Nekromancing The Stone

You can't help but love a musical genre that came about following a blend of rockabilly (both classic and modern) music and punk aggression. For some psychobilly bands, such as the legendary Danish-American trio Nekromantix, horror (namely old horror movies) is also a crucial element, being blatantly obvious when it comes to band's name, lyrics, song titles, album titles and visuals. Psychobilly, though, is more than just fast-paced, sometimes macabre-themed tunes. Like punk, rockabilly, ska, goth and other such styles, it's also a way of life for those who love it.

While there are any number of psychobilly bands around, few have had such lengthy careers out of the genre as Nekromantix. The band is fronted by the great Dane himself, Kim Nekroman, who moved to the United States from Denmark approximately 10 years ago.  For the first time since 2007, the band has decided that it's time to head back to Australia, and they're ready to make the long trip. “Oh yes! [We're] very ready!” Nekroman says brightly. “You know, it's been too long. We've wanted to go there for the longest time, but didn't know that we able to go there until now. It's going to be amazing.”

What Happens In Hell, Stays In Hell is the band's eighth, and most recent album, although the first with the current line-up of Nekroman, Francisco “Franc” Mesa on guitar, and Lux on drums. It was released just on one year ago, and it's to this album that we owe the pleasure of the forthcoming tour. “[The tour has] been going really well. We've been doing a lot of touring and actually just got back from 30-day double headliner with The Casualties, which was great.” It is nice to know that their visit here has not been relegated to the tail end of the tour. “We haven't even been to Europe yet, so this time Australia is actually up high. We've only done North America and Canada, and we're about to do a show in Mexico.”

Speaking of the latest album, it's been, for want of a better description, a return to form, which is no mean feat given that lyrical content when it comes to the psychobilly genre can be rather limited. When asked how he keeps things fresh, he is fairly unassuming about it. “I don't know. I guess I have the same kind of attitude as when we first started out in 1989. When it comes to Nekromantix, I still approach songwriting the same way, with a very fresh, naïve sort of view, and I guess that's what keeps it going.”

The line-up of Nekromantix has changed numerous times since the band formed in 1989, with Nekroman (and his trademark self-built coffin bass) being the only constant member throughout the years. The current band members have been together since 2009. “Obviously, it's always nice to have a steady line-up. The good thing now is that we all live in the same country and city, which has been difficult in the past. It can be hard to keep a band going when members live in different parts of the world. We get along very well, not only musically, but also when it comes to the chemistry outside the music. They're very easy-going people. You know, 50 percent of it is that you are actually able to be in the same room as your band members, which, in this case, is what is happening. It's nice to have nice people to travel with.”

Nekroman is a busy man. Aside from Nekromantix, he is also a member of horror-pop band, HorrorPops, which he started with his wife, Patricia Day. In case being in two bands wasn't enough to keep him busy, he has, over recent years, started to take a greater role behind the scenes. He produced What Happens In Hell, Stays In Hell and Life Is A Grave & I Dig It! (the band's previous release), and co-produced HorrorPops's albums Hell Yeah! and Kiss Kiss Kill Kill. Will we see more producing credits being added to his name? “Yeah. I've done a little here and there. The latest was for The Chop Tops, a rockabilly band from Santa Cruz – I produced their last album. I'm very much into producing, when I have the time. I'm probably going to do all of the recording and engineering myself on the album.” When asked whether this is a skill he's picked up over the years or one he's actively learnt, it proves to be the former. “I've always been a gear freak and a gear geek, you know, so I'm like 'Why not just turn those knobs myself instead of having somebody do what I want them to do'.”

When asked if there are any new bands that he is particularly excited and keen to get the word out about, he is fairly blunt. “Umm, to be honest, not lately. I really, really think that lately it seems a lot of the [new] bands are trying to copy something that's already out there and been done. I don't hear too much original stuff out there, which is a shame. So, I'm sad to say that at the moment, I can't really come up with anything I've heard lately that blows my socks off. I think the Internet and all that online stuff is both a blessing and a curse because a lot of the bands don't really have to fight to get out there. They think they can just put stuff on Facebook or MySpace or whatever site and then land a deal, but that's not how it works. Now there's even more bands, so even though you have the exposure that can pull in the people, you have to be different and exciting.”

Conversation turns back to the band's impending tour. With eight albums' worth of material to choose from, how far back can fans expect them to delve? “Well, it's hard, because when it's over this many years and this many songs, you try to choose the songs, and there will always be somebody who says [moaning voice] 'Oh, why didn't you play that one?' and another will be like [moaning voice] “Why don't you play that one?' and, you know, we can't play over 100 songs. We pretty much cover all the albums, some more than others, but people have their preferences and like some albums more than others. We'll try our best to spread it out, but I'm sure there'll be somebody saying [moaning voice] 'Oh, they didn't play that song.' When reminded that you can't please everyone all of the time, he immediately comes back with, “Unless you play an eight hour set, I mean, you know.” Of course, the band would likely die from exhaustion by the end of it, but they'll have kept everyone happy! “Yeah, sure!” Nekroman laughs.

As for future plans once they've had their way with Australian audiences once more? “We have a show in Europe later this year, then it's kind of up in the air as to whether we go into the studio or tour some more.”

Nekromantix will be playing the following shows:

Tuesday 2 October - Rosemount Hotel, Perth WA
Thursday 4 October - The Hi-Fi, Brisbane QLD
Friday 5 October - The Hi-Fi, Sydney NSW
Saturday 6 October - The Hi-Fi, Melbourne VIC