UN: Let’s start from the beginning. When and how did the idea for Hatework come about?

Lo: ….…I don’t remember…I was totally drunk!!!…ahaha!!! Jokes apart everything started in 1995-96…we were in touch since the shool time…you know…., between a couple of beers, talking about music, bands and other things, we decided to found the band…nothing was planning…..

UN:Were any of you guys in bands prior to starting Hatework?

Lo: Yes in a couple of local bands but nothing serious…in the beginnig only Marco was the real “musician” ‘cause he played giutar since he was a child and so when we started he was more skilled….but none of us was in a band comparable with Hatework

UN: I read in the bio that the band has recorded a full length album a year after forming but it was never released. Is this album still collecting dust?

Lo: Yes you are right! In 1997-98 (I don’t remember well)…..we were 17 years old, we got in touch with this man into the music businnes and we took a big rip off!!! Yes this album are collecting dust over dust but now think that it’s better that it was never released ‘cause we were too inexperienced to record an album and also some good ideas are damged by a very very inappropriate sound!

UN: What exactly happened between the band and the label that delayed the release?

Lo: No one label! At that time, we got in touch with that man (he was the guitar player of a quiet famous local band and the owner of a little studio) He listened to our songs and he produced us a demo…after some weeks he told that a label was interested...so: “let’s go…you have to record an full length album”. But after the recording session during the mixing he start to ask us a lot of money, against the agreement taken in the beginnig, we start to quarrel with him and nothing was made!

UN: Beer City is a label known for releases by bands that combine thrash metal and hardcore so is seems like the perfect home for Hatework. How exactly did the band come into contact with the label? Or was it the other way around? Did the label contact the band?

Lo: I don’t know……we choosen this label only for the name!!! very very close to our life-style!!!!!ahahaha!!! No!!! you know, we are into the scene since 1996, I have heard the Beer city’s name and I have send the a rearsahal of some new songs, Mike listened to it and he offered us to work with his label!

UN: Thrash N’ Roll is the first release the band will have on Beer City. How would you say this album stacks up in comparison to the bands previous albums?

Lo: It could be rhetoric but i belive in the new album…we have done the best for writing those songs and for recording them…and with this album we ahve achieved a very personal style and sound!!! I’m very satisfied about it. And also Beer City Rec. and Earsplit PR (our publicist) are working very hard to promote us and the new album!!! Comaprison the old releases this one it’s surely supported by a better promotion and distribution, and all the songs are more aggressive, direct…..this is a Rock ‘n’ Roll album!!!!! fast as a bullet and hard as a fist in the face!!!!!

UN: I was curious to ask if you chose the album name as basically a mission statement for the band. I like when bands actually give you an indication of what style of music they play in the title. You see it very fairly these days, but it used to be a common thing with old thrash and the early crossover bands.

Lo: The title “Thrash’n’ Roll” is very explicit! This is a “flag” of the music we play!!! A mix between Tharsh metal and Hard Rock!!! Blend together Slayer, Elvis and Motorhead, drown it all in gallons of beer…What you end up with is..HATEWORK!!! I have choose to give the album this title for this reason…every one have to know what is HATEWORK and I think that it’s very clear…no? As far as the old bands…yes you are right but we are very close to those kind world, so it’s natural to be influeced by those canons of music, artwork or title!

UN: Will this be the first cd that the band has had released by a US label? You guys must be excited that this will find it’s way into the hands of more people in the US. This will probably be the first time a lot of people are hearing the name Hatework.

Lo: Yes we are very excited, first of all ‘cause BEER CITY is making a huge promotion and this is a good chance to spread HATEWORK’s name also across the ocean!!! And I hope in the future to make a tour there….I’m looking forward to taste all the U.S. beers!!!!!!!!ahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!

UN: Would you say that the songwriting for Hatework is pretty open ended? You guys don’t cover every genre out there, but if it’s thrashy, hardcore sounding or it rocks, it would basically fit into the overall feel of the band.

Lo: We basically play what we like…when we compose an album we don’t plan nothing, the songs born naturally and we reverse into all our musical background…and yes, you are right our songwriting is quiet open…Thrash ‘n’ Roll means exactly this!

UN: Do you think that being from Italy holds the band back at all? I know that there is indeed a scene from Italy, but you don’t hear about many bands really breaking into the US. I think the Cripple Bastards might have toured the US, but I’m having trouble thinking of anyone else. Is the scene in your home country supportive of Hatework?

Lo: I don’t know if being from Italy could “damage” the band or not…..but not for now. As far as bands have toured in U.S., I know Raw Power (cult!!!!!!!!) have made some tours there…since the 80’s! And also Lacuna Coil, now is quiet famous and I think they also tour in U.S. The Italian scene is quiet good (we meet a a lot of fucking crazy people in our shows!!!) but it’s very difficoult to find radios, promoters, labels, or clubs able to make a professional support to an extreme band…Here in Italy the rock music is consider as an hobby!?!?!?!?!

UN: Do you think that somewhere down the road we can expect Thrash N’ Roll to come out on LP? It just screams to be on vinyl. I think the cover art would look amazing blown up to the bigger LP size.

Lo: Yes of course a vinyl version would be fuckin' great!!!!I Are you intersted to release it???ahaha!!!!! Jokes apart a vinyl version is one of my dream!!! But it depends on the boss of our label!!! I hope Beer City will release it in the future!!!

UN: While on the subject of the cover, would you say that it was a conscious decision to keep the cover simplistic? It totally reminds me of a classic Motorhead cover. It’s simple but very effective.

Lo: Yes, it reflects the same subject of title, songs style, etc…direct and aggressive!!!

UN: Are you guys aware that there are other bands that also go by the name Hatework? I’m assuming you guy were the first considering that you’ve been around since 1996. You should take these bands to court and sue their asses! Well, probably not, but does it piss you off when people use the same name?

Lo: Yes I know!!! And I have a dream: to organize a worldwide tour with all the HATEWORKs!!!!….I don’t joke now!!!! It would be gerat!!!! ahahaha!!!!!!!!!!! HEY HATEWORK!!!!!!!!! IF YOU ARE READING THIS INTERVIEW CONTACT ME FOR PLANNING THIS TOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

UN: Let’s end on this one. What drives you guys to play thrash metal? Is it the energy of the music? It’s one of the few styles of metal where energy really translates well on albums.

Lo: I don’t know why…we love it and nothing more!!!!!!!…HATEWORK was made to play Thrash metal!!!!!!