Interview with Matt Kliszka of Vile Species by Dave Wolff
Tell the readers about Vile Species' beginnings and how active you’ve been since you started.
Vile Species was formed in late 2019 by Sotiris, me and our drummer then Alekos. After a short time Stefanos and Samer joined us and our first line-up was complete. We played a couple of shows in early 2020 and we released an EP in May of the same year. During the next years and after some lineup changes we released several splits and a demo and finally our first LP "Against the Values of Civilization" and also we did our first tour in 2023. In September of 2024 we released our latest LP "Disqualified as a Human".
Before your band was formed, were any members of Vile Species involved with other bands? To date, how many lineup changes have you experienced?
Everyone in the band played previously and still play on several metal, punk and rock bands. I used to play in bands like Gloomy Sunday, Foul Entity, Rapture, Angrier Than You, etc., Chris used to play in Aceptic Goitre and is still active in Incineration and Anomaloi Xaikaloides, Sotiris used to play in Teknokrater and EdxKemper and Michalis played in EdxKemper, Inactive Messiah, Hedvika and still plays in Dirty Granny Tales.
As for the lineup changes, there were quite a few and only me and Sotiris are in the band since the beginning. There was also a long time that we were playing as a five piece but now we are a four piece.
Why did you choose to do Vile Species as a grindcore band? How far back are your influences, and what about the genre appeals to you and the others?
Sotiris and I wanted to start a Grindcore band just because it is our favorite genre. We are influenced by old bands but by newer ones, as well. I listen to a lot of grind records that are coming out every year and that helps me write songs, especially when I feel that I have hit a wall and can't come up with something new.
What appeals us most to the genre is the intensity and the speed of it. The blast beats, the riffs, the vocals, you can't go wrong with that.
Which type of grindcore—more politically charged or horror and gore-themed—do you prefer? Or is it contingent upon your state of mind at the time?
We all prefer the more politically charged Grindcore, like Napalm Death or Assuck but we are also fans of many gore and horror themed bands like Repulsion and we enjoy a lot of Goregrind as well in the vein of early Carcass and Dead Infection. The influences come from every style mentioned above in terms of our sound or playing etc. And we are also fans of Death Metal, which I think is even clearer in our latest album.
Why, in your opinion, did grindcore initially diverge into gore/horror and politically motivated styles? At the time, how similar was the genre to death metal?
I think that is because Grindcore is both rooted in metal and punk. There were bands that were influenced more by early thrash metal and there were other bands that were more into early hardcore punk, bands that were more political. I think though that during all those years the scene was starting to get more mixed and that grindcore became more of a statement, regardless of the gore or political differences. You could see a lot of early flyers with every kind of grindcore bands and even death metal bands.
As for death metal, it is clear that it became a genre closely related to grindcore and we can notice that since the early 90s where a lot of grindcore bands were starting to shift to a death metal sound. Of course, death metal to this date is a more mainstream genre if you compare it to grind and also the mentality is different between the scenes. I would say that not every metalhead is a fan of grindcore and I have noticed that not everyone has a clear view of what is grindcore at all.
In what ways have grindcore styles from Asia, North America, England, and Continental Europe contributed to the genre's overall diversity?
I believe that now a lot of bands have created their own sound. If you listen to newer records, you will see that they differ much than the records in the 80s or 90s. Then, as you mentioned different scenes from different continents or countries, had their own style and vision of grindcore. Today I think bands have mixed everything and have created something different. The bands now don't try to limit themselves to a certain way of playing just for the sake of being called "true grind" or whatever. I think that the progress of grindcore is great and we still get cool albums every year.
Grind has always had potential to develop on its own merits, considering that bands from different parts of the world can play it without any restrictions. Do you think this is how grind and its subgenres can develop further?
Well, now Grind is a genre without any limitations. If you look at how many different kinds of bands there are out there, it is crazy. Some will play more old school or more modern, others will play more technical or progressive style. Basically, most of stuff with blast beats is called grind nowadays. Personally I am not fan of every kind, because some style cross the limits of what I have in my mind as Grindcore but I respect the bands as long as there is a "proper grind attitude" (can't really explain what I mean). In conclusion, to answer the question, we never know how it will develop, people can play anything over a blast beat! Maybe it will be good or maybe it won't.
Which grindcore albums—both recent and classic—do you listen to most frequently? Which up-and-coming bands have you checked out recently?
