The Panther Caps Interview

 

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the solo project?

The Panther Caps is blackened, psychedelic doom metal mixed up with power crystals, wild mushrooms, the occult, creepy new age babes, and everything else your parents feared in the 70s-80s during the Satanic Panic! The ‘Caps keep it energetic, fun, sexy, carnivalesque – all the elements needed to spread like a disease. Our songs are fairly straightforward, and our riffs are all the kind of thing a 13-year-old kid can play.

I live on an island in Alaska. There’s no “scene” or anything like that, and touring is off the table since the only way out is by plane or ferry. I can drive across a bridge to Juneau, but it’s isolated from the rest of North America by a 1,500 square mile ice field jammed full of glaciers. It’s a great environment for pursuing your esoteric musical tastes as a lone wolf, but don’t expect anyone to share your weird interests.

I’ve been doing the “one man show” thing for over 20 years with a variety of projects. (By the way, “one man show” is the name of a really putrid French cologne from the early 80s.) I used to do a lot of black metal – I’m kinda a black metal dude at heart. One-man black metal is a well-recognized phenomena and well respected, but I’m finding it’s less common in doom. My older black metal projects include Skaltros, Kuundlaan, Ataxeta, Mulozhi (trap music with black metal vocals), Naukati (ambient), Sutreak (ambient). My old blackened doom band from a number of years ago is Malaxis.

So yea, the Panther Caps is the latest in a long list of one-man projects, and the one that I’m currently focusing all my energy on. It’s an orgasmic outlet for a lot of ideas I’ve had pent up for a long time.

2.In the last few months you have released 3 albums, musically how do you feel they all differ from each other?

All the songs on the first two albums, “2 Satanic 2 Panic” and “Rises Again” were recorded at the same time.  I intended to do enough jams for one album, but I always end up overdoing things. I ended up with enough songs that I had to divide them into two LPs. “2 Satanic” has some of the more retro / 70s-sounding jams, and “Rises Again” is stuff that has a bit more of a hardcore influence.

I put them out around the same time, because you only live once, right? And plus, “Paranoid” and “Master of Reality” came out only four months apart… so I figured I’d just go for it, release them, and work on more material. Father Yod released 9 albums between 1973 and 1975. The Incredible String Band released “The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter” and “Wee Tam…” (a double album) the same year, in 1968. If you’re having a good year, just go with it.

When the first albums were done, I instantly experienced a post-partum depression feeling – really bummed to be done working on new Panther Caps stuff. I also got to thinking “man, I really want to do an album with the guitars tuned all the way down to drop B.”  After a few days I decided “what am I waiting for?” and started up another marathon multi-week recording session, with everything in dropped B.

You’ll think I’m bonkers, but the second time around I ended up with enough songs for three albums – and that is after destroying all the songs that didn’t meet my quality control standards!  “Graven Images” is the first of the three albums to come out of that session. It’s a bit more classic and demonic sounding. There’s one coming up called “Determinate Negation” that’s more southern rock-sounding, and one called “Teardrinker” that’s more hardcore-ish. But they’re all kinda cousins to one another. I’m going to release those two next year.

“Graven Images” is heavier than the first two releases because everything is tuned down lower. I also tuned the two lowest strings on my bass in unison, which thickens it up and gives it a kinda chorus effect when I’m playing both strings at once. I wanted it to be like the old screamy hardcore band Pageninetynine, which would tour with two bassists. James Brown did that, too. All that low end becomes a lot to manage, mix-wise.

I think the humor is probably more apparent on “Graven Images,” too – another difference. The Panther Caps has a lot of humor going on, because it’s good to not take things too seriously.

3.You have released a good amount of material in a short amount of time, do you spend a great amount of your time wring and creating music?

I don’t think it’s a lot of time, but maybe others will disagree. I came to the realization recently that I can only do about 2 or 3 hours of something per day before it stops being any good. And I came to that realization through figure skating. I’m an adult figure skater, if you can believe that. If I skate more than 2 hours in a day, I start getting weary and worry I’m going to end up hurting myself… screwing up a jump or falling out of a spin. It’s really apparent in skating that once you get past 2 hours of doing something, you’re getting diminishing returns.

So I realized it’s the same for music. Any more than 2 hours and I might be doing more harm than good. I gotta be really careful with my vocals so I don’t blow out my voice, because then I have to wait a few days before I can do it again.  It’s the same with the fiction I write, too – more than 2 hours per day, and my writing becomes dull and feels like a grind instead of doing something exciting. Stephen King talks about writing for 5 hours a day or something, but that guy was doing Tony Montana levels of coke the whole time, to the point where he can’t even remember writing Cujo.

I think the best pace is probably 2 LPs per year, like bands used to do in the late 60s / early 70s.  I’d love to do some other split LPs or EPs with other bands in the meantime.

I’m all about efficiency. I leave everything set up so that when the mood takes me, I can easily sit down and within seconds be recording. That’s a help.

I’ll let you in on the secret to my productivity, but it comes at the price of listening to a longwinded story. I was 12 years old when Smashing Pumpkins’ “Siamese Dream” came out. A child, right? I saw a brief clip on MTV and it utterly blew my mind. The 70s big muff sound was the greatest thing imaginable, but the clip only lasted for like 10 seconds. Those 10 seconds absolutely haunted me – I had to get more! I’d listen to the radio and watch MTV for hours, hoping to get another glimpse, but it didn’t happen. Back then we used to copy and trade cassette tapes with other kids. So I hunted and asked around until I found a kid who knew about Smashing Pumpkins and had a tape, and then I figured out which of my tapes he wanted a copy of. I ended up trading him trading a copy I made of “Superunknown” by Soundgarden and getting “Siamese Dream” – with the last couple songs cut-off due to the tape being too short. I listened to that thing, and it was like “wow – this is IT. This is what I gotta do.” To this day, I see it as the greatest rock and roll album ever made. Then I learned that it was all performed by one dude (except the drummer), which was incredible to contemplate. I bought a guitar because of it, and got a tablature book, and learned to play by learning every song on Siamese Dream. Thanks to that album, I fell in love with big muffs, cranked British amps, 70s guitars. Basically it’s all big muff doomy Sabbathy stoner stuff. Their first album, “Gish,” is also an amazing psychedelic rock album. Then they had this album out called “Pisces Iscariot” which was all these B-sides and leftovers they had laying around. The amount of leftovers they created was incredible.

