Pizza and punk go together like mac and cheese. What better way to enjoy an onslaught of sometimes politically charged, regularly tongue-in-cheek and suitability angry noise than a thin slice of heaven, oozing with molten mozzarella?
It’s a question that would encourage a resounding yes from London based punk trio Ligaments, who have been known to host their own pizza parties – offering a free slice upon entry to the undoubtedly sweaty venue. Brought together in a Soho dive bar, and acquiring Zel Kaute of former feminist punx outfit Pettybone, Ligaments channel the ferocity of stateside hardcore bands – adding a melodic edge that, at times, brings AFI or early Alkaline Trio to mind.
For Ligaments, it’s not entirely about the pizza. “We’re angry about a lot of things,” the band explain, “but we take our time to think about why before we let our opinions be known. These songs are a really good showcase of what we do, it’s almost all up-tempo punk and it’s hard hitting overall but there’s some introspective moments which reflects who were are as people in this band.”
“This was our first time all together in the studio and we had a great time recording with Wayne Adams. We recorded most of it live and it has that kind of feel, we think it’s got the energy of our live show but with just the right amount of studio polish.”
Putting their anger into action, Ligaments are currently intrinsically in the Occupy London movement*. “At the moment we’re getting involved in the movement as they’ve squatted the 12Bar after its closure,” they reveal. “This venue was like our home and it’s where the band started. We shot our music video for Precinct 13 there and we left behind the signs we made for the protest scene in the video, with the lyric ‘we can’t take any more’ on them, which have now been adopted by the protesters.”
“That phrase sums up how we all feel about the destruction of historic and creative centre’s in central London, the growing housing shortage and the generally shoddy treatment of people by the systems around them. We should all be fighting things like the Denmark street issue because creative freedoms are always the first to be eroded and if we don’t stand up now our other freedoms will be under threat and then it will be too late.”
There’s certainly power behind the pizza.
‘Eat Pizza’ will be available from the 16th February 2015, with pre-orders open now via BandCamp. Find out more about Ligaments over on their Facebook page.
*This interview was undertaken prior to the event on Friday 6th February, when squatters were forcibly removed from the 12Bar on Denmark Street, London.