Last year I was totally happy (yeah with the fucking grin up my filthy face!!) to find that there is some sort of metal scene here in the UAE, so I was always checking out this site ( www.Phride.com ) for what has been happening. I chanced upon this one forum article...anyway.. it leads to contacting Dave & his brother Andy. So I met up with them to get a copy of VOA's split demo, I think that was January 2 of 2004. I decided to make an interview. but with my so fucking lazy shit it took me for quite some time. the day I e-mailed it to Dave I checked out their site & found out the band as VOA is no more!!! And thus FILTH PACT came to be...so now  here is kind-of-a split intie?? Well, just fucking READ IT!!!! this is answered by Dave Robertson.

(All images here are taken from their website...http://www.voiceofaggression.tk  and  http://www.filthpact.tk check them out for more!!!)

( METAL PROFILER )
Name/alias: Dave Robertson, also known as Theresa, or teabags (fuck knows why).
Age & Nationality: 19, Scottish
Band position: Guitar and backing vox
Years playing with the band: since the beginning.
Years playing with your instrument: emmm, since November 2002.
Proper musical schooling or self taught?: Self-taught.
First Metal band you heard? When & Where? & did you like it?: oooh,Metallica, And Justice for all album when I was 6 years old. Fucking loved it.
First Album you bought & When? emmm, Metallica - Black Album I think it was, in like 1995 or something.
Latest Album you bought? The Process - King Kill 33 limited tour edition 7" Vinyl.
Album that you bought & fucking hate it after listening?: fuck, there's lots of them, hahaha.
Main Influences or favorites in-
a) Metal Music (Bands): Pig Destroyer and Acid Bath
b) Non-Metal Music: Skitsystem
c) Literature/Book/Zine: Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, Terrorizer and Bizarre
d) Films/Movies: The Big Lebowski, The Boondock Saints, Seven.
Who are the 3 bands you want to share the stage with?: oh, shit, emmm, Skitsystem, Catheter, Dystopia
Which country do you want to play in with the bands you mentioned above?: anywhere would be nice, but preferably Holland.
What album (of any band) you can't live without?: Pig Destroyer - Prowler in the Yard.
What is your best experience with the band?: going on tour, playing gigs and drinking, lots of drinking.
What is the worst problem you encountered with the band?: on tour with Voice of Aggression I got 2nd degree scolding (burns) on my arm and stomach from a boiling cup of tea.
Have you ever been harassed because of being a metal head?: Of course.
What is the best thing you can say about the underground (locally or international)?: D.I.-FUCKING-Y all the way.
What do you fucking hate most about the underground?: harder to get hold of records.
Best Dream (or Wet Dreams) that you remember: oh fuck. I remember it involved a car crash, haha.
Your worst fucking nightmare: never really have nightmares. dunno why.
You are currently working or studying?: studying.
Do you drink beer/alcohol? If yes, What brand?: Most definitely. many brands, but I fucking love Guinness and Budvar.
Do you fuck whores? If yes, which nationality? If you haven't but want to, which one?: No, I don't, although I live in Aberdeen's "Red light District".




 (the Interview)

1. Greetings to Voice Of Aggression! Or should I say 'FILTH PACT'! How's everybody?

We're doing really well. Played our first 3 gigs so far, and they've all gone relatively well, and the music seems to be getting a really good reception from the audiences. Can't really ask for much more.

VOA has 'called it a Day'... And FILTH PACT emerges, so let us compare the two slowly..

2. First the line-up, how much did change in the line-up, who replaced who? Was the change in line-up due to incapabilities to adapt to the new
path the new band is facing or what? Is there hate in the severance of ties?

Well, John left VOA cause he couldn't really handle playing all the gigs out of town and the touring etc. When we started jamming again with jeeves on drums and Ben on guitar, the new line--up worked really well, with all new material, so we decided we might as well be a new band with a new name. Though we don't see much of John, we are still on very good terms with him.

3. Now about the style, you have labeled VOA's music as 'Blackened Crust Metal', so how about FILTHPACT's?

Well,the old descriptions we got of VOA don't really fit much at all really. The new sound is faster, shorter and heavier. Its alot more heading in the punk direction, since we all like the music more and more, with influences from bands like Catheter, Dystopia and the likes. Descriptions of Filthpact's new sound, well, the best one is "North-East Crustviolence", which I think hits the nail on the head, with a fucking sledgehammer.

4. I haven't heard FILTHPACT's music yet, so would you say that this is a 'major' change both musical & lyrical?

Completely. The lyrical content is still similar, since Dave still writes the majority of lyrics and has always headed in a very personal and political direction. Though, this time round, its much more "in your face" so to speak. Giving a big fuck you to all the commercial aspects of hardcore and today's society. Musically, well, if you heard VOA then heard Filthpact, you probably would never think the members were ever the same, apparently from maybe the vox.

