THE JUGGERNAUTS

“One day the ground will crumble. Disappear from underneath.You will feel yourself tumble. In this cold black hole beneath.“

The earth quakes beneath their stride, a seismic growl you can feel in your bones, as if even the ground knows what’s coming. The Juggernauts—sound incarnate, summoned from the depths to face a world careening towards its own demise. Their arrival, written in the stars or maybe just scrawled on the back of a crumpled napkin in some forgotten bar, began in 2010, as though they had been ripped from a future too grim to imagine. The apocalypse? We’d all been too busy with our screens to notice. But here they are, unrelenting and unfinished, shaking the very foundations we thought were safe.

Led by BORG (Peter Mastbooms, no stranger to the Belgian EBM scene, where he’s earned his stripes as BodyBeats’ resident DJ and a prominent figure behind the decks), they bring the chaos: a brutal marriage of Electro Body Music, jagged rhythms, and a bassline that punches you in the chest. Alongside him, Philip Roef on E-drums and Terence Gryson manipulating synths, samplers, and percussion, they form a trio that doesn’t just play music—they dismantle it and leave you picking up the pieces.

The Juggernauts are not just a band. They are a waking storm. Their music is a scream against the rising tide of human stupidity, the drowning of our oceans, the death of everything we hold sacred, and the endless cycle of violence we can’t seem to escape. They are, as the world spins faster towards the edge, the sound of the brakes screeching just before we all go over the cliff. And maybe, just maybe, they’re the only ones who know how to make that fall feel like the greatest ride of all.

With Judgment Day looming just out of sight, Peek-A-Boo has the pleasure of speaking with Peter Mastbooms aka BORG. The Juggernauts are coming after you—and there is no place to run, no place to hide.

Mr. Borg, thanks for taking the time to chat with us. Great to have you here.
Let’s start with a little history. The Juggernauts formed back in 2010—was the world already showing signs of impending doom back then, a distant thought of something yet to come that led to bringing The Juggernauts into existence?

Well, I think the beginning of this planet's decline began when apes learned to walk. But that being said, it seemed as if Mother Nature had had enough of humans... A devastating earthquake followed by an unprecedented tsunami resulting in more than 200,000 deaths, and the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, hurricanes like Dorian, Irna, and Maria that claimed thousands of lives. Humans also contributed by, for example, spilling more than 600 million liters of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico after the explosion on the Deep Horizon oil rig… The increasing polarization fueled by questionable politicians and reinforced by the poisoned gift of social media… Wars, Mass-shootings, terrorist attacks all in the name of some imaginary God and/or religion … Should I continue?

Imagine The Juggernauts as a dystopian comic book. As soon as you open the first page, you get a quick intro to all the characters—all the band members. What would the description say for each of you?

Our drummer would then definitely be Thor, maintaining the beat hitting his anvil hard and occasionally hitting an unruly person on the head after he carelessly throws his rubbish in the roadside ditch or in a park. Our synth & sample man could have been Captain America, inserting his shield between warring factions and trying to reconcile and unite everyone with his enchanting synthesizer sounds and melodies... Unfortunately, that's exactly the opposite of what America's current "captain" is doing so he needs to rethink his outfit and colors. And me … “I’m the Juggernaut B*tc.

If I’m correct, the first major introduction of The Juggernauts to the world was with the track ‘Phoenix’ on the ‘Awake The Machines Vol. 7’ compilation. How did you end up on that, alongside so many other well-known names in the EBM/Industrial scene?

Before I founded The Juggernauts, I was also part of a then-legendary band, which I secured a record deal for through my connections at Berlin's Out Of Line Records. But shortly after joining The Klinik on stage, I was stabbed in the back and betrayed by "he/those we don't speak about." Jealousy, paranoia, and alcohol apparently bring out the worst in people... Anyway, this creative and musical outlet was abruptly ended by this incident, but by chance, soon after I met producer Glenn Keteleer (Radical G.), who quickly understood what I wanted and was able to transform my thoughts ideas into solid songs. And lo and behold, a few days later, our first single, "Phoenix," was born, recorded in just a few hours of studio time together. A couple of weeks later, I met my good friend and CEO of Out Of Line, André, at the Kinetik Festival in Montreal, where we were performing back then with The Klinik. I gave him a USB drive with Phoenix on it and told him, "Listen to this!" A few weeks later we were featured among names such as And One, Suicide Commando and Signal Aout '42 on that compilation…

Before the release of ‘Phoenix’ in 2013, The Juggernauts' first official strike, the band had already appeared on several other compilations. But to keep the focus on ‘Phoenix’, looking back in 2025, how do you view the EP today?

To be honest, the Phoenix EP was recorded and released in a hurry... Immediately after the release of the Awaken the Machine compilation, requests for shows poured in from all over Europe, even from Brazil and Mexico... We were caught by surprise, to say the least. We both had busy schedules and lived quite far apart, so new songs were only finished in dribs and drabs. After yet another question from our label about when the album would finally be finished, we decided to first release an EP with the three songs we considered (at that time) “finished” enough, supplemented with some remixes by a few artist friends. So, looking back on this release, we'd say today, we can do better. But that EP opened many doors for us, and its success motivated us to continue with this project.

