We Go Fast And Slow #3 Part 5: Confusion Master

 

So in our penultimate band interview for issue 3 we take it low and slow with Rostocks finest riff conjurers CONFUSION MASTER they're not shy of the diy and 2 of them go fast and slow.... so let's see what reflections they offer whilst their amps are cooling down.....

1.     Hello! So its only polite to start by getting name. Instrument and what other bands you play in to help our avid readers to join the dots....

hey I am stephan. i use guitars, effects, samples and vocals to create some tunes in 3 bands all things heavy slow or fast: Confusion Master, Wojczech & Bad Luck Rides on Wheels. i use my attic doing downtempo beats, soundscapes and house music too but thats a complete different story. this project is called future boots.

2.     Obviously we cant go without mentioning your first trip to the UK in september!!! But first maybe let us know how your recent tour has gone? Maybe some words about september too....

We just finished a string of early summer shows. we do live up very much north so its always been long drives. some fests included: skullcrusher fest in freiburg, protzen open air close to berlin and doomsdorf fest close to hamburg. we‘ve recorded for a new record too recently to be released again at exile on mainstream in 2027. we are very much looking forward bringing our noise to the uk together with the help of friends this coming september 15- 19. our label aims to run a small labelfest which leads to several german (and austrian) bands having small uk tour legs meeting up at the love noise freedom fest in london sep 19 at the dome. its gonna be great and its a total labour of guitar driven passionate noise! go and watch out for these bands: might, bulbul, noisepicker and endure.

3.You have a heavy but accessible (by metal standards at least) sound does this find you playing the usual autonomous centres/ squats/independent cafe/record shops/diy spots but also more typical rock venues??? Do you have a preference or is it all good either way?

We’re all coming from diy punk and squatting ethics but go for the experience breaking the chains of orthodox punk circuits. every country holds up to a different live music culture and we enjoy its diversity. Germany has lots of spaces that used to be autonomous which have been our homes and favourite places to play for years. But many of them struggle hard. its either ego or identity politics wrapped inside generational conflicts. you could have me ranting in a whole seperate interview about. We do play metal places and pubs too, and have many talks of mutually deciding when and where and who to work with.

4.Ive been asking about the creative process this time a lot, in issue 2 Stephan talked about writing unplugged at home and knowing if the riff had something special or not... is that the same for CM and does everyone offer the initial ideas before the rest work out their parts or are songs jammed (in the shadow of the bong) before ideas become solid???

Its either me or gunnar (other guitarist) noodling riffs at home for months then shaping it together in the rehearsal space. the songs have to be rehearsed loud in order to find out if they fit. this process can take very long. we are very moody and picky about it we cannot finish unless everyone is happy with the song.

5. The vocals, samples and use of some traditional effects offers that psychedelic stoned but foreboding atmosphere that is more  palatable but it sounds like the music also pushes some more punishing/extreme influences from the world of the low and slow? This contrast makes both parts more impactful in my opinion... is this observation something you dig or am I talking out me arse???

oh yes absolutely. we want the samples being in instrument as well having a lead voice function with narrative story telling character. the new songs even take this further, some of them have just samples do the singing. tone, texture & content finding of samples its another deep dive topic of ours really. the drummer and me having an industrial and concrete noise and (war) metal background. we do love serious punishing music.

6. So far Haunted and the split with Angoisse are currently my favourite recordings.... but you have a new recording don't you??? Tell us what you want about the recording and any details of its release and if there is anything you want to highlight about the new record....

Full story here: next album will be out at exile on mainstream hopefully summer/ fall of 2027. 5 new tunes we carved and shaped carefully since 2020. we will follow the cthulhu story visually with having antonio illevski. (pig hands) another time inside our project! So stoked about it! It will be accompanied by a limited release of a live record from a kick ass show we played in victoria/bc in 2022. also theres more to come with this release we can reveal when we are set.

Sleeping Shaman spoke to Confusion Master around the time of Haunted LP so check this if you want to geek out a bit more:
In Search Of Tone: Gunnar & Stephan Of Confusion Master - The Sleeping Shaman

7. Lyrically there seems to be a lot of despair and dissonance with the world and that ever impending sense of dread/doom that has rang out ever since the first riff after the thunder sounds on that very special 1970 album.... do you cover topics that are more political also or an emotional expression of the effects of the political or is this more of personal journey??? (I have been meaning to read the lyrics properly for a long time, one day I promise)

i talk stoic & existential philosophy, cosmic lovecraftian horror and the absurd. its tongue in cheek implying and making fun of the stoner/ bong theme as well we are really gear nerds. so we praise this also lyrically everything from russian valve tubes to gunnars selfmade 6x12 speaker cabinets. it can inherit the stupid and nonsense. really no 21st century politics and shite here.

8.So this is a themed zine about fast and slow music, the split i mentioned is with a band playing at higher speeds do you actively seek those situations such as on a mixed bill for a gig etc, is it something you consider carefully or something you don't care about either way?

Oh yes mixed set ups are most fun!we play occasionally on grind and black metal or arty music nights. we are attracted to everything that sounds off the usual formula. we took it very far out when we played a goa trance festival here in northern east germany in 2023 together with our pals from earthbong. the guy hasnt paid us until today. nevermind the experience was absurd and priceless! Also we are this band to close death metal festivals, when evil heads are tired of the gurgleing for one weekend our perspective on doom can heal them ha!

9. Quick fire round.... you can only choose one….

                 

Iron monkey or iron lung?

Iron monkey (only before reunion!)

Zeppelin or purple?

Zeppelin

 

 Body void or The Body?

The Body

Disrotted or disclose?

Disclose. Always!

 

Shitty riffs through an amazing rig or amazing riffs through a shitty rig?

Always the amazing riffs through shitty rigs! Styles got shaped through try and error (and shitty rigs). hm2 or muff into fuzz formula anyone?

 

Counting on the crash cymbal or counting on the ride???? 

Ride

 

10. Because there are many different topics i could ask about i think the usual "anything else" question should be a chance to tell us what is most important to know about your band....

Cant wait to meet you at the airport and thanks again!!! We are 50% each gen X and gen Y. the young ones do the old men ranting! cant wait to meet & spent time with you, matt! Thank you for everything!