SLOGUN is one of the best newcomer in Power electronics scene. Not very surprising while you know that John Balistreri, the man behind this moniker has worked with Intrinsic Action & Bloodyminded. The music can be described as violent & structured noise assaults around the hypnotic subject of Serial Killers.

John started his project in march ‘96, as well as own label CIRCLE OF SHIT, which has released in collaboration with BloodLust! several stuffs like the first both tapes of the Band:“The will to Kill” & “Sacrifice unto me” (ltd to 50), as well as the “Lustkiller” E.p. C.O.S. along with the other Brooklyner label Labyrinth worked also on “The pleasures of death” tape. Others labels like Slaughter Prod° brought “A breed apart” tape (ltd to 80); Less than zero: “hunting humans” tape (ltd to 100); Murder release: “days of agony” tape (ltd to 50) & Self Abuse: “The heights” E.p. ltd to 250.

Besides this already interesting discography is planned some autumn poisonous leaves anounced in the interview plus things like: “Moments & mine” track on Malsonus compilat° CD called “Sounds of sadism”; another track “Deadly ambition”on Ajna Offensive compilat° CD titled “How terrorists kill”; coming in Dec ‘97: a collaboration tape with Roger Baumer (Batchas) (CH), & also 1 split E.p on C.O.S. with Woe is Me!! This guy is really a Stakhanovist! Let the spiritual son of David Berkowitz him speak.

Basically, it was around Feb.,1996, and I was in Intrinsic Action at the time. Mark Solotroff kept pushing me to start my own project. I always wanted to do something, and with Mark's help, I just began putting ideas together.

-Can you tell us more about the moniker where was it taken from?

The Slogun name was taken from the SPK track of the same name. In my eyes, that piece is pure genius if there ever was any. Mark and I worked in the same record store in NYC, and we would play that track over and over. Just seemed like the perfect name. "Kill kill kill ,for inner peace.. "

-Your concept & artwork deal with Serial Killers, what facinates you about them?

I've always been facinated with the topic of True Crime. I remember back in 1977, when the Son Of Sam was doing his thing. That was right here in my neighborhood. His last victim lived on the next street over from me. Even then at age 8, I was amazed at how scared everybody was, and how my parents would talk about this "monster". After a while, I became interested in the psychological aspect of T/C. Why did they do what they did? And then when I would go and read about their lives, it all made sense. It's easy to forget that most of these guys who ended up killing were abused and mistreated thernselves. I mean, I don't want to make any excuses for anybody. But it is interesting to note the selective sympathy society gives out. You see? If you are abused "this way", you receive sympathy and help. But if you're abused "that way", you're a monster. It's ridiculous! Besides. There is the irrefutable fact that serial killers usually prey on the weak and pathetic. I have no problem with that. These killers are in fact a form of waste management.

-Describe us your previous work in Intrinsic Action & Bloodyminded?

Actually, back in 1994, Mark needed someone to play a few shows with him over the summer, and he asked me. We knew each other from the store I mentioned earlier. This was right around the time I.A. was coming to a close. I basically played one of the keyboards, and that got me interested in starting something myself. This is where I learned the most about starting a project of my own. As for Bloodyminded, I just filled in at keyboard when one of the band members left rather rudely, leaving Mark with a spot to fill on stage.

-What do you think of the serial killers emerging recent trend?

Actually, I feel that the whole serial killer situation is rather stale at the moment. And you can see this in the media as well. When Andrew Cunanan was doing his thing a few months back, everybody was quick to do all these stories about serial killers, etc. Cunanan was not a serial killer. This was plain to see. It seems that everyone, whether they want to admit it or not, is starving for a real, bonafide serial killer. The odd thing is, it seems that over the last few years the media has begun a campaign to downplay any reports of serial killings. As we speak there are prominent killings going on in Toledo, Oh; Dallas, Tx; and New Orleans, La; and we don't hear a thing about them. Supposedly, this killer in New Orleans has already killed over 40 prostitutes. Yet they will not report on any of it! This one newspaper had a little paragraph on it about a year ago.

-Brooklyn is known for its Rap or Hard Core bands, What about the Power electronics scene?

