Knut is:
Didier - Vocals
Philippe - Guitar
Jeremy - Bass
Roderic - Drums

interview

.die.at.zero. : Bastardiser has more chugga than a locomotive, but the new untitled EP is a little less chugga, and a slight change in overall sound. Is this due to the fact that it's a more recent recording as opposed to Bastardiser (which even when released, was still older than people thought)? How have you progressed musically since the recording of Bastardiser?
Didier (throat): Well, you don't expect us to do the same record over and over again or do you? Sure the new record is pretty damn different from Bastardiser. Only the song You deserve me was recorded with the original line-up. The other 3 have been composed after the departure of Knut's first bass player. Finding a new bass player sure gave us a few headaches. But then the songs written afterwards had a crazier and more chaotic feel, hence less chugga. Our original bass player was a precision freak and we certainly owe him a lot in this regard. But when it came to record without him for the first time, we definitely felt a lot more free to capture the live feel in the studio.

.die.at.zero. : Just out of curiousity, you have a song on Bastardiser called "The Whip". And Knut, in russian, means "The Whip". Is there any coincidence between the name and the song title?
D: Yep.

.die.at.zero. : People say that you sound like a combination of Kiss It Goodbye, Botch, The Melvins and Neurosis. Do you see that in your music or do you think it's just a statement to give fans a general feel for your music?
D: As far as I can remember we got to know Kiss it Goodbye while being in the studio recording Bastardiser so KIG was not a direct influence, perhaps a zeitgeist thing. Before we got these comparisons (Botch, Coalesce, KIG, etc.), we used to be compared to Helmet, Zeni Geva, Fudge Tunnel, Godflesh and Napalm Death and whatsoever.

.die.at.zero. : Hydrahead re-released Bastardiser as a "digipak". What is the difference between the HH release and the original release?
D: Different covers and the subliminal Gruyère cheese ads in the first edition have been replaced by Taco Bell ads in the HH version.
Roderic (drummer): By the way the original version on our label Snuff Records was a digipak too. Jake from Converge did the new one so I guess it ads a bit.

.die.at.zero. : On the untitled ep, there is a song called "You Deserve Me". What is the meaning behind that song?
D: Itıs a love song. If you donıt have the words to it, here you go:

You deserve me
you're my spring wet like a fresh morning warm like noon you're my spring i'm lurking around walking on your steps i'm coming for you you're everything i need my desire your fear you're the one i need together we walk ways of fun together together split your sixteen year ass in two unlock your back door for me turn it around your white ass shines it bleeds you deserve me you're the one i need

.die.at.zero. : Why was an untitled EP released shortly before the new Knut full length is scheduled to come out instead of pushing them together onto one LP?
D: Because it wouldnıt make sense to cram everything onto one CD. This Ep is sort of a reedition of a very limited 3 song diy CD plus a song from a split 7" with french band Tantrum. The new album is a different studio session and was planned as a whole. Also we felt it was good for us to have something new on our US tour and have people to get something from Knut in between these two full-length releases, which may be set quite apart. This EP is affordable and makes sense being released this way and not as mere bonus tracks on a full-length.

.die.at.zero. : How does the Bastardiser release play out?
D: When we released Bastardiser, Chrome Saint Magnus didn't even exist at the time.
R: They contacted us I think one year after it's original release on Snuff Records. They said they felt that this record deserved a greater exposure and showed interest in putting out the vinyl. Hydra Head came later, and eventually put out the record again but in the US this time around.

.die.at.zero. : Who did the artwork and layout for the untitled ep?
D: A fine gentleman named Aaron Turner who incorporated the Knut logo and the cross pattern courtesy of Sir Jake Bannon.

.die.at.zero. : What major differences are there between the scene in Switzerland and the scene in America that you see so far?
R: The scene in Switzerland is pretty small, just like the country itself. You would have to look at the major cities to find the more creative bands, which makes sense since it certainly takes a lot of shows and records for a kid to start his own band and try to write interesting music. Also, I would say that the US has a better sense of "scene". People seem to relate to the same values, whereas in Europe we all have different culture, language, background and so on, not to mention distributions and prices. It just makes it a whole lot more difficult to get your music across people. But also it probably allows a lot of diversity and originality.

.die.at.zero. : You said in an interview with Digital Metal that the new ep was all songs that were on comps and singles. Are any of these comps or singles available in the US? If so, where can the fans buy them?
D: I think we are out of all these. Time to raise those eBay auction prices!

.die.at.zero. : What is the meaning of the title of the cd Bastardiser?
D: The idea behind this title was to translate our sound, which I think is a conjunction of noise, metal, hardcore and a slight industrial feel. To bastardise means to craft something out of separate parts. It's a term used in car customization. And it's also a Pitchshifter song dating back to the time when they didn't suck that much.

.die.at.zero. : Challenger, the new cd, was recorded in April of 2001, is there any reason you're waiting till early 2002 to release it?
D: Because the fucking album isn't even finished yet, goddammit!
R: Yeah true, we still have to mix it, which is a fucking drag. But then also Hydra Head has been releasing two Knut different records this year so I guess they want to wait and see what effect it produces before they put out a new full-length.

.die.at.zero. : If you have anything else you'd like to add, please do so now.
D: "Get down on your knees. You donıt have to say please. Suck my cock!"