Then “Melancholie and the Infinite Sadness” came out and was a massive let down. The Smashing Pumpkins I loved were no more. They were wearing stupid costumes – top hats and marching band uniforms, and they were experimenting with a bunch of weird and incoherent stuff. I tried to like it, but it lacked the coherence and audio engineering craftsmanship of Siamese Dream. It was clear that making Siamese Dream – the perfect rock album – literally made Billy Corgan the same. He would never be the same again. So I remained stuck on Siamese.

There was one good thing about the “Infinite Sadness” stuff, though – one really important good thing. The single for Zero - a straight up dumb song - had a B-side called Pastichio Medley on it. It’s a 23-minute song with 73 different unused Smashing Pumpkins jams in it – leftovers - about 10 seconds of riffs from each one. Kinda like what got me into them in the first place – 10 seconds of something I couldn’t have any more of!  Just about every single song/riff was fabulous and reminded me of the old stuff.  It made it clear that they were writing and recording a vast amount of content – kinda just jamming around – and only putting out a small amount of it onto finished albums. There was all this non-pretentious stuff lurking in the background, existing 10 seconds at a time.

So that became my workflow. Plug in a guitar, put on a drum loop, and just jam out one riff after another over it for maybe 15 or 20 minutes – like Pastichio Medley. Then I go back into it, listen for the riffs I like, and cut and paste all the good stuff out. I reorganize those, and then play over top of them, and boom – that’s how I get songs. I’ll do a bunch of those 15 or 20 minute riff Pastichio-like sessions as separate projects in Logic, then dissect them and kinda reorganize everything to play over it. I end up with a ton of content. I’ve been working that way for over 30 years at this point, and that’s how I end up with so many songs. It really is a jam-based process, where I spontaneously improvise my way into finding different songs, and then jam over myself.

As far as vocals and lyrics, I’ll write out song titles and part of a chorus, but the lyrics are very improvisational. I try to keep a lot of emphasis on the sound and rhythm – approaching it a lot like freestyle rapping.

I want the songs to generally be shorter and more concise. I want them to have more of a traditional pop music format – verse, chorus, verse, chorus. I try to keep it simple – memorable riffs I could have played when I was 13, yearning after Siamese Dream.

4.A lot of your lyrics cover Occultism and Satanism themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?

I grew up in the 80s with the Satanic Panic going on. People seriously believed that there were all these hidden satanic messages poisoning and subverting society, all over the place. Stuff hidden in music, tunnels under daycares, secret symbols in graffiti, Dungeons and Dragons teaching kids black magic and witchcraft – you name it. Anything might be perverting mainstream culture and wholesome suburban life – which really were not that great, actually. I grew up immersed in that atmosphere of lurking paranoia, and it was frightening as well as fascinating. And in a way, really cool. Like, if there were all these hidden messages, I wanted to find them. I wanted to create hidden messages of my own. I wanted to understand this horror movie around me. And it was disappointing to find that it was largely fabricated, and that actually, the weirdest and creepiest people were the allegedly normal ones. They were also the ones taking the most and weirdest drugs. And still are.

Flash forward to my early 20s. I lived in rural Zambia for about a year and a half, teaching fish farming. The superstition and demonology was astonishing – a highly complex array of traditional beliefs, mashed up with Christian beliefs that missionaries forced upon everyone. They had a universe filled with monsters, demons, witches… just horrible stuff. Every day, tons of crazy stuff going on. I was the only non-Zambian in my area, and the only person who questioned the validity of this stuff… but the thing is, everyone believing and organizing their lives around this stuff had a massive impact on society. And I saw a bunch of incredible practices that – whether or not you believed in the underlying mythos – were utterly terrifying. They had this one practice called “flying coffin” where if someone is allegedly killed by a witch, four guys - usually drunk out of their minds - will go running around the village carrying the coffin on their shoulders as the coffin “searches” for the witch, like a giant Ouija board placard. And then when it finds the witch, the guys – who are allegedly possessed - start beating the witch to death with the coffin. And I saw this stuff and other things on a similar level of intensity going on. All the time.

My resulting worldview is basically that if someone believes in something, they’ll take a bunch of actions based on that belief and get similar outcomes as though it were true… so in the end it’s basically the same as it being true. So whether you think it’s true or not, you essentially have to deal with it as if it is.

I find cults fascinating in a disgusting sort of way. I read about them all the time and watch every documentary I can. I think mainstream religions are just megacults, with tax-exempt status. I’m not into Christianity at all, and that’s where the idea of Satan and the Devil come from. They’re kinda like a form of blackmail churches have used to control people – do what you’re supposed to, or you’ll end up being tortured by the devil. But Satan can be an interesting symbol of resistance. Like, in 19th century France, visual artists like Felicien Rops and authors like Huysmans drew upon satanism as a way to negate and subvert typical bourgeois social values.

I think everyone should develop their own web of beliefs, create their own spirituality, and individualism should rule the day. Just don’t hurt or try, exploit, or exert control over other people – let people be curious, and pursue and develop their own individual interests. Do what thou wilt but don’t harm others - the whole Aleister Crowley thing.

