Old Style Values are a Hardcore influenced Oi! band hailing from the Moscow area in Russia. Taking elements from German Oi! and modern style hardcore, this band is not afraid to break out of limiting musical stereotypes to try and do something new, their way. All eye shots have been blurred to conceal the band member's identity from extremists.
1. Can you give us a history of the band? Who plays what instrument, where is your hometown?
The band was formed somewhere in 2006-2007, but there is no one left from the original line up. There have been many lineup changes. It was especially hard to find a proper vocalist, but we made it. Right now everyone in the band is doing his business at his best and there are no conflicts among us.
The current line up is: Alex on guitar, he is doing all of the music writing. Michael 'Psycho' is doing vocals and writing all the lyrics. Pashtet is on the drums and Andrian plays bass guitar and doing back vocals. One half of our band lives in the greater Moscow region and another half lives in Moscow. But basically we work, live, and sleep in Moscow so we are a Moscow based band.
2. Both Hardcore and Oi! are very present in your songs, what bands influence your song writing?
Yes, both Oi! And Hardcore are our general favourite music which in the combination finds reflection in our songs. As far as bands who have affected our creativity especially, it would be desirable to note: One Way System, Oxymoron, Angelic Upstarts, On File, Agnostic Front, Bruisers, Warzone, Oppressed, Misfits, Rose Tattoo and many others. Also we are listening to many modern bands: Wisdom in Chains, Hammer and the Nails, Volxsturm, Lovely Lads, Battle Ruins, Razors in the Night, Sidney Ducks and many many others.
3. What topics do your lyrics touch on?
The basic themes of our songs are the expression of our relation to everything that happens around us. We are talking about problems with police, daily struggle against the system, friendship, memory and respect for the friends we've lost. Also we do not avoid a theme of fun and rest.
4. What is the Oi! and Streetpunk scene like in Russia? Do you have to deal with any neo-nazi's??
The Oi! and Streetpunk scene in Russia is rather young. But there are constantly appearing new Oi! and Streetpunk bands. Especially there are many bands in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kirov. We have no affairs with neo-nazis! Sometimes we have to deal with them, but it happens on the streets.
5. Are there any particular Russian bands you'd like to mention?
We must name the bands with which we regularly divide a scene: 210 (Moscow), Zoraki (Moscow), Mister X (Grodno, Belarusia), M-16 (Saint-Petersburg), Shaved Heads (Saint-Petersburg), Robin Hood (Saint-Petersburg), The Lappers (Moscow), The Zapoy (Moscow), Bystreet (Moscow), Kids of the Streets (Egoriyevsk), Dvadtcatiye (Kirov), The Klowns (Kirov).
6. Do you ever play outside of Russia? If so, where?
We have never played outside Russia, cause there have been no offers yet. We hope it's only a matter of time.
7. What are your releases to date? What's in the works for Old Style Values?
At present we have a split with our friends Bystreet which was recorded and released in the memory of our friend Fedor Filatov, who was killed by nazi bastards. This record was made with the old lineup. Currently we don't play any song from that release. With the new lineup we recorded a demo. It consist of six own things and one cover, but it was never a physical release. Also we have a videoclip for one song from our demo. In the near future we plan to record and release EP from four or five things.
8. Any final comments, or thanks?
First of all we would like to thank you for your interest to our band. We appreciate it very much.All the rest who will read this interview we want to give best regards and wish to listen as much as possible versatile music, not to give in to nazi propaganda and always to be oneself. From Russia with love.
Great band. here's some links to their most recent demo and documentary film appearance:
Russian Anti-Racist Skinheads Documentary--- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R06SJKnNKqY&feature=related
