Interview + Single Review: HASSWUT - Sauerstoff

Now for one of the coolest singles I've heard in quite a while and some of the finest interview answers I've also seen in a long time too! 'Sauerstoff' by HASSWUT is the opening single of the upcoming album of the same title. This is a song that hits deep and hits home. From mental health struggles to impressive guitars and drums, it's impossible to not like this track!

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March 14th, 2025 - Spanish industrial metal  band, HASSWUT has unleashed their new single, "Sauerstoff" from their forthcoming full-length album due out, April, 25th. PRE ORDER THE ALBUM HERE

The song represents a call to breathe, to recover the air that life takes from us daily, often preventing us from lifting our heads and moving forward. These Spanish electro-metalheads are back to restore that breath, reigniting the fire within us with their powerful sound and relentless energy.

The single, "Sauerstoff" is available on all major digital platforms including Spotify and Bandcamp courtesy of Negative Gain Productions. The forthcoming album from HASSWUT will be available on digital, LP and CD formats on April 25th.

For fans of Combichrist, Turmion Kätilöt, Nachtmahr & OOMPH!

The video for "Sauerstoff" powerfully portrays the suffocating cycle of daily life—how we often become our own worst enemies, trapping ourselves in an endless loop of pressure and oppression. It’s a raw and intense visual journey of inner struggle, building up to a breaking point where we finally explode, rise, and take a deep breath—breaking free from the darkness that once held us captive. "Sauerstoff" isn’t just a music video; it’s an experience. It's a gripping reflection of our fight for air, for clarity, for freedom. Watch it now and feel the weight lift.

About HASSWUT:

HASSWUT was formed in 2013 in Alicante, Spain as a response to the need  to merge the raw intensity of metal with the pulsating energy of industrial electronic music. Since its inception, the band has sought to innovate, blending dark synthesizers, powerful guitar riffs, and socially charged lyrics that explore contemporary themes of resistance and rebellion. 

Concept and Aesthetics:

HASSWUT is more than just music; it is an audiovisual experience. Their aesthetic is inspired by science fiction, post-apocalyptic culture, and themes of rebellion against the system. On stage, they combine dark lighting and futuristic costumes to create an immersive show.

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Interview

Q. The single's lyrics and your description of the video as 'portrays the suffocating cycle of daily life - how we often become our own worst enemies, trapping ourselves in an endless loop of pressure and oppression.' has a clear mental health struggle message. Have any of your own personal experiences sparked this particular narrative for the single?

A. In recent years, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic, we've increasingly seen friends and close family members struggling with mental health issues. The experience of isolation, the sudden halt of everyday life, and the loss of physical connection took a toll on many people. For some, it was simply too much to process or endure. What at first may have seemed like a temporary discomfort gradually became a deeper, more lasting struggle.

These challenges were often made worse by the mental cycles we fall into — cycles of self-criticism, unrealistic self-expectation, and emotional self-punishment. Instead of showing ourselves compassion, we push harder, isolate further, and silently carry burdens we were never meant to bear alone. In these moments, the help and support around us can feel invisible, even when it's being offered with open hands. We become blind to it, trapped in our own inner noise, unable to reach out — or even believe we deserve help in the first place.

It's a painful reminder of how fragile the human mind can be, and how vital it is to cultivate empathy — not only for others, but for ourselves. Healing often begins with allowing ourselves to be seen, heard, and supported, even when every instinct tells us to hide.

Q. How would you describe the songs coming on the new album, do they follow a similar message to Sauerstoff as a theme or each take a different direction?

A. No, each track has its own unique theme. Koloss might be the closest to dealing with the idea of overcoming oneself to face adversity, but overall, every song on the album explores a different, very specific concept.

EMB is our answer to both metal and electronic music purists who criticize or censor us at their events simply because we don’t conform to their narrow definitions of “true metal” or “true electro.” It’s a statement of defiance — proof that you don’t need to follow rigid rules to create powerful, honest music.

Deine falsche Welt is about the falseness of people, about how many wear friendly faces while hiding very different intentions behind them. It’s a critique of social hypocrisy — of the double-faced nature of the world we live in, something we’ve all had to endure at some point.

Les Morts is a call to the dead — a summons to truth. It speaks to the injustice in the world, how too often innocent people are blamed while the real culprits walk free. If the dead could rise and speak, they could tell the truth about what really happened and make sure justice is served, putting the actual guilty ones behind bars.

Vorsicht Zerbrechlich reflects on the overprotection we impose on our children. In trying so hard to shield them from pain, we end up instilling deep insecurities that hinder their growth as individuals. It’s a call to reconsider how we raise and guide the next generations.

Eigengrau is probably the most musically different track on the album. It’s a melancholic, almost intimate piece that deals with the theme of forgetting. It explores how certain illnesses, particularly neurodegenerative ones, slowly rob us of the people we love — until one day, they no longer recognize us. It’s a painful reflection on the loss of memory and identity.

Q. Were there any tracks on the album that went outside your comfortzone and you found particularly challenging, be that through lyrics,the music, or emotional content?