I am also a huge believer in the placebo effect – if you feel like a yoni egg or Santa Claus or praying to a Furby is doing some sort of good for you, keep on doing your thing.

5.Lyrically you are also inspired by horror films, which horror movies have had the biggest influence on your songwriting?

By far and away the biggest influence on my writing is the television soap opera Dark Shadows. There are 1,232 episodes, and I’ve seen them all more than once. You have to wonder “how did they do so many?” Basically every day they would create and film a new episode, live. It’s kinda like my approach to creating music – the Pastichio Medley thing. I love the late 60s / early 70s atmosphere and colors. I really appreciate when they’re going back in time – then you have like two layers of nostalgia going on; the 1970s imagining the 1790s. And they even go to the 1990s. Then they create this idea of “parallel time” – the idea there are infinite variations upon your reality, all playing out at once, which allows the show to explore alternative plots and ideas beyond the ones they’ve exhausted, reusing and reconfiguring the same characters. It’s not frightening at all, but full of gothic atmosphere. The wind is howling or else it’s raining continuously.

I like Vincent Price films, with my faves being the two Dr. Phibes movies, and then Theater of Blood. Again, they’re not frightening at all - highly atmospheric and humorous. The bad guy” is a character who has been maligned by society, getting cold-hearted revenge on a list of people who’ve done him wrong. Panther Caps is kinda like that – sort of going through a checklist channeling a bunch of pissed-off energy.

I like the old Hammer Films stuff a lot, as you can probably guess by the art. My fave is “The Horror of Frankenstein” – Ralph Bates is hugely hilarious in his arrogance.

Jean Rollin’s films are really bizarre and worth checking out – bizarre euro horror.

The horror I like isn’t really scary – it’s all atmospheric. I find it comforting.

The types of things that actually scare me are unhealthy eating habits, sugar and caffeine being hidden in food, bad water quality, hoarding.

6.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'The Panther Caps'?

Panther Caps are extremely toxic hallucinatory mushrooms that grow here in southeast Alaska. They look like Amanita muscaria but are brown, vastly more potent, and will make you feel like you’ve died and gone to hell multiple times over. They’re absolute evil… and a real, living part of nature.

7.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that you have gone for on your album covers?

I view the Panther Caps artwork as secondary to the music, but you gotta have visuals. I make them myself using AI. Since I live on an island in a remote area of Alaska, I don’t have access to a coven of creepy Hammer Films-looking babes, so AI’s gonna have to get the job done for me. I’m really picky about visual art and takes a huge amount of effort to get the type of results that I want and like. It’s a huge pain in the neck, in fact – particularly the video. Generating AI content is its own form of art… but very different from other forms of art. It’s almost like DJing, or remixing, or something. Or maybe a craft more than an art.

When Mr. Doom put up the first Panther Caps video for “Exhumed in the Cemetery” a few people put up negative comments saying stuff along the lines of “ew, an AI video… and the music seems like AI.” Rob Hammer explained to me there’s a big backlash against AI music going on, which I was unaware of, as I’m a dude that lives on an island and is out of touch with what is going on in any “scenes.” In response, I started putting up cereal box-like lists of ingredients that explain how everything is made, so that people can understand what they’re enjoying.

I’m cool with someone hating my music but would want them to hate it as something an actual human created rather than based on suspicions of it being AI. It’s really unfortunate to consider that underground bands and prolific one-person metal acts may have a hard time finding an audience due to the atmosphere of suspicion and paranoia that AI is producing.

Personally, I have nothing against AI, but would want to know when something is AI, or partially AI, and to what degree. It’s like putting sugar, caffeine, and creepy food coloring in breakfast cereal – make sure to disclose what went into it, so that people can make informed choices about what they’re putting into their bodies, or in the case of music, into their brains.

8.With this project you record everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to work solo?

I’d be glad to consider working with other musicians, but it would need to be done remotely, it being the case that I am a dude living on an island in Alaska!  I grew up on the east coast and was in a lot of bands back in my teens and early 20s, but then started moving and living really weird places with no one around who shares my musical interests. I’ve been in Alaska for getting-on 20 years and have no plans to move away.

My favorite role is as lead singer, not playing instruments, jumping around and being chaotic. As much as I love playing guitar, that’s what I’d want to do with a live incarnation of the ‘Caps – the Iggy Pop kinda stuff.

9.The albums were released on 'the Swamp records', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

The Swamp Records is based in Las Vegas, and puts out releases from underground doom bands from all over the world. You can buy them individually, or join “The Swamp Krewe,” which is a $5 subscription service kinda like Netflix for stoner doom. I got hooked up with them unexpectedly hen Fuzzy Cracklins – the head of it - started following the Panther Caps on Bandcamp. Fuzzy is an anthropomorphized alligator with a cowboy hat and a joint – and clearly has some artificial intelligence at work behind his persona. When I saw the image, I had a laugh and thought “man – this joint-smoking alligator dude is such a good fit for the Panther Caps!” I also have fam in the south and have spent a lot of time there, and the southern vibe really resonates with me.

Anyhow, Fuzzy’s been a super kind, genuine, supportive dude (or reptile?) who has given me a lot of ideas for helping to share the Panther Caps with a wider audience. The revenue split is very fair, and I definitely benefit from the relationship. It’s a great option for underground doom bands.

10.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black, doom and stoner metal?

I thought maybe the black metal and hardcore aspects wouldn’t sit well with the doom folks, and the doom stuff might put off the black metal and hardcore fans, but people seem to be figuring out how to enjoy it. I’m surprised it has had the positive reaction it’s had, and secretly kinda worry maybe it should be pissing off more people!

