FOR I AM – punk rock Belgium – Interview

Hey guys, here is FOR I AM a nice punk rock melodic from Belgium and we had the chance to talk a bit about their new album and some interesting facts. Enjoy.

Photo Credit: Mateusz Delmański

Hey guys, this is MirceONE from mptyzine, how are you?

Hi MirceONE! We’re doing great! Hope you are too! 

For those who don’t know you, please tell us a short bio of the band

We are For I Am, a 5 piece melodic punk rock band from Belgium. We’ve been around for about 10 years now (wow!) and we’ve released 1 EP and 3 full albums, the latest of which – The Righteous & The Wicked – was released on April 19! We’ve been lucky to have been able to tour internationally quite a few times (EU, Japan, UK) and play shows with some of our heroes such as Frenzal Rhomb, A Wilhelm Scream, Propagandhi, Lagwagon etc. We love playing catchy tunes, spreading positive messages all over the world and we are a tight-knit framily unit! So, hi! That’s us! 

Congrats for the new album The Righteous & The Wicked, that is released by SBAM, tell me more

The Righteous & The Wicked was indeed released on SBÄM, as well as on Double Helix Records (US), Pee Records (AUS) and Bearded Punk Records (BE) and it’s already been a wonderful collab with all of them! The album to us feels like another step on the punk rock ladder, as we’ve combined the catchy uplifting vibes we’re commonly known for with some darker tunes and with this record, even more so than in the past we’re trying to speak out against injustices in today’s world. We’re really happy with the way it turned out and we’re hoping punk rock listeners out there will agree! 

You guys have been on festivals like Groezrock, Brakrock or Punk Rock Holiday, where you feel that you connect with the public? what you prefer a small venue or a festival?

Difficult one, haha! Like all punk bands, we started out in the smaller venues and we’ve always loved playing them and still do today. When you play a smaller venue, it kind of feels like people are really there specifically for you and your music, so you can just feel the love. Though at festivals you definitely get that love too, in a different form. It’s just the best when people after a festival show come up to you at the merch table and tell you they’d never heard of you before, but really loved the music. So, different experiences, both amazing in their own ways! 

You have been all over Europe in UK and Japan, what are the next steps and plans to promote the new album?

We’re definitely planning on getting out there as much as we can! Talks are ongoing about doing another international and maybe even inter-continental tour, so hopefully we’ll be able to tell you more about that soon. We’ve got a couple of cool release shows lined up in Belgium, The Netherlands, France and Germany, so if you’re around, feel free to drop in on one of ‘em! 

Photo Credit: Luna Terweduwe

Tell me about your influences and lyrics

So, as I’ve said before, the lyrics on the new album speak out against injustices in today’s world and mainly the message we’re continually trying to convey is one of trying to understand each other’s perceptions. Everyone grows up in their own environment and we’re all different. Instead of going to war or trying to hurt each other, we should try to get a better understanding of why we view the world in our own ways. That doesn’t mean it’s all political though, some songs just talk about the joys of life like travelling (Shoestring Sailors) and wanting to live your life making a difference, even if it’s just for one other person (Bonnie). Basically, positive messages overall. Lyrics wise we weren’t really influenced by any bands in particular, I’d say when it comes to instruments, you can here those influences more clearly. Bands we were influenced by are No Use For A Name and New Found Glory to just name a few. 

As we are talking about influences, please make me a top10 of your favorite bands

Oooooh, that’s super difficult, haha! But I (Hanne) will try. So, bear in mind this is my personal top 10. Cannot speak for the guys, of course, haha. 

In random order, I’d say:
No Use For A Name, Less Than Jake, Bad Religion, The Menzingers, New Found Glory, Alkaline Trio, Yellowcard, Blink 182, Jimmy Eat World, Frenzal Rhomb

You have been opening for names such as Satanic Surfers, Propagandhi, Lagwagon or Frenzal Rhomb, if you have to choose a band to make a split EP what band will be (old or new)

Off the top of my head I think it would be very cool to do a split EP with our buddies in Melonball and CF98, as we’ve become close friends. Even though we don’t see each other more than 3 or 4 times a year, we always hit it off immediately as we’re kind of in the same boat, women supporting women! So, a girl power EP would be cool! 

