Records of Their Years with Red Beard Wall mastermind Aaron Wall & exclusive track premiere of "The Warming"

Formed in 2016 and the creative outlet of Texas native Aaron Wall, Red Beard Wall’s delivery of  heavy, hooky and concise compositions would eventually see the band signed to Argonauata Records with their debut self titled LP released in May 2017.   With riffs that could level city blocks and vocals that are the perfect combination of soaring melody and caustic screams of despair, Red Beard Wall are back and set to deliver their most bone crunching material to date in the form of new long player 'The Fight Needs Us All' which will be hitting all good stockists on February 22^nd 2019 as Digital Download, CD and Vinyl. The album pre-orders are now available in the following editions, bundles: HERE LP: HERE CD: HERE

Influenced by amazing bands such as, Floor, Helmet, Conan, Yob, Pallbearer, Baroness, and countless others, today we have a double helping of Aaron and his 7.5 tons of beard, as THE SLUDGELORD exclusively premieres a brand new track entitled “The Warming” which you can check out below. Not only that we invited Aaron to discuss some of his favourite records.  Welcome to this Red Beard Wall edition of “Records of Their Years”.  

THE SLUDGELORD: Favourite album from the year you were born? 

Aaron: First off to you, oh mighty SLUDGELORD...thank you so much for having me!

I was born in 1977. Therefore the answer is Motorhead’sself-titled debut. Really not much elaboration needed. 

THE SLUDGELORD: First record you bought with your own money?

Aaron: Yes! I remember well! I was 8 years old, I had saved up a little cash from mowing yards and such, specifically I got Van Halen “1984”, Beastie Boys “Licence to Ill” and Run D.M.C “Raising Hell”. All 3 of those records are still very dear and close to my heart. The very 1^st time I ever performed was in a 3^rd grade talent show. I did a mean version of the Run D.M.C.deep cut “You Be Illin.” Oh the memories from years gone by! Haha!!

THE SLUDGELORD: Favourite non metal / rock album?

Aaron: That’s a tough one, but I’d have to say Wu-Tang’s“36 Chambers”. I was a bit of a hip-hop nut in my formative years, and honestly still am, although obviously my love for the heavy eventually overtook to top position musically in my life.  

THE SLUDGELORD: Album that most disappointed you?

Aaron: I guess I don’t think that way about records I don’t necessarily like. I just feel like it wasn’t made for me. I definitely try to look for something in it, that I do enjoy. If I cant, I move on to something that does move me. 

THE SLUDGELORD: Favourite album of all time or if you prefer album (s) you’d run back into a burning building to rescue?

Aaron: I’m gonna choose 3. All from Mastodon, “Remission”, “Leviathan”, “Blood Mountain”. Those three albums reinvigorated my enthusiasm for heavy music. After growing up in Texas in the 90’s with Pantera being a huge early influence, a lot of metal had gotten stale for me personally. Mastodon brought a renewed and energetic love back that I though may have been fading away. That love and passion has not waned since.

THE SLUDGELORD: Favourite album (s) of 2018?

Aaron: Daughters, “You Won’t Get What You Want”. The intensity is so palpable throughout. The songs are just on another level. 10 out of 10!  

THE SLUDGELORD:..and finally The last album you bought? 

Aaron: The last album I bought, ironically enough is a pre-order of the new Red Beard Wall album “The Fight Needs Us All.”  Extremely shameless self promotion, I know...but in my defence, it’s also 100% the truth.  Once again, much much gratitude and appreciation for allowing me to be a part. ALL LOVE. ALL APPRECIATION. ALL HAIL!!!

Band info: facebook || bandcamp

RECORDS OF THEIR YEARS: with Fórn guitarist Joey Gonzalez

Photo by Katia Sukhotskay

By pure coincidence, for the second successive week, we feature a band from Boston, and today it is none other than sludge/doom emissaries Fórn, who have returned with their highlyanticipated sophomore record, "Rites of Despair". A record of such quality that it in a frankly in a league of its own.  

With “Rites of Despair” having been in the public domain for a couple of months now, there has never been a more opportune time to feature them on THE SLUDGELORD, so I hooked up guitarist  Joey Gonzalez to discuss some of his favourite records.  Welcome to “Records of their Years”, 

THE SLUDGELORD: Favourite album from the year you were born?