As for any power electronics scene, I'm it! There isn't any! Mark is in Chicago now, so that leaves me. Although Robert Marzano (Labyrinth Recordings) started a very good label recently. As a matter of fact, the New York City power electronic scene doesn't exist. Besides me, you' 11 find Hydra, and Woe Is Me. You might get some idiots who think they do "noise", but please, it's all harmless fun and games.

-What is your favorite book, film, comics on serial killers?

This is hard to answer since there are so many good books. But if I had to choose, I would say some of my favorites are "Stranger Beside Me", "The Riverman", and "The Mind of a Monster." But there are so many classics, like the Dean Corll books, and the John Gacy books. As for films, I'd have to go with "To Catch A Killer," a television movie about John Gacy, or "Rampage", which was loosely based on Richard Chase and Richard Ramirez. However, the documentaries are the real works of art, such as the one on Wesley Dodd, or the one on Unteweger in Austria. In regards to comics, I really don't care much for those. I haven't seen one yet that interested me much.

-What are your main influences?

I'd have to say that my main influences are the idiots around me every day. What I mean is. generally speaking, "you are what you are". And if you allow yourself to be a victim, you will be a victim! It's plain and simple. I'm just astounded on a daily basis at the level of stupidity in society. Serial killers are men of opportunity. Isn't it incredible at just how many opportunities they get? I guess you can just say that I have genuine disgust for people. Hence my favorite little catch-phrase, "Fuck the World."

-You’ve chosen a Glattman photo for your tape on Slaughter do you think we’re all voyeurs in front of displays of Power?

Absolutly!! Again, whether people want to admit it or not, we love to watch others, especially if they don't know if we're watching. Look at the popularity of those hidden camera shows, or "real" T.V., where real-life situations are caught on tape. Even a show like "Cops" is an indication that we love to look into other people's lives. We eat all that up, and it's sad that a great many people do not want to admit it. They think it's "bad", or "wrong". But in actuality it's only natural.

-Anything to add on your work & future plans?

As we speak I am waiting for the release of the Slaughter #100 box set, which will have a 22-minute collection of work called "The Die Song", as well as a full-length cd on the Armed and Loaded label called "Tearing Up Your Plans." In the near future there will be cassette releases on Soffita Macabra, and Nuit Et Brouillard labels, of which the Nuit tape will be called "Written In Blood."A little later there will be 7" singles on the Labyrinth label, and my own Circle Of Shit label, as well as split 7"s with Taint on the "State-Art" label, and with "Strict" on my label. Within the year I would like to start little video releases. Basically it will be a monthly thing where some friends and I go around New York City and video tape some of the cities more "interesting" things. That should be fun. I'm also currently working on a book, which will be sort of a "Slogun" book, following all the releases, and some other things I think people will like to see. All in all, I should be pretty busy in the coming year or so. F.T.W.

The Deadly Actions IV Show was great, with clear powerful improvised vocals on night hunting, behind "Police do not cross" banners, Noizguild people were holding the noise while John was provoking the crowd, throwing some SLOGUN’s stuffs and describing the poor future he will inflict to his preys. Xavier from Timeless came on stage to read a murder series article.

John have done some guest vocals on Bloodyminded CD "True Crime" track "Killer Next Door".

The forthcoming plans are a Ep on Self Abuse "The ultimate Evil", a LP of ambient work "The mind & the matter should be released by Self Abuse, the "Let me show you how" LP on World War IV, which will come also in a very limited edition Box version with an extra single sided 7" entitled "Judge and Jury", along with extra inserts and other goodies, The "Murder USA" 2X 7" ON L.S.D. ORGANISATION coming in a In poster sleeve. As well as "For Good", and "I Come Back" tracks on the "Two Minds of Murder" CD compilation on Ava/ES1.

John can you please tell me what will be your future plans?

"Well, I plan on doing more shows, especially in Europe, since the offers keep coming, so that's cool...I still plan on continuing Slogun for a little while, and doing more merchandise, like Baseball Jerseys, and a great five or six cd box set of the early releases. I'm also planning a cd of my 7" releases, maybe stretching it out to two cd's so I can include the compilation tracks as well..."