5. What really is the major reason of change? Is it due to new influences in music?

I would say so. I was the main song-writer behind the music in VOA(being the sole guitarist), and still write alot of the FIlthpact material. over the last year, I have started listening and getting much more into the crust/d-beat/grind scene, whereas before, I was still very much listening to Black metal. Also, the new line-up helps since the two new members (Jeeves-drums and Ben-guitar) were both previously in crust/grind bands. Jeeves was drummer for FASTARD and Ben was guitarist for MIKE HUNT.

6. I have read this not just twice or thrice, but some bands mentioned that change in style usually is due to the fact that bands improve on their playing skills, would you say this is the same to FILTHPACT? So this is a progression in musical part?

I wouldn't really say so. Filthpact's music is generally less technical, at least from a guitarists perspective. However, the song-writing has matured alot, and the new input helped alot in the process.

7. How about the lyrics, is the same person from VOA writes for FILTHPACT? What are the topics you want FILTHPACK to deal with?

Dave(vocals) handles the majority of the lyrics. His topics range from the watering down of the hardcore scene nowadays, political narrow mindedness and even targets specific cases of Animal Cruelty. So, there is a range of topics, just rest assured that you won't find us singing about "my girlfriend left me and I am gonna cry for three days" kinda bullshit.

8. As a young band, regarding to your age & conception of VOA, you have played a lot already, even outside your country. I bet you enjoyed it all! What's the most memorable? Are there any fucked ups?

VOA was a blast. The tours and all the gigs out of town were all like a big party. Totally loved it. Probably the most memorable thing was me getting burnt in Ireland. Took us hours to get to a hospital, and then I got morphine. Was really crazy, but we were laughing about it very soon afterwards. There's never really been any big downers when we played. Of course, there were gigs that we weren't amazing, and gigs that were poor attended, but these things are natural. Biggest thing we hated was getting ripped off for money in Belfast. That kinda sucked. And also, we did kinda get booed off stage once by some shitty punk band. Assholes, hahahahha.


9. Have you played live as FILTHPACT already? How was it? Did you mentioned the you are Ex-VOA or did you treat the 1st gig like a new 1st band?

We've done three gigs so far under the name Filthpact. We just announced ourselves as a new band really. And well, so far, they've been a blast. Had a really fuckin good time playing them, and it appears the people watching us have as well.

10. Do you remember the feeling when you devirginize the stage, I mean the first ever gig? What is the reaction of the crowd?

Woah, first ever VOA gig I was shitting myself, ahahhahaha. We were playing with some total crust-anarcho bands, and I thought we were still more of a metal band. But oh well, we still played, and got some good feedback. It always feel good to know your music is appreciated, even if just in small amounts.

11. Have you ever experienced playing in front of lame ass crowd? What do you think you will do if ever you found yourselves in front of such puss-like-poser crowds?

Not really. Most of the people that come, I know they are actually cool people. But sometimes when you're the first band on, they aren't "warmed up" if you know what I mean. (Yeah, some people need to get drunk first! he he he -Roy ) They still enjoy it, they just aint ready to start dancing the pogo and throwing their body around like lunatics. (but then again, i guess it depends on places or country probably, like this gig I remember in the philippines, the band was so pissed off 'coz so very few of us are really banging & most of the people watching looks so brutal with all those metal shirts & chains yet drinking as if in a fucking classy restaurant or watching a fucking ballet! This guy shouted 'go home & listen to your radios your motionless fucks!!!'...he he he.. it was like, why bother going to gigs man!!!.. I'm glad you never experienced that..-Roy)

12. So, have you guys played puked drunk? How many beer do you usually down before feeling the effects of alcohol? Or would you prefer hard liquor, scotch whiskey perhaps?

I'm generally drunk when we play. not all of us are. But sometimes. Me, I drink a lot, like everyday really, so its only natural. Feels better playing drunk, I enjoy it even more, which well, helps me put on a better show. Somehow, amazingly, my guitar playing never seems to suffer even if I cant stand up straight, hahaha. FUck, it depends on what I've eaten that day, or how drunk I was the night before, but usually, it takes about 4 pints before I start feeling anything. once I reach 10 pints, I am normally on the floor, hahahaha.

13. Are Scotsmen more of a beer drinker or hard liquor? What is the best beer in Scotland? Are you guys similar to Germans, that is, having a brewery & their own brand in almost every town??

