Mother’s Tomb Discusses Their New EP “Absent Not Dead”
No matter what, the Tampa metal scene always prospers. One of the newest bands to emerge in the death metal scene is Mother’s Tomb. Mother’s Tomb combines the brutality of old school death metal with a more modern feel.
This band is new but already has a bright future. They recorded their debut EP “Absent Not Dead” and already have a label under their belt.
I spoke to guitarist Jason
Schwartzwalder. In the interview, he discusses the band’s formation, “Absent
Not Dead,” what he can tell us about the label, and their plans for the future.
1. How did the band form?
I moved to North East Georgia from St. Petersburg [Florida] in July of 2018 after parting ways with Brutality and was looking to write some heavy, melodic, brutal music. Immediately threw some pretty killer heavy grooving riffs out and from there I wrote the guitars for what would become the EP “Absent Not Dead.” Needing members to complete the music I reached out to friends to fill the spots. This band has come together under a collective passion for writing and performing killer, heavy, true music. We are going to write about things we’ve lived through, people we’ve dealt with and anything else that has brought about change in any of our lives or simply our perspective on something. Nothing and no one is safe. 100% Killer No Filler
2. You and your band members are in other bands. How do your other projects influence Mother’s Tomb?
This band is very much a melting pot of ideas, influences, and styles of music in general not just metal. So to answer the question more directly I’d say our previous and present projects are going to have some influence in MT but we’re also coming from a new place for us all as well. Expect different but killer things for sure!
3. You all just signed to a label! What can you tell us about that?
Yes, we did! Can’t say what label yet but this label has a dedication to supporting the underground extreme metal scene from all over the world! We’re stoked for this new partnership and can’t wait to share it with everyone!
4. You have an EP coming out. How did everything get pieced together?
Yes we do. “Absent Not Dead” will be out sometime in the summer of 2019. That’s all I can say about that right now. Well the E.P. started in my bedroom. I started writing riffs and they were pretty good and they were flowing well too so I kept going until I had three solid song ideas, riffs arrangements, and decided I wanted to record them and see what I could get going. After I recorded the guitar tracks here in Georgia with Paul Golden at AlterCrow Studios, I enlisted a great friend and ACE drummer Jeramie Kling to lay down the beats for the E.P. He recorded his parts at his own Smoke n Mirrors Studios in Spring Hill, Florida. Though it was only session work, Kling’s heart is on this recording. He took the music to a new level, for sure. The tracks were then sent to Preston DiCarlo at MasterSound Studios in Tampa, Florida for bass, vocal and guitar solo recordings as well as the mixing and mastering to be done. Then, after Brad Jones laid his thicc ass bass parts down, I spent a weekend in Tampa recording some guitar solos with Vincent DiBona, coaching Donny Hamilton on the cadence of the songs (since I wrote the lyrics and Donny joined the band a week before we recorded his vocals) and working with Preston on the mix of the songs. It was all kinda hectic now that I look back at it because everything was up in the air but all that needed to fall into place also seemed to just fall when it needed to and we made some really killer Heavy Metal that I think people are going to dig a lot!
5. Let’s go into the individual songs. Let’s start with “Mutual Hostility,” the single. What’s the meaning behind that song?
It’s about being a shit person and how being a human being you have the conscious choice to not be shitty yet that’s how you choose to be. It’s personal for sure and is absolutely a “fuck you” to those its about but to be clear, it is about a collection of people I’ve encountered throughout my life. So listen to the track and if the shoe fits, wear it.
6. You mentioned “Absent Not Dead” is about your cousin who was murdered. How did you pay homage to your cousin in the song?
Well the lyrics are about how he died and how his death has affected me and our family and the friends he made in his short time here. I wanted to leave the track open enough so anyone who has dealt with the loss of a loved one through violent force can relate. I didn’t use his name or identifying markers but it’s all there. It’s super personal and full of real emotions from deep inside the festering pain I hold from this tragic event. I have learned to deal with it better and writing the song has helped but I still can’t listen to it and not get choked up. So I paid homage to Damon in two ways. First I have written something that hopefully will help someone else dealing with the emotional pain of the loss of a close loved one and the song itself, in my opinion, is the best on the EP and is a great tribute to his memory as a musician and artist.
7. What’s the meaning of the EP, as a whole?
The EP itself is a reminder that the past shapes our future and though things aren’t around physically they’ve made their mark and so are still around in a way.
8. You’re all from Tampa. What’s the importance of death metal in Tampa?
The death metal scene in Tampa is a living breathing entity that has held strong for over 20 years and is being carried on strong today in bands likes Mother’s Tomb. It’s Tampa’s identity in the metal world and it’s pretty prominent in the death metal category.
9. What are your plans now that you’re signed?
Well we’re going to be getting worldwide distribution and so I think the next thing is to focus on the release of the EP. We have a very well known, world renowned artist working on our cover art so that’s exciting!! Maybe do some shirts, stickers and other stuff along with the EP to get out there and see what the reaction will be. We’re already working on tunes for our full length as well as writing more songs so we can play a live gig sometime. Probably won’t happen till later next year but know this, we will be seen and heard!
To all the fans and friends out there eagerly awaiting the release thank you for your support and thank you for believing in REAL MUSIC! BIG NEWS SOON #STAYTOMBED
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