CONCRETE WINDS: Steel Over Code: Building Chaos, Not Conformity

Concrete Winds doesn’t just create music; they unleash sonic assaults designed to obliterate comfort and drag you into a world of raw, unfiltered chaos. With their self-titled album, the band carves deeper into the bedrock of aggression and intensity that defines their sound, delivering a record as uncompromising as their ethos. In this interview, they reflect on their visceral approach to music, their disdain for trends, and their commitment to pure, unvarnished brutality. Prepare yourself—Concrete Winds doesn’t mince words, and they definitely don’t play nice.

– Hi, first off, thanks for taking your time. How’s everything doing in the Concrete Winds’ lair?

Thank you for the questions! It is in a state of movement. Preparing for further devastation.

– Your music is notorious for its intensity and aggression, but with the release of your self-titled album, what emotions or ideas did you channel during the writing process that differ from your previous work? What sets this release apart for you on a deeper level?

We did what we are supposed and bound to do, building further upon the disgusting foundation and digging deeper into ugliness and havoc. In our eyes, a new plateau has been reached, and to us, it is the essence of Concrete Winds up until now, hence the title and declaration.

– Extreme metal often focuses on nihilism, destruction, and chaos. Do you see your music as a reflection of those concepts, or is there a different philosophical core to Concrete Winds that people might not immediately recognize?

We think our subjects and themes, in terms of words and titles, are quite blatant. They always will concern what is demanded from the noise (and the other way around) and the overall output. Words and noise correspond.

– This new self-titled album marks a significant point in your career. Do you think there’s a reason why certain bands choose to release a self-titled album at particular moments? What does this album represent to you in terms of identity or evolution?

For us, there was never even really a question of naming it something else. As the construction progressed, it was evident to us. Of course, we are not done and in no way think it is the ultimate CW, but so far and up to this point, it is. We still have more work to do.

– Your sound is raw and uncompromising—there’s a visceral element to your music that doesn’t feel polished or produced. How intentional is that approach? Do you actively resist ‘over-production,’ and why is that aesthetic important to you?

For this album, we intentionally chose a less raw production to let the aggressiveness and violence of the noise speak for itself, with the focus on the listener being sharply attacked with it in clear and audible form, without pardon. It still turned out as sharp and uncomfortable as it did, though, due to the content, we believe.

– You’re known for creating chaotic, overwhelming atmospheres in your music. When you’re composing a track, how do you approach structuring chaos? Is it something calculated, or do you rely on instinctual processes to guide you?

We, of course, want to cause confusion and disarray. But definitely both instinctual and then an additional push into turmoil by force if needed to increase torment.

– If you had to strip away the aggression and distortion and create a version of Concrete Winds that wasn’t rooted in metal, what would it sound like? How would you maintain the spirit of the band without the musical intensity?

There will not be a Concrete Winds in that form. Also, we are not interested in creating non-aggressive music.

– When people hear your music, they often describe it as «apocalyptic» or «dystopian.» Do you see the world in a similarly dark light? Or is your music more of a cathartic outlet that contrasts with your personal worldview?

We see CW as an entity where us as individuals are not important. An outlet it is, absolutely, and therefore it differs very little from us and is growing together by the day.

– How do you stay inspired within such a focused, extreme niche of music? What non-musical elements—whether it’s literature, philosophy, or visual art—help shape the ferocity of Concrete Winds’ sound?

We would stop doing it if inspiration and focus ceased. Some of the mentioned above, but for us, perhaps more brutality and cacophony in its unartistic and unvarnished form. Machines and sonic noise, detonations, and tinnitus. Ugly surroundings. Mostly non-art.

– Given the rise of AI and synthetic technologies in music, do you feel that these advancements have a place in extreme metal? How do you think the rawness of a band like Concrete Winds contrasts with these trends?

It is not for us. Too much code, not enough steel.

– On the subject of your new album—what was the most challenging part of recording this record? Did you face any unexpected obstacles, either in the studio or creatively, and how did you push through them?

We live in different places and can have some smaller difficulties getting our schedules to match. Nothing that can’t be done with will and conviction. So in short, nothing that we can think of, no.

– What’s one thing that listeners probably overlook when they hear Concrete Winds for the first time? Is there a deeper complexity in your music or a hidden layer that you wish more people would notice?

Not sure, as our own relation to it differs all too much from the listeners, we suppose. As worn out as it sounds, that is up to each listener to decipher, perhaps? As long as they feel stressed out and preferably irritated/agitated after listening, all is well.

– The underground metal scene is notoriously passionate but also often divided. How do you navigate the extreme metal community’s tendency to be both fiercely loyal and intensely critical? Do you engage with the feedback, or do you remain unaffected by it?

We take note if someone of similar taste and outlook as us enjoys it. If it is someone with a largely differing opinion and preference overall who hates it, we couldn’t care less. No more engaged than that; everyone is entitled to their opinion. No use in engaging, as we will not change or bend to it anyway.

– Music is often an escape or a way to channel inner turmoil. What’s the role of your music for you personally—do you see it as an outlet for something darker within yourselves, or is it purely about pushing sonic boundaries?

Both.

– Are there any contemporary bands in extreme metal that you feel a kinship with, whether in philosophy or sound? Or do you feel that Concrete Winds exists in its own distinct space, removed from current trends?

There are bands and people we know, of course, that we feel this way with to an extent. But CW, we keep closed and removed to exist on its own.

– Now that your self-titled album is out, what impact do you hope it will have on the extreme metal landscape? Do you see it as a statement piece, or is it more of a continuation of the force you’ve been building?

Inevitably a continuation this time around (but only for the time being) and also a completion of sorts. We will take it further from here on but draw from where we are.

– That’s all from our side. Thanks again for answering these questions. If you’d like to add some final words, it’s your turn.

Thank you, and likewise!
AGGRESSIVE NOISE TORMENT.