Majority of us drink beer. Well, apart from these little teenage kids who don't really know what alcohol is, they drink shitty vodka. ( Hey I drink Vodka too! by the liter but without those juices & little umbrellas!! And vodka is best drunk with Russian Shit, you know, a mix of beef or pork liver with crushed biscuits or old bread! Yummy!!- Roy) Scotland doesn't have that many small time breweries, that's more of an English thing. I would say the best Scottish beer is McEwans Export (RED DEATH as I call it) (Damn, I need to check out this brand! Is this available in bars??? -roy) but by far the most popular one is Tennents.

14. Before anybody gets drunk... tell us more about the scene there in your local area. Is it more of a Punk scene or more Metal scene or equal mix? Do you have supports like local labels or distro, clubs or pubs to play in, rehearsals or studios, how about the local mob?

Its got a mix. but its more of the popular style stuff. the metal is usually very metallica influenced, and the punk is very poppy. but there are a few good bands. Bonesaw(Autopsy/Entombed style Death Metal), Karloff(Horror Punk/Psychobilly), Hearse Crash(grind/death), Bodies(Neurosis meets Slayer style metal). Aint really many distros, not in our city of Aberdeen, but there a few independent/DIY promoters etc.Dave from Filthpact is the main promoter of Crust/Grind/Hardcore etc, with www.blackboxrecords.co.uk.  There is a few studios, though none of them are fucking amazing or anything. And well, the crowds and audiences are okay, just depends on what the gig's like, haha.

15. How do you feel about other metal heads who are totally indifferent to punk & vice versa? VOA were more closely in the "Cross-Over" level where the 2 converge, do you have 'different' metal friends to those of your punk friends? Are there pressure in any of the 2???

Well, that's up to them really. But I still find it narrow minded not to check out new bands simply cos of a label. Alot of these metalheads are oblivious to alot of punk bands, and if they just checked them out, they might find themselves liking alot of it. ( and as far as I know some if not most of the brutal metal bands today do have punk influences in their youth if not altogether they were previously a punk band! - Roy ) As for the old VOA fans, and the new Filthpact friends, I don't care what they listen to, if they like us, they like us, simple as that. If they don't like our other fans, well then, tough shit, haha.

16. Internationally, I'm not familiar with any Scottish metal band. Would you name a few? Who do you think we should watch out for?

Well, there aint that many. The best metal band I ever heard come out of Scotland is Korpse, who were signed to Candlelight a few years back. Total stoner death metal band, similar to Autopsy, Abscess, maybe Entombed. Unfortunately, they've broken up now,. But the members have gone on to form Karloff, Bonesaw and Hearse Crash.

17. There are 2 Daves in Filthpact, & I met Dave Robertson with his brother Andy here in Abu Dhabi last January. Have the other members been here? Have you ever thought of playing here in the UAE?

Well, I'm the only one that's ever been to the UAE. All of us are Scottish except Ben, who is Australian. Ben was considering coming over to the UAE with me sometime, if he saved enough money. Other than that, I don't think the other members have any real intentions of visiting. As for playing there, hey, if somebody wants to pay for our flights there, we'd gladly fuckin do it. Pay for our flights, and we'd handle the rest of it. Even if it was just one or two gigs, would be a fucking blast, hahaha.

18. How about more far away country like Australia or Japan? Crust, grind & anything raw and harsh are favorites of those lands! Are you in contact with any body from those lands?

Well, we did talk about trying to tour Japan sometime. But I think that would be WAY later down the line. Cos well, we aint the richest guys on the planet. Don't really have any contacts, but I'm sure we could get some without too much hassle. never know, maybe one day. Cos well, I, and I'm sure the other members, would love to visit the far-east.

19. The Scottish & the Irish are known to wear kilts as it is your tradition or custom, right? But, do you wear it all time in replacement of pants or only on special occasions? Have you read about the Irish guy in the US who wore the kilt in his Prom night that the school did not accept him 'coz of the attire? What do you think is all the fuzz??

Hahaha, nah. Kilts are generally only worn on special occasions. Its not that often you ever even see people wearing kilts when you walk around the city. Although, there are some people that wear them just for the sake of it. Problem is, a kilt isn't cheap, especially a properly made one. They are very expensive. And wearing what is technically, nothing more than a baggy skirt, with no underwear underneath in the windy weather isn't all that safe. ( So it is true that when you wear kilts you dont wear undies!! I guess it is hard to wear kilts if you suffering from involuntary erection!! - Roy ) As for the guy getting turned away, well, it just re-instates my faith in America's ignorance.