A. Without a doubt, Eigengrau stands out the most. While in previous albums we've occasionally included a track that could be considered a "ballad," our music has generally been defined by its power, intensity, and high energy. Eigengrau, however, breaks away from all of that. It doesn't just slow things down — it completely detaches itself from the typical structure we're known for. There's no standard verse-chorus-verse-chorus arrangement; instead, it flows in a more abstract, almost unpredictable way.

It’s a strange and unconventional track, and honestly, up until the very last moment — even after it had already been recorded — we weren’t sure if it would make the final cut for the album. We went back and forth on it quite a bit. But in the end, we decided to include it, and looking back, we believe it was absolutely the right decision. It brings a contrast that adds depth to the record and shows another side of who we are as artists — more introspective, experimental, and emotionally raw.

Q. The ghostly - cyber like images of multiple versions of you screaming at yourself in the video are VERY cool, how did you achieve that effect?

A. It’s all video editing — and we were fortunate to work with an incredibly talented professional from Radikal Libre Productions, who did an outstanding job bringing our vision to life.

The process began with filming our "normal" selves first. Then, after a quick wardrobe change, we recorded a second set of takes where we had to imagine attacking ourselves — essentially embodying our own aggressors. It was a strange but powerful experience, acting out that internal conflict physically.

The "attacking" versions of ourselves were then meticulously cut out using the rotoscoping technique. This allowed for the creation of a ghostly, almost spectral effect — because in the end, the concept is that we are haunted and dragged down by our own inner demons. These are not external enemies, but reflections of ourselves — our own fears, guilt, and self-sabotage manifesting as something that overwhelms and consumes us.

It’s a visual metaphor for how often we become our own worst enemy, and thanks to the editing and creative direction, we feel the video captures that dark, emotional tension perfectly.

Q. How did the production process differ this time compared to your previous releases and was there a particular piece of gear, such as software, a synth, pedal, or instrument that really shaped the sound of the upcoming album?

A. There’s really nothing particularly special or extravagant about our gear. We still use fairly modest, budget-friendly equipment — especially when compared to what many other bands have access to. We’ve never been about relying on high-end gear to define our sound. What has truly evolved over time, though, is our approach to pre-production.

For several albums now, we’ve been working on our records at The Mixtery with Raúl Abellán, and this time, we wanted to push things even further — to go deeper and refine every detail. Raúl played an absolutely key role in this process. His input on the production side helped shape the final sound of the tracks in a way that really elevated them.

He guided us through countless small details — nuances we might have overlooked — and helped us bring out textures and layers that gave each song more depth and power. It was less about flashy gear and more about vision, collaboration, and taking the time to craft something with care. That’s where we’ve seen the biggest change, and we believe it’s made a huge difference in the overall feel of the album.

Q. Anything you'd like to say to your fans?

A. First of all, we want to sincerely thank everyone who has taken the time to discover our work. It truly means a lot. As an emerging band, it’s never easy to gain visibility — especially coming from a country like Spain, which, believe it or not, some people don’t even realize is part of Europe. That’s the reality we’ve faced at times, and it makes every bit of support from new listeners feel even more meaningful.

We want to encourage everyone not only to check out our latest release, Sauerstoff, but also to explore new music in general. There’s an entire world of incredible bands out there creating original, passionate, and boundary-pushing work — and they deserve to be heard. It’s easy to stick with the familiar or fall back on tribute bands that rehash what’s already been done. But the real magic often lies in the risk of listening to something new, something different — something that hasn’t yet been labeled or boxed in.

So we invite you to go beyond the obvious, support independent music, and give new voices a chance. You never know what might surprise you or resonate deeply. Thank you again for being part of this journey with us.

PRE ORDER THE ALBUM HERE

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Review

The track starts with a heavy guitar which is filled with Nu-Metal nostalgia, this drops out and gives way to the German vocals. Whether completely by accident or not, this seems very Rammstein-esque in sound with the complimenting synth. At around 0.35 we get our first taste of some the audible theme of the track that will be more prevalent later, it is only a few notes long but it throws in a sense of foreboding and touches a raw nerve in terms of mental health struggles, like hearing a certain sound from a horror game or film that carries far much more weight that any few notes should.

The keyboard that comes in adds nicely to this odd feeling and therefore the sense of suffocation and struggle that the song expresses. The synths used around 2:18 are subtle yet really well placed and add a nice layer of complexity to the already impressive keyboard, guitars, and vocal growls. (It certainly has my partner headbanging along as I write this!)

There's a lot of raw energy, passion, and talent on display with 'Sauerstoff'. Even across the language divide for me, the atmospherics are crafted brilliantly through each instrument and the movement between heavier vocal verses and the slower more malicious vocal moments. Even though I listened to it a fair few times to review it, I can honestly say I bopped along every single time. It's a fierce track.

Conclusion

'Sauerstoff' is a majestically fierce track that both encourages and combats the themes in which it portrays. The mix between, metal, industrial, and synths makes for a truly powerful artistic piece that has you headbanging along the whole time!

I for one, am now really looking forward to the full album release latter this month. I didn't really know HASSWUT before this article but you can be sure that I'll be keeping a close eye and ears on their music from now on!

PRE ORDER THE ALBUM HERE

Thank you!

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