As mentioned above, the only negative thing has been the “anti-AI” reaction I encountered after Mr. Doom put up the first ‘Caps video. It was kinda a culture shock to me to learn there was this AI war raging. I don’t use social media, and living on an island, I sometimes find out about things years after they occur!

I don’t know what I don’t know, so it’s all good… and a little funny when I find something out that I should have realized months or years ago. Like today I just learned that Ace Friedly died a number of months back.

11.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?

Well, after “Graven Imagines” I’ve got “Teardrinker” and “Determinate Negation” to release. That’ll keep the Panther Caps going through next year. You’ll think I’m shitting you, but I started another marathon recording session and have enough jams for SIX OR SEVEN more albums. They all need vocals, though. It’ll take me a few more months to finish that up, and then I’ll be able to keep the Panther Caps going at a rate of 2 LPs per year for 3 or 4 years.

I’m going to stick to 2 Panther Caps LPs per year – like the Incredible String Band or Black Sabbath during their best years - so at some point I may need to start another side-project. I’ve got some ideas but need to keep them secret for the time being, as it’s something that hasn’t been seen or done before. It involves blackened, psychedelic doom, though.

12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

I won’t rant about early Smashing Pumpkins anymore, but Siamese Dream is what got me into guitars and fuzz. I just can’t get into the Pumpkins stuff after that.

I grew up on the east coast in the mid-90s through early 00s hardcore scene and had a lot of exposure to some incredible and creative post-hardcore bands in their heyday. I’m a big fan of the Stooges, the Birthday Party, Jesus Lizard – bands where you have one dude wildin’ out over hard-hitting guitars.

I was also in a hip-hop band in the 90s. That and the hardcore scene had a really intense DIY ethos. Like, people weren’t just musicians, they were workers. That attitude informed my creative processes and productivity. You weren’t some privileged rock star – you were a worker who had to put effort in.

I got into black metal when it was reaching America in the early/mid-90s. I remember reading about it as a kid and immediately loving it based on the descriptions and images alone, before even hearing the music!  When it comes down to it, I’m kinda a black metal dude at heart. But I really love the tone and atmosphere of doom and stoner rock. I got into it around 20 years ago, from the older dudes who worked at the independent record store. It was all Eyehategod, Pentagram, Sleep, Electric Wizard back then.

As far as what do I listen to, I mostly listen to older stuff. One of my favorite albums of all time is “Ionia” by Lycia, this atmospheric goth / dark-ambient band from the early 90s. Similar to me, it’s just one dude.  “Ionia” is my favorite, but “Cold” is a masterpiece. I can never get tired of listening to that stuff. The atmosphere is incredible. I like and listen to Eyehategod and Pentagram quite a lot. I like “Nattestid” by Taake – one of my favorite albums of all time that I can listen to endlessly. A guilty pleasure is the band Summoning – I really, really enjoy them, much more than I should.

I got dragged to a party last night and was talking and trying to relate to other people my age – actually a bit younger than me. I’m in my 40s. And someone was like “what’s your favorite record that came out in 2025?” It was pathetic, but I couldn’t name a single record that came out in 2025! They mentioned a few things that sounded like they were probably indie pop artists, and I was like “yea, um… I dunno.” Then they asked me a couple different ways what type of music I listen to and after evading the question once or twice I finally admitted “doom, black metal, shoegaze.” None of that rang a bell. And then this dude started telling me about his banjo.

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts? 

Just major thanks for the support that I’ve received, yourself included. I probably have super low expectations, but it blows my mind that a Panther Caps video on Youtube would get over 1,000 views in a week, or would be reviewed or featured on a blog in Europe. I’m a dude on an island in Alaska, and it’s amazing to think that these outrageous, fun jams could reach that type of audience. I really appreciate the Youtube streams, bloggers, reviewers and fans that have supported the ‘Caps, whether it’s with a “like,” buying an album, leaving a comment, or just enjoying the music.  So thanks and cheers - rock on and spread the Panther Caps disease!

Exhumed from the Cemetery - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dHdWVTBm2g

Our Lord of the Conibears - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSIj5V8IdTE 

The Panther Caps/Graven Images/The Swamp Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  This  is  the  final  review  of  a  recording  from  Alaska's  solo  project  The  Panther  Caps  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  psychedelic  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  stoner,  doom  metal  and  hardcore  and  the  album  was  released  in  2025  by  The  Swamp  Records  and  called  'Graven  Images".

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  the  vocals  bringing  in  a  mixture  of  clear  stoner  rock  vocals  and  black  metal  screams.

  A  lot  of  the  music  also  has  roots  in  the  70's  and  80's  while  also  sounding  very  modern  at  the  same  time.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  album  also  capturing  the  aggression  of  hardcore  at  times,  all  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  as  well  as  the  whole  album  also  sticking  to  a  heavier  direction  and  the  closing  track  is  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  On  this  recording  The  Panther  Caps  continues  to  expand  on  his  psychedelic  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  stoner,  doom  metal  and  hardcore.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Occultism,  Horror  and  Humor  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  The  Panther  Caps  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  psychedelic,  black,  sludge,  stoner,  doom  metal  and  hardcore,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Feed  The  Black  Masses"  "Waste  of  Suffering"  "Humans  Have  A  Right  To  Hedonism"  and  "Graven  Images".  8  out  of  10.

  https://thepanthercaps.bandcamp.com/album/graven-images-lp-3 

The Panther Caps/2 Satanic 3 Panic/The Swamp Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  another  recording  from  Alaska's  solo  project  The  Panther  Caps  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  psychedelic  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  stoner,  doom  metal  and  hardcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2025  album  "@  Satanic  2  Panic"  which  was  released  by  The  Swamp  Records.

