The Eighth Note is 8 quick Questions with Wellington Musicians. A chance for us to catch up with people & see what they’re up to, or introduce you to a new musician/band and their music. Up next are Josh (guitar/vocals), Matt (bass) & Jay (drums) from Mammuthus.
Who are you? Tell us a bit about your music:
Josh: Who are we, you ask? We’re the mythical, prehistoric creatures behind Mammuthus, makers of the finest stoner doom concoctions known to humankind.
Matt: We play dumb heavy music.
What have you been working on lately? Any new tracks or albums on the way?
Matt: We’ve just released our debut album ‘Imperator’, recorded and mixed by James Goldsmith and mastered by Will Borza. Had our album release show in July which was an awesome night. Just letting the current album simmer.
Jay: We’ve been brewing up some musical potions that might just melt your face. New tracks and albums? You’ll have to wait and see.
Where is the best place people can follow you & find your music?
Josh: To stalk, er, I mean, follow us and cram our epic tunes in your ears, check out our lair on Bandcamp and Facebook for your social media fix. [Also Instagram].
What were the 3 most influential albums to you growing up?
Josh: Grand Magus self titled, Corrosion Of Conformity – Deliverance and Sasquatch – II. Actually, change Grand Magus to The Sword – Age of Winters.
Matt: In The Court Of The Crimson King – King Crimson, Advaitic Songs – OM, Now That’s What I Call Music 18.
Jay: In terms of the stoner/doom genre, off the top of my head – Fu Manchu – The Action is Go, Neurosis – Times Of Grace and Blues for the Red Sun by Kyuss.
Which other Wellington musician (s) would you most like to work with?
Josh: Dream collaboration? We’d summon the spirit of Jimi Hendrix to jam with us, or maybe even bring the mighty T-Rex himself back for a wicked duet.
Jay: More locally, exhuming The All Seeing Hand would be a cool collaboration. Or perhaps someone from a completely different genre?
Matt: Some technical death metal, djent or power metal bands perhaps?
What’s your favourite Wellington venue to play in?
Josh: Valhalla is really the only venue we play in haha! Hopefully we can play some different places soon, in Wellington and out of town.
In your songwriting or composing (or the band’s songwriting) how do the compositions and songs take shape?
Josh: It’s a collaboration between all of us when we get in a room and jam it out. Our songwriting is like mixing ancient mammoth groans with the rumble of tectonic plates. We let the cosmos guide us, really.
Where/when is your next gig?
Josh: Catch us at the Prehistoric Riot Fest next Saturday, where we’ll be rockin’ the Stone Age like it’s nobody’s business!
Jay: August 26 be playing our first show in New Plymouth, nothing booked after that but we’re eyeing up a bit of a NZ tour, so keep your eyes peeled for that.
