Hello my friend, pleasure to have you on Rotten Pages ´zine. How are you doing today? Let us set the scene first. Where do we find you right now? Please describe your surroundings.
KM - Thank you for having me! Right now, I'm out in the middle of winery country on the Central Coast of California surrounded by wilderness and a lake. One of the most beautiful parts of California. And I'm about 20 minutes away from the beaches.
Can you name some of the bands who you first really admired and helped shape your future in music?
KM - There's too many bands to name that personally inspired me, but I will say that the album that truly inspired me to be a musician at an early age would have to be Nirvana's 'Nevermind'. That album is about as old as I am and it just hit me like nothing else did. From the first time I listened to it, I knew what path I wanted to take in my life.
Before becoming a musician, were you self taught taking private music lessons at a young age or did you fully learn and adapt on your own from there?
KM - I wanted to play drums when I was a kid. Only because I thought drum sets were the coolest thing ever and I wanted one bad. My mom took me to drum lessons and I gave up about 3 sessions in when I realized it required having homework.
I've since took an interest in guitar and I'm completely self taught. I have online guitar tabs to thank for that.
As a band from California, how has your local music scene influenced your development and growth as musicians?
KM - Personally speaking, I've seen many bands come and go throughout my local scene over the last couple decades. I was always immersed in the energy and performance that was present at the shows I would go to. I just knew it was what I was destined to do no matter what it would take.
As an emerging band in the extreme metal scene, what are some challenges you've faced, and how have you overcome them to pave the way for your future?
KM - We haven't experienced too many challenges in our time together as a band, but I think alot of the extreme metal crowd has had trouble making heads or tails of our particular style.
What prompted you to explore “doom metal” musical direction, and how do you feel it enhances the overall listening experience?
KM - I find Doom Metal to be one of the more organic styles of extreme metal. I also feel that it has the most canvas. I love the vintage aspect and the huge sound of it and I've found its one of the best subgenres to put unique spins on.
We can also find some stoner, 70´s rock and sludge influences on your music, How did you decided to explore these different influences and how do you balance them to create a cohesive sound?
KM - I wanted to make a style of music that blurred the lines between vintage and modern metal. It goes without saying that Tony Iommi is a huge influence on my style of playing. We've taken everything we love about old school and modern metal bands to form a unique hybrid of sound.
Let´s talk about your sefl-titled EP, it sounds really cohesive and with a very solid mix. Were there any elements of the recording that proved particularly troublesome?
KM - None whatsoever. Every experience recording was an absolutely killer time. Kevin Thayer is such a professional and down to Earth dude and made sure that we had everything we needed. He is definitely someone that truly believes in us and the music we make.
Can you give us a glimpse into the creative process behind your music? How do you typically approach songwriting and arranging?
KM - Typically, I'll write most of a song to my immediate liking. Then I show the rest of the band at rehearsal and from there, we all collaborate and embellish on it to bring it to its full potential.
Do you face any problems recording your music or finding studios/rehearsal rooms in Atascadero?
KM - Fortunately, we lucked out on both things. Our rehearsal space is in a family owned residence that has seen many bands come through. And Tantrum Records is run out of Atascadero and it is one of the best recording studios in the county.
How has the reception been for your music so far? Have there been any standout moments or memorable experiences you'd like to share?
KM - The reception of our music has been pretty amazing! A couple of the most memorable experiences were being reached out to by Weedian who wanted to showcase our EP. I've been a follower of Weedian for sometime and I was beyond excited to have him give us some love. We were also featured in an article on Doomed Nation which was incredible.
Are there any external influences on the music? Anything you were listening to at the time – or reading, or watching – which you feel had an effect on the writing process?
KM - When I started the band that would become Hexenghül, I was listening to a ton of Monster Magnet, Clutch, Black Sabbath, etc. I still listen to a ton of modern bands that I fell in love with as a teen that have always had a huge influence on my overall sound.
Are there any plans for collaboration with other artists or musicians in the future, and if so, what excites you about the potential of those collaborations?
KM - We don't currently have any active plans to collaborate with other artists or musicians, but we are definitely open to it if they wanted to reach out to us
The doom/stoner subgenre has seen a bit of a resurgence in recent years, highlighted by some promising bands. How do you like being referred to in that subgenre?
KM - I love it! I absolutely love that its making a comeback! I honestly had no idea it was even in the midst of a resurgence when Hexenghül was formed. So it definitely gives me a ton of hope for the future of the band.
What attributes do you think that a new Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
KM - Forge your own path. Don't try to do be a carbon copy of any other band or artist. Find your sound, believe in it, and give it everything you've got!
I want to thank you, sincerely, for your time. Before we end our conversation, is there anything else in particular you’d like to share?
KM - Thank you! Anyone reading this, go check out Hexenghül on all streaming platforms and help get our word out! We appreciate everyone who believes in us!
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