Infiltrate The System

ook, I don't think you absolutely have to see Madball live to be able to connect with our music but I don't think you'll get the full picture if you don't come out and see us play,” says Madball frontman Freddy Cricien. “Hardcore in general is a very energetic and interactive style of music so of course the live shows are very important – perhaps more so than in other styles of music. Live is definitely where Madball lets it all hang out.”

Steeped in the traditions of old-school NYHC Madball are road dogs in every sense of the term. They'll play anywhere, anytime and to anyone. So does he think this attitude remains in the hearts of newer hardcore bands? Or is it only being kept alive by the groups that came up when there was no option but to get on the road? “From what I've seen the spirit is still there in a lot of the newer bands in the hardcore scene,” he says. “But at the same time in this age of technology, where a lot more things are accessible, most bands will never experience what a band like Agnostic Front had to go through to get heard. That's not a diss on the newer bands, it's just the truth. They would literally drive hundreds of miles to set up and play in someone's garage. By doing this they were literally creating the scene as they went. I've got to admit that when we started, we at least we had somewhere to go – and that was only because bands like Agnostic Front and Sick Of It All paved the way.”

So considering some of the places that Madball have played over the years, a festival like Soundwave must be a comfortable thought. “For sure,” laughs Cricien. “It's going to be fantastic to come back to Australia. For one, we always have a great time down there, but also we're getting to play different kinds of shows. On the one hand we'll be doing Soundwave, playing to large audiences and people that haven't heard us before. That's always a challenge, but it's a great way to spread the word. On the other hand, we'll be doing shows with Sick Of It All and Vision Of Disorder. As a hardcore band we're suited to smaller shows where you can really get that vibe from the people – you're up close and the energy levels are high. So yeah, we're looking forward to doing all the shows on this tour and we're just really happy to be back.”

Only last year Madball dropped new material in the form of the Rebellion EP. But Cricien is quick to confirm that the band have begun work on a brand new LP. “We're determined not to rush this album, so we're taking our time,” he says. “We don't have song titles yet, and although we have a few ideas about an album title it's far too early to even mention them. What I can tell you is that the material is shaping up to be faster paced than some of our most recent stuff. This is going to be a really hard-hitting Madball album and hopefully people like it.”

Cricien's also asked to weigh in on the news that's got the hardcore world buzzing: the return of Black Flag. “Yeah, I heard some whispers about that but I wasn't sure whether they were true,” says Cricien. “It's a hard one really. Believe it or not I'm not a huge Black Flag fan, so I can take it or leave it. But as far as whether these reunion type things are good – it depends. Even we had a hiatus some years ago, but when we came back we were determined to do it right, with new material and new energy. So I guess if it's done right then it shouldn't be any different for Flag.”

Madball will be playing the following dates:

Saturday 23 February - Soundwave, RNA Showgrounds, Fortitude Valley QLD
Sunday 24 February - Soundwave, Olympic Park, Sydney NSW
Tuesday 26 February - Manning Bar, Sydney NSW
Wednesday 27 February - The Espy, Melbourne VIC
Friday 1 March - Soundwave, Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne VIC
Saturday 2 March - Soundwave, Bonython Park, Adelaide SA
Monday 4 March - Soundwave, Claremont Showgrounds, Claremont WA