  A  very  hard  and  heavy 70's  influenced  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  elements  of  stoner,  sludge  and  doom  metal.  Vocals  range  from  clear  singing  to  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  the  aggression  of  hardcore.  At  times  the  album  also  captures  a  psychedelic  atmosphere  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  some  80's  influences  as  well  as  remaining  very  modern  at  the  same  time  and  all  of  the  tracks  stick  to  a  heavier  direction.

  On  this  recording  The  panther  Caps  mixed  black,  sludge,  stoner,  psychedelic  doom  metal  with  hardcore  to  create  a  very  heavy  release  that  also  captures  a  lot  of  retro  vibes.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Occultism  and  Horror  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  The  Panther  Caps  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  sludge,  stoner,  psychedelic  doom  metal  and  hardcore,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Goddess  To  Destroy  The  Earth"  "Shadow  Magus"  "2  Satanic  2  Panic"  and  "Scarecrow  lover".  8  out  of  10.

  https://thepanthercaps.bandcamp.com/album/2-satanic-2-panic-lp-1      

St. Unholyness Interview

 

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?

Of course! We are a band from Pfarrkirchen, Germany. We are searching for a drummer, because for live gigs we play as a power trio. Atm we are a two-piece with Mac Carrigan on Bass and me, Christina Earlymorn on Guitar & Vocals. We play an unique mixture of Stonerdoom, Black Metal & Blues Rock, because we are so fed up limiting ourselves to only one genre forever. We try to play every style we like and make it our own. We label our music with this debut as "Chromed Stoner Doom with Groove & Style" , because our guitars are chromed, our clothing is stylish and our riffs are heavy grooving with HM2 (classic swedish death metal) growl.

2.You have your first full length coming out towards the end of December, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

As I stated earlier, that we are so fed up in only being at home in one genre, I started back in 2017 to collect some of these odd riffs that didn't properly fit in my previous black metal only - projects. On and off (from 2017 until 2025) I did write for the album in between life situations that happened. (Covid, Loss of Job, My dad died) In that period of time I crafted my own personal style for our band, St. Unholy which Mac and I now run.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored so far with the music?

As a bullying & sexual abuse survivor back in my childhood when I was 6, of course it is very important to me to be very vocal against bullies & pedophiles. A nun raped me every Thursday from 1996-1998 we had in school as an handicraft teacher for she wanted to know what's in my pants, because of me being a trans child back then. Because of that I am not very religious anymore, because I still get so much hate from religious people claiming to be good people, but showing otherwise. So, because of that we have the subject of anti religion in our lyrics, BUT! We clearly differentiate between in blindly hating the religious people and hating the religious organizations backing its predators, which we set our focus onto. We don't fight decent people who believe in god. We fight against evil people who hide behind a religious power structure. Then, we also wanna focus on positive topics like enjoying life to the fullest, being proud of oneself and even stretching into Carl Jung's psychology topics or into the interesting electronic frequency works of Nikola Tesla. Basically, we sing about topics that either have something to do with our past personally, or we sing about stuff that interests or inspires us of which we think could also be interesting for the listener to broaden up his/her horizons.

4.You have mentioned an interest in Carl Jung and Nikola Tesla,  can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in their work?

When I was reading about Carl Jung, I was introduced by his shadow work technique in which the shadow (Your repressed dark side) gets integrated without causing destruction to oneself or others. I like his theory, because due to the sexual abuse, the hate I get and bullying I had to endure in school I carry a massive amount of hate & desire for revenge deep in my stomach. Alot of so called "Good vibes only" people often snap someday, because they completely suppress their shadow-self every day. It's like a barrel that over time explodes. I learned with Carl Jung to dance with my shadows, to recognize them and to release them into something constructive that I call healthy agression. Playing music is one of the methods I use. Nikola Tesla on the other hand fully inspires me, because he says that everything is energy, vibration & frequency. If I am depressed I have to have low energy. I don't vibe (vibrate) very much and my frequency to be interesting for other people is very low. If I am happy however, I got a high energy, so I vibrate stronger and people will be drawn at me, because of my frequency. I personally find this very interesting if you personally examine your past and see how it over time has influenced you. Alot of adult people carry their childhood wounds / childhood traumas still around with them which completely dominates their every day life & fucks up their future, because these poor people act out of the energy from the past when the trauma in childhood took place. That's what I experienced, too. It bothered me so much that I wanted to dominate my life again killing that invisible force which held me back.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'St. Unholyness"?

Since 20 years I am a devoted satanist walking my way through life. That is my very personal (for me) healthy way of spirituality. The name St. Unholyness came like an lightning bolt into my head as I thought to myself, that I, as a person are loved by many and hated by others for being myself. Because of me being a long time satanist who worked for 10 years as a nurse and sometimes donates some of my spare money to homeless people, I feel more christ like as I can see in other so called "christian" people. Basically in other words I am a "Saint" to many & considered as "Unholy" by strangers. That's what St. Unholyness means. Basically someone who does look like a villain, but does good onto others.

6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?

The original artwork was actually me as an baphomet figure posing on the cover. But as I listened to the tracks and looked at the cover it didn't match properly with the sound of the debut album. So I creARTed the actual cover artwork and postponed the one with me as baphomet on it for another album in the future. As a debut album I wanted something simple but with a clear message. The cross of peter already says it what "Through High Holy Haze" is about. We oppose unconscious religious herd mentality and support individuality that is aware of oneself.

7.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

No shows yet, because I didn't think that I would ever be able to find people who wanted to join a band where a "tranny" is fronting the band with a weird sound that isn't anything near mainstream. We still search for a drummer, because of course we would love to play live shows in the near future!

8.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?

Not yet.

9.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?

We did receive interest, but I am not yet sure if I should sign my life away.

10.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black, doom and stoner metal?

