HAWKMOTH
are an Australian Instrumental Sludge/Post-Metal/Stoner Metal band
who impressed me first back in 2011 when I reviewed their excellent
S/T debut album.
It
was a stunning hybrid of Sludge, Doom, Stoner and Post-Metal riffs
that showed a band with a bright future indeed. Well 3 years later
they have done it again with their even better brilliant new album –
CALAMITAS which I described as:
“Hawkmoth
play out like a crazy as fuck hybrid of Karma To Burn jamming with
Pelican If that sounds like a dream combination to you then you're in
luck as Hawkmoth have delivered an excellent album to check out time
and time again. They have written a great collection of tracks
blending Sludge Metal, Post-Metal, Stoner Metal and hints of Ambient
Post-Rock which will leave you begging for more..
Calamitas
is a thunderous and brilliant ride from start to finish. It proves
that Hawkmoth are one of Australia's finest upcoming
Sludge/Stoner/Post-Metal bands. Check these guys out now. You won't
be disappointed.”
I
thought I should catch up with these highly talented Sludge/Stoner
Metallers and see what they have to say to us here at Sludgelord HQ
Q1
– Hi Guys. Thanks for doing this. How are things with you all today
Glad
to. We’re all pretty damn good actually.
Q2
– Can you give our readers a brief history of how the band started
and where it is today.
Heath
and I have been playing guitar together in various forms for a long
time. A few years back we took on the idea of the type of music we
wanted to play for both personal satisfaction and the inability to
find a decent singer. Personally, the idea was to make heavy music
with a dark movie score feel for atmosphere. Shitty vocals would
definitely ruin that vibe so instrumental songs were the intent from
the start. Aaron our bass player joined soon after with a shared view
and appreciation for all things music related and we went from there.
Today it’s still the three of us as the core of the band. Jase
Canelas jumped on board on drums before the recording of Calamitas,
which has made a massive sonic difference.
Q3
– How would yourselves describe your sound. As you guys play a
weird and wonderful hybrid of Doom, Sludge, Post-Metal and Stoner
Metal which is quite refreshing and original at times.
Heavy,
and hopefully, emotive. A lot of the time it’s slow, drawn out,
repetitive and abusive sounding with the intention to beat the idea
into your head, but there’s also lighter moments to feel the full
range of primal emotions when listening. Those styles you mentioned I
guess are all evident in our sound as we feel they are the best
vehicle to transfix both us when playing the music and hopefully the
listener with emotions and imagery without the use of vocals or
lyrics. The stoner orientated riffs with the groove and energy feel
like a good release from the darker material.
Q4
– It's been a long 3 years since your debut album. I rated that
album very highly. Looking back on that now. Would you change
anything about it. Or are you happy with the way it is.
We
still really like the songs but not the recording so much. We were
too impatient when we started out to get our music out there so we
recorded it ourselves and really rushed it. It sounds raw and
aggressive but it’s also rushed and clumsy sounding.
Q5
– Now lets talk about your new album – CALAMITAS. Excellent new
album. Why the name CALAMITAS. As it has a few different meanings
such as loss, damage or harm. Does it have a specific meaning to the
band.
-When
writing the songs for the album it became apparent that there was a
reoccurring theme or feel the songs were giving which is the imagery
and feelings associated with a tragic or disastrous event. Like you
said, loss, damage, harm etc. So we felt ‘Calamitas’ was a good
title to encapsulate the theme of the album. It’s not exactly a
heart warmer for the girls but oh well.
Q6
– Was it an easy or hard album to write and record for as It's very
different to your debut album. It's more progressive and a lot more
emotionally involved. Was that your intention to release something
different compared to the last album.
The
writing process came pretty easily and yeah, we definitely wanted to
expand on the first album with a lot more range of sound and feel. We
wanted more mysterious sounding softer passages to highlight the
heavier sections. Knowing specifically want you want seems to make
the writing process easier.
The
songs were written a couple of years ago now but we made some more
dumb recording decisions that didn’t do the songs justice so that
wasted a lot of time. But it all worked out great when we came
across Mike Morgan who recorded and mixed the album. He was
incredible at immediately understanding what we wanted then
delivering it. We recorded it pretty much live in a day and a half.
Q7
– I feel you guys have progressed as musicians and song-writers
since your debut album. You have written some truly epic riffs. Have
you guys been practising more and more over the last 3 years for the
new album.
Thanks!
Not so much practicing but more time thinking about the type of riff
or song section wanted before fighting or caressing the guitar.
Q8
– I don't know if you know the answer to this question. But is it
harder to write a song with no vocals/lyrics and that is purely
instrumental. Or is it one less thing to worry about.
