Not familiar with grindcore? Here's a brief definition from Fuck the Facts guitarist Topon Das: "It's a frame of mind of really fast easily relatable musical expression."
He is quick to clarify, however, that his Canadian five-piece is not a textbook example of the musical genre. "I don't think we're traditional straight-up grindcore like Brutal Truth is. We have other influences like hardcore, death metal, and experimental, but what always appealed to me about grindcore is it was normal dudes playing music in t-shirts and jeans."
Das grew up in Ottawa. His brother was in a punk band and when he handed him a cassette of Metallica's ...And Justice For All, it changed his life. "I bought my first bass guitar and I started playing songs at a church with a friend." Anyone who takes a second to listen to the ultra-heavy sound of Fuck The Facts might be surprised that any church would allow his music anywhere near its congregation, but over the telephone Das comes across as a thoughtful person, one who takes his time to contemplate every question before answering.
Fuck the Facts started in 1998 as his bedroom solo project. In
Das thinks their newest release, Desire Will Rot, is the band's best one yet — though not all their fans agree. "It's funny, sometimes we get a fan who tells us our first one is the best and I can't even listen to that anymore. But it is good to hear that because I like to think we're trying different things and the albums aren't carbon copies of each other."
Das is very excited to hear what Miami will think of the group's latest work. Tonight's show at Churchill's is Fuck the Facts' first ever performance in South Florida. "It's rare after 15 years of doing this for us to play in a city we've never played before. We look forward to meeting some new people."
You hear that Churchill's? Let's be welcoming.
Fuck the Facts. 9 p.m. Tuesday, December 8, at Churchill's Pub, 5501 NE 2nd Ave, Miami; 305-757-1807; churchillspub.com. Admission is $10.