Please tell me a few words about the scene in Belgium

Well, to be honest, it was more alive before covid came around, so the smaller shows seem to have become rarities. Bigger festivals and club shows are still thriving, so people are definitely still interested, but I feel like the Belgian government makes it quite hard for small show promoters to put up shows, as there’s little to no funding available for it. That’s part of the reason why we play in Germany way more often than we do in Belgium nowadays. On the other hand, our friends in punk have been super supportive and are always ready to dance whenever we’re playing locally. And we love them for it, big time!

Without Google, what do you know about the punk scene in Romania

Oooh, unfortunately not that much really! Sorry! Do you have a lively punk rock scene? Would be very interested to listen to some Romanian punk rock bands! Hopefully we will get to play together with some of them someday! 

Where can people can listen and connect with you? i see that you are everywhere on social media:)

Yes, the socials are definitely a place where you can reach us easily. Just type in “foriamofficial” on insta or Facebook and you’ll find us. We also have a new website with all kinds of info and a link to our webshop. The address is www.foriamofficial.com. And of course you can listen to our music via all streaming platforms, such as Spotify and Apple Music, etc! 

Guys, thank you so much for your time, please if you have something else to add please feel free.

Thanks so much for taking an interest in our lil’ old band, we appreciate it very much! 

A short message for our few readers.

Hopefully we’ll be able to come to Romania one day and play some shows over there, would be great! We’re all for supporting the local scene! Please feel free to give our new tunes a spin and let us know what you think! All the love!

Get social with the band: FB / IG – Thanks to Nick and For I Am.

MirceONE vs For I Am – April 2024.

1984 – Nothing Will Ever Change -promo

1984 are back with their 3rd studio album. Nothing Will Ever Change will drop in May and is available for pre-order via Dirty Punk Records and Coretex. This is the band probably best album and has 11 tracks in their mix of Oi and Streetpunk with sing along choruses for your Friday night madness. Imagine Stiff Little Fingers punk rock and a bit of Clash style punky reggae. Check them out and don’t miss this from this French band. Oi and Punk at it’s finest.

Music video by Nineteen Eighty Four performing Never Forget (2018)

FACEBOOK / WEB / PRE ORDER

SNUFF – Off On The Charabanc Promo

You were looking for some punk? look at new SNUFF album: Off On The Charabanc via our friends from SBAM Records. I must say that this band dosen’t have the credit that they deserve and it is a shame. They formed back in 1986 in London and for sure it is a band that every punk listener should have it in the playlist. The new album it is PUNK (yes the way should be), it is fast, it is melodic and is honest. Go Easy the first song starts amazing and the album continues like that on all 15 tracks, oh well…from track 9 to 15 there are acoustinc versions (and SNUFF are no stranger to the acoustic versions as they had various materials on this), it is a proper sing-a-long album. Children Get Ready also bring some ska influences with horns and keyboards. Like they say we need to slow down a bit and enjoy life and the simple things, specially in the fast world of non-values promoted and the social media “trends”. This is still punk, still honest and still SNUFF. The album is fresh, came out in March this year so go and grab your copy or stream it online on all the platforms. Cheers.

Tracklist

1. Go Easy

2. Off On The Charabanc

3. Booster

4. Yellow Lights

5. Purple Prisoners

6. Fireball

7. Children Get Ready

8. The Skip

9. Charabanc (Acoustic)

10. Go Easy (Acoustic)

11. Reach (Acoustic)

12. Yellow Lights (Acoustic)

13. Toxic (Acoustic)

14. All Over Now (Acoustic)

15. An Arm And A Leg To Kinsey Crag (Acoustic)

Check their social: FACEBOOK / WEB / INSTAGRAM / SPOTIFY

Days N’ Daze – Show Me The Blueprints DEMOS

Days N’ Daze formed in 2008 in Houston and they play a mix of folk (yes folk) and crust, there is a weird and interesting combination in the same time, but hey this is music about, experiment to make something good. Show Me The Blueprints DEMOS will be out in May at our friends from SBAM Records and Flail Records. The band is signed with Fat Wreck and the original album was a blast for them. But as Jesse said: “For over a decade I recorded Days N’ Daze on a Tascam board through a single Sterling ST-55 with no DAW in a closet at my folks place in Houston, TX. I’ve never really known much about recording, mixing, and mastering. Always kinda just did what I could with what I had and understood to get a sound closest to what was in my head. Needless to say, flyin’ out to California to record an album for Fat Wreck Chords in an actual studio with computer screens, more than one mic, and someone who actually understands what all the little bips and bops on a soundboard mean was a pretty big step out of our comfort zone” so in short this version is one with the demos as they were recorded before the album was out on Fat. 15 tracks to listen loud and check them out HERE

