#foreignflag

There are all kinds of punks. Now more than ever there are artists pledging their allegiance to the iconic artists who emerged at the close of the seventies. However, these acts often fail to embody the same immediacy, anger and lyrical consciousness as their predecessors. 

In this light, the new Foreign Flag single ‘Pills’ arrives as a perfect antidote. With subject matter that is as dark as their sound, they embark with boundless energy. The pill they are refusing is homogeneity, and as with many great punk records, their feelings are conveyed perfectly, in a tone that is at once angry, bloody, and hoarse. 

While it is possible to align Foreign Flag with modern punk bands such as Cerebral Ballzy, their sound is equally informed by the original waves of punk, both at home and across the pond.

INTERVIEW

1) Who are Foreign Flag?

Frazer Richardson on guitar & vocals and Callum Thomas on drums.

2) What is your sound?

Punk.

3) Who would you cite as your influences?

(Frazer) So we actually started because me and Callum were listening to The Misfits nonstop at the time. I don’t think we sound anything like The Misfits but they are definite influence for the both of us. I’d say NOFX as well, I love the carefree “no fucks given” attitude towards their music. The Ghost Of A Thousand (RIP) are definitely up there too! I’d say more than just music influences me though, Charles Bukowski is my favourite author and after I read any of his poetry I just wanna grab my guitar and play something angry.

4) How does being a London band play into your music? If at all. 

I’d say being in London has shaped me as a person and everything I write about is quite honest and personal so there’s definitely elements of being in London that leak through into the music. We’re actually both from a small town on the southcoast so moving here was very alien to begin with! It’s quite a lonely place but starting this band here I feel more at home.

5) Build or destroy?

Destroy the system, build the future.

6) What are your plans for the coming year?

We’re finishing off a few demos at the moment. Getting ready to gig relentlessly and start work on our first EP.

7) Any messages for the people?