Lodi, North Italy isn't a town much known for its musical scene, be this due to the relative closeness to a bigger city like Milan with its tons of clubs, squats or to Lodi's posh-wanna be rich feel in the air of town's downtown but this environment doesn't stop some young people to claim their spaces and try and build in a D.I.Y. way something alternative to the usual dull pub-disco routine. A THORY OF JUSTICE hails from Lodi and is a modern hardcore combo made up by a bunch young and passionate friends that released their debut full-length effort “Athena” last November.
gotanerve-zine.com took the chance to email their singer (roberto) a bunch of questions about their history, their recent mini East-Europe tour, the CLAM association and of course the record they worked very hard on.
gotanerve-zine.com took the chance to email their singer (roberto) a bunch of questions about their history, their recent mini East-Europe tour, the CLAM association and of course the record they worked very hard on.
gan: Hey, how's all in life?
atoj: all’s good! first of all, thanks to marco for giving us this opportunity!
gan: First off, I wanna let you guys intruduce your band to the readers of gotanerve-zine.com. So, where is A THEORY OF JUSTICE from? Who makes up ATOJ? When you guys started out? And anything else you wanna add.
atoj: we started to play together in September 2008, we're friends since a long time and music joins us together in a unique family. For the love of friendship and for the music.
gan: Your band name is A Theory Of Justice. Any deeper meaning behind this moniker and how did you come up with it?
atoj: the name is taken from the title of a book (gan: by American philosopher writer John Rawls - dated 1971) who talks about men’s ethic and morality. We liked the idea to bring a so strong and powerful name around!
gan: You guys released your debut record “Athena” last November. How do you feel about it? And do you think the kids and one who got the chance to listen to it reacted?
atoj: we’re proud of the record,it’s what we are searching for, it represents these three years where we raised up together. the record is going well, we’re receiving a lot of good feedbacks and it’s awesome for us! if you wanna check out our facebook and reverbnation pages everything is on streaming! and anyway in a little bit you can download it for free!
gan: What is your favorite song lyrically and/or musically on the new album?
atoj: personally I love “Fuck you call me heretic”. it explains what happened to us in these three years really easily described in a song! I love “The lane” and “Planet terror” too.
gan: Lyrically, you have songs like “Do You Think” which deals with modern slavery and “Planet Terror” about earth exploitation and environment. Do you wanna further explain your take on these topics?
atoj: oh shit, finally someone is asking me that! awesome!!! ”Do you think” try to explain how much the monetary slaving is burning this system, bringing it in another slavering, like the sexual one. “Planet terror” try to describe how this place is suffocated by concrete and industries, where everyday people die to bring food to the others, when isn't killing necessary to live.
gan: How do you guys write your stuff? And is there one member who takes more credits for the writing?
atoj: basically, I wrote the lyrics, then I explain everything to the bandmates and if it works…good! Otherwise, I’ve to rewrite everything…fuck! Still now everybody in the band seems to like all the lyrics!
gan: Last December you had the chance to cross the Italian borders and play some shows in East Europe. How was it? Any tour related stories you wanna share with us?
atoj: it was terrifying!!! was an incredible experience, we met lot of good friends!! we got the chance to visit beautiful places, share our music outside our country but, most of all, see lot of beautiful girls.
gan: Did the kids know know your stuff? What are the differences you noted comparing an Italian crowd to a foreign one?
atoj: people get crazy as fuck!!! they are starting a war all the time!! I can’t tell you differences!
gan: So you hail from Lodi, which is a provicial city not really much known for its musical scene. How is your city current scene? Any new bands you would suggest us to check out?
atoj: ya, it’s a small town but lot of good bands hail from here, exception for the cover one, fuck that shit! there aren’t so much hardcore bands but I can suggest you the young Disgustibus (punk) or Los Fuocos (rock’n’roll),there are a lot of good band but i don’t remind the names!!!
gan: How has growing up in Lodi influenced you as a band and individuals?
atoj: it has influenced me a lot, the song “forever” speaks about the relationship between the people and our town, Lodi really sucks, you have to know where you have to go and take care about your boy or girl and friends or you can really die!
gan: I know some of you guys are involved with a project worth mentioning -the CLAM association. How this thing came about and what are some of the goals you have and projects for the future?
atoj: three of us are members, we manage shows, exhibitions, we gave the chance to local bands to play and we also try to bring in foreigner bands. Nobody earns money from here because everyone is volunteer and it’s really good because people come really massive to the place and lot of bands have the chance to play! Right know we’re trying to teaching to younger kids how to bring this place along, hoping this place never dies.
gan: When you're not holed up in the rehearsal room or engaged with the association duties, what do you for a living and in your free time?
atoj: 3 of us has got a job, most of nights we hang out to have party, drinking, girls, lot of music and lot of concerts!
gan: In the song “The Lane” you sing ...this is not for the money, this is not for the glory...this is the real hardcore. And these words remind me the song from NOFX “The Cause” (it isn't for the money, no it isn't for the fun...we're just doing it for the cause). What in your view hardcore is all about and how it changed over the years?
atoj: shit, you’re right, totally forget about the nofx one! I learned hardcore before being music is a way of life. I learned more from music than at school! If you compare bands from the eighties/nineties with today’s ones, you can catch the difference, outside the productions, in the lyrics, because nobody cares to talk about topics uncomfortable, political or environmental views. Pay attention: not all the modern bands do so, but most of them do.
gan: What' up next for ATOJ?
atoj: we’re writing new songs for next album, shooting a new video and always searching for new gigs! We just ask money for the trip! Write us at our facebook page.
gan: Okay, that's really it for me. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply this interview. Any final words of wisdoms?
atoj: thanks so much marco for giving us this chance. really, with love, support and to gotanerve, here are the links where you can find our shit. Take a shoot, hope you’ll like it!!! Up for the punks!
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