There are tons of albums I listen to very often for years. Classics like the Grindcore period of Napalm Death, World Downfall by Terrorizer, Horrified by Repulsion and anything by Assuck and also some 00s classics like Murderworks and Exit by Rotten Sound or World Downfall by Insect Warfare. I also listen often to albums by bands like Death Toll 80k, Suffering Mind, P.L.F., and Dead Instrument. Some more recent stuff that enjoy are the latest albums by Eraser, Convulsions and Morgue Breath. Also, some Greek bands to check: Συντρίμμια (Sintrimmia), Φορμόλη (Formoli), Head Cleaner, Konsensus, Delete the Mass, Slavebreed, Progress of Inhumanity, Raw Noise Apes and more.
Are there any subgenres or offshoots of grindcore, such as noisegrind, electrogrind, NIntendocore, and so on, which the band is interested in?
We are mostly the "straightforward grindcore type" of people but we have some interest in more noisegrind or noisecore if done well. Sotiris played in Teknokrater for years, a band I also played with them for a while. Also Sotiris appeared on some other noisegrind and etc projects and we also had one noisecore project for fun, it was called Krousma. Just one CD-R released, recorded with a phone or something, maybe played two gigs.
How did local grind fans receive Krousma's only CD-R when it was released? Was the plan for this project always to be a one-off?
I don't think that we had any fans ha-ha. It was just a project that I played drums and couldn't even play properly (not that I can now, but at least I started to practice). It was just a project for fun that we did during Covid and when we had a lot of time at the rehearsal room. We played one to two gigs, maybe three; I can't remember. Just a phone recording and then we just gave away some CD-Rs. It was fun.
Did Vile Species want to experiment with the genre or just play what felt right when they first started playing grindcore?
We just wanted to play straight Grindcore. During the years we changed our style a lot I think, so you can say that somehow we have experimented with our sound, but we never aimed to play something that would fell under the "experimental" category. I don't say that it is bad and I really believe that many grind bands are great at what they do, while playing more technically etc., but as for Vile Species, it is not our thing. We just try to deliver the some straightforward vicious riffs and blast beats.
How did the band's first performances in 2020 go? At that early point in your career, was the audience's reaction encouraging?
Our first gig was in late January of 2020 in Athens with some d-beat and hardcore punk bands at a DIY space. The place was full packed and full sweaty. It was total chaos! The response was great, but I feel that we were a completely different band back then. Only two of us are still in the band since then and we have changed our sound and style drastically. You could call it more hardcore punk with blast beats and grind vocals.
Also, when someone asks me about our first gig, I have to mention our second gig which happened around one week later in early February in London, UK. It was supposed to happen at a squat that would last one night but the cops shut it down immediately so the guys that organized the gig found another one in less than an hour or something! That gig was also full packed, it was raining outside so the floor inside was covered in mud and people were falling down in the pit, so you can imagine. There were ten bands playing that night, I think fifteen minutes each. It was insane!
Does playing shows in squat houses have a certain appeal to the band compared to playing in clubs?
We prefer playing in squats and in DIY spaces. Here in Greece, those shows are accessible for everyone, which means you don't pay a standard entrance fee, you just pay a donation as much as you can, so that is a big plus. I feel that those shows are more intense and also you feel that there is a stronger sense of community. The only people that are not welcome there are idiots like racists, sexists etc. We still play some club shows from time to time and most of the time they are great as well, but we don't do that as often since we can play more at the DIY spaces for the reasons mentioned above.
U.S. squat shows are the same. Free punk and hardcore performances are held in a park in Manhattan, New York. Why, in your opinion, have these shows persisted since the late 1980s?
Those shows have persisted because of the DIY ethics and because of their stance against fascism, racism, etc. Many shows here in Greece are benefit gigs for people in need, for political activists or medical expenses. There are also DIY spaces that don't do benefit shows but try to keep an anti-commercial stance against profit or "rock star attitudes". Even if you can't afford a small donation, nobody will deny you the entry to the gig. The only people in those spaces that are not welcome are fascists, nazis, sexists, homophobes etc. It just means, don't be an asshole and respect everybody. Unfortunately, during the last years many squats are being evicted by the police and the government and many other DIY spaces are being shut down and are not operating anymore. Also, a lot of benefit shows were organized at universities but the government now doesn't allow it and people are protesting against it. The scene is still strong here in Greece for all the above reasons mentioned and many bands are being formed every year but the problem now is the access to public spaces where you can organize festivals, the evictions of squats and several other problems that other DIY spaces have now, like being in a neighborhood that doesn't want the noise etc. Let's hope that we can still keep those spaces open, even though every year it is getting worse.
To date, how many squat performances has the band performed? Are these programs quite typical in Greece? Which bands frequently perform at squats? Have you performed at any squat shows where activism is taking place?
