The Hellfreaks
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Album: Pitch Black Sunset, out April 14th via Napalm Records
RIYL: Partnerships. Quirk. Passion.
I recently celebrated my ten-year wedding anniversary, and it’s got me reflective on the types of relationships we chose to keep and those we feel are no longer beneficial for us. Two people chose to be together for a wide range of reasons: attraction, mutual interests, shared values, or in my case because our strengths and weaknesses complement each other. Do a laundry list of qualities, and we’re different, but when it comes to keeping a house together (and two cats happy), it works. That sense of balance and mutuality is central to the creation and continuation of artistic endeavors, as The Hellfreaks embody. Sure, you’ll be most enamored with their keen ear for a killer Warped Tour-era hook and their unique eye for cross-genre pollination. Few records feel this genre-less while also feeling like the exact kind of thing that would blow my teenage mind (and my mid-to-late 30s one too). Punk, hardcore, metal, and a hint of something a bit weirder all play wonderfully together, and that is something The Hellfreaks aim for, as vocalist Zsuzsa “Shakey Sue” Radnóti shares:
“I think the toughest part for everyone in every band phase is the same: to find the right bandmates. I think it’s way more difficult than finding the partner for life who you might want to marry. You have to fit each other in so many aspects: musical taste, musical knowledge, perspectives, goals, time management, life priorities, work ethic, the list is way too long! And to be honest, for me, as the only member who has been part of The Hellfreaks since day one back in 2009, it was very tricky too. I made many mistakes, but I learned a lot. At the point when we got united as the line up as we are today, all of us already had a very similar journey on their back, and that’s why we are able to appreciate each other, support each other, maybe even go after each other and not to give up on each other when it gets difficult. We all have the same mindset musical-wise. We might not listen to the same bands, but the focus is always the same: whatever we do, we will not force ourselves into any genre. We will not repeat ourselves, and whenever we hesitate between two options, we will always choose the unusual one. And we do respect each other’s idea and give it a try, no matter how weird it might be at first sight. People tried to put us in so many boxes.”
Photo courtesy of The Hellfreaks.
