Weekend Nachos Say Goodbye with Their Final 'Apology'

Photo: Peter Nelson

BY Branan RanjanathanPublished May 20, 2016

"A year ago, we called a meeting and decided to break up," Weekend Nachos vocalist and lyricist John Hoffman tells Exclaim! "We didn't even decide at that meeting that we were going to do a final album. We were open to the possibility of it — a few of us wanted to and a few of us didn't care — but every now and then someone would say, 'Hey I have a new song' and after getting together a few times, we just decided to go for it.

"We've never released an album that we didn't like or weren't happy with, so we knew that if what we wrote sucked we just wouldn't follow through, but the songs we had were good. We definitely went into it uneasy but once we started writing everything came together and we were pretty excited about it."

Apology (out now on Relapse) is the name of the hardcore stalwart's swansong, and while the band are known for being politically strident and outspoken, the title speaks to their underappreciated sense of humour.

"Some people are confused by the title, but others just kind of know, based on our personalities and the way that we are, that it's a tongue-in-cheek kind of thing. It's more like the exact opposite of an apology. This is our last album, and the last thing that we would ever do with our band would be apologize. This is no different. It's one last 'Fuck you' to the world before we call it quits."

Although all of the albums the band have put out over their 12-year history have been utterly cynical and pessimistic, Hoffman explains that there is a certain silver lining to his many caustic tirades.

"It was a release for me when I was in my early 20s; I needed an outlet like that, and now as I'm older I have to admit I'm not nearly as angry as I used to be. Now I feel like it's less therapeutic for me, and more so about creating art for people who need that kind of thing to relate to. It's important for that to exist. I just like creating negative shit, it's real and it's a positive thing if you need it and you're lost. Nothing feels better than hearing somebody say what you've had on your mind."

As Weekend Nachos bid adieu, they do so refusing to compromise any aspect of their sound or message. Apology, Hoffman says, is the apex of the band's art as a whole, and a proper conclusion to their career.

"I think these are some of the most creative songs we've ever written, and some of the best riffs we've ever come up with. I think that the way that the album came together, there are so many different styles of music on it, but it somehow blends together into one cohesive thing. No one wants to create the same album over and over, and I think every band tries to strive to create the perfect album — not comparing it to others, but just working at their fullest potential. I think that we achieved the best album that we are capable of putting together."

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