Talk Talk, “Spirit of Eden” (1988) 

I actually didn't discover this record till either just before or just after I was entering my 20’s. I had kind of begun deep diving on a lot of atmospheric music and this album was elevator pitched to me from a friend as the “predecessor to post-rock.” I don’t think this album is that or even remotely post-rock to me. Post rock has always felt more to be about long build ups, carefully constructed to reach a point of overwhelming glisten, but this album is quite beautiful in its nature to deconstruct more traditional foundations and to place a great magnitude of emphasis on space, and sparseness, and an emptiness that can feel like chaos sometimes. It did me a great deal in teaching me song writing.

THE SLUDGELORD: First record you bought with your own money?

Green Day, “Nimrod” (1997) 

I’m counting this because it’s a pretty vivid memory in my mind, and even though technically it was my mom who bought this for me, it was a pretty special experience hearing something on the radio in the car and enjoying it with my mom, and we drove to what I believe was a Tower Record store, and I picked up this cd, because we had just heard “Hitchin’ a ride” come on the radio, and I wanted to listen to it. I also picked up alongside this gem, Blink182’s “Dude Ranchand” the Self titled Back Street Boys album, so least to say, 8 year old me was batting a 1000.

THE SLUDGELORD: Favourite non metal / rock album? 

Moses Sumney, “Aromanticisim”(2017)

This might come as a shock to maybe those who don’t know me, but in reality, I don’t have much metal/rock music in heavy rotation in my life currently, so the vast majority of music I have been consuming for the last 6ish years has been not that. As such, my “favorite” album in this broad realm is always changing, but my latest obsession has been Moses Sumney. This record hit me like a fucking truck, emotionally, and in terms of the production, to me it is flawless. I was introduced to this record By our engineer Alec Rodriguez so I have to drop his name here for this one.

THE SLUDGELORD: Album that most disappointed you?

I’ve been let down by some records when I was younger, but the older I get, I don’t really hold other peoples art to my standards or expectations. I am way more interested in the process of the creation of what I am consuming then I am if its living up to some expectations I’ve had, so I can’t say anything has ever really disappointed me. I have been let down by a couple of records, but I’m not going to list them here

THE SLUDGELORD: Favourite album of all time or if you prefer album (s) you’d run back into a burning building to rescue

Deftones, “White Pony” (2000)

Opeth, “Blackwater Park" (2001)

So when someone poses this question to me, I always feel like it’s hard to scope out something that has been a favorite of mine, or something that’s definitively my all time favorite. I always feel like the root of the question is like what are the “keystone” records for me in my life, and these two would be a good start. A lot of people may not know, but before I ever wrote a riff or anything, I played drums for a long time, and these are the two records I really learned how to shape my style around. These are two records I really felt were integral to me for really jumping head first into music. They’re some of the only records that elicit an honest nostalgia out of me anymore. If I had to add one more record, I would add pg.99 – “document 8”. Not only do the songs still hold up, but this band and record was my stepping stone into the ethics of art, music being an individual and part of a community, and what that responsibility entails. It’s just every bit as important to who I am as a musician now.

THE SLUDGELORD: Favourite album (s) of 2018?

Serpentwithfeet, “Soil” (2018) 

This record is painstakingly crafted, and it pays off in dividends on repeated listens, and it’s pretty much been all I can listen to lately. It’s almost obnoxious it’s so intoxicating. I’ve been searching for music that really elicits and invokes the feelings it’s crafted in wake of and listening to the record, the nature of it is obsessing and  a celebration of the feelings of grief and melancholy. It’s beautiful in the most painful of ways.

THE SLUDGELORD:..and finally The last album you bought?

Ilsa, “Corpse Fortress” (2018)

Ah, you thought I’d make it all the way without listing a single metal album, but you’re WRONG. Ilsa are some of my favorite people and they are easily one of my favorite bands doing heavy shit out there. Plus they’re from DC (*cough* silver spring*cough*), and we go back a ways. I love my boys, and this record rips harder than any other heavy music I’ve heard this year.

