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Stronger Than Hate.
During the last few years the Sydney hardcore scene has undergone a major makeover with bands like Not For You, Restraint and Toe To Toe breaking up or taking time off, countered by the appearance of groups like Last Nerve, Taking Sides, Strength Within and Stronger Than Hate. With a relatively new album out titled 'Between Day And Darkness' and some support shows with one of their most influential bands Sick Of It All, things seem to be looking good for Stronger Than Hate, and I caught up with bass player Rob Simmonds to discuss their debut album and imminent visit to Adelaide for the 'Prepare To Burn' festival.
"With the album the song writing process was a lot different," he explains. "We also had a new guitarist [Dave Banning]. I think those two factors influenced the songs a lot. The EP was basically five songs we had which we just went and recorded. This time around we wrote the songs from scratch with the idea of releasing it as an album. We wrote for about nine months before we recorded and I think that comes through, it sounds a lot more mature I guess. We had a lot of time up our sleeve. Especially with Dave joining on guitar after the EP, his influences came in as well which was a different direction to where we were going."
The lineup has endured a number of different changes but the current roster seems more rock solid. "We lost our original drummer Luke, in January last year," Simmonds sighs. "We replaced him with Nathaniel Dugo who used to play for Restraint and now plays in Omerata. He was a temporary right from the start. He ended up recording on the album as well. He was temporary with us for about twelve months and after that he just wanted to concentrate on Omerata. We got Grahame Good on drums from Infernal Method, Neophobia and Cryogenic. We met Astennu [guitar] through Graham Nixon [their label boss at Resist Records]. We were talking about people we could get to record the album and his name came up. Through his background we thought it was perfect. Our previous guitarist Matt Hanks made a decision that he wanted to leave the band earlier in the year."
Now that's all sorted out, Stronger Than Hate will be playing some shows in the eastern states with New York hardcore legends Sick Of It All, a band they have looked up to ever since their inception. Simmonds also comments on what it was like to support major acts like Terror, The Hope Conspiracy, Ensign, Throwdown and Soilwork. "When we first started we actually sounded a lot like that type of hardcore, early Sick Of It All and Strife. We used to play Sick Of It All songs and to be support for that band is amazing. Every time we get offered a big show we think, wow it's amazing just to think people want to hear us. But to play with bands like that who are such good quality and to share the stage with them is really cool. Throwdown, Terror, The Hope Conspiracy they were all amazing shows and really great guys as well."
Simmonds gives me a rundown of the resurgence in the local hardcore scene in Sydney. "Hopefully local bands can start playing their own shows and they get a crowd to support them and we don't have to rely a hundred percent on overseas bands or interstate bands, because you have to keep your home scene healthy as well. With Not For You dying out, Restraint and Toe To Toe calling it a day it's disheartening when you have to wait for the next wave of bands to come through. It's getting to a stage where there are some Sydney bands getting some decent recognition and are getting really good and quite exciting. Hopefully people will respond to it. Sydney has never really been a hundred percent healthy but I definitely think it's growing and it's a pretty exciting time for where we are at, at the moment."
Maybe they'll be further reinvigorated by the Adelaide scene when they play at Prepare To Burn.
Adrian Lee
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Stronger Than Hate co-headline the all-ages Prepare To Burn festival at Fowlers Live on Sun 18 April, along with I Killed The Prom Queen, Day Of Contempt, Shotpointblank, Full Frontal Lobotomy, Parkway Drive and many, many more.
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