Embracing Chaos: Hath's Musical Transmutation
Hold onto your battle jackets, Citadelians! Ever wondered what happens when a band takes equal inspiration from dreams of alternate selves, peppers in a sludgy atmosphere and adds riffage combined with vocals that’ll feels like a Genghis Khan enema inside of your ear-hole? Easy! New Jersey bone crushers, Hath.
Pete Brown of Hath joined your mutated hosts, Chort and Chern in the Citadel as we dove skull-first into the whirlwind of riffs, random beach mansions, and mythical representations of the band. Strap in and prepare for an epic, and slightly bizarre journey into the world of Hath.
Pete, thanks for coming to the Citadel. To start off, "All That Was Promised" stands as a monolithic testament to Hath's evolution from the first album. What dark forces inspired this opus?
Most of All That Was Promised was written and recorded during the COVID lockdowns. We had an idea of where we wanted to go stylistically after Of Rot and Ruin, but I think that collective sense of hopelessness, writing in isolation and not knowing what is going to happen played a part.
AJ Viana's prowess in engineering and mixing is evident in the sonic landscapes of Hath. How does his touch shape the band's auditory rituals?
AJ’s influence on the album really can’t be overstated. He contributed the most to ATWP’s writing and when it comes down to it he’s really a giant nerd for music. He’s so invested in recording and production in general that he’s always thinking about things like different ways to record guitars, or what mics would be best for a specific situation.
He also plays every instrument so he can bang out a full song in less than a day. A lot of the atmosphere and the mood on ATWP can be traced back to AJ obsessing over sections of songs and thinking about what noise or melody could fill in a riff or add a new texture. Sometimes it’s so buried in the mix that we don’t hear it until he points it out but without it the riff feels like it’s missing something.
The track "Lithopaedic" stands out with its unique riffs and atmospheric elements. What was the genesis of this track?
Lithopaedic came from a dream that Frank had. Lithopaedic deals with discovering an alternate self in a parallel world, and challenging or reckoning with that self. Afterward a stronger version of yourself emerges at the behest of some mysterious force of chaos and change. Musically it had to be something striking and barbaric to match the subject. It had to feel like controlled chaos so that's what we strived for.
Does the band have a good synergy when it comes to creative differences or is it usually solved by throwing things at each other until someone gives up?
Hath….the band…duh….
I think we have a really good working relationship. It helps that we all started as friends before starting a band together, but we’ve also been doing this and working together long enough that we generally know when to pick our battles. I think we’re also at a point where if we write a song by ourselves we know that’s not going to be what the final product will sound like.
I know I can’t write drums so I rely on AJ’s input on what sounds best. AJ might write a section for a chorus but Frank might say playing it and singing just doesn’t work. At the end of it, we have to be able to play it live and everyone has to be on board.
What was your biggest “fuck yeah” moment while recording? (memorable or breakthrough moments)
I left the studio to grab food while we were recording the vocals for Casting of the Self. I was gone for maybe an hour and when I got back everyone had the biggest shit-eating grins on their faces. While I was out they came up with and recorded the clean singing section and the vocal harmonies. All they said was “you have to hear this” and my jaw dropped. That’s probably one of the biggest “fuck yeah” moments we’ve had writing.
Parts of "Of Rot and Ruin" are inspired by the game "Dark Souls," which is known for its dark, atmospheric world and high difficulty (fuck the Capra Demon!). Let us know your thought of our idea for a potential concept album:
“Chronicles of the Rotting Kingdom”
Concept: A once-prosperous African kingdom is cursed by an ancient sorcerer, causing time to loop endlessly. The inhabitants relive their worst moments, with a chosen few aware of the curse and seeking to break it. The tracks would explore time's cyclical nature, destiny vs. free will, the weight of past mistakes, redemption, and sacrifice.
Sounds like you’ve got the foundation for a great TTRPG campaign.
Schnoz
If your music was a mythical creature, what would it be?
Schnoz. (See on side)
What's the most bizarre inspiration you've ever had for a song?
Lithopaedic is up there with wanting to turn yourself into a snake. I can’t think of a specific thing that inspired a song but most of the time song ideas hit me in the shower and it’s a mad dash to finish and grab a guitar before I forget it.
What's the most unusual sound you've ever incorporated into your music?
The hidden fart on each album or didgeridoo.
What's the most surreal experience you've had on tour/playing live, have you ever had anyone throw their panties on the stage (men or women)?
After a show once a random guy at the show invited the whole tour package back to his parents house and offered to put us up for the night. He promised food, drinks, showers etc… We all decided we’d drive by and if it looked sketchy we’d just keep going. This guy lived in a literal beach side mansion with a fully loaded fridge and bar. He made us food, drinks and was awesome to hang with. It was the nicest shower I’ve ever taken and if you’ve ever been on tour, you know how important that is.
Top 3 bands you haven’t toured with yet but chop off a pinky to play live with?
What is your favourite piece of band merch or metal memorabilia?
Band shorts. Every pair of band shorts I have are my favorite piece of merch. They’re always comfy and they always look sick.
What kind of drink, sweet, or food would a superfan give you post-performance to surprise you?
A pork roll, egg and cheese on an everything bagel, salt, pepper, ketchup. NJ represent
Finish this sentence (easy for Cannibal Corpse fans)
“Excuse me, is Greg Here?..... __________________”
…THANK YOU
Rapid Fire Round
Death or Cannibal Corpse?
Rutannibal Corpse
Napalm Death or Morbid Angel?
Napalm Death because of the You Suffer Hans Moleman video
Jacuzzi or Cold Dip?
Jacuz with the boys
Perform on a tropical island or on a cold mountain?
Tropical island. Hands and fingers don’t work in the cold
Finally, We request artists to ask a random question to the next band we interview (they don’t know who it will be). Shelby Lermo, guitarist and unholy incantation reciter of mysterious death metallers Ulthar asks:
Who is your favorite Christian metal band and why?
Eeesh. I’d rather go deaf. Stryper? They’re the only one I can think of.
(Please ask a question and we’ll pass it on to the next band!)
If you had to include a non-metal instrument on your next album, what instrument and why? No saxophone
Any final parting words for our readers?
Haven’t heard us? Check out our newest album, All That Was Promised. Have heard us? You rule and to celebrate go listen to All That Was Promised. By the time you read this we may have just announced a tour, or be on tour so come see us on tour when we might be near you. Come hang out and say hi.
Pete, you epic fuckin’ dude, thank you for visiting the Heavy Metal Citadel. Citadelians, don’t be a BENNY, head over to the Bandcamp and support Hath, now!
