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doomedandstoned · 5 years

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Morganthus Return with a Vengeance

~By Mel Lie~

If you read the name MORGANTHUS, a few of you may think first of the science fiction film Galaxy of Terror by Roger Corman, produced in 1981. At this point, I'm as unsolved as you whether this movie plays a role in the name choice by the three guys from Warren, Pennsylvania. But we will figure it out in the course of the interview that follows! What I can say with complete conviction is that this trio have a massive load of Black Sabbath blood running through their veins! If you have ever taken a listen to their first 4-track EP, 'Darknaut' (2017), you will recognize them as "one of the best sounding Black Sabbath inspired bands you‘ve heard" (Outlaws Of The Sun).

These three down-to-earth neighbor boys, who maybe once fell into a cauldron filled with Sabbath vibes, are riding a worship of heavy traditional old-school metal riffs and "back-to-the-roots" doom of the '70s and '80s and create with it their very own Ozzy-meets-Candlemass-meets-Iron Maiden sound. It's almost impossible not to like them, if you have an affinity towards pioneering doom metal.

Listeners, Doomed & Stoned has some great news for you: Morganthus is back with an even heavier and meaner record, the brand new six-song album, 'Mortal' (2019). We've packed it with us today and are pleased to give you an advance listen to "Mortal Master," which will emerge with the rest of its counterparts in the days ahead (available soon for digital pre-order).

MEETING MORGANTHUS

With the first sounds of Mortal circling through our earspace, let's take the opportunity at hand to catch up with Doug Miller, voice & guitar of Morganthus, and ask him about the upcoming release.

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I really enjoyed listening to the new album in advance and we all are really looking forward to the whole album! How does it feel to release your new baby to the public?

It feels like a bit of a psychological release at this point, as much as a musical release. Recording even an EP can get pricey, so I elected to do as little in a professional studio as possible, and take on much of the mixing, recording, and mastering on my own home equipment which has been a time consuming challenge.

So the release for me is going to feel like a long road coming, since Dustin (drummer) and I have been playing these songs live and at rehearsal for the better part of two years now. We're quite excited to have it ready for the public, especially those who have been following us closely for the last couple years.

We’d love to become better acquainted with Morganthus, so please start with giving us some basic and background information of everyone who is in the band and how you got together.

Sure! This thing all started about 5 years ago, with Dustin and I jamming in my basement, riffing and putting music together with the idea of forming a band, and recording and doing live shows.

It's been a challenge to keep bassists for various reasons, none of which pertained to their talents or personalites. Either the timing wasn’t working, or circumstances beyond their control prevented them from keeping up with Dustin and I. So we regrettably had to move on without them.

But we recently got my friend Colby Neukem off the bench to play bass with us, and it's working out great! Only a month of jamming and he was able to lay down bass lines with us for the new record, as well as play a couple live shows.

All of us work full time jobs in the Northwest Pa/Southwest NY area, and I've known Colby and Dustin each for over 12 years now. Colby has always been a noodler on guitar, and Dustin has been playing the skins since he was a kid. We all share an interest in various genres and eras of metal and hard rock, and each contributes to the music with their own skill sets and styles.

Dustin just seems to always know what to play at this point, and what you hear on the drums is what he gives without any input from me. I hope to develop that kind of musical relationship with Colby as well. He has a lot of ideas to bring to the table.

I've racked my brains for getting the special meaning of your band name, Doug! Does the science fiction movie 'Galaxy OF Terror' relate to this? Please tell us the story of how you get your band name.

Yes! Morganthus was the name of that horrifying planet in the Roger Corman movie, Galaxy of Terror. I've always had an affinity for B reel horror movies, and sci fi in general. It just seemed to fit the cosmic, sometimes horrifying themes that dominate much of my lyrical prose.

Now, let us take a deeper look in your sound. How would you describe it to new listeners, especially in conjunction with your latest stuff? Are there special inspiration maybe to film, art, literature or something else? Please share all you get in your mind about it with us! - we are pry!

Okay, this is where things get a little tricky for me. My musical influences, first of all, are firmly rooted in '70s metal and hard rock, and early to mid '80s power metal and doom music like Iron Maiden and Candlemass. Black Sabbath's influence on me however, can't be understated. The grunge era gave me Alice In Chains and Soundgarden to chew on, while the stirrings of Stoner Doom/Desert Rock music was beginning to crawl from the depths to my eagerly awaiting ears. I think Electric Wizard is brilliant, and certainly has a musical influence on me.

Personally speaking, I've always been interested in philosophy, the human condition, the cosmos. How it all ties together. The darker aspects of those disciplines and ideas especially reach me. Historical atrocities and horrors weigh heavily on me as of late, and how we as human beings have dealt with them, but can't seem to rise from under the thumb of politics and it's destructive nature.

I'm not a cynic, I don't think. I rather love people. But I am frustrated by our species more often than not. The new album echoes these sentiments on each song, in fact.

You gave us the song "Mortal" as a preliminary audition, for our listeners here. What is the meaning behind the lyrics of this song and the special characteristics in the sound? Compared to your previous album, the heaviness seems to be more in the foreground?

Live revolving, mortal man Strands of spider web A universe for those who plan For gods to rule from heaven

This is a heavier, darker release. Each song is a different take on the struggle for humanity to surface, to survive. It wasn't purposely written that way, more of a consequence of my current state of mind, and what things have attracted my mind to analyze, or try to rationalize them. Some things are so horrifying to conceive of. But if you dig deeply enough, you can generate quite a lot of sympathy for things our long deceased ancestors have gone through, and even love and hurt for them because of it.

This is the feeling behind the lyrics of the song Mortal. It's about human hubris, exposed through religious, political, scientific and corporate machinery. Each of those disciplines is easily corruptible, and has been so for centuries. The world doesn't revolve around us. It's provisions aren't there for us to place profit and power over our humanity. It's an outrage.

Sound-wise, we wanted to get the instruments more to the forefront with heavier tones all around. And to reinforce that you don't need a ton of post production to do so. I want this record to sound like you're right in the room with us playing.

Morganthus is back and we are all waiting eagerly for the official release of your complete album! What else do you have in the works? Are there any future plans floating in space?

At this point, we just want to put our record out and see what comes of it. I very much believe that will give us the direction we need to move forward. Not based on sales, or anything so trivial as that, but on it's growth. And what can we do to help it grow. We'll focus on our live show and becoming more independent. Our last EP did quite well with next to no promotion, and no radio play. It made a couple podcasts. Ranked fairly high on them. This record will be promoted more heavily for certain.

If you had a wish free, with which band or musician would you like to share the stage with?

The obvious answer would be Black Sabbath, haha. But in all honesty, I'd be immensely happy to share a stage with Electric Wizard. I love their show, their sound, and Jus seems a fascinating fellow to meet, along with Elizabeth.

Thank you for bringing us a little closer to the world of Morganthus. Best wishes for you as a band, we'll keep an eye on you!

Keep on rocking. The commercialization of rock and metal music sifted a lot of the pretenders out, and made true rock and metal an underground form of entertainment again. Be proud of this. Find good music on your own. Treasure it. Keep it sacred. The more support you can give, the more underground bands can give back. Peace, and Love to all of you, and I hope you'll give our new record a try!

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