Dutch heavy trio Komatsu return with A Breakfast for Champions, a raw, genre-blending record that pushes boundaries, tightens their sound, and reflects on the world’s chaos—with thunderous intensity.
1. Your
new album A Breakfast for Champions is
coming out in April 2025. What was the inspiration behind the title and concept
of the record?
The idea
behind the album was that the album in it's own right is a breakfast for
champions. Not easy to swallow, but filling. The fans and the listeners would
be the champions.
2. This
is your first album as a three-piece. How has that change affected your
songwriting, sound, and overall band dynamics?
It changed
because we had to listen more and better to each other. Some songs where
written for two guitars, but then we had to chose between different guitar
parts and had to make choices. This allowed more room for bass and drums.
Working together as a trio was easier. We tried every angle and if it didn' t
work, we tried something new until we had it right. As a three-piece we sound
much tighter and the role of every instrument is much clearer.
3. Your
music has always blended sludge, stoner, and metal. Did you explore any new
influences or sonic elements on this album?
Mo is
writing all our songs and is a 80's punk lover. I guess somewhere you can hear
this still in the music and in the lyrics. But you can also hear blues
influences in 'Release the flies' or
funk in the drums on 'Climb the vines' and hardcore in 'A Breakfast for
Champions'. And we have a drum & bass break in the instrumental track
called 'Fatcamp workout'. So, I guess this album is as broad as can get.
4. The
lyrics cover a range of themes, from the universe and dystopia to fatcamps and
female parts. Can you dive into some of the most personal or unusual lyrical
inspirations on this record?
'Release
the Flies' for example is inspired by Lord of the Flies, a book by William
Golding. In the lyrics he is revealing the true nature of human kind. The
promise of something beautiful turning out to be something rotten. It's also
about a power struggle between good and evil.
Commenting on the current world events.
5. Working
with producer Pieter Kloos at The Void Studio has been a staple for Komatsu.
How was the recording process this time, and did you approach anything
differently?
We searched
well-considered for a room that was able to record the air that we wanted on
the album. We found the room at Tarwesound. Factually it was a
live-registration for a studio album. We wanted the record the three-piece that
we are now, so not much extra's. It really sounds natural and not over
produced. We recorded the vocals at Bootleg recordings with Peter van Elderen
(Peter Pan Speedrock).
6. Songs
like ‘The Devil’s Cut’ and ‘Welcome to the Underworld’ have contributions from
Mathijs Bodt and Ronny Dijksterhuis. What did their input bring to these
tracks?
There were
some lyrics from Mathijs Bodt and a guitar riff that we still used because
these are two songs that we wrote when he was still in the band. Ronny
Dijksterhuis is a poet and we asked him to collaborate. He writes some pretty
good shit.
7. Komatsu
is known for its thunderous live energy. How do you plan to translate this
album to the stage, and are there any upcoming tour plans to support the
release?
We have
some shows planned in Germany, Belgium, Italy and Holland and have the album
release at May 16th at our hometown Eindhoven. After that we play
some nice festivals and are planning an European tour in the autumn. Be sure to
check our website (www.komatsurock.com) and facebook
(facebook.com/komatsurock) for tour/shows. We are busy with some nice plans
regarding a continent that we never have visited before. If that will work out,
you will hear more and will be super cool!
8. Over
the years, you’ve shared the stage with heavyweights like Clutch, High on Fire,
and John Garcia. Are there any specific moments from those experiences that
shaped you as a band?
We are very
lucky guys. We had the luck to tour with nice bands and people like the Freeks,
Duel, Mondo Generator, John Garcia etc. It's nice to hang around with fellow
musicians, meet people on the road, see different countries and their customs
and have a lot of fun. When we toured in Brasil we were surprised that people
stood in line to congratulate us with our show. So nice to see the differences
between continents. As a band you get better musically when you play day after
day on tour. You should hear the difference between the first show of the tour
and the last!
9. You've
had a strong following in Brazil and Europe. How does the fan response differ
across these regions, and do you have any favorite places to play?
We were
surprised that people stood in line to congratulate us with our show
afterwards. So nice to see the differences between continents. We loved playing
in Brasil, because we could travel in shorts. We loved Florianopolis, Sao Paulo
and Curitiba. Everywhere we were invited to drink cachaca and BBQ and we were
invited as VIP's to a soccer game.
In Europe the fans are also very gorgeous. They know how to party and rock like
there is no tomorrow. There are small differences between countries but in
general they are all dedicated and rock-minded. The rock/stoner/metal/doom
scene is loyal and always visit your shows and buy your merchandise. We are
very greatfull for that!
10. The
album’s artwork was designed by Lotte Voorhoeve. Can you tell us about the
visual concept and how it ties into the music?
The artwork
is an intricate piece of machinery depicting the universe. The cogs are
symbolic for the planets and are inspired by the original Komatsu artwork heavy
machinery (first EP). Everything is spinning around the all-seeing eye. Theme's
of the artwork are space and machinery and compliment our heavy music. At the
back the spaced out lettering between the titles of the tracks is suggesting we
come from another planet.
11. Heavy
Psych Sounds has been releasing some killer records in the stoner and sludge
scene. How has your partnership with the label helped Komatsu evolve?
HPS is a
great family to be part of. They have great bands in their roster and they
stand for quality. They are hard working people that built up a wide community
within the heavy psych rock scene. Of course that helps Komatsu as well.
12. If
you had to describe A Breakfast for
Champions in three words, what would they be?
Mo, Martijn, Jos
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