Well, to my surprise the comments on our two on YouTube released music videos are positive. I received messages on my Facebook page & Instagram account of people telling me that they like it alot. Personally I am always very critical of myself, because when I learned to play music my environment wasn't supportive and made fun of me. See, that's one of my childhood wounds that still controls me, BTW. Thank you for making me realize this with this interview Mr. Larson! I will have some self work to do :)

11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

I would love to build the band up, gaining international reputation and forming a fanbase where everyone regardless of how they dress, looks like is welcome. I hate gatekeepers and I would love as a band leader, to have a community that has glued together many walks of fans, just like Motörhead managed to untite Rockers, Punks & Metalheads. That's why my guitars are chromed. I hope the audience can mirror themselves into the guitars to make them realize that we are all part of this as a whole!

12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadatys?

Nowadays I don't really listen to much music. After finishing an album I am drained & need silence to recharge my creativity. But bands like ZZ Top, Pantera, Goatwhore, Crowbar, Megadeth and artists like BB King, S.R.V., Zakk Wylde, Joe Bonamassa & Yngwie Malmsteen do influence me still.

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

My father passed away this may 2025 at the age of 61. What I wanna say to finish this interview off is the following: Say "I love you" more often to your loved ones, because no one knows when time's up.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StUnholynessOfficial
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@st.unholynessofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/st.unholyness.official
Bandcamp: http://www.stunholyness.bandcamp.com/
More info: https://www.christinaearlymorn.com/St.Unholyness/

St. Unholyness/Through High Holy Haze/2025 Full Length Review

 

  St.  Unholyness  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  doom,  stoner,  thrash  metal  and  blues  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  album  "Through  High  Holt  Haze"  which  will  be  released  on  Christmas.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  while  also  adding  in  some  psychedelic   touches  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Elements  of  doom  and  stoner  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  recording  and  the  solos  and  leads  bring  in  more  of  a  melodic  blues  rock,  proto  metal  style.

  Vocals  bring  in  more  of  a  clear  stoner  rock  style  while  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Whispers  are  also  utilized  briefly  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  and  the  harsh  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  A  lot  of  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  album  also  bring  in  the  aggression  of  thrash  metal,  synths  are  also  utilized  at  times  and  some  of  the  vocals  also  add  in  shouts  and  death  metal  growls.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  survival,  empowerment  and  resilience.  

  In  my  opinion  St.  Unholyness  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  death,  doom,  stoner,  thrash  metal  and  blues  rock  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Heaven's  Harem"  "Alchemist  Blues"  and  "St.  Unholyness".  8  out  of  10.

  

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Agenbite Misery/Remorse Of Conscience/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Agenbite  Misery  are  a  band  from  New  Hampshire  that  plays  an  experimental  mixture  of  black  and  sludge  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  album  "Remorse  Of  Conscience"  which  will  be  released  in  2026.

  A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  spoken  words  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  vocals  bring  in  a  mixture  of  black  emtal  screams,  death  metal  growls  and  sludge  style  shouts  and  a  lot  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Influences  of  hardcore  and  power  violence  can  also b e  heard  at  times  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  Elements  of  funeral  doom  metal  can  also b e  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  the  album  also  having  its  experimental  moments  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  melodic  style.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks  as  well  as  some  ambient  style  textures  also  being  utilized  at  times,  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  fast  riffing.  

  Some  of  the  riffing  also  brings  in  the  classic  noise  rock  style  as  well  as  each  song  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other.  Synths  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  along  with  one  song  also  bringing  in  more  of  an  industrial  and  post  punk  style  mixed  in  with  a  touch  of  blackgaze,  programmed  beats  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  and  some  tracks  also  adds  in  touches  of  noise,  drone,  indie  rock,  dungeon  synth  and  psychedelia.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  writings  of  James  Joyce.

  In  my  opinion  Agenbite  Misery  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  and  sludge  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Cascara  Sagrada"  "Circe"  and  "Mnesterophonia".  8  out  of  10.

  

• Bandcamp: https://agenbitemisery.bandcamp.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574211514876#
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agenbitemisery/?hl=en
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwjOZilhkqTRkZHpJJwlbhw
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6dYQgCtNvpvNWwfQ06LQQZ
• Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/agenbite-misery/1716987132
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@agenbite.misery

  

  

  

Midryasi's Kult/Mountain Devil/Caligari Records/2025 EP Review

 

  Midryasil's  Kult  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  psychedelic  mixture  of  black,  doom  metal  and  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  ep  "Mountain  Devil"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Caligari  Records.

  A  punk  rock  orientated  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  some  clear  vocals  a  few  seconds  later  which  are  done  in  more  of  an  early  80's  doom  metal.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  synths  also  add  in  psychedelic  touches  when  they  are  utilized  and  the  solos  and  leads  bring  in  more  of  an  old  school  metal/rock  style.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  black metal  elements  can  also  be  heard.  All  of  the  musical  instrument  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  some  influences  from  the  70's  and  mixing  them  in  with  the  modern  era  and  most  of  the  recording  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

  Midryasil's  Kult  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  first  wave  black  and  traditional  doom  metal  and  mixes  them  with  punk  and  psychedelic  rock  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  occultism  themes

  In  my  opinion  Midryasil's  Kult  are  a  very  great  sounding  psychedelic  mixture  of  black,  doom  metal  and  punk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Mountain  Devil".  8  out  of  10.

  http://caligarirecords.bandcamp.com/album/mountain-devil  

  

Summoning Saturn Voids/Self Titled/Argonauta Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Summoning  Saturn  Voids  are  an  international  band  with  embers  from  Norway  and  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  death,  doom  and  stoner  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  album  which  was  released  by  Argonauta  Records.

