Interview with Severed Beliefs
Can you start by telling us a bit about yourself; name, age, your band and when it formed?
Kia ora my name is Fergus Stratford. I’m from Lower Hutt but live in Wellington, I am 23 and my band is Severed Beliefs we were formed in 2018
Can you tell us about Elimination Records? How it was formed and the plan for the future.
Elimination records was started in 2018 by me and big mane ROB THOMPSON in 2018 to release specifically NZHC bands as there was no real outlet for physical distribution for the community by the community. We had skinny mane JORDI ZONNEVELD join us in 2019 as a part owner/collaborator. I guess our plans for the future are to just keep putting on more shows and keep putting out more bands and releases. Also getting more internationals to come to New Zealand is definitely a goal for us after bringing Regulate and Krust over from the USA earlier this year and seeing how well that went.
How did you discover hardcore, how did you name the band and what influenced you to form Severed Beliefs?
I discovered HC through being a 16 year old little shit who was obsessed about Odd Future, I’d listen to anything that was released from their label so I started listening to Trash Talk which was on the label and I fuckin’ fell in love with that band. I had heard nothing like it. I guess it went from that, to going to shows. My good mates Caspar and Winter used to go to Zeal shows in Welly City and they would tell me about them using words like “scary” and “loud” to describe them and I just had to go to this shit, it sounded amazing to a 16 year old shithead me. My first show I went to was Saving Grace, Gideon, Declaration AD and One Outs in 2013 at Zeal Wellington (RIP ZEAL). The name “Severed Beliefs” was actually Jordi’s idea so shout out to him for the name. I wanted to another band after Nailgun ended that y’know wasnt a complete fuckin comedy act. The band started with me and Ian initially cos we both loved 90’s style metalcore and wanted to make music that was inspired by those bands within that scene. Later the boys Jaspar (guitars) and Josh (bass) joined in 2019.
What’s the Wellington hardcore scene like at the moment? Who are some current bands we can look out for?
Welly hardcore is healthy as, well the healthiest its been in a long time. We have had some incredible shows that have happened recently, like Elimination Fest and the final Hataitai Homewrecker. All the shitty people have been banished and everyone has settled their differences and wants to work together. It’s beautiful to be honest. Keep your eye on these Welly bands: Brainwave, ColdxWar, Happy Valley, Glassblower, Indiscriminate, Zone Killer, Bowel Rupture and Stress Ghetto (Apologies if I missed anyone out, I have the memory of a sive).
What bands are you currently listening to at the moment, and what bands influence Severed Beliefs?
Hmm currently I have been listening to Hangman, Freedom, Hands of God, SPEED, Magnitude, Regulate, Mortality Rate, Day of Suffering, Foundation, Cauldron, N.E.G. I’m also really looking forward to the new YOTK album that should be fuckin’ sick.
We (Severed Beliefs) are primarily influenced by bands such as 7 Angels 7 Plagues, Unbroken, (early) Misery Signals, Poison the Well, plus a whole lot of other bands.
How did you come up with the logo for Elimination Records and what made you pick that particular artist as I understand an international artist designed it is that right?
Yeah Tyler Mullen the vocalist from Year of the Knife designed it, Rob and I commissioned him to draw it because we really fucked with his graff and logo work. I think hardcore and graffitti just go very well together and I’m a big fan and appreciator of graff and tagging.
What can you tell us about the ‘’Elimination Hardcore Fest’’ that went down this year?
Elimination Fest was our first fest that we have put on, it was held over two nights in January at the Aro Valley hall. For quite a few years me and Rob have wanted to put on a HC festival in Wellington so it was a dream come true to see this happen finally, the turnout and the bands were excellent and it was a really positive environment with no shitcunts.
Who was involved in putting it together, and are we going to see another one next year?
Primarily it was me, Jordi and Rob who did the organising and designing the poster as well as doing poster runs all around Wellington City. We also had help from others in regards to transporting gear and getting sound equipment so shout out to Matai from Razored Raw (quality record label), Caleb, Ian, Nick, Jade, Joram and Sam Coates for doing sound (I probably forgot some people so apologies in advance). For sure we will be putting on one next year but then also it depends on what happening with this Covid 19 bullshit ( FUCK THE CORONA VIRUS FORVER).
What can you tell us about the ‘’Eternal Grey’’ video clip and can we expect some more clips in the near future?
The Eternal Grey video clip was filmed at the South Coast bunkers in Wellington by our friends Joram and Mel, it was a bit of an ordeal to film it haha! It was a really fuckin’ windy and foul day (classic Wellyz). When we were filming the outdoor shots the drum kit kept on getting blown over because the winds were so strong. Also there is no car access, so you have to carry all the gear up this long and steep driveway which is a pain in the arse. But apart from that I was really stoked to see how well it turned out when the final product was released. As for music videos in the future I'm not sure at the moment, but yeah, for sure its a possibility that another one could get released.
Who are your top 5 NZ bands past or present, and do you think New Zealand has our own unique sound?
Ooh tough question haha!
1. Too Late: My favourite New Zealand band of all time, I saw them quite a few times in the past, and some of the greatest shows I’ve attended have been seeing them (SHOUT OUT TO ROB THOMPSON METAL BANDS) I think the 2013 EP is one of the finest hardcore releases out of NZ and I think it resonated with a lot of people, its one of the first NZHC bands I listened to and I never get sick of listening to their releases.
2. One Outs: One of the first bands I saw live, but also some of my best mates to this day. I went up to my first Smakdown with One Outs. We behaved terribly and were drunk the whole weekend, some very quality times 10/10 weekend. I really wish I could remember the last show, every single person was cooked as that weekend including myself haha! Great bands, top kiwi blokes one love.
3. Salvage: One of my favourite bands to see play live, they wrote excellent and unique music but also played tight as fuck. I’ve never really heard another band that sounds like them ever.
4. The Burial: Unfortunately I never got to see them live but Existence is one of my favourite releases of all time, such a good band.
5. Ricky Bobby PNHC: Also another band I never saw live but I really fux with their music.
I think New Zealand for sure has its own unique sound but I also think New Zealanders have to stop being so worried about what's popular within HC internationally, carve out their own path and stop trying to copy what's popular. Never ever be afraid to experiment or sound different.
Are there any last words you would like to leave us with?
Sure, start fuckin’ bands is the most important point! Just get the boys together and give it a try, if you get clowned who cares, its usually a good reminder that you need to make better music haha! Uh I don't know what else to say really...
NZHC NOW AND FOREVER.
ELIMINATION RECORDS WE RUN THE STREETS.
SUPPORT THE SCENE.
COMMUNITY OVER EVERYTHING.
ONE LOVE.
Thanks.