The Juggernauts been invited to perform at some major European alternative music festivals, like the renowned Amphi Festival (Köln, DE), Familientreffen X (Sandersleben, DE), Out Of Line Weekender III (Berlin, DE), and BodyFest (Stockholm, SE), to name just a few.
Picture this: The ultimate show. Judgment Day. Doom is approaching fast. A roaring, electrified crowd before you. Which song would you bring for the last moment, and what would your final words be to them?

Since this would also be the day of reckoning, we could finally announce with some pride that everyone present, and every individual who has supported us and believed in us over the past years, could rise with us to a better world.

We would perform ‘The Juggernauts Are Coming’ for the last time, but this time with the words "No need to hide, No need to run"... "You are the chosen ones!"

You’ve been a DJ since the early '80s, starting out around 1984. With influences ranging from The Human League (Travelogue) and The Sisters of Mercy (The Reptile House) to Joy Division (Unknown Pleasures), Liaisons Dangereuses, and Front 242 (Geography and No Comment), and spinning as a resident DJ at BodyBeats events. That’s 41 years of taking the turntables by storm. After all this time, is there anything you still hope to accomplish or experience as a DJ?

As a DJ? I'm humbled and incredibly happy that I've been able to introduce my friends to fantastic music all these years. And no, I'm not talking about my own music...

Caution: unpopular opinion will follow.

I have mixed feelings about DJs in general. We live in times when DJs apparently consider themselves more important than the music and artists they play. Especially since every track you wish for can be downloaded/played with just one click without even having to buy it, let alone an album. When you pay to enter a party with no live bands whatsoever... Do you ever think about where your money goes? Wouldn't you rather give it to the artists who wrote your favorite songs than to those who just press play?

I can honestly say that I've lost more money during my career as a DJ/organizer than I've ever earned from it. That's the difference between having a passion and earning a side income.

In an age where every song is now just a click away, what does it still mean to you to hold music as an object — an album, a vinyl, a CD? And beyond that, while you sound critical of today’s scene, do you also see positive evolutions that give you hope?

I still believe that showing respect to your favorite artists is best done by supporting them—buying physical merch items like CDs, vinyl, T-shirts… and maybe most important these days: Go out and see their concerts!

On a positive note, there *are* still people who come to live shows, buy merch, and thank you personally for the great music or show you’re giving. They are the ones who make it worthwhile to keep putting effort and time into creating new music.

Did you know that out of more than 700 million Spotify listeners, fewer than half pay for their account? This means that over 300 million so-called music lovers today even consider €15 per month too much to enjoy their favorite music.

€15 for access to almost all music available today… In the past, you’d buy exactly one CD for that amount!

The Juggernauts’ debut album, ‘The Juggernauts Are Coming’, first unleashed in 2016 and now resurrected as a limited edition digi-pack including the ‘Phoenix’ EP as extra tracks, delivers 15 club-ready, minimalist tracks built on beats, sequencers, and shouts. How do you remember creating this album, and what led to the decision to re-release it now?

Mainly because both releases have been sold out for some time now, and fans keep asking for them at the merch table at our concerts. Secondly, at the time of the original release, we didn’t have the time to finish and include the lyrics and artwork booklet, which was also a recurring request from fans.

The word “juggernaut” originally refers to the massive, unstoppable chariots in the Hindu Jagannath processions, crushing everything in their path. Figuratively, it has come to mean any overwhelming, unstoppable force. If The Juggernauts were to harness such unstoppable energy, which of your musical heroes would you summon to join you in turning back the tide of impending doom through music?

Oh, many! First of all, I would resurrect my all-time favorite artists and inspirators like Frank Tovey (Fad Gadget), Jock McDonald (The Bollock Brothers), and Douglas McCarthy (Nitzer Ebb), so they could join Portion Control and Cabaret Voltaire. And yes, don’t worry—Front 242, The Klinik, and Skinny Puppy would also get a kick in the butt to reboot and be invited for this crusade!

The 2022 EP Fear was celebrated for reaffirming your place in the Belgian EBM scene while carving out a distinctive identity, with industrial textures, tight drumming, and piercing synth lines. As this remains your most recent work, can fans expect a new chapter — new music — in The Juggernauts’ relentless journey?

We are working on our new EP, Immortal, as we speak and will gradually incorporate new songs into our future live sets. This way, we can test them on a live audience. We hope to have it released sometime in 2026. Keep your ears and eyes peeled!

Mr. BORG, On behalf of Peek-A-Boo, thank you once again for taking the time to speak with us. As The Juggernauts surge onward like an unstoppable storm, crushing all in their path, do you have any final, thunderstorming words to leave for our readers and your fans? Here’s to crushing more barriers, igniting the dancefloor, and letting the Juggernaut surge onward!

Well, let’s all remember: we are NOT so immortal! So let’s enjoy the time we have on this planet while we still can. Start buying tickets in advance for the real underground gigs—instead of only making the rich richer! Get off your lazy seats and come dance before it’s too late! Resistance is futile!

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Hayley CLX
29/11/2025