Since their beginning, the band recorded a demo, an EP, 3 LP’s, a live LP and a Megadeth cover. The latest effort "Pulse? LP" is by far their best work yet, with 57 minutes of diverse music and more profound lyrics, also including a cover of Sepultura’s Dead Embryonic Cells. It will be released on 30th September 2019.
Algebra's live experience covers venues and festivals across Europe and Cuba, including Metal Camp, Inferno Fest, Metal Assault, Brutal Fest, alongside headliners such as Slayer, Kreator, Dark Funeral, Dew-Scented, Psycroptic and other legends.
With this experience and a solid new release, they plan to take the road to mosh up a town near you!
1. Introduce yourself and your band and
tell us why we should listen to you.
We are a thrash metal band from
Switzerland and you should listen to us because we are passionate
about turning all the negativity in the World into intense music
which will touch others the way music has touched us.
2. What do you classify your sound as.
Who do you tell people you sound like?
Until now, we adopted a predominantly
80’s style of thrash metal which includes some more modern elements
of death, groove and prog. Our main influences are Slayer, Sepultura,
Metallica, Forbidden, Exodus, Testament, Coroner, Death, Gojira,
Decapitated and many more.
3. With digital music in today's world
would you vote to keep or eliminate physical media?
Tough question, because physical media
uses resources such as paper and plastic, so the digital format is
definitely more ecological. However, people still value objects,
especially people as passionate about collecting albums as
metalheads, therefore this remains one of the best way for bands to
make some of their income, along with other merch and concert
tickets. We’d have to find a way to sustain the business before
banning the physical format.
4. What is the reason you decided to be
a musician and has that reason paid off?
Having five sisters, moving from
California to Switzerland at a young age and being quite sensitive by
nature, I had challenges adapting and expressing myself. Music
touched me profoundly, allowed me to connect to the songs of artists
which I admired and it freed me a little. My father is very into
classical music and made us play instruments from a young age. I had
the cello, but quickly started turning it horizontally and strumming
power chords over Nirvana records. I then was allowed to switch to
classical guitar and eventually just went electric and learned all my
favorite bands’ songs by ear on my stereo. It paid off multiple
times, because after a fair share of loneliness, anxiety,
introversion and depression, in my mid-teens music allowed me to find
comfort, identity, a way of expression and even friendship.
5. How do you feel about females in
metal getting special attention? Do you feel it is fair?
They are one of the minorities in the
metal community, therefore it is great that people are being
inclusive and encouraging more of them to join the cause. It is nice
that people are valuing women artists, since they have just as much
to bring to metal as men. The more they feel represented, the more
others will start to join. The same should be true for each
under-represented gender, sexuality, culture and race: we must
include everyone since metal is one of the purest forms of expression
and an amazing experience to share and connect with others. The more
diversity we get, the more interesting the music will become, since
people with different backgrounds and experience will help it branch
out and evolve. Having a broader group of people using the sound of
powerful instruments and vocals in unconventional ways would help
challenge the stale music industry and generate more meaningful,
original and honest music and ideas. Inclusivity is the key to a
better World.
6. In the world climate with hatred
being at an all-time high and metal being an “angry” music, do
you think your music contributes to anger and hatred?
Not at all, it contributes to
alleviating it and encourages understanding of our fellow human
beings. Channeling and expressing frustration is good. And being
allowed to do it is important, which is why the metal community must
make sure to be inclusive so that metal is understood as an art. What
better way is there to deal with our anxiety, sadness, anger and
fear, than to make it into music which people feeling the same way
can relate to? This is not specific to metal, it is applied in all
forms of art, but the harsh format and stereotypes related to metal
make outsiders sometimes believe it is a type of music for angry,
hateful or sick people. There are angry people in every part of
society, but the angriest ones do not have an outlet to vent out
frustration and express themselves, such as metal and other forms of
art or recreational activities. I believe an above average proportion
of metalheads is very calm, peaceful and open-minded, which many
people find quite surprising when they meet metalheads.
7. Are you opposed to religious beliefs
or politics being used in music?
