Believe it or not, it’s been 8 years already since we invited Mathlovsky to come to Erfurt in 2016. It was our first Ausnahmezustand party at AJZ Erfurt after we left Gera. So many things have changed since then for us but also of course for Mathlovsky. Reason enough to get back to him and ask him a few questions about what he’s been up to lately. And well, apparently, there is a lot to discover about his past, present and future! If you want to read more on his upcoming album, future art projects and lots of good music recommendations – also outside the realm of hardcore – then you are happily invited to read along.

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AZS: Hey Mathlovsky, it’s a great pleasure to talk to you again. As usual, you have been super busy with dozens of music projects. Right now, you finished a new Mathlovsky album which will soon be out (12.12.24). Please tell us a bit more about ‘ART MUST DIE FOR THE SAKE OF PROFIT’. How did you come up with it? What is your approach or concept? You seem to have put a lot of thought into this. What is this album about and why does this topic affect you enough to write an album about it?

Mathlovsky: Hello Daniel, long time no speak. I still have fond memories of the rave in Erfurt so it’s nice to connect once again.

Regarding ‘ART MUST DIE FOR THE SAKE OF PROFIT’ I wanted to make an audio and visual statement on how it is like to be an artist these days. At least, according to my own little world and experiences. It’s a blanket statement that I want the listener to interpretate in their own way. My main goal with the title is to encourage a ‘consumer of culture’ to think about what the artist goes through creating something tangible in a very crazy world. Contemplating what the effects of mainstream acceptance are to an underground movement and how to preserve the soul and heart of the subcultures that we interact with and hold dearly. This is to decide for yourself, my interpretation will probably be clear because of my artistic statements throughout the past but I very much want people to decide for themselves.

The album will be presented digitally as two eps, one for hard beats and the other for ambient soundscapes, while in the physical realm, I will release it as a cassette album. I will not be selling the tape album in a traditional way but will be inviting people to trade me something for it. This can be everything from something they made themselves to a nice souvenir to whatever you find it worth to trade the album for. This is to inspire people and myself that we are in control of this artform ourselves and not necessarily have to follow conventions that have been decided for us. This is not an attack on the status quo by the way, this is to keep it interesting for myself primarily and I’m very curious on what people will want to trade me for it.

AZS: A few weeks ago, you announced that you want to start something new. What exactly do you want to change and how do you want to achieve it? Please tell us more about your upcoming projects and what plans you have for them in the near future.

Mathlovsky: I’ll be coming out with my analog black&white photography next year in the form of an expo and a zine. The art medium really draws me in because in all my output, you can always find the grain. I really feel connected with distortion as my brain is constantly in overdrive and I really feel and hear so many worlds to discover. So, the analog film world has the same effect on me as an artist as it does in my musical creations.
So my imprint ‘HOUSE OF LOV’, will do more than release my music, I will also try and go further in the forms of physical and tangible pieces of art.

With the uprising of AI and overwhelming digital output, I feel the need to create things you can touch with your hands. My mp3s won’t survive the futuristic water wars but maybe a vinyl, tape, photography print or whatever creation I can think of will. Not that I’m aiming for a legacy, my existentialistic ideals go beyond that, but I want to see the art exist in a realm I do. My digital presence is curated and will never go further and beyond my actual footprint on the world.


Music wise I’m really slowing down my new productions regarding the tempo, really delving into a world of half time bass music with an industrial techno approach. Industrial dubstep x hardcore techno is what you can call it but it’s not my job to categorize it, I’ll let the labels and people decide about that.

With my band, Modder, we are working on a special vinyl release at the moment and are also currently writing our third album so we’ll play shows regarding these things next year for sure. Really accentuating the heaviness even more, this is gonna be a nice trip for the sludgeheads.

AZS: A lot of your artworks or online posts feature political messages that also go beyond music. While some argue that music should be void of politics, you do the opposite and use your platforms for clear statements. Of course, this also relates to the first topic, but why do you address different aspects of structural injustices (be it the music industry or society as a whole) in your art?

Mathlovsky: I totally understand people that want to separate politics with art & music but I’m afraid that’s not possible for me. Some artists choose not to get involved on a global or local scale in fear of alienating their audience, which I can understand but that is not how I can approach this. Your existence is political, oligarchs and politicians decide this for you. The world is being torn apart by manipulation, and believe me that this manipulation is making some people lots of money. I’d rather not let my anger be fed by politicians pointing their fingers to a made-up enemy when they are the ones destroying the world for a quick buck. My parents really instilled a sincere search for justice in me when I was a child so it naturally evolved to feel the need to use my art to document the world in what I feel is a honest view.

I can go fill your whole page with a discourse but I’d rather let my output do the statements for me.

AZS: You’ve been around for quite a long time already. You changed a lot, also played in several bands, but in the end, you still stick to distorted kicks – while doing everything else, too. What makes you stay interested in this type of music? Where do you find out about new (or old) interesting music that touches you?

Mathlovsky: My life has been through many changes on a personal level so that affects my productions as well, it wouldn’t feel like me if the art didn’t evolve with me, right? It’s nice to see through the almost 15 years of releasing music, I have this documented archive of my mental state at the time. Sometimes I don’t really like a certain release anymore but just as you confront certain personal aspects, you need to accept your shortcomings and build further upon it until you can live with it, the same with all creativity. As is the concept of distortion.

Distortion is life, if you analyze a distorted waveform, you can find so many artifacts. It feels like creating and destroying universes all at the same time. Pretty hyperbolic of me to say but when utilized in a nice way, you can create so much out of destruction. The universe is chaos and when I chose to accept that fact, so many pieces of the existential puzzle were connecting for me. I feel that music which is known for abrasive sound techniques resonates the most with me, to find the beauty in which only some of us dare to go.

AZS: Do you have any favorite tracks right now (or in general) that blew your mind and you feel the need to share with us?

Mathlovsky: I went to see The Body together with Dis Fig last night as I’m typing my response right now so wanted to share that was an amazing intense show. Love what The Body does, no limitations to the sounds. Also wanted to point out that KRTM is making some really nice handprinted artwork vinyl releases together with Stanley from Lazy Days, two friends working together is what I love to see. Check out his whole concept behind it, it’s cool stuff. I’d like to encourage more thought behind releases please!

AZS: Do you have a favorite mix or set by any DJ that you always come back to?

Mathlovsky: As a young teenager, I can maintain to say, electronically wise, The Panacea made a massive impact on my merging styles in sets. His Filthcast is a monthly spin in my house.

AZS: Since you have such a long back catalogue, maybe give us also some insight on what release of yours resonates the most with you? Do you have (a) favorite track(s) or release(s)? Feel free to list some of your works here.

Mathlovsky: My favourites are always the one’s not released yet!
For a more serious answer, if I’d have to give you a personal top three right now it would be:


1) Mathlovsky- Yassssin (Ohm Resistance) 2021
2) Mathlovsky – Gabbergeist (Industrial Strength) 2023
3) Modder – The Great Liberation Through Hearing (Consouling / Lay Bare) 2023

AZS: Lastly, we would like to ask you for some studio or production tips? It can be a motivational advice, some technical aspect of production or whatever you think might be helpful.

Mathlovsky: Please just make whatever you want, if you want to follow a hype, do it, if you want to make harsh noise soundwall tapes for yourself, do it. There is a whole world of knowledge that can help you on the technical side but the artistic approach will always be your own responsibility. Be authentic and don’t be afraid to turn up the volume to maximum.

AZS: Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions! We are all very curious about your next steps and are happily looking forward to hearing more from you 😊

Mathlovsky: Thank you for taking the time to do this and to the people reading this, peace.