“Rites of Despair” by Fórn is out now and available HERE

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

RECORDS OF THEIR YEARS:..with Gozu's Marc Gaffney

Few bands over the last 6 years have kicked my arse as much my Boston brethren Gozu, a badass American rock band with heavy riffs in tow and bang out tunes loud enough to piss off the neighbors. But Gozu is more than this. Gozu is a songwriting machine, one that is able to churn out loud, hard hitting compositions without sacrificing the meaning behind the songs or the band.  Gozu is gruff and dirty when it needs to but also sweet and soulful when the time is right.  On April 13 2018, Gozu released their new album “Equilibrium” via metal heavyweight Metal Blade Records.  With 2016′s ‘Revival‘ they took their sound in a somewhat new and more aggressive direction, and in doing so, dropped the most compulsive, exciting and downright badass release of their career – and ‘Equilibrium‘ has only raised the stakes. “We wanted these songs to hit a nerve, make people shake their ass and enjoy simply being alive,” says vocalist/guitarist Marc “Gaff” Gaffney, who founded the band with lead guitarist Doug Sherman. Much of the record’s strength stems from the unit growing since ‘Revival‘, the first full-length featuring drummer Mike Hubbard and bassist Joseph Grotto.

With the announcement that Gozuwill play selected shows with Goatwhore, The Causalities, Black Tusk & Great American Ghost, as part of the Metal Alliance Tour, kicking off in Kansas City on Nov 18, I  hooked up with Marc “Gaff” Gaffney to discuss some of his favourite records.  Welcome to “Records of their Years”, 

THE SLUDGELORD: Favourite album from the year you were born? 

 “Harvest”, Neil Young (1972).

In 1972 this beautiful piece of art came out and like myself, I am sure it moulded many minds, lyricist, guitar players and humans to what can be done with heartfelt music. “Out on the weekend” is one of my favorite songs. It hits me deep and makes me think about many different issues, especially the way the world is today. Neil is a treasure and pretty much anything he does I am a fan of.

THE SLUDGELORD: First record you bought with your own money?

“Back in Black”, AC/DC. (1980)

The older hoodlums in my neighbourhood were huge AC/DCfans. When playing basketball, football, whatever, they would always be playing music. I had my own money, my mom took me to the local record store in Watertown, NYand I was grinning ear to ear when I bought it. I remember coming home, throwing it on my record player and feeling like this was fascinating. It was 1980, I was 8 years old and hooked. “Let me put my love into you babe” has a different meaning when you are in second grade.

THE SLUDGELORD: Favourite non metal / rock album?

“Voodoo”, D’Angelo. (2000)

This album is brilliant from start to finish. It combines Sly, Prince, James, George and Stevie in a bombastic groove fantasy. Also, Pino Palladino on bass and Questlove on drums, forget about it. Charlie Hunter destroying bass and guitar duties on a tune. If you are a fan of soul music and do not have this album, take 2 steps back and go fuck yourself. Then get it, listen to it, and thank me later. “Devils Pie”, puts such a nice dip in your hip. If this album doesn’t make you feel good and I mean good, then go directly to the hospital, turn and cough.

THE SLUDGELORD: Album that most disappointed you?

I have been disappointed by albums, but being older, I hear different things that now make sense. I am a bit of an impatient fuck so I either like or hate things quickly. Take a few of the Queens of the Stone Agealbums, I was far from in love with them, however, after hearing a few tunes live, I went back to listen to the albums and they moved me in a way that did not initially happen. I also feel I need to be in the correct head-space when listening to music that I am hitting for the maiden voyage. I am sure there are a few albums that have dealt me an awful auditory experience but they are probs kept right next to the Linda Ronstadt file in my mind.

THE SLUDGELORD: Favourite album of all time or if you prefer album (s) you’d run back into a burning building to rescue

Stevie Wonder, “Innervisions”   (1973)

Allman Brothers, “Live at the Fillmore East”

Beach Boys, “Pet Sounds” 

These three works are musical diamonds in my world. They for me, depict what is beautiful about music and why it is a necessity in everyday life. From the opening synth line in, “Too High” to the guitar hierarchy on “Don’t keep me wondering” and the delicious harmonies on every song on “Pet Sounds”, sparks an immense physical and emotional flame that has always burned. I could wax poetically about these albums but I think the best thing for people to do is to listen to them. If you dig it, wonderful, if not, go back to the stuff you love and that brings you joy, heartache, and triumph all in one sonic blast.

THE SLUDGELORD: Favourite album (s) of 2018?

Sleep, “The Sciences” (2018)

Holy fuck is this a beast of an album. The guitar tones alone make me want to arm bar someone. This triumvirate have put together a musical piece so tasty that it needs to be blared on stadium PA’s and out of car stereos while doing 95 in a 15 mph zone. The bass tone is so right on and deviant that it literally drove my car the other day. The low end, held the steering wheel and ushered me home, as if I was in a golden chariot, a la Ben Hur. Drums, oh mamma. The pocket laid out is so infectious and thus, this is why I so dig this album. Thus, you are immediately drawn to the one, your head bobs while others weave. Put the mix together and it is a perfect meal of fulfilling musicality. It tastes so good, it sounds like more.