Yeah
it is one less thing to worry about. We don’t have to worry about
potential horrible lyrics confusing or conflicting with the songs
feel. When writing instrumental songs you got to create an atmosphere
or groove that carries the song along. Obviously you got to try and
avoid writing songs in such ways of intro riff, verse riff , chorus
riff then repeat because you’ll be thinking this is boring where
the fuck are the vocals?! That’s for both playing and listening.
But
in saying all this, we are open to the idea of adding vocals at some
point long as it fits the vibe.
Q9
– What is your favourite track off the album and why.
That’s
hard to say. We had enough trouble picking track order for the album!
Q10
– Now you have read my review of your new album. How would
yourselves describe it.
When
we’re feeling cocky we would describe it as an instrumental
soundtrack to the cataclysm. ..It’s definitely a heavy but lonely
sounding album.
Q11
– Where did you come up with the excellent song titles. Some very
intriguing titles.
Thanks
for noticing that because a lot of thought went into the song titles.
Being instrumental, it’s nearly the only chance to use language so
it’s not treated as an afterthought. Firstly is about really
understanding how each songs speaks to us, makes us feel and what
images the songs conjure. From there we pick the subject matter and
then choose words that have an interesting spin on the subject
matter.
Q12
– I love the album cover. Who designed it and did you have much
input into the overall design of it.
I
literally sifted through hundreds of images looking for the right
cover image to go with the theme of Calamitas. When I saw it, it was
instantaneous, like ‘that’s the one!’ It’s an image of an oil
painting. We like it because it can be interpreted in different ways
and it’s engaging. I bought it off the net and then designer
Gabriel Cameron tweaked the image and did the cover for us.
Q13
– Which bands and artists influenced you all as musicians.
The
big ones are Neurosis, Swans, Boris and the the Melvins .
Stylistically the are all different, but they all share the same
attributes of longevity with an evolution of sound, experimentation
and an obvious devotion to their craft. This should be
inspirational in any musicians book. Plus the music is always
amazing which helps.
Q14
– What is the song writing process in the band? Is it a group
collective or is just down to one individual.
I
write the bulk of the material individually and Aaron makes some
solid writing contributions as well. Once the song or the foundation
of a song is conceived it’s put to the whole band where it can
undergo changes or further development collectively.
Q15
– What is the live HAWKMOTH experience like.
Loud
and energetic. We try to get our heavy low end frequencies pummelling
the audience. We haven’t yet reached our goal of volume induced
audience vomiting a la early swans but hopefully one day. We are
still learning.
Q16
– I am a big fan of the Aussie Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal Scene. Have
you noticed everything different about it over the last few years. Is
it easier to perform and release new records. Or is it still a hard
place to release records and play shows.
So
are we. There definitely seems to be more interest and a broader
awareness of it. But it’s still ultimately underground. Though this
is the appeal of it for many. It’s awesome to see blogs such as
yours devoted to it to make it so much more accessible for fans. To
be honest we are kind of detached from the scene as far as constantly
playing with other bands in the genre goes. And we’ve never felt
any great demand for the style to make performing and releasing
records any easier.
Q17
– What are you thoughts on the crowd-funding scene where bands and
artists ask fans to help fund their latest album, tour or release.
Are you fans of this medium. Would yourselves ever go down this
route.
Any
avenue to get music out there. Why not? Though it’s the ultimate
litmus test on how much your music is wanted. We haven’t discussed
it as an option. Are we comfortable asking strangers for money and to
put trust and faith in something that’s not readily available? Yes!
Q18
– If you could change anything about the
Sludge/Doom/Stoner/Post-Metal scene. What would it be and why.
The
scene with its associated fierce bushranger like beards, smoked out
fuzzy guitar tones, middle aged beer bellies, big amp stacks, trance
inducing sonic soundscapes, creepy mythology references. Hefty riffs
originating from huge testosterone filled balls etc etc , are all
fine by us.
Q19
– If you could give any advice to people wanting to start a band
what would it be.
Well we’re by no means experts, but it would be to just commit
yourself and do it. Don’t expect and seek shortcuts and commit to
the financial and time sacrifices to do it properly.
Q20
– Apart from the new album what else do you have in store over the
next 12 months or so.
We’re
in the process of organising our album launch and other supporting
Sydney shows now. Jase copped a foot injury so shows have been
unfortunately delayed a little. We are going to support the album
with shows In Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne. And any other place
that wants us really. A new album worth of songs will be in the bag
this year too.
Q21
– Well guys thanks for talking to us here at Sludgelord HQ. Do you
have anything to say to your fans.
A
big warm thankyou! To your blog and fans both for your attention and
support. Also to check our facebook page for gig announcements. It
would be great and we would be super appreciative to see you at a
show.
All
the best guys. Best of luck with you album. It's a brilliant album
that you have there.
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Written by Steve Howe