Demoted – Shit For Brains promo

From the underground of New York, here comes Demoted. 9 tracks under the name of Shit For Brains, really fast, short and angry. In the mix of hardcore and punk that will remind you of Minor Threat. This is true DIY from the band released on CD and old school on tape. Fast riffs and guitar distortion and adrenaline, good to listen to your gym sessions. Also a nice cover artwork in the old school punk art mood. Check them out on their official web https://www.demotedband.com/

Punk to the bone.

Top10 – best of 2023 Mirceone’s picks

Hey guys, MirceONE here and here are my personal picks for 2023. (in no particular order) i have choose some albums that i have listened in 2023 from punk, ska, oi and hc. Cheers!

Violent Way-this is for us / Stage Bottles-we need each other / Sekta Core – simfonia del caos / Rancid – tomorrow never comes / The Porters-to the good times and the bad / Mustard Plug– where did all my friends go? / Hold My Own – in my way / Evil Conduct – 10 tracks no bullshit / Omnigone – against the rest / Anti Flag -Lies They Tell Our Children

Stomper 98 – ST

Stomper 98 are back. This is their 7th studio album called Stomper 98 released by their own label S98 Records. The band are celebrating their 25th anniversary and what is the best way to celebrate if not with a new album?. Social and political lyrics with sing along choruses and catchy melodic rhytm. Classic punk rock with hardcore and reggae mix with a lot of energy and some amazing line up featuring Tommi and Sebi (Toxpack) and Lars (Rancid) with Holgi on Saxophone and the new band members: Sille on bass and Stefan on drums. This is streetpunk.

Death Before Dishonor – Master Of None

Amazing news for the hardcore fans out there. Death Before Dishonor the Boston HC outfit are celebrating 24 years as a band and they are returning with a new two song EP 7”. This EP was recorded by Zeuss (Hatebreed, Agnostic Front) and it has two new songs: Master Of None and a cover of Sonic Reducer from Dead Boys. So this is hardcore and metal riffs mixed with punk at their finest. The EP is out from Bridge 9. Make sure to give them kudos for this and wait for the new material.

Official music video for Death Before Dishonor’s “Freedom Dies”, off their new album ‘Unfinished Business’. Out now on Bridge Nine Records. This is their latest full album released just before the pandemy in 2019.

MPTY ZINE no. 54 – free download

Oi you! Here is another short number of our zine, number 54. I have been busy and didn’t have a lot of time to put this together but i am glad that you are still reading it. Still alive and still going to concerts so this will be the message for this number as well, go to concerts, buy merch and music from the bands and labels, try to support the movement and always play it nice. Stay close to your family and friends and do not forget to breathe. Always stay yourself and remember Love Music, Hate Fascism, nobody is ilegal and we aim for a better future. Until next time friends.

This zine is free, however if you want to give me a coffee you can do it here

Read and download the zine below

mptyzine 54Download

Rancid – Tomorrow Never Comes PROMO

Well this is a hard one, as I just love Rancid. They have been in my top10 for many years so it is hard to write something about them. The Bay Area punks are back with their 10th studio album, and yes they still kick some ass. The new material, Tomorrow Never Comes is out on Hellcat Records. I will not start to write about their history and their side projects as they are many. 16 new tracks, short and in the pure punk rock. They are still independent, the music still is talking about politics and social issues, they carry on the traditions of the punk bands that were before them and they have become an inspiration for the new bands that came after. The album has already few videos out and 3 singles already out, the album was produced by Brett Gurewitz of Bad Religion and what else? Oh yes…is punk rock the way should be and really short, running time 28 minutes. Play it loud.