It is always good to find affinity and complicity of ideas and actions within the hardcore punk scene. It is even nicer when you find that you have this affinity and complicity with people you admire and bands that make music you particularly like. Such is the case with Dishönor, a Greek band from Thessaloniki dedicated to playing no-holds-barred d-beat crust punk with a strong anarchic edge. Talking about the people who are part of Dishonor is a matter of the heart for me, because from the first time I met them and talked with them I had confirmation that they were really nice people and comrades.
So it was an honor and a pleasure for me to be able to help them play in Milan on their European tour together with Downwinder (another Greek band from Volos) in October 2024 in the beautiful setting of Villa Occupata. After that gig and after the end of their tour, I decided to interview them to talk about some issues close to our hearts: the importance of the political and militant dimension of punk music, the repression suffered by the anarchist movement in Greece, the eviction of the historic Biologica squat in Thessaloniki, and much more.
I have spoken far too much, I leave you to the words of Dishönor in this deep, coherent interview that hits the point of so much discourse revolving around diy and punk music. Because crust and punk are weapons for igniting social conflict and fueling freedom struggles. Long live anarchy and anarchist punx!
Hi guys! How nice to have you on the virtual pages of Disastro Sonoro finally! I would start this interview by asking you when, why and how Dishönor was formed and why did you choose this name for your band? What does the concept of dishonor mean to you?
Hey Stefano! Feels great to take part on Disastro Sonoro! Also, thanks a lot for helping out on the Millano gig! Amazing times!
Well, dishonor members used to know each others for a long time before the band was created. All 4 of us, used to be parts of other projects and bands, all participating in the underground/ punk/ squatting movement of Greece. After many years of knowing each other and having a friendly relationship between us, it happened that all of us were living in Thessaloniki. Drummer and bass player have been playing together for years in other projects, singer moved in from another city of northern Greece, so did the guitarist. After spending a lot of time together, organizing gigs and taking part in political activism etc., in 2019 we decided to play something altogether. The name is not something special for us. I guess the only thing we wanted to achieve, was to be part of the discharge cult, that goes on strong until today…
You have very recently released (finally!) the new Chain Reaction, Mass Extinction record. Under what circumstances did this record take shape? What events influenced the writing of this record and what messages do you want to pass on to the listener?
Truth is, the second dishonor album took us a while to publish. Tracks for that release were ready way back than the recording happened. The initial plan, was to do a split 12” with another band. However, changes in our lives back then made it harder for us to focus on the band and go for a recording session. Things like the evictions of Terra Incognita and Biologica squats ( places we lived our lives in mostly), Covid-19 and everything this virus brought with him, etc., made us postpone the recording session. On top of that, when we finally managed to record everything, the bands that we were supposed to do split with, didn’t respond and left us hanging. After that, the second band, that we arranged a split with, let us down too, so we decided to Do It Ourselves ( haha).
Music wise, the second album, is more mature than the first one. We finally made it to create a music style that embodied all of our music preferences. Parts of this album have clear deathgrind attitude, while other parts are more crusty and there are some black metal splashes here and there. Those are the main genres Dishonor members listen to mostly.
From what the title says, this album is dedicated to the upcoming disaster this world is going to face soon. Writing down the lyrics, never made us think, that the end of the world will be in the reach of some crazy bureaucrat in a goddamn oval office, at least not during our lifetimes. The only thing we want to tell the people to do, is rise against authority and the mad world it represents, before we reach the dead- end of human existence.
Musically and in terms of attitude and ideas, what does it mean for you to play crust punk in 2024? Do you think this genre might have any potential in times of crisis, wars and destruction? If yes, what might it be?
Punk and crust music genres are more like a weapon to us. It’s a method of dealing with our problems, a way of life and a prism to see the world through. I guess, someone could say that, punk/ crust movement used to be something more radical back when it was created. I think I would agree. Punk and the anarchist movement in general played a reasonably big role in the antiwar movements in the past. There are probably potentials in using them as tools but, they can never be used on their own. Punk music can never be isolated from its original political stance and ideas: Anarchy. The only potential and chance for our music to keep on surviving on this dangerous world, is through political struggle and activism. There is no such thing as “no- politica” in crust punk!
You are originally from Thessaloniki, a city quite famous for being the scene over the years of protests and antagonistic movements against state repression and the injustices of capitalism. What is the political, militant and activist situation in your city currently like? And more generally, what are the major social, economic and repressive difficulties in all of Greece today?
I guess this question is the most heart braking of all. Thessaloniki used to be one of the centers in the anarchist and antifascist movements, indeed. From early 90s to the late 00s, the city centre of Thessaloniki was full of squats, social centers, self- organized DIY spaces etc. After 2009/2010, everything started turning for the worst. The anarchist movement took some bad decisions then, and it started falling apart in small pieces. The economical crisis of that period, brought society to it’s knees. Our response was not what it should have been. All that apathy and totalitarianism slowly led us to the current situation, which is horrible.
After the left wing coming to power in 2015, some people used to think that the political movements won. They just had to wait for a couple of years for the leftists to raid our squats ( not as people anymore, but rather as the government). All this situation made the people turn their backs to the leftists and vote for right wingers, now including far- right wingers. 2019 is the year that New Democracy (right- wing) came in power. This is the year everything started falling apart. The only thing they promised people to make them vote for them was “safety”, anti immigration and the end of the anarchist/ squat movement. I can recall the deadline letter the minister of security handed down to all the squats around Greece to evacuate their buildings on their own, inside a time span of 15 days! Fuck him!