20. So what do you guys do besides the band? How often do you meet & rehearse? Any other common interests?

well, 3 of us are students. ben is a nurse in a psychiatric hospital, and Jeeves is the manager of a Whiskey Distilleries Art Gallery. We meet up for rehearsal about once a week, and asides form that, we go out drinking together a lot. In fact yesterday, me and Ben went to the beach for a game of Frisbee with some beers cos we were hung-over and it was nice weather (very rare in Aberdeen). hahaha. Common interests, is generally music and gigs, especially crust/punk/grind ones.

21. Do you consider yourselves friends? How well do you know each other, like, who's the one who will always crack jokes, who is the most alcoholic or the one who first drulls on sexy women?

We're definitely all very good friends. Hang out together, get drunk together, fight with each other etc etc. As for all those, me and Jeeves generally crack the jokes (usually sick homo-erotic jokes, even though neither of us are gay), I'm the most alcoholic according to the rest of the band, and apparently I'm the "band slut". hahaha, I sound so fucking egotistical there, but its true.

22. What are the things to see there in your place, like a tourist attraction of some sort? Where exactly are you in Scotland? Is there a lot of crimes in your area?

We're based in Aberdeen. there is the usual touristy shite. There's lots of castles, some nice architecture etc. Aberdeen is a very grey city, cos alot of the buildings are all historic and made of Granite. But there are also whiskey distilleries, and now, in one for the museums, we even have the head of the Saddam Hussein statue that was knocked down in Iraq during the War on Terror. What a load of bullshit, hahahaha. Crime is relatively low, compared to the rest of Scotland's main cities like Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee.

23. In any nation's underground scene, there will always be rip-offs, posers, back-stabbers & all maggoty creatures who doesn't really help than just themselves! Do you know or met or experienced such cock suckers? What would say or do to them if given a chance??

Ahh, there was one. Some guy in northern Ireland ripped us off. Told us some bullshit about the food costing £18 (even though it was only fucking spaghetti and fucking sauce, which he didn't even fucking cook). also, he hadn't even started advertising the gig till the night before, meaning there was hardly anybody there. Basically, we just didn't like him and thought he was a bastard. So we sent him abusive text messages which he apparently got really scared from. hahahaha. I hope he wets the bed.

24. What are you guys doing in the past few days before answering this interview? Do you like doing 'sick' things? What is the sickest thing you have seen or experienced so far? Have you tried torturing animals?

Well, we played a gig on Saturday, then got very drunk. Especially me and Ben, we were extremely pissed. But well, I was going to go to a beach party, so I gave Ben my keys so he could sleep there. but when I tried to go home (I didn't go to the party), the bastard wouldn't wake up to answer the door, so instead I went and slept on a grass hill for a few hours. The next day, me and Ben played frisbee on the beach with some beers, then went to my local pubs open mid night and played some improvised (made-up) crust-grind, with him on drums, me on guitar, and both of us doing vocals. Hahaha, it was great. Plus, the beer was like almost half price if you played something. And we played a 20 minute set, ahahaha. After the interview, I'm going to go to a gig and get drunk at some shitty club where the beer is cheap and the women are sexy. As for torturing animals, of course not. We're a peace punk/crust/grind band, and are totally against animal cruelty. Other sick things, well, emmm, I dunno. We talk about sick things, don't usually do them though.

25. So since VOA is a goner, what do the UG can expect from FILTHPACT? Any materials, demo or merchandise that will be available in the near future?

Well, we're getting ready to release our first demo soon. Then maybe an EP or a split with another band later on. And hopefully, soon enough, we might even have t-shirts etc.

26. To those who want to check out VOA's sound, is your split demo with EAT YER GREENS still available? From who?

Well, we don't really make any more copies. there may be a few distros that'll sell it. If not, you could try e-mailing blackboxrecords@hotmail.com  and see if there are any.

27. Any side projects from the members, like playing in another band, zine or site or what ever?

I have a couple of side projects. I play in a black metal band(although, we're kind of parody) called Vomitus ( www.vomitus.tk ) and also a grind/noise band which is only just starting up. Apart from that, Dave runs Black Box Records ( www.blackboxrecords.co.uk )  who are a DIY promotions label.


28. I guess this intie is a goner too! Last words are usually for the dying but what the hell, we are dying right? So the last words for this intie are yours! Thanks for answering this & don't forget to include your cunt-acts!!!!

Well, thanks again for the interview. Glad to see a Zine coming out of the UAE. If you wanna check out Filthpact, http://www.filthpact.tk
and Voice of Aggression(though now dead) info can be found at http://www.voiceofaggression.tk and well, cos I am so modest, my e-mail address is filthpact@hotmail.com

Thanks again, stay brutal, stay DIY!!!

And yeah! DIY rules to all true underground fuckers!!!!