“I initially immersed myself in Berlin’s techno scene but always craved noise.” Following the soundwaves, in Berlin’s uninhibited, uncompromising noise-punk scene, photographer George Nebieridze found what he was searching for.

His way in was through friend Karolina Bartczak, who formed her band URIN shortly after their meeting. From there, Nebieridze became a fixture of the band’s entourage, helping them out at concerts and raves: “mostly doing door, since I found myself to be a firm but fair bouncer who’s also responsible with the cash.” Through Karolina, Nebieridze met other bands within the movement – Sihir, Cuntroaches, Waxlegs, Phallucipher and Tot Onyx – and found himself at the centre of an underground music scene that was raw and feral in its sound, while offering an inclusive, safe space community. “All this helped with connecting with people and gaining their trust, so that when I pulled out my camera, I wasn’t some outsider – I was part of the night.” Now, Nebieridze curates these images into a zine titled, Powertool, featuring around 250 photographs taken between 2018 and today.

“I initially immersed myself in Berlin’s techno scene but always craved noise.”

“I realised how many bands in the scene are led by women and queer people,” Nebieridze says. “It’s a space that amplifies those voices, even for people like me – cis men – who are part of it. One of the best things about this scene is that it’s very integrated globally and has close connections with artists from all around the world (memorable visits include the bands like Glue, The Shits, Special Branch and Polsoja).”

Punk has always been political, and Berlin’s underground scene applies this ethos to its inherent values and beliefs. “This community is prominently political and we often find each other on demonstrations around Berlin,” Nebieridze explains. “It really speaks to me as an artist and a photographer, since I also strongly believe that my work has always been political, it raises questions on human rights, rights of expression, taxing the rich, helping the unprivileged and fighting against violent evictions by the police states. Being associated with a movement that aligns with my political views gives me a feeling of reassurance and allows me to feel a deeper sense of belonging.”

Follow George on Instagram and purchase Powertool here.