Interview with Andrés (guitar) — Iceland’s rising architects of hardcore-driven extremity
From Reykjavík’s windswept underground emerges a band that doesn’t ask for your attention—it demands it. Duft, a five-piece blending hardcore ferocity with extreme metal precision, have quickly carved out a reputation for playing as if something urgent is at stake. Their debut album Altar of Instant Gratification is a relentless statement of intent: crushing riffs, frantic tempos, and a worldview of the ever-present feeling of disconnect.
But to understand Duft, you need to understand the word itself. “Duft means dust in Icelandic,” guitarist Andrés explains. To begin to think of it, there´s something poetic about that—something elemental, something that spreads, something that gets everywhere.
What followed as an interview held on a dull Wednesday evening, was everything BUT conventional. It was an insightful conversation about urgency, controlled chaos, and why sometimes the only honest way forward is to be hit by a force as strong as a bus, or more specifically, a train.
“We want it to feel like being hit by something”
I ask Andrés, what they wish their listeners would feel after the first thirty seconds of listening to their sound – The reply did not disappoint. “We want people to feel like they’re being hit by something—like a train,” Andrés says. “Like, what the hell is going on?” That immediate impact defines their sound. Formed in Reykjavík in the early 2020s, Duft has mastered a delicious fusion of hardcore punk aggression and extreme metal, pushing forward urgency with intention, that´s not too fancy nor too monotonous. When people think of punk, they tend to lean to the idea of chaos. For Duft, chaos is an element, but not solely for the sake of it.
We think of it like calculated chaos,” Andrés says. “It needs texture. If everything is just maximum intensity, it becomes dull.”
Urgency is non-negotiable
If there is a single principle behind Duft, Andrés doesn’t hesitate:
“Urgency. That’s the most essential thing. It has to feel like it needs to happen this way.”
That philosophy runs through every layer of the band. Each member brings distinct influences—hardcore punk, death metal, black metal—but nothing is half-committed.“Nobody in this band half-asses anything. That’s non-negotiable.”
The lineup—featuring Alexander (vocals), Andrés and Guðmundur on guitars, Viktor on bass, and Mikael on drums—functions less like a hierarchy and more like a pressure system.
“Gummi handles most of the lead guitar, but it’s not rigid,” Andrés says. “We don’t think in fixed roles. It’s about locking in—tight rhythms, two guitars playing off each other.”
“Just a bunch of punks playing metal”
Despite their crushing metal sound, Duft’s roots are deeply embedded in hardcore. “We met through the hardcore scene,” Andrés says. “We were just obsessed with heavy music. We are angry people,” he adds, laughing. That background is key to understanding Duft’s identity.
“Hardcore’s urgency is behind everything we do. You could say we’re just a bunch of punks playing metal.”
The music reflects that blend: riff-driven songwriting, rhythm-first construction, and breakdowns built on impact rather than spectacle. “We’re not doing cinematic stuff like some deathcore bands,” Andrés explains. It’s about timing. Tension and release. If a riff works, like the breakdown in Pantera’s ‘Domination’, why mess with it?
The Iceland factor: small scene, world-class output
From the outside, Iceland’s extreme metal scene often seems synonymous with black metal mystique. But Andrés is quick to challenge assumptions. “There are a lot of bands in Iceland. People are always surprised by that.” Still, the constraints are real. “It’s a small scene. Not many practice spaces—we don’t even have our own, and we´re borrowing one. You have to work hard for everything.” Yet paradoxically, that pressure breeds quality.
“We have world-class bands in every subgenre—death, black, doom. The level is really high.”
And the community? Tight-knit. “It’s very supportive. Suddenly you’re playing with your heroes.”
Facing a broken world: Altar of Instant Gratification
Duft’s debut album is more than a sonic assault—it’s a critique of the modern condition.