I don't know exactly the number, but we played most of our shows are at DIY venues, DIY fests and squats, so let's say around 90% happened at squats or autonomous places etc. As mentioned above that is very typical in Greece and in most of the venues there is also political activism and there are political groups involved, but unfortunately the government and the police tries to shut the scene. Most bands that are part of the squat scene, are punk bands or groups that incorporate punk elements and take a political stance. Rap and hip-hop is also a big part of that. Metal wasn't that much until now but I see this is changing a bit since I see a lot of bands being involved during the last few years. Basically, any band that has something to say and doesn't just look for exposure, can be a part of this.
What benefit shows has the band performed? How large do you think the turnouts have generally been?
Generally, we have performed for some legal expenses for people who were arrested by the police during protests, for medical expenses of friends and people who are in the scene etc. The turnouts really depends on many factors. How many concerts or events are happening during the same day or during the weekend, or how popular the bands are, costs to rent equipment, bars and we can go on. Sometimes it can be a few hundred euros but sometimes it can be a few thousand euros, so there is no standard amount.
How much of a role do rap and hip hop play in these shows? Do any of the performances' promoters run independent newspapers?
Hip hop and rap are still a big part of the DIY scene but also a big part of Greece in general. Sometimes I feel it is hard to tell where the line between the underground and the mainstream is. Of course, there are many artist that are not commercial that are playing mostly DIY and underground gigs but very often you see a very commercial artist playing a DIY show and everyone goes crazy. I am not sure if all those people would be there if the artist wouldn't be that popular. Years ago, this was a lot clearer. You had hip hop groups or artists taking a more open stance in what they wanted to say even if some of them had commercial success. Well, it is maybe just me and for sure I am not the biggest expert in this genre. Long story short, hip hop and rap are still, to this day, a big part of this community but not as it used to be, because I don't see many DIY hip hop shows happening now.
As for the newspapers. I am not sure if any of the promoters' run any independent newspaper but to be honest I can't say for sure.
Do any local punk festivals organized by labels or promoted by well-known businesses feature in your live performances?
We have played in several punk and metal festivals but I don't recall any of them being organized by a label, a well-known promoter or anything like that. Most of them are organized by DIY collectives or individuals or even by the bands themselves. There are some cool festivals that we have played here in Greece like Punk Against Capitalism in Athens, Day of Scattering in Trikala and Greek Death Grind Scene in Thessaloniki. We played at More Noise For Life Fest in Czech Republic when we toured with our buddies Razgruha in August of 2023. This is a great DIY punk 3-day festival. No commercial shit just great (mostly) crust and d-beat bands and some grindcore and powerviolence from all over Europe. When we played, it took place at a cool football field at a village called Prestalvky (near the town of Pardubice).
Can you provide any information regarding the festivals you've mentioned?
The first one that I mentioned, is called "Punk Against Capitalism" in Athens. We played at the third edition in September of 2023. The fest is free entry with a donation (just pay as much as you can). They give a part of the money for different causes every year. Some notable bands that have appeared there during the years are Mob 47, Instinct of Survival, The Oppressed, Extinction of Mankind and many others. The event happens at public spaces, with two of them held at a university but unfortunately now that is not possible so the edition of 2024 happened at a big public space but they did rent the place.
"Day of Scattering" is another great DIY fest in Greece in a town called Trikala. Now it is a two day festival and until now only Greek bands played there but you can see some of the best punk and metal bands from all over the country. It takes place outdoors at a forest just out of the town which is awesome for a summer event.
"Greek Death Grind Scene Fest" used to be a two day annual festival in Thessaloniki and it always took place at 8ball club. We played there in March of 2024, which was the first edition in eight years. I don't think that there will be one in 2025. That is a shame because you could see some of the best Greek death metal and grindcore bands from all over the country and the atmosphere was really cool, since you meet some very nice people there.
Talk about the releases the band has come out with to date. Are they recorded and produced solo, or do you collaborate with others?
Our discography until now is:
Self-Titled EP 2020
Split with Human Obliteration 2021
Split with Civil Thrower 2021
Split with Razgruha 2021
Demo 2022
Against the Values of Civilization 2022
Disqualified As a Human 2024
The S/T EP and our two LPs were recorded, mixed and mastered by our good friend David Prudent at Made in Hell Studio. The rest were also recorded there, but I did the mixing and the mastering. The artwork for our last LP was done by Giannis Nakos (Remedy Art), but all the rest was done by Ivan (Lethargos Visuals).
What prompted you to contact Ivan and Giannis Nakos for the cover art?
