by RAF KATIGBAK

"I don't care about any scene. It's more on a level that's got nothing to do with scenes. It's more philosophical," says Marco Haas, aka T.Raumschmiere, on the so-called anti-attitude that's he's come to be associated with.

"It's more against common things, the day to day. It's about staying awake and being aware and keeping your eyes open to criticize things." Eye-opening is something Haas does very well. His first full-length, The Great Rock ‘n' Roll Swindle on his own Shitkatapult imprint, elicited ecstatic "what the fuck!" reactions from critics and dancefloors alike. His latest album, Radio Blackout, whips together the chugging, anthemic rock of AC/DC with the raw hardcore energy of Black Flag, the abrasion of industrial with the steady beat and explorative spirit of minimal techno.

The music, like the man, is energetic, abrasive and challenging, and live, he's a tour de force. A perfect example was his Mutek performance earlier this year where his onstage antics - climbing on top of a table full of gear and thrashing about treacherously - turned a rather chilled crowd

into the sort of headbanging, fist-pumping beathead mob seldom seen in a Montreal club before or since.

While reluctant to target any particular musical genre, Haas is quick to point out why the techno community offered a perfect forum for his critical punk approach. "They have their little universe, their utopia around what clothes they wear, what clubs they go to, the music they listen to, what software or Web site they design - that's about it. It's too easy, we shouldn't make it that easy."

But for Haas, fuckin' shit up on stage is old hat. After all, he cut his teeth drumming for several hardcore punk bands in Germany almost a decade ago, a side that remains important to him to this day (check out his latest band Crack Whore Society). "Electronic music is more my philosophical side and the punk rock is my more physical side. One is for the soul and one is for the body. In the end, no matter if I play drums or laptop, I'm a happier person after, sweating and totally relaxed."

With Ellen Allien, Apparat and DJ Mini at
SAT on Friday, Nov. 14, 9pm, $20

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