  Synths  and  atmospheric  sounding  drones  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  bring  in  elements  of  doom  and  stoner  metal  and  the  solos  and  leads  bring  in  more  of  a 70's  rock  style.

  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  A  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  psychedelic  moments  along  with  one  song  also  being  an  instrumental  and  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars  and  most  of  the  album  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

  Summoning  Saturn  Voids  plays  a  musical  style  that  is  mostly  rooted  in  doom  and  stoner  metal  as  well  as  mixing  in  the  aggression  of  black  and  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Lovecraftian,  Cosmic  Horror,  Science  Fiction  and  Space  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Summoning  Saturn  Voids  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  death,  doom  and  stoner  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Cosmic  Sabbath"  "Technical  Heresy"  and "Siggy  Starsmoke  And  The  Bongsters  From  Mars".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/ summoningsaturnvoids

Antipope/Doors Of The Dead/Moribund Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Finland's  Antipope  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  them  moving  away  from  the  black  and  death  metal  elements  of  earlier  releases  and  focusing  more  on  a  shamanistic,  psychedelic  and  progressive  form  of  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  2024  album  "Doors  Of  The  Dead"  which  will  be  released  on  october  25th  by  Moribund  Records.

  A  very  ritualistic  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  playing  a  few  seconds  later  while  shamanistic  chants  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  adds  in  touches  of  black  and  death  metal  while  the  album  also  has  its  progressive  moments.  Vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  power  metal  style  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  Tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  harsh  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  the  album  also  has  its  psychedelic  moments,  synths  are  also  added  on  a  lot  of  songs.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Ancient  Greek  Myths.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Antipope  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  progressive  power  metal  with  touches  of  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Magisteria"  "A  Ritual  Of  Snake  And  Dance"  and  "Doors  OF  The  Dead".  8  out  of  10.

  www.antipope.info

https://www.instagram.com/ antipopeofficial/
https://www.youtube.com/user/ antipopeband
www.facebook.com/Antipope/

twitter.com/antipope_band  

Lares Interview

 

1. Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new album?

Recording our latest album in our studio/rehearsal room was a completely different beast compared to our previous two albums, which were recorded in a professional studio. We had to rearrange the space and experiment extensively to capture the entire song in one take, without a click track. We wanted a cinematic feeling, so we took our time working with Luca Leprotti (David di Donatello winner for best sound in "Volevo Nascondermi" by Giorgio Dritti) for the mixing. Once we had a version we liked, we sent everything to our label, Argonauta Records. While waiting for the album to be pressed and released, we worked on new material and went on a small tour in Germany.

2. Recently you released a new album. Musically, how does it differ from what you have released in the past?

Our first album, “Mask of Discomfort” (2017), was more of a stoner doom album, but it already hinted at elements that became more prominent in our next album, “Towards Nothingness” (2020) – black metal parts, ethereal post-rock guitars, ambient drone, and slow doom sections. With our latest release, we continued on this evolutionary path, adding more elements and focusing on the dynamics of various sections. We recorded it ourselves in our studio to maintain the freedom of not having time limits due to budget constraints. “Et in Arcadia Ego” was born from our first session together after a long pandemic break. We captured the energy of that day, playing the whole 27-minute track repeatedly without a click until it was perfect.

3. This is also your first release in four years. Can you tell us a bit more about what was going on during that time frame?

We had a complicated period after releasing our previous album, which coincided with our first major tour in June 2020. But everyone knows what happened then. Lockdowns and health concerns led to a period of inactivity. Depression set in, and we wrote parts at home. When we finally met again, we played for hours, jamming on what we had. We decided to create a long song representing the long wait, mixed emotions, and static floating of time, along with themes of death, apocalypse, and the dawn of humanity. After recording “Et in Arcadia Ego,” Simone left the band, and Giovanni joined as a second guitarist and synth player. We wanted to be ready as a new force before releasing the album.

4. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer release, and how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?

We explore themes like the contrasts within the city and nature, occultism, paganism, death, depression, oblivion, abandonment, and psychedelics. Our music and lyrics are heavily influenced by the current political situation in Germany and globally.

5. I know the band's name comes from Roman and Etruscan mythology. Can you tell us a bit more about your interest in this topic?

We liked the idea of an Etruscan/Roman faceless god, an entity that can be molded into any desired shape, believed to observe, protect, and influence fate. Some members come from the Etruscan volcanic areas of Italy, and the constant touch with catacombs, unholy temples, and the ghosts of an ancient civilization worshiping nature, their forces, and powers, as well as the inner self, has always fascinated us.

6. Can you tell us a bit more about the artwork on the new album cover?

Choosing that artwork was spontaneous and connected with the concept of the new album. After one of the first times we played the long song entirely, our ex-synth player Simone instinctively suggested the title “Et in Arcadia Ego” and showed us the painting by Guercino with the same title. We officially asked the National Gallery Museum in Rome for permission to use the image, and to our surprise, maybe a metalhead was working the office desk, they gave us the ok.

7. What are some of the best shows the band has played so far, and how would you describe your stage performance?

Recently, we played a small release tour in Germany, which was our most intense experience to date, with the best show in Dresden headlining the last day of the Gockel Scream Festival. Lares has no form or shape, so we like to create a blurry and ethereal atmosphere on stage. Seeing people with eyes closed, completely lost in the sound and shaking – more than us after the concert – is the most important reward we’ve achieved. We are grateful that our experimental “monster” track album touched so many souls deeply.

8. Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?

Yes, we are working on a second tour outside of Germany for the end of the year or 2025.

9. On a worldwide level, how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black and sludge metal?

We’ve had a lot of responses from the States, South America, and Northern Europe. Since the release of our second album, we’ve noticed a small but dedicated following. We know our music isn’t easy to digest for genre purists. We don’t believe in subgenre categories; it’s cool nowadays that there are no boundaries with music. Somewhere out there, there’s a trve black metal guy secretly listening to Mitski.