Nowadays, there are only a few squats remaining in Greece. Thessaloniki for example is only left with three political squats and a few housing squats. Someone could say that we are moving towards a European- like model of housing and participating in movements, where everything is under state control and you need permission to do whatever. This fucking sucks!
The punk scene and movement has very strong roots in Greece and has always had a very pronounced aspect of antagonism, militancy, and resistance. What can you tell us about the current situation of the Greek punk scene? What are the most important realities that keep this musical but also political attitude alive?
So, as we talked about it above also, punk scene in Thessaloniki is currently underfunctioning. Although we got the chance to see old school bands reuniting and touring greece lately, we miss the fresh blood in the scene. There was a time when the gigs were packed with youngsters and youth ready to explode. It’s been a long time since a new band was created in Thessaloniki with the members being under the age of 25. Don’t want to sound age- ist here, but the older you get, the more responsibilities you have to face. We need people in our scene that have the passion to go through the struggle that we went thorugh, when we were younger…
To be honest, the most important thing for a musical movement, is their home. That is what we miss right now. A place to call home. We might be working on something for that matter. Let’s see!
A couple of years ago police forces evicted a historic squat in your city, the Biologica squat, a key landmark for both the punk movement and anarchist social struggles. How did you experience that eviction and the repression? What memories do you have of the Biologica squat?
OK, now let’s talk about our loses again, haha!! Eviction of Biologica squat was one of the most crucial turning points in our lives. It is were we all met, were we listened to our first crust albums, were we got drunk, when we defended ourselves against cops and fascists etc. We made a big effort to defend it and also we did our best to take revenge for it. The repression was insane though, it was asymmetrical. One of us now has to go to the court for being put into arrest on a confrontation with the fucking cops. I think the responsive riot we organized was pretty ok, but at the end of the day we lost our home. I still watch live gig videos from that era and chills go down my spine. I wish some time soon we can recreate something as good as Biologica squat…
Musically, how did you approach punk in all its forms and which bands still influence your sound today?
One could say that Dishonor members were mostly introduced to punk scene through the Greek crust scene of the early 90’s. This was an exceptional musical movement, easily compared to the movements of other European countries. I think the kind of noise Chaotic End and Psychosis produced back then, are pretty clear for one to listen in the Dishonor albums. However, all four of us moved on musically and that’s how the band’s sound was forged. I think the bands that we listen to the most are Discharge, Bolt thrower, Hellshock, Disrupt, Forgotten prophecy, Disclose, Hiatus, Doom, Terrorizer, Repulsion and so on….
We were fortunate enough to meet at last year Giorni Neri Fest in the province of Milan. What memories do you have of that evening, the collective/people who organized that wonderful festival and the SOS Fornace social center that hosted you?
This fest was amazing! It was the first time as a band that we got invited abroad. It was a sudden realization for us that we might be achieving something with our devotion to the crust scene. Thanks to Achilles for organizing the whole thing. Also thanks to the whole crew of the SOS fornace squat that babysitted us. I remember the fest having two stages on two different floors. Eventually the PA system on one of the stages broke down and everyone gathered up under one stage, which was insane! A lot of bands played that night, good ones. I remember bass- rotten from Portugal, another band that was youngster disrockers which caught our eye! Can’t remember the name though. What was carved in my memory though was that our gig took place while the hunger strike of Alfredo Cospito was already going on for days. He probably moved to a thirst strike after a while. We were participating in events for this case back in Greece and we were really curious to talk about it with people from Italy. All in all, this fest was a milestone for us, all the people, the positivity, the food, the bands, the tons of distros etc. made us leave with a smile on our faces!
When you released your first record in 2019 I was struck by the fact that the proceeds would be donated to the Greek anarchist movement, a gesture that showed a unity of purpose between music and paths of struggle. What is your connection to anarchism both as an ideal and as a movement of struggle? What does it mean for you to support with your music the paths of struggle of comrades suffering repression?
This interview takes place while this trial is coming to an end. I think the two comrades will be free or at least restrained, but out of prison. This was a case that shocked us, and was the beginning of our understanding that this government is ruthless. Those two people were known for their participation on the anarchist movement, that’s why the state wanted them in prison at any cost. The case was that they got arrested for bombing a home of a member of the government. They even raided the squat the one of the two was living in. After that, the state asked from us 10.000 euros for each one, meaning 20.000 euros in a two weeks notice, only for them to be bailed out until the trial. For us it was a one way road to contribute to this cause. We gave away all the 500 euros we made from selling our freshly published tape.
That kind of activism and way of thinking is what punk should be about. Radicalism, solidarity, struggle, leaving no one behind. Fingers crossed the two anarchist will be freed on their next and last trial. In general, Dishonor, is committed to giving to the anarchist movement. One could say that all the gigs we have been part of, have to do with the anarchist struggle, one or the other way. Either its supporting the squats that are being threatened, or playing for the solidarity fund for the political prisoners, this is what we prefer to play for.
We have come to the end of this talk my friends. I leave this space for you to add anything you can think of. Hugs, hope to see you again soon!
Once again, thanks to Disastro Sonoro and you personally Stefano! It is a real pleasure to take part in projects that we can call friendly. Sharing ideas with people we meet around and having the same mindset and Ethos with them, is filling us with hope. Until next time! LONG LIVE ANARCHY! UP THE CRUSTIES! Arrivederci!