Both Ivan and Giannis are good friends of our band. Ivan was introduced to us through Sotiris, who also played together with him in bands. He did the artwork for the first release of Vile Species and also the first T-shirt designs and we loved his style so much we continued to work with him. Perfect fit for the band. Unfortunately, due to tight schedule Ivan couldn't do a new art for "Disqualified as a Human", so we contacted Giannis. Normally, he doesn't do anymore this kind of style that we wanted, but he did it and he did a perfect job! He has worked with many great bands (Suffocation, Vomitory, etc). So we knew that he could do a great job. The amazing thing about both artists, is that we never tell them what we need exactly. We may give them a lyric, a title or a hint (or nothing at all) and then they create their own vision of the album. Both of them also play in bands, so they know the drill. Check the bands of Ivan called Kvadrat which is a cool Dissonant Death metal project and his Grind band Sintrimmia (Συντριμμια), which also features an ex Vile Species drummer, Dionisis. And don't forget to check the band of Giannis called Mortal Torment which is a great and fun Brutal Death metal band.
Why has David Prudent been the band's producer for so long? To what extent does he grasp grind in general?
David is a great friend of mine for over a decade now. He is a great sound engineer and a great producer. He knows how to do his job right and he also has great ideas. He doesn't record grind bands often and I don't think that he listens to a lot of grind but we think that he fits perfectly for what we need. Usually he asks for an album as a reference, to see what sound we need on a specific release, but last time we told him that we don't have any. We just told him let's make something from scratch. Well, we didn't invent the wheel, but we made our best record to date (or at least this is our opinion).
Explain how you were inspired to write some of the songs that were recorded for "Disqualified as a Human." What impact has Covid made on the band's outlook?
We wanted to write our most aggressive record and I think we did that. What inspired us is human stupidity. We write tracks about idiots who think that being a total lunatic like for example thinking that there is a superior race is cool. We write about every day social issues and idiocracy that we have to deal in Athens and Greece in general. This is actually what has inspired us to write any track. Covid hasn't impacted this record directly since it was written long after the whole thing. Some of our earlier releases were impacted by Covid though. Some of our first recordings were delayed a bit because of it and we have some tracks about some stupid shit that happened during Covid but I can say that as a band, we made a lot of progress during this time. We were part of a DIY rehearsal space back then and when a lot of other bands stopped their activity, we wrote new songs and practiced two to three times a week. We actually spent our time really creatively then.
How did you get in touch with Razgruha, Civil Thrower, and Human Obliteration for those split releases? Were those bands likewise from Greece or other countries?
I knew Jimi from Human Obliteration around two to three years before we even formed Vile Species. In 2018 I recorded some material with a grind project of mine called Corrodent. This material would land on a split tape with a band of Jimi called HeDied. Some months later, met him in Munich, Germany where I used to live then, when he was here for a trip in Europe. Long story short, we asked HO to do a split with VS in late 2020 and the split came out in 2021.
As for Civilian Thrower from France, I can't recall exactly how it happened. Sotiris was talking with one of their members and somehow a split came up in the discussion, so this is how we got it out in mid-2021.
As for Razgruha, if I remember correctly someone must have told us that a grind band from Bulgaria is looking for a band to do a split with. It must have been Thanos from Nothing to Harvest records but I am not really 100% sure. Anyway, we agreed to do it because we already had 7 tracks ready to be recorded and by the end of 2021 we released another split. To this day, we have a very good relationship with Razgruha, great band and amazing people. We were supposed to play in Thessaloniki at a squat and we did but unfortunately Razgruha had to cancel, due to Covid or something I think. But we played together in Athens 1 year later and also we did a tour in Europe together in August of 2023. Great times. Nothing but respect for those guys. Can't wait to play with them again.
What is your most accomplished recording since 2020 in terms of developing as a musician and playing grind exactly the way you want to?
"Disqualified As a Human". I think that this is what I but also the band wanted to play. It is the closest to what we wanted to achieve. I don't know if we will write a better album but we are all very satisfied with the result. Musically, it helped me get better as a guitarist, as well.
What has been Vile Species' greatest obstacle as a grind band? How do you anticipate harnessing those obstacles in the future?
Being a grind band is the biggest obstacle, haha (and especially from Athens). At first, it was also a bit difficult for us to get shows more often, because since there aren't many active grind bands in Athens left, so we had to play with bands that played something different. Grindcore is not the most popular genre in Greece, even though now people started to appreciate us a bit, I believe. Also, because Athens is far from any border, it makes touring a bit difficult for us. We will just continue doing what we do, writing and recording new noise, playing live as much as we can and so on.
-Dave Wolff
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