THE SLUDGELORD:..And finally The last album you bought? 

Arctic Monkeys, “Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino” (2018)

I enjoy every song on this album as it is a very mature, concept based piece that embodies many influences in a proper way. It is well layered instrumentally and vocally possesses an infectious clarity and harmonious jaunt. It reminds me of an album that was tracked with candles on, bottles of merlot strung about the room and 3 footers strategically placed for the immediate purification of the air and dendrites. “Four out of Five” is my favorite track. The chorus is so…

Gozu’s new record “Equilibrium” is out now and available HERE

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook

RECORDS OF THEIR YEARS...with ENSLAVED songwriter and guitarist Ivar Bjørnson

ENSLAVED's latest album, "E", was released last October via Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to 2015's "In Times" was recorded at Duper & Solslottet Studios in Bergen and was once again mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studiosin Örebro, Sweden.

ENSLAVED are currently on the road in support of “E” undertaking a co-headline European tour with riff masters HIGH ON FIRE. The string of dates started in late September and will run through to mid-October, 14 shows across seven countries. Following two UK headlining shows in Milton Keynes and Leeds, ENSLAVEDwill take in the following shows below:

Oct. 08 - Academy 2, Manchester, UK
Oct. 09 - Tivoli, Dublin, IRE
Oct. 10 - Limelight 2, Belfast, UK
Oct. 12 - The Mill, Birmingham, UK
Oct. 14 - SWX, Bristol, UK
Oct. 15 - The Dome, London, UK
Oct. 16 - La Machine du Moulin Rouge, Paris, FR

During a break in between touring, we were fortunate to hook up with ENSLAVEDsongwriter and guitarist Ivar Bjørnson to discuss some of his favourite records.  Welcome to Records of their Years…

SLUDGELORD: Favourite album from the year you were born?

Ivar: 1981 - it’s got to be ‘Animals’ by Pink Floyd. It’s such a wonderful album with such a great mythology around the cover artwork, surrounding the flying pig above the factory and how it broke loose. It ended up in some, I think Welsh farmer’s field? He found a name tag on it and returned it. When they did the next shoot for the album they had some local posh dudes with shotguns hanging around, just in case the pig broke loose so they could shoot it down.  Just the music on the record is incredible, like the songs ‘Sheep’, ‘Dogs’, ‘Pigs…’ it’s amazing. I know with Pink Floyd there’s other albums that tend to get mentioned more, but ‘Animals’ is a big one, a really important one.

I first heard the album when I was about to turn 11 years old. At some point during the year when I was 10, my dad told me that when I turned 11, he would hand over his entire vinyl collection to me. Around ’87 many of his friends started getting rid of their LPs and buying CDs, you know. Many of his friends threw their LPs out or gave them to pawn shops, second-hand stores or charity shops. Luckily for me, he had a moment of clarity and thought - ‘at least the Pink Floyd albums gotta keep on going, so I’m going to give them to my son.’ I remember listening through the collection and listening to ‘Animals’, and it was really an eye opener. It was quite a lot to take in for an 11 year old, but I had already been listening to ‘Wish You Were Here’ and ‘Another Brick in The Wall’ quite a lot, and some of the stuff from ‘The Dark Side of The Moon’. But there was something about ‘Animals’ that has been following me ever since.

SLUDGELORD: The first record you bought with your own money?

Ivar: The first record I bought with my own money was Europe ‘The Final Countdown’ I believe. I think it was at around the same time that I inherited my dad’s Pink Floyd collection. I don’t know why I made that specific choice; I must have heard ‘The Final Countdown’ and it had an impact on me. No matter how cheesy that one is, it’s still a good song. I got hooked on it, and there are so many other good songs on that album. The circle was finally completed when I went and saw them play live at Sweden Rock festival in 2004. It’s still one of the best concerts I have ever seen.  They’re a very underrated band because of ‘The Final Countdown’ thing. They have so much more to offer than that one track. They’re amazing instrumentalists, with an amazing singer, and quite an intellectual band I would say actually, when you read their interviews and hear what they have to say about what’s going on in their minds behind all of these heavy metal classics.