“The world rewards distractions and shallow validation,” Andrés says. “No pain, no accountability.” That sentiment aligns directly with the album’s central theme: a society obsessed with instant gratification, ignoring deeper collapse. “The title track really represents the band,” Andrés notes. Fast, groovy, breakdown-heavy—and the message is right there. Across the record, the band channels a sense of global fragmentation—social division, constant noise, disconnection. And Duft is honest about it all. Andrés mentions Rage Against the Machine and Napalm Death as his early wake-up calls from his youth. “We´re definitely honest about the world, and hopefully by the lyrics, you wake up as well”.
Inside the machine: how Duft builds aggression
Despite the aggression, Duft’s songwriting is methodical. “Usually, we start with guitar and drums,” Andrés says. The rhythm section is essentially built on high standards: Mikael’s drumming and Viktor’s bass locking tightly, with space left for groove. “Viktor’s amazing at finding pockets—moving around the rhythm, adding something extra.” That detail-oriented approach carries into vocal delivery as well. “Alex isn’t trying to sound like anyone else. He really feels it.” It’s not just about sounding angry – he embodies those emotions.
Live: controlled chaos, real consequences
If the records are intense, Duft’s live shows are something else entirely. “Controlled chaos,” Andrés grins.
“Movement, sweat… maybe some blood.”
Mosh pits are not optional. “We love when people are moving.” “If there’s no pit, Alex might jump in and start it himself.” For the band, the connection is everything. “The best feeling is five friends hitting the same note at the same time—and it clicks. Doesn’t matter if there are ten people or a thousand.”
Towards the tour in Finland
At the time of our conversation, Duft are preparing to bring their chaos to Finland for the first time, a country Andrés already reveres.
“Finland is a spiritual haven of extreme music. I love Demilich, Rotten Sound, Children of Bodom… so many bands.”
There’s even nostalgia: Max Payne, The Dudesons—Finnish culture already runs deep. “We’re excited. First time there.”
Doubling down on aggression
Duft aren’t slowing down. A new album is already in progress, promising even more intensity. “We’ve been recording this winter. I can’t say exactly when it’s coming out, but hopefully next year.”
Fans can expect escalation. “More heaviness. Doubling down on intensity and aggression. We’re already playing new songs live, three of them on this tour.” I highly suggest to bring helmets, as I predict this is going to resemble the best collision of punk and metal I´ve ever listened to.
Forecast predicts violent conditions
At the better part of the interview, I asked, if Duft was a weather forecast, what would it be like? Andrés did not hesitate.
“Violent conditions and occasional blood showers, or just a simply raining blood”.
Final words for the Finnish readers
As the interview winds down, Andrés leaves a message for Finnish readers: “Looking forward to meeting you guys. And congratulations—your country is a mecca of heavy metal.” Duft are not here to decorate the scene, they’re here to collide with it. And if Andrés is to be believed, that collision is only getting louder.
Be sure to mark your calendars, as Duft is coming to Finland next week. Their gigs can be found from the following venues as a part of Dark Soul Agency´s Nordic Metal Alliance tour:
- VARJOBAARI 27.5.2026, NORDIC METAL ALLIANCE TAMPERE: DOORS 20:00, 21:30 RELIGHT, 22:15 DUFT, 23:00 ANTIMERE
- TORVI 28.5.2026, NORDIC METAL ALLIANCE LAHTI: DOORS 19:30, 20:00 SHIILI, 21:00 DUFT, 22:00 ANTIMERE
- EP UNDERGROUND 29.5.2026, NORDIC METAL ALLIANCE HELSINKI: DOORS 20:00, 21:00 KAIRA, 22:00 DEATHTROPY, 23:00 DUFT
- MASTERHOUSE RULES 30.5.2026 LOHJA: DOORS 19.00. LINE-UP: CORPSUMED, BLOODSTAINED HALO, DUFT
- You can find more information about the events here, on Dark Soul Agency´s event calendar.
Photos by: Red Illuminations (ig: @redilluminations)