10. Where do you see the band heading musically in the future?

We’re in a constant jamming process. An album always represents the past for us. When you hear it, we’ve already moved on to another chapter. Our next goal is to experiment in fields we’ve never been before – maybe with more electronic elements, maybe with shorter, aggressive songs. For now, we might have had enough of concept albums and will surely do something different in the future.

11. Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Thanks for giving us this space, and thanks for reading. I hope you find new tunes today. Spread the evil. Cheers!

https://www.facebook.com/ laresband
https://www.instagram.com/ laresmetal/

Mycena Interview

 

1. Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new album?

Currently, we are still promoting our latest album "Serendisarray" and brainstorming concepts for our next album. I've also switched focus to my other musical projects (Vrhovec, Grinded Grin, Acid Hags). We've started collecting ideas, riffs, and themes for the new album. Once we gather a good number, we'll begin compiling and arranging them into a concept that best suits the new album. We plan to start working on the album this fall, and the writing and recording process is expected to take about six months.

2. In April you had released a new album, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

On our previous albums, we relied heavily on improvisation. We didn't have finished themes, and they were recorded spontaneously when we all got together without prior arrangements or rehearsals. It was classic jamming. Our new album "Serendisarray" took about a year to record, spread across 10 sessions, with constant work on the concept. Every riff was tested and refined to fit the concept. Some songs started with a guitar riff, while others began with a drum pattern.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?

Some of the lyrical themes include Nostradamus' predictions, Pythagoras and Pythagorean teachings, cosmic chaos and serenity, and emotional disturbances and passions. Progress as a songwriter is very evident in Mycena. However, since Mycena isn't the only band I'm in, the writing styles intertwine and improve through my other projects, making everything look different when I return to Mycena. With each album, the writing style evolves, and the art of songwriting is honed into the unique expression that each of us possesses.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Mycena'?

The name Mycena was taken from a hallucinogenic mushroom, which perfectly fit the initial concept of a psychedelic band. An added bonus is that no one had used this name for a band before. Nowadays, it's challenging to find a super cool band name that hasn't already been taken.

5. Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?

The artwork for the album was created by the phenomenal artist Vhan. It perfectly represents the album, which has chaos as its main theme, with a psychedelic touch, space, mantra, the human in the center, and the third eye—everything you can hear and feel on the album.

6. Currently there are onyl 2 members in the band. are you open to expanding the line up or do you prefer to remain a duo?

Currently, we are a duo when creating the album, but for concerts and recording, we have several musicians who join us depending on the concept of the concert or album. Moving forward, we will continue writing and recording as a duo, serving as the core idea center, and then we will use session musicians to enrich the album's sound.

7. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

The best concert, in my opinion, was in Koprivnica at FUNK Day when the festival was held outdoors. There were six of us on stage, and we created quite a scene with tons of smoke. I wore a white rabbit mask while playing the synth.

8. Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?

No, we don't tour; we only play occasional concerts at local festivals. We don't have that obligation or need because we are on our own label, and we don't make a living from music. But we live for music.

9. Currently the band is singed to 'Olde Scratch Records', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

Olde Scratch is my label, covering all my bands and allowing me to keep everything under one umbrella. It's easier to reach journalists and promote our music, and the audience knows what to expect when they see an Olde Scratch release.

10. On  a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your albums by fans of underground music?

With the exception of one of my black metal project, Mycena has reached the furthest of all my endeavors. The response has been phenomenal and very surprising. Both journalists and the audience have reacted excellently. It's a great motivation for us to continue our work.

11. Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

I think we'll be moving towards less improvisation in the future and aim to work more on concept and arrangement. Our goal is also to ensure each song has vocals and melody, while still embracing tension through dissonance. That's our current plan, and we'll see in a few months how much of it we can achieve and how well our current ideas will come to life.

12. What are some of the bands or musical styles that you are currently listening to nowadays?

My all-time favorites are Croatian Seven That Spells, Oranssi Pazuzu, Deathspell Omega, King Crimson, and Master Musicians of Bukkake. They embody that psychedelic dissonance with a unique atmosphere that I crave when listening to and creating music.

13. Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Nothing more, thank you very much for the interview, and thanks to everyone for listening to the "Serendisarray" album :)

(Aleksandar Vrhovec, Mycena)

https://mycena.bandcamp.com/album/serendisarray
https://youtu.be/STyy8PQ-fvc?si=eZm794NnY5bnSmK1

Mycenia/Serendisarray/Olde Scratch Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Mycena  are  a  duo  from  Croatia  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  metal,  stoner  rock,  jazz,  avant  garde,  experimental,  psychedelic  and  prog  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Serendisarray"  which  was  released  by  Olde  Scratch  Records.

  Psychedelic  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  clean  sections  also  take  the  music  into  more  of  a  progressive  direction  when  they  are  added  in  the  music.

  High  pitched  black  metal  screams  can  be  heard  briefly  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  elements  of  stoner  metal.  at  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  and  avant  garde  sounding  along  with  a  lot  of  the  vocals  adding  in  more  of  a  spoken  demonic  style,  saxophones  and  clarinets  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks.

  The  album  also  adds  in  a  few  instrumentals  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  introduced  into  the  music,  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  most  of  the  songs  stick  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.   The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  esoteric  themes.

  In  mu  opinion  Mycena  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  stoner  metal,  jazz,  avant  garde,  experimental,  psychedelic  and  prog  rock  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Lacrima  Futurum"  "Erato"  and  "Apatheia".  8  out  of  10.

  https://mycena.bandcamp.com/album/serendisarray

https://youtu.be/STyy8PQ-fvc?si=eZm794NnY5bnSmK1