I had a great time chatting with the Missouri-based Gravehuffer, a band that explores facets of sludge, doom, crust, punk, and grindcore. We touched on the topics of band history, influences, the writing/recording process, etc., but it was my standard “dream tour lineup” question with which they seemed to have the most fun.
Check out the interview below, and make sure to subscribe to my channel! You can also learn more about Gravehuffer on their various socials and listen to them on your streaming service of choice.
I had the fun of chatting with the Cleveland metal band After the Apocalypse! We discussed band history, influences, guilty pleasures, and, oddly enough, chicken nuggets and… Jeffrey Dahmer? Check it out!!!
Hey, y’all! The latest episode of my podcast is available now! It features the Iowa-based hard rock band Little Evil, who I wrote about a little while back in a Female-Fronted Friday post.
This interview was so much fun! We chatted about their history as a band, their influences, each member’s start in music, the story behind a couple of their songs, and much more. There’s even a (brief) nod to the Backstreet Boys by their guitarist, Bryer 😂
Check it out, and if you haven’t already subscribed, please do so! I have a lot on the horizon for this channel!
Check out the latest episode of The Mostly Music Podcast! I chatted with the Vancouver-based anime rock band Neon Society about their history, influences, favorite animes, and much more!!!
Hey y’all! It’s been a minute since my last check-in, and I hope this one finds you well.
This month has been surprisingly therapeutic for me. It didn’t start that way. I had to cut someone out of my life who meant more to me than I ever did to him and it was very difficult. I struggled with it a lot. I let myself cry, I almost let myself message him, and then I decided fuck it! My tagline became “Dry your eyes and remember who the fuck you are.” And while I won’t say I’m over it, I will say it hurts less now.
The events in May have helped immensely. It started with Mother’s Day. I worked on the actual holiday, but Mom and I celebrated early by exploring a few areas around Huntsville. We hiked almost 7 miles and just…absorbed nature. It was really, really cool – even if we’re not sure the “waterfall” we went to actually constitutes a waterfall. Lol. You’ll see what I mean in the pictures at the bottom of this post.
One of my cousins from Indiana came down that weekend, as well. I didn’t get much time with her; however, we did have a big family dinner on Mother’s Day, which made Mom incredibly happy.
The very next weekend, my brother and I went to a Marilyn Manson show. Now, you may be thinking “ok, you’ve already seen them,” and yeah, you’re right. But I haven’t seen them with my brother. This concert was major for a couple of reasons.
My brother is the OG Manson fan in our household, yet he had never been to a show. I got to take him to his first Manson concert!
Tim Skold is back in the lineup, and if you know me at all, you know I love Tim Skold.
Songs that were in the setlist that I never thought I’d see Manson perform: “Great Big White World,” “Coma White,” “The Nobodies,” and “Dried Up, Tied and Dead to the World.”
Manson looked and sounded great. As my brother said, “Okay, sober Manson. I see you!”
The night was perfect. My brother was so relaxed and happy, and we stuck to tradition and went to Waffle House after the show. Oh! And we tried Hattie B’s for the first time. That was some damn delicious chicken!
Fastforward to the very next weekend. An old friend of mine, Brian, had tickets to The Rise of Rock World Tour, which featured Dorothy, Stone Temple Pilots, and Godsmack. He invited me to go with him, so I did. We had fun during Dorothy, then we had to move to the interior area of the amphitheater because of a storm. Unfortunately, the delay meant Stone Temple Pilots only played six songs, but they were awesome! The new vocalist, Jeff Gutt, nailed it. (He used to be in Dry Cell, a band you know if you ever owned the Queen of the Damned soundtrack.)
Godsmack is always a kick ass show. I’m not a huge fan, but Sully Erna knows how to work a crowd. Most of my favorite songs were on the setlist, except “Moon Baby,” “Bad Magick,” and “Greed.” I’ve accepted I’ll never see them do those…
Can I tell y’all how therapeutic it was, having back-to-back weekends during which I got to scream along with artists who helped me through my angsty teenage years? Man. It was fantastic.
The last stop on May’s healing journey happened yesterday. I went and got a tattoo. I used a different artist than usual, though it was the same shop, and she knocked it out of the park!
Okay. It’s picture time.
Beaverdam Swamp Boardwalk Green Mountain Nature Preserve Green Mountain Nature Preserve Alum Hollow FallsGreen Mountain Nature Preserve Madison County Nature TrailMadison County Nature TrailMadison County Nature Trail Madison County Nature Trail Madison County Nature Trail Madison County Nature Trail Madison County Nature Trail Outfit for the Manson showBrotato!During “Tourniquet.” I was so excited that he wore the stilts!
If you wanna see a few videos from the Manson and Godsmack shows, you can check out my YouTube or Instagram. I also have a few more interviews I’m getting scheduled soon, so look out for those!
I recently interviewed Cleveland-based punk band HAMS. It was a lot of fun! The guys are really sweet and funny, so yes, I laughed pretty much the whole time.
Anyway, please check it out, hit that thumbs-up, and if you really dig it, subscribe to my channel!!!