Nope, metal is for everyone. You can
say anything you want, because metal and art in general promotes
freedom. But of course, any views that are hateful towards a certain
group of people are not cool at all and will be duly condemned by the
public.
8. We have dived into some pretty deep
issues here, do you think your music sends a message and, if so, what
is it?
Yes, Algebra questions what progress
really is, when humans striving for economic, political, scientific
and technological superiority over others are just draining resources
and exacerbating inequalities that will lead to revolts, crises and a
collapse.
9. The market has changed and many
bands believe that record labels are a thing of the past. With many
labels now charging bands to “sign”, how do you think a band can
make it in today’s scene?
Today, you must work hard at making
your songs and message stand out in an overly saturated market. You
must cut costs, doing whatever you can by yourself, recording and
producing your own records, uploading videos, designing albums and
merch, taking part in your PR campaigns, sales, shipping, booking
gigs, networking, etc. We are definitely on a constant learning curve
working on many different tasks and constantly must try to improve.
10. Why with the thousands of options
including Netflix, sporting events, everything on demand, why do you
think people should take the time to listen to what you have to say
in your music?
I believe we take music very seriously,
have high expectations of ourselves and our work, are quite picky and
perfectionist. Music is our life and the lyrics I write come from
deep periods of reflection while I was living and working on four
different continents. We have managed to acquire a global fan base
and get signed by an awesome label (Unspeakable Axe Records) by
operating in DIY mode.
11. How do you feel about pay to play?
Do you think it is fair for a band to have to pay money to play?
If all the services such as booking,
promotion, transport, backline, accommodation and food are included
in the package and the promoter is not making enough money on ticket
sales because the band tagging along is too underground, then that is
the economic reality the band must face and try to make up for
through merch sales. But we would rather avoid paying a promoter and
do it ourselves, unless the opportunity is really interesting for us
in terms of experience and exposure.
12. It is fact that you are the talent
and the entertainment. Explain what you think is the most important
key to success?
I can’t say we have “made it”
yet, but the key to success is probably passion, perseverance,
honesty, modesty, being kind but fair, establishing trust and balance
with bandmates and other partners in this venture.
13. In country music and even in some
cases rock music is written and performed by different people would
your band perform a song written by someone else?
We play covers at almost every gig,
love paying tribute to our heroes and letting the audience enjoy some
classics just like we do. We even recorded Dead Embryonic Cells by
Sepultura on our latest album.
14. If you are pro-female in music, are
you pro using sex to sell your music?
I do not think that using sex to sell
music makes it better quality and nor is a sign of artistic
integrity, because that is not what defines the beauty of the songs.
Unfortunately, the music industry understands too well that the World
is biased towards sex and attractive people, men and women alike, so
catching people’s attention that way sells more than focusing on
the actual quality of the music and lyrics. It is a sad reality we
can’t do much about, especially since we are ugly and not sexy :p
15. What is your view on the lawsuits
against people saying lewd or unprofessional things to women or men
and how does that affect an art described as sex drugs and rock ‘n
roll?
People should always treat others
respectfully, regardless of whether their social status is going
through the roof from fame, power and fortune.
16. Ok let’s lighten up a bit. What
is your favorite band of all time and why?
Nirvana, because I listened to it for
hours every day during years as a kid, knew every detail on every
song and felt strongly connected to the music and messages. It is not
the only band, but the main one that made music my passion, made me
deviate away from conventional music towards rock and metal.
17. What would you be doing if you were
not in a band?
Not sure, perhaps things wouldn’t
have turned out very well. Maybe dead, who knows!
18. Do you have a favorite sports team?
Nope, I don’t tend to follow other
people’s physical accomplishments that much.
19. If you could get on stage with
anyone dead or alive, who would it be?
Kurt Cobain, of course!
20. This is your shot to let loose.
Throw down your biggest complaint about the music biz.
I guess there is
too much focus on appearances and oftentimes people who do not have
“the badass metal look” will not fit in as well or have
credibility within the scene. Rock and metal provides a powerful mix
of sounds and ideas which are so good for you, yet so misunderstood,
so let’s not create barriers that make others feel left out or
repelled and welcome them into understanding what it’s all about.
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