Make no mistake about it, I'm partial to Moutheater (much like I'm partial to Muck, Godstopper, Momentum etc.). This blog has a Moutheater slant for sure, as I find them kindred spirits to my own. I feel them and I see where they are coming from, so to speak. There's been many Moutheater articles on here and I'm not stopping now, what with a new album streaming online as we speak (below). In my mind Passing Key the band's most dynamic release yet and certainly carries a forward momentum for the band. It packs more energy than previous albums but at the same time it explores new grounds and finds the band going deeper than before all the while maintaining that noise rock, grunge, metal punk hybrid that saw me gravitate to them all those years ago (here).
Wasting no time in spreading the gospel, I got in touch with the band's leader, Andrew Aircraft and we put our minds to the album at hand, which yielded interesting insight into the process of why Passing Key bristles like it does (interview below player)
Since Colonial (review) and Ornament (review) finally getting its vinyl release (here), what's happened for Moutheater, what has changed? I spy four players on these recordings for example...
Since Colonial we've had some slight lineup changes. It's Tim and I, per usual. Aaron, our original bass player (Lot Lizard (review), Ornament, etc.) is back on bass and we have a 2nd guitar player for the first time. I personally feel like this is the best the band has ever sounded.
Three songs into Passing Key I feel a level up in energy. A conscious decision?
Are you referring to the ebb and flow of the record? Or an overall feel?
... The feel. The first three are aggressive.
Well, without getting into too much detail, I went through an extremely rough period at the end of 2012 and a lot of 2013 which is when I was doing the majority of the writing for this one. I had an opportunity to sort of log my (to date) lowest low and I went with it.
Like head-butting a wall with nails sticking out of it, Unsane-style, am I right?
I definitely put my heart on my sleeve with this one lyrically. Like to the point where it's almost a little embarrassing. It was important to me to let it all hang out though and attempt to capture a moment in time that I was feeling.
On 'Wide Eyed' the spite and bile practically drips out of the speaker.
We spent a lot of time, both in the production and songwriting, trying to elaborate on what we'd done previously. I'd hope the Unsane type vibes are still there but with some more coloring and nuance.
Certainly. Do you feel that "this kind of music" is getting more attention these days? In my mind Moutheater are flag bearers.
I've not really thought about it to be honest. I think there's a lot of interesting bands mixing elements of noise and industrial with varying styles of punk and metal right now and I love that. I think there's some really interesting takes on things going on right now.
I just want to hear a band that I feel like is really thinking about what they're creating and putting out into the universe. I think people respond to that whether they know it or not. I certainly do.
'Tape My Heart Back Together' finds you singing "clean", different style ('Blood Orange' follows evoking images of heavier Queens Of The Stone Age). Real good!
Yeah I did some clean vocals on this. Sort of a hold-over from the Powerlove project Aaron and I were working on for a little while. (Which I also need to finishing mixing so it can be released.)
It positively adds what's needed to the whole, what with past releases featuring a lot of screaming and yelling. The song surprised me again with two percussion items that draw the listener in. Nice!
The percussion thing came from my attempt at putting congas on the record [laughs]. Tim and I quickly realized that neither of us can play congas very well and we went with the tambourine and maracas instead [laughs].
Works perfectly for me.
Passing Key is is to be released on LP via Anthems Of The Undesirable .
Tour dates
8/15 Baltimore, MD @ TBA w/ Pharaoh, Cavern, and Mind/Glow
8/16 New Brunswick, NJ @ The Gutter w/ Lotus Fucker, Sete Star Sept, Tercer Mundo, Globsters, and Vertical Slums
8/17 Poughkeepsie, NY @ My Pizza Place w/ Hellkeeper, Making Matters Worse, and IgXnorant
8/18 Syracuse, NY @ Gorham Bros. Music w/ TBA
8/19 Philadelphia, PA @ JR's w/ Window Liquor, Fuckton, and Black Snot
8/28 Pittsburgh, PA @ The Rock Room w/ Anthophobic and others
8/29 Cleveland, OH @ Now That's Class w/ Bridesmaid, Wasted Jaw, and Tithe
8/30 Columbus, OH @ TBA
8/31 Norfolk, VA @ The Iguana w/ Tendril, Druglord, and Pain In The Yeahs (Passing Key LP release show)
Related stories
[Moutheater giveaway] Celebrating Ornaments new leash on life
"Playing With My Head" with Andrew Aircraft of Moutheater, Debris Amour & Swim Harder
MOUTHEATER - Colonial
Interview: Moutheater "less is more"
MOUTHEATER - Ornament
MOUTHEATHER - Lot Lizard, 7"
VVEGAS / MOUTHEATER split 7"
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