Aussie
Cinematic/Post-Metal band – HAWKMOTH – have just released their
superb new album – Godless Summit. The first part of a two part
album that's already starting to win rave reviews within the
Doom/Post-Metal scene.
Taking
influences from familiar bands such as Russian Circles, Pelican and ISIS (The Band),
HAWKMOTH have still managed to create a highly emotional and
cinematic release that leaves you in an highly emotional state.
I
interviewed Aaron (Bass) and Andy (Guitars) from the band where we
discuss the making of the album and what influenced the band when
recording it.
Hi
Hawkmoth. How are things with you today.
(Andy)
We’re
all very well thanks. It’s a good time for the band.
Can
you give a brief history of how the band came about and where it is
today.
(Andy)
Heath and I had a band that was struggling with an identity crisis.
This spawned the realization that I just wanted to play heavy, sludgy
and droning riffs without the need of a singer. So around 2011, we
started over, began writing and looked for other members. First up we
got Aaron in on bass which worked great for both his creative input
and also we had an instant connection of shared music and artistic
taste. It took a few years and a few different drummers to find ‘our
guy’ but It was worth the wait to get Brendan as I think his
drumming really suits and compliments our style. This core lineup has
gigged, written and recorded for a few years now which leads us to
today with release of our new album - Godless Summit.
How
would you describe your overall sound.
(Andy)
Dark, moody and cinematic. I wouldn't say we are a fun listen. I
guess in genre talk, we’d fit into the realms of post sludge metal
and doom.
We
are here to talk about your new album Godless Summit. Awesome album
by the way. What can people expect from the album.
(Andy)
Thanks! It’s part 1 of a double album. I think overall it has a
strong and continuous ominous feel whether the songs parts are slow,
fast, heavy, light, loud or quiet. The downtuned, fuzzed out riff
dirges are there, the pummeling drums are there, as are the noise
freakouts, effects sample loops, minimal and spacious atmospheric
passages and the super dense and layered crescendos. So quite a lot
is going on in just 4 long songs.
What
influenced you all when recording the album.
(Aaron)
We're all influenced by our individual favourite bands and I think
that comes out in our playing but generally for me I think the major
influence on why this album sounds the way it does is because we were
constantly trying to push songs a little further to avoid a carbon
copy of our last album. The addition of Brendan also influenced the
album as he's such a great drummer.
Godless
Summit has a more cinematic and doomed out sound compared to your
debut album. Is that a fair assumption to make and did you want to
move away from the sound that you created on your debut album.
(Andy)
I agree. Overall we were going for an album of more extremes and
range. We wanted the songs to command a greater sense imagery,
mystery and primal emotion from both the listener and us while
playing. With this in mind, I think some of our more stoner sounding
tendencies weren’t prioritized.
(Aaron)
Agree
with both of you. The addition of the synth tracks and more loops
definitely helped us create a different landscape.
What
is the song-writing dynamic in the band. Is it a group participation
or down to one individual.
(Aaron)
Andy brings in a lot of the content. Most of his stuff is on the way
to being finished when he brings it in where as I bring in
riffs/ideas that we contribute to. Most of the time when the songs
are finished I put synths and loops over the top but there are a few
tracks that started out of ideas on synth. Brendan contributed some
parts to this too, some of it on drums and some were bass parts that
really worked well in songs. No one has an ego in the band so we are
constantly giving each other feedback or ideas for each others parts
too. All 4 of us are involved in final song structure and tweaking.
What
influences you when writing music.
(Andy)
Can be absolutely anything. If I start getting a strong emotive
response while unintentionally stumbling upon a new riff or song
idea, that feeling becomes the inspiration and driving force for the
song.
(Aaron)
Most of the time I'll just hear something and try and replicate it on
an instrument. Then I'll assess whether it's applicable to Hawkmoth
or I should put it towards something else.
What
have been your high points and low points with the band.
(Aaron)
High points me for would be supporting Boris live who Andy and I are
massive fans of and recently the great reviews we are receiving of
Godless Summit. It was a long hard process and it feels great to be
rewarded for that hard work.
Low
point for me is definitely the drummer limbo period we had before
finding Brendan.
Would
you change anything about your time with HAWKMOTH.
(Aaron)
Definitely
not. We've made mistakes but that's part of the process.
Are
you all involved with different musical projects or is this your main
band.
(Andy)
Brendan
also pounds away in a heavy stoner / psych band called Way of the
Wolf, Aaron’s always experimenting with synth and effects
compositions and I play in a darkly themed surf / western band.
(Aaron)
I'm currently working on something that I'll be playing guitar on.
What
is your musical setup when performing or recording live. Is it an
advanced setup or a basis setup.
(Aaron)
Andy and I are gear nerds, we're constantly changing pedals to vary
textures throughout songs. My setup is getting a little complex for
this album live. I run what is constantly called an oversized pedal
board for bass players (which I disagree with) and trigger samples
off from a loop pedal. For this album I've just added a 12 step by
Keith McMillen to be able to play the synth lines with my feet.
How
hard is it for HAWKMOTH stand-out from the crowd. Or do you not worry
about things like that.
(Aaron)
I
think we just try and push each other constantly to pursue different
avenues and that organically makes us a little different from our
peers. In saying this, we aren't trying to just be different, we're
really writing the music we want to hear.
Do
you perform many local gigs or do you have to travel further afield.
(Aaron)
We’re
based in Sydney where a lot of the venues exist. This makes us a
local band but every now and then we venue up and down the east
coast. Shows in Melbourne have been very rewarding. We are planning
on expanding in the future.
With
2017 drawing to a close. What have been your favourite albums you've
listened to this year.
(Andy)
Squalus
- self titled. No guitars, just dual fuzzed out bass guitars grinding
away for epic sludge. And it’s a concept album about sharks. Fuck
yeah.
(Aaron)
I'm obsessed with the Blade Runner 2049 soundtrack at the moment.
Also a big fan of Tera Melos Trash Generator.
Do
you have any other exciting plans happening 2018.
(Aaron)
First up in January we’ve got our album launch show. Then a run of
more gigs to support the album. We plan to release part 2 of this
album series mid 2018.
Before
you go, do you have anything to say to your fans.
(Aaron)
Thanks
for being interested in what we do.
(Andy)
And tell your mates! And check our Facebook page for 2018 gig info.
Thanks
for doing this. All the best with the new album.
(Andy)
Glad to do it! Thanks for having us on board.
Words
by Steve Howe, Aaron Steed and Andy Griggs
Thanks
to Curtis at Dewar PR for arranging the interview. Thanks to Aaron
and Andy for doing this interview. Godless Summit is now available to
buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl.
