When it comes to GrindCore; there is really only one band that stand out from the rest of the crop. Agathocles have released EPs and albums in the last ten year, without getting the recognition they deserve. But their influence on the GrindCore scene has been massive. The quality of their releases has been high throughout their career.
Agathocles released their new album "Humarrogance" some months ago.
We sent them an interview through vocalist/guitarist's Matty's e- mail address.



1. Could you give us a brief presentation of Agathocles and the history of the band ?

- Well the band started way back in 1987 and there have been tons of line up changes. I hooked up with the band the first time in July 1994 as a session guitar player on their BCD tour in SPain & Portugal. Then I joined the band as a steady member in July 1995. We've been together since & since a few months ago we have a new bassplayer who really make the band more powerfull & tight.
So the new line up is:

Burt: Drums
Vince: Bass
Jan: Vocals
Matty: Guitar & vocals

2. You have released a hell of a lot releases. Please tell us more about:

Agathocles/Putrid Offal split EP/‘7.

- It was done long before my time. I've never heard the 7" but I know Putrid Offal and I saw them a few times & I like them alot. So I guess the 7" is great.

Agathocles/Averno split CD on Warmaster.

- The same here way before my time but I know the CD. There where some shitty problems with cover of this one. The label put on the cover without letting the band know how it looked (leading to sexistic crap). the recording are all live but they "rock" i think.

Theatric Symbolisation Of Life.

- The first CD of AG. One of the best sounding in my opinion (I mean the 9 studio tracks). The bonustracks are not my favorit recordings but also here before me.

Black Clouds Determinate.

- A great album with alot of great songs on it but to bad it was recorded with a shitty sound (especially the guitar it was done with a 100 tons battered flying V send through a distortion into a small peavey) We play alot of songs from it and they sound way better with the sound we have now. mmmmm maybe we can re-record them.

Razor Sharp Daggers.

- Maybe the best CD AG ever recorded. Great sound, cool riff man. I love it.

The LP’s: 1989-1991.

- This is a comp. of 2 rare to get lp's of AGx (agx/drudge & agx/lunatic invasion) it's the exact recording taking from the lp's. it's a nice thing coz a lot of people are still looking for those Lp's just like me I looking for the one with DRUDGE so if anyone has an extra copy please let me know .

Thanks For Your Hostility.

- Aaahh a cool songs but again a crappy sound. We had to do the drums again for this one (because of a lack of $$$ it had to be done fast). It's the same as with the BCD CD the songs that we still play sound 100000 times better. It's a more hardcore crust album but it was a natural thing for the band a that time.

Agarchy/Use Your Anger.

- A release like the LP's 98-91 only now with the AGx lp Use your Anger and the 7" AGARCHY on it. It's sounds like hitting a wall at high speed. It's a good thing these re-releases it give the people who are looking for it a change to get both at a cheap price. Thanks to everyone involved.

3. Is there any plans of releasing a compilation album of your EPs/’7 or a live album ??

- Yes there are plans to release the 7" on cd. On each cd there will like 4 or 5 7"'s. it's a great idea.

4. Is any members of Agathocles involved in other projects/bands ??

- Yes I play in a metal-core band called EMETH & we 're taking over Belgiums metalcore underground so Beware !!! Any one interested can order contact me at the same e-mail address. We will release our first 7" in September.
And we have one who plays since a few weeks in a old school black metal band like Celtic Frost.

5. I get the impression that Agathocles are a political band. Please tell us more about your political beliefs.

- Yes we are political inspired but i'm not the political guy in the band so sorry for the short answer: We (I) are against fascism, rascim, ... and all the political and non political groups who spread these kind of crap.

6. With your political views in mind; what is your view on the Black Metal scene ?

- The old black metal is OK, the new well sometimes it has got more to do with the image then the music and all the it used to stand for. Black Metal doesn't stand for fascism & racism.

7. What is your view on the world wide Death Metal / GrindCore scene ??

- The musical destruction still continues. Be active & be smart.

8. You are at the moment releasing albums through Morbid Records, but I get the impression that this is a kind of license deal since you have just released a split CD with Depression on another record label. The same happen when you released albums on Cyber Records. Could you please tell us more about the arrangement you have with your record labels ?

- We only do these kind of deals coz we want to control all the things we do & we like to release things on small labels also coz that what do it yourself is all about.

9. What is your future plans ??

- Releasing stuff and doing tons of show.

We wish Agathocles good luck in the future.