actually quite simple. Back
in `99 when we the finished our first record and I started to
search the net for label that wanted to release our album. We
had a couple of labels that wanted to release our record but
Meter Records felt like the label that had the most feeling
with the music, the meter team felt like instant friends the
first time we had contact. Never Forever seemed like the logical
sequence
I
noticed some changes between your album "Not for Anyone"
and "Never Forever". "Never Forever" is
more emo-ish. Do you especially choose for this new sound? And
is this really your new style?
Our
music did change very much indeed, but that is not something
that we. After our first release we started writing new songs,
we started out with some chords and ending up with something
totally different, you can say that a song 'grows' until it`s
finshed..just like the process of a worm becoming a butterfly
..... we just never know how a songs ends up, if you ask me
how our new record will be….then I cannot answer that question…
You
guys played with some really big bands like No Motive and Strung
Out. How did you end up playing with them? And what was it like
to play with them?
The
Canadian tour was setup by our tour manager, he arranged the
Strung out & No motive thing.
Playing
with 'famous' punkbands is less fun then bands that operate
on the same level. Don`t understand me wrong, because by 'operating
at an other level means' that bands act different… like strung
out arrives in a big coach and after the show they jump back
in…no motive are really cool guys though that drink a bear with
you…and hang out with other you, sharing experiences and talk
about music….that`s what the music business should be about…..
You
also did some shows in Canada and Spain. What was that like?
Any cool stories you can tell about that?
Touring
is really awesome, you meet so many nice people….you go to places
were you would normally never get.
we
get exited Every time we get our things together for a tour
even though you sleep in the most worst places and you sit for
10 hours a day in small van.....sometimes being sick and keep
on going……that simply does not matter when you meet the friendly
people in the different cities!
One
tip for other bands : start touring!!
Ok,
one funny story : last tour when we went to Spain we stopped
at a gas station to fill up the van…..some people of of no avail
went into the shop to buy some food. Then we drove to the parking
space just 100 meters further….we thought that everyone was
there….but then the phone rang……
one
of the guys got scared because he thought that we had forgotten
him [he as taking a shit when we drove off] his cell was in
the van so he couldn't call us, so he called home…..they searched
for our numbers and called us that we forgotten somebody…..sounds
not that scary, but imagine…..to vans in the middle of the desert
[cause I think Spain is a desert] reminding that the two vans
where mixed with 'of no avail' and 'against time' …….so what
could have happened is, that we would have noticed 800 km further
that we had forgotten somebody…….we had a laugh about it afterwards!
You've
played a lot of shows in Holland lately, what do you like the
best about doing shows?
We
like crowded venues, and low stages…we would like to have contact
with the crowd….we want it hot and steamy….and then we explode!!
When we are playing we enter another world, being with yourself
and the music…awesome!!....sounds strange doesn't it? Well we
like it!!!
What
do you think about the Dutch punkrock scene? Are there any Dutch
punkbands that you really like?
I
don`t have an opion about the scene, sometimes we feel like
nothing is happening but then a great show pops up and we have
a great time…..I agree with the scene becoming smaller but that
does not mean that `s worse. I do have to admit that the scene
in, for example Belgium a lot better…..
But
hey, I think people complain too much….we are happy to play
anywhere anytime…
there
are great bands in the Netherlands it`s a shame that you don`t
hear much from them…..but that is our pop culture. For example
in the USA you have more stages for a band to operate….you start
in the local venue….then you play in the small venue in your
area……the comes the middle stages….the bigger stages……the semi
professional stages…and so on..
where
we live you start in a café then the small stages, and
after that the arena shows…..there is nothing in between and
I think is the main reason bands quit…..they try and try and
play a few times @ the small stages like Willem II and Doornroosje…..the
venue notices that this new band does not bring many people
in and does not book them anymore….the band will try and try……and
finally give in
To
many bands in the Netherlands die because of this, and that
is a big shame.
What
other bands are you influenced by?
411,
AFI, Alkaline trio, Anti Flag, Avail, Bad Religion, Braid, Breathe
in, By a thread, the Cable Car Theory, the Casket Lottery, Choke,
Coheed & Cambria, Carry on, Count me Out, Descendents, Gorilla
Biscuits, Grade, Hey Mercedes, Hot Rod Circuit, Hot Water Music,
Hundered Reasons, In my eyes, Insted, Jawbox, Jawbreaker, Jets
to Brasil, Jimmy Eat World, Kid Dynamite, Knapsack, Last Days
of April, the Liars Academy, Lifetime, Moneen, No More Lies,
Pale, the Pavers, Pilot to Gunner, the Pixies, Pollen, Propagandhi,
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rise Against, Refused, Samiam, Seaweed,
Sensefield, Six Going on Seven, Small Brown Bike, Standstill,
the Stryder, Strike Anywhere, the Strokes, Texas is the Reason,
Thursday, Time in Malta, Trial by Fire.
To
mention a few
Do
you think that it's hard for Dutch punkbands to get noticed
in other countries?
It`s
all about working hard for your shows, the first time you travel
to another country you will properly will have to pay extra
money and play in front of a few people….you have to carry on,
go again….then it will pay off. Another problem is that most
bands just exist for a year or two…..every band has to grow,
and find there way into music
it`s
all about 'holding on' and keep believing
Any
big plans for the future?
We
are really doing great now, we got our sponsorship with Lifetimeclothing
[can] and got hooked up with two bookings agencies. The last
reviews we got from our new album were awesome.
We
want to do it al!! Meet everybody, go everywhere, record a new
record album this year, play as much as we can…
and
do that for the next 25 years!
For
more info about Against Time check
out: www.against-time.com