SLUDGELORD: Your Favourite Non-Metal, Non-Rock Album?

Ivar: That’s a tough one… I would say ‘Bitches Brew’ by Miles Davis. It’s a very psychedelic album, a weird album. When people said he had a psychedelic period, I was like ‘hmm what do they mean, it’s still jazz I guess?’ but when I listened to it closely I was like - ‘WOW, now that is something really different’.  And it opened my eyes to a lot of jazz from that time, the fusion that was going on from that sort of pure jazz, that lead into something so wild and psychedelic. I guess it was sort of around the same time when rock music went into the psychedelic era, but it just feels like the jazz people got even more out of it in a sense.

SLUDGELORD: The Album that most disappointed you?

Ivar: That would be W.A.S.P ‘The Last Command’ – it came about quite early in my days as a record collector. Everyone was talking about W.A.S.P, and about how fantastic they were and so on. EVERYONE. I guess that I’m talking about the 3 other kids where I lived who were into heavy metal. I bought the record and I kind of liked the title song for a little while, but then I listened to more of it… Nowadays it’s okay to not like W.A.S.P, but I lived through many years where people would really give me shit for thinking W.A.S.P were crap. I guess it helps that Blackie Lawless started acting weird, and not being so nice to people. But I’ve said it for 30 years now; they’re not a good band.

SLUDGELORD: Favourite album of all time or if you prefer album (s) you’d run back into a burning building to rescue

Ivar: If the building was on fire I would make sure that I grabbed from my vinyl shelves; Pink Floyd’s ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’, Mayhem’s ‘De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas’, Bathory’s ‘Hammerheart’ and King Crimson’s ‘In the Court of the Crimson King’. Those defined me when all else was lost, those four albums would be the perfect soundtrack for a new start.

SLUDGELORD: Favourite album (s) of 2018?



Ivar: Krakow ‘minus’.

SLUDGELORD: The last album you bought? 

Ivar: Emmerhoff and the Melancholy Babies ‘Circle Six’ (on vinyl).

Enslaved’s latest album ‘E’ is out now via Nuclear Blast, available HERE.

Band info: Facebook

RECORDS OF THEIR YEARS:...with KEN mode guitarist/vocalist Jesse Matthewson

Brenna Faris (c)

Winnipeg trio KEN mode made a welcome return with new LP "Loved" at the end of August and is is by far the nastiest entry in their impressive body of work and all the better for it.  Almost 20 years into their existence KEN mode has set the bar for riff-heavy noise rock in 2018.  With the release barely a few weeks old and with the band set to hit the road in support the album we hooked up with guitarist/vocalist Jesse Matthewson to discuss some of his favourite records.  Welcome to RECORDS OF THEIR YEARS..., 

SL: Favourite album from the year you were born? 

Black Flag, "Damaged" (1981)

Jesse Matthewson: I’d probably have to say Black Flag – "Damaged". There’s no way it’s not the most influential, and even if I don’t listen to it as much anymore compared to other Black Flag records, it probably edges the Birthday Party’s   - "Prayers on Fire" by a smidge in terms of pure enjoyment for my own personal taste. That’s tough though. 

SL: First record you bought with your own money?

Green Day, "Dookie" (1994)

JM: I think it may have been Green Day’s "Dookie". It was pretty much the most popular thing going on at the time with teens/pre-teens, and it sounded fun. I know I ended up selling it maybe a year later because I found it boring…a pretentious piece of shit even at 13.

SL: Favourite non metal / rock album?

Badbadnotgood, "III" (2014) 

JM: Lately, maybe Badbadnotgood’s "III" record. It’s just such a fun sonic mix of jazz, some hip hop, trip hop, whatever. I had a hard jazz kick a couple years ago, and this got way too much play, and has ever since. 

SL: Album that most disappointed you?

KEN mode, "Success" (2015)

JM: I always struggle with questions like this, because it exposes the inherent entitled nature of music listeners. “The piece of art you made this time didn’t connect with me in the same way as that one from a few years ago that fit what I was looking for perfectly; and I expected it to!”

I dunno. I don’t want to throw anyone under the bus on this one. How about this? I’m most disappointed in KEN mode’s "Success" because it wasn’t what people who like us necessarily wanted to hear as much and we worked really hard on it. How’s that?!

SL: Favourite album of all time or if you prefer album (s) you’d run back into a burning building to rescue

JMN: I don’t have a single record…at this point it’s more of a top 10 maybe. Nirvana’s "In Utero" was a milestone, Melvins, "Ozma" another…Kittens, "Bazooka & the Hustler", Dazzling Killmen, "Face of Collapse", Today is the Day, "Willpower", Zeni Geva, "Desire for Agony", Tad, "Salt Lick", the Jesus Lizard. "Goat", Rollins Band, "Hard Volume", Drive Like Jehu, "Yank Crime". Maybe it needs to be a top 20. I don’t know. The older I get, the more I hate this kind of question. 

SL:Favourite album (s) of 2018?

JM: Tomb Mold – "Manor of Infinite Forms"
Not Of – "Hypocritic Oath"
Pig Destroyer – "Head Cage"
Nightmarer – "Cacophony of Terror"
The Lion’s Daughter – "Future Cult"
Imperial Triumphant – "Vile Luxury"
Hot Snakes – "Jericho Sirens"
Craft – "White Noise and Black Metal"

SL:..And finally The last album you bought? 

Imperial Triumphant, "Vile Luxury" (2018)

JM: I ordered the Euro pressing of Imperial Triumphant’s, "Vile Luxury" from Throatruiner because I wanted their exclusive coloured vinyl variant. All the cool colours were already sold out at Gilead Media in the US, so screw it…I’ll pay for the extra shipping from France.

"Loved"is available to preorder/buy HERE & HERE

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

RECORDS OF THEIR YEARS:...with Mantar guitarist/vocalist Hanno Klänhard

Formed in 2012, Mantar perhaps first exploded onto the scene in 2014 (they released a 7" in 2013) with their lauded debut album “Death By Burning”, which was hailed by fans and writers alike as the standout record of the year.  Like any band attempting to make their mark, few could have predicted (the band included) what would happen next.  Originally released via Svart Records, “Death By Burning” would eventually sell out and see at least 3 repressings, by Svart Records (twice) and via the American imprint Brutal Panda Records, an understatement then to say that Mantar had exceeded what expectation they may have had, however their nifty amalgamation of Melvins-esque sludge, twinned with the grim black / punk attitude of Darkthrone would see the band court the attention of label heavyweight Nuclear Blast Records, and in 2016 the band would release their follow up “Ode to the Flame”, soon to be followed up by the EP “The Spell”, a year later.

THE SLUDGELORD is proud to say that we have followed the band from day dot and Mantar’s strength lies in their ability to maintain a perfect balance of dirty, underground grit and catchy stadium-bothering rock’n’roll ambition, and on their new album “The Modern Art of Setting Ablaze” Mantar’sunique brand of heaviness is growing ever more potent.  With the release of the new record set to hit the shelves this Friday, 24 August 2018, we hooked up with Mantar riff dealer Hanno to discuss some of his favourite records.  Welcome to Records of their Years, with guitarist/vocalist Hanno Klänhard

SL: Favourite album from the year you were born? 

PETER SCHILLING, “FEHLER IM SYSTEM”(1982)

It’s super weird German new wave (?) stuff. Peter is the guy who also wrote “Major Tom”. There is an English version of the title track, as well as a whole English version of the album (‘Error in the System’) as he also had some success in the US and UK, as far as I’ve been informed anyway. That single is a little played out, but as a matter of fact, the whole album is just pure magic. His soothing but spooky voice together with this early 80s synth layers... it’s still haunting. You can even hear parallels to some weird ass Pink Floyd shit. Just crazy. The whole thing, especially the lyrics influenced me a whole lot. The lyrics were much underrated. With his apocalyptic future visions he was ahead of his time, and somehow punk as fuck in a new wave sound. Epic. The best song is “Die Wüste Lebt”.

SL: First record you bought with your own money?

AC/DC, “LIVE AT DONINGTON VHS” (1992)

I saw it in a record store somewhere on vacation with my parents when I was 10 or 11 years old. It was my first self-bought AC/DCalbum ever. Many albums followed, mainly on cassette tape as they were so much cheaper than CDs. I bought “Live at Donington” on VHS because I thought: “Why buy the record when you can HEAR and SEE the music at the same time??” And as my first record (cassette as well) was “If You Want Blood...” I had a thing for live records. Also I knew what to expect as that particular Donington Live show was screened in our local small cinema in Bremen, Germany for ONE DAY only. I saw the advertisement in the local newspaper, so I went with my best friend. Only one other person was in the cinema that day back then. But I totally remember every second... the goosebumps... the excitement of seeing the people who are responsible for this wonderful music for the first time... it was an intense moment. My whole room was covered in AC/DCposters ‘till the day I moved out.

SL: Favourite non metal / rock album?

PORTISHEAD, “DUMMY” (1994)

I got this record from a friend when I was a teenager. His parents had it, they’d bought it after seeing their song “Roads” being featured in the shower scene of “Tank Girl”. They didn´t seem to pay further attention so I just grabbed that record. I remember that I never ever felt that kind of sadness and desolation in music before. Teenage depression and booze, that record was a dangerous mixture. I remember spending whole nights drinking by myself, listening to that record and literally just staring at the walls of my room. There was something about the sadness that was captivating. I thought I was the saddest kid in the world. The whole record is beyond awesome. Later I tried using it as the soundtrack for my first sexual experiences which made them also very sad of course. But I thought that the ladies probably didn´t wanna listen to Anal Cunt (little did I know) while being seduced by sexy Hanno and I had no further non-metal/rock records. Later I found out that all that doesn´t mean shit and just gave up sex music for good.

SL: Album that most disappointed you?

SEPULTURA, “ROOTS” (1996)

I just didn´t get it. I was confused. Especially as “Chaos A.D.”meant the world to me. I know it might be not be the coolest and truest album from this band to start with, but when you make your Mom go to the local record store and buy it for your 12^th birthday, it is. I saw a cool ass commercial on German MTV back then (when that was still a thing) and I knew I had to have it. Once I had it in my hands I was shocked by the booklet and the gruesome pictures inside. It scared the shit out of me. But at the same time I was hypnotized by the insanely heavy music and groove. After my birthday I didn´t leave my room for days listening to that record, being scared by the artwork and eating candy. I still LOVE that record. It is Sepultura´s “Nevermind“. The song writing is perfect, without losing any heaviness and focus. A masterpiece. But yeah... back to the actual question... even though I know it´s good, “ROOTS” didn´t do anything for me. Sorry.

SL: Favourite album of all time or if you prefer album (s) you’d run back into a burning building to rescue

AC/DC, “IF YOU WANT BLOOD (YOU`VE GOT IT)”(1978)

When I was about six years old my dad used to make some money with any kind of stuff next to his main job, so any kind of flea market shit would be good business for him. One day he got two big boxes of old cassette tapes second hand, ready to flip. He never got rid of them so I listened to every single tape in these boxes, which was 99% horrible trash. But there was ugly old orange tape in it with a guy with a guitar sticking in his belly. That cover got me curious and that´s how I discovered the most important record of my life. From the first second, I was hooked. That energy, the volume of the crowd screaming, I couldn´t believe it. EVERYTHING about this was great and it was EVERYTHING I have been looking for in my six year old ‘till then meaningless life. After the first listen I was 100% sure what I wanted to do with the rest of my existence. Be like them.

 SL: Favourite album (s) of 2018?

DEATHRITE, New Album soon

I am a very ignorant person when it comes to new music and rarely ever pay attention or go see new bands. I neither read music magazines nor do I check out new stuff on the internet. I also don´t collect records. Back home in Florida I usually listen to AM radio and that´s mostly Bluegrass that I enjoy quite a bit, sitting on my porch. I am sorry. But our dear friends in DEATHRITE are about to release a new record and I don´t expect anything less than face melting craziness. So that thing will be good for sure.

SL:..and finally The last album you bought? 

URSUT, “KÖP DIG LYCKLIG” (2016)

It’s already a year ago that I got this thing, but it’s still great! It’s hardcore punk from Malmö, Sweden. And as with everything that Swedish people do, of course it´s fucking awesome. If you like your D-Beat high quality but still fucked up in a good way, this is your jam. It also has Swedish lyrics which is kinda cool. Not that I get a single word, but neither would I if it was in English. I think I saw them live in Hamburg, back in 2012 and was smitten right away. I never saw them again. I think we have to invite them to tour with us at some point. But they probably think that we are mainstream capitalist fucks. Which is true. But maybe they still wanna come along.

The End

‘Mantar’snew album ‘The Modern Art Of Setting Ablaze’ will be released on 24^th August via Nuclear Blast, available HERE. Mantar will be touring the UK in December alongside Skeletonwitch.

Band info: facebook || bandcamp