I had the chance to interview Muscle Shoals, Alabama-based Chase “The Ace” West, aka Rock ‘n’ Roll Messiah! We chatted about his musical journey, from what inspired him to pick up a guitar as a kid all the way to this new project.
A little bit of background: I have known Chase since 2013, when he joined The Velcro Pygmies as their new guitarist. You might think that would make this interview easier, but… I guess it did in some ways, not so much in others.
Also, enjoy my brother’s cat and his inability to be ignored 😂 He’s a giant furball and I was distracted by the risk he posed to my laptop, cords, lighting, etc.
Hope y’all like it!
Be sure to visit this page for all things Rock ‘n’ Roll Messiah, including music, merch, and his socials!
2025 was a rough year for me on a personal level, but I would like to celebrate two of my victories here.
First, it was a banner year for the blog. I’ve had Mostly Music up and running for a decade (woooow), and in 2025, this little page garnered the most views I’ve ever had.
So, THANK YOU to everyone who has checked out or shared my posts, and to all the musicians/artists who released kick-ass music for me to share.
The second victory is on a more personal level. I started working out back in…April. I decided I just wanted to tone up a bit. My reasoning was pretty dumb: I didn’t want to disappoint this guy I was talking to, and I feared I wasn’t skinny enough for him. Whatever the cause, I found a couple of low impact, at-home workouts and dedicated myself to them (with a few lapses here and there).
Sometime in the early days, I ordered a dress. A dress voted on by my Facebook friends, and one I absolutely never would have worn out when I first purchased it. This dress became aspirational. The day I could put it on and be comfortable in front of the mirror, I’d know I reached a goal. And, well…
I’m down about 10 pounds, and I’ve lost at least a couple inches. The guy that inspired all of this is still in the picture, somewhat, but my goal now has very little to do with him, and honestly, I’m pretty fucking proud of that.
It’s the first page of a new chapter today. Let’s make this book worth reading.
Happy New Year! I hope all of you had a wonderful 2025 and that 2026 is even better ❤️
Seethe is an alternative/nu metal artist hailing from Pittsburgh. Spawning from the isolation of Covid lockdowns in 2020, this project has taken on a life of its own. With a handful of albums and EPs and an expansive catalog of singles to his name, Seethe shows no signs of slowing down.
One of the first people to let me review his music when I started my own journey, I’m surprised it has taken us this long to do an interview! We discussed his musical beginnings, inspiration, dream collaborations, and much more – and I feel like we only scratched the surface! Check it out!
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Mostly Music: So let’s talk some background first. How did you get started making music?
Seethe: Music has always been there. It’s in the blood on both my mom’s side and my dad’s side. I grew up around anything from oldies, to bluegrass, to metal, rock, and hip hop. I was air guitaring and singing with a brush as a microphone before I was even potty trained!
MM: That vast array of exposure explains a lot. Lol. Your music definitely has quite a bit of variety.
Do you have any particular band/artist that was, like, The One that made you really wanna pursue this? Or a song? I know it’s not always that specific, but…
Seethe: There are many layers to that. First, I was a guitarist that dabbled in some piano and bass, then over time, transferred to lead vocals. Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jerry Cantrell made me wanna pick up and sling the ole six string. In my high school years, I was deep into acoustic pop rock with the likes of John Mayer, Secondhand Serenade, Dashboard Confessional, and Five Times August. When it came down to vocals (waaaaay early on), I hadn’t found my voice and was attempting very bad Creed/Breaking Benjamin vocals til I started actually singing and exploring my voice round 3, 2016. Phil Anselmo, Tim Williams, and Billy Keeton were very, very influential in where I was trying to go vocally as I began to explore my voice.
MM: Okay, with all that going on, how did you find your sound? I know your sound varies, but for a while, you leaned heavily into the trap metal end of things, so to speak. Was that a conscious decision, or was it more…you played around with ideas and found that that particular genre fit what you were going for?
I feel like I’m wording that badly…
Seethe: Covid honestly was really responsible for the creation of Seethe. I had begun to dabble in electronic music but never had the guts to release it. Anything I had released up to that point I had a band or a partner in crime, and I always had that comradery and support, but never enough guts to put something out solely by myself. At the start it was mainly just to make some music with an electronic edge like the “Queen of The Damned” soundtrack with the modern soundscape of the trap metal genre that had been blowing up in recent years. While a niche genre, it allowed me to develop and grow. After 4-ish years of producing and releasing trap metal tracks, I had decided it was time to start branching out and shifting my sound. That’s honestly the beauty of being a solo artist. Yes, there is more work, and it literally all falls on my shoulders, but I could/can do what I want, when I want.
MM: So, this may be a stupid question, but with the recent releases veering into a less electronic/trap-oriented direction, are you still working solo?
Seethe: Nope. If I had the equipment and better resources, I definitely would (Lord knows it would probably be cheaper if i did, given my rate of output). Fortunately, I have met many different and awesome producers along the way. Sometimes, we work together on a project from the ground up, or it’s a matter of me merely scavenging beats/instrumentals I find and lease or purchase. Some awesome producers I’ve worked with (but not limited to) – Slaughter, APXLLYXN, Exor, Gus Wallner, VIXLENCE, Last of a Dying Breed. Can’t forget Aura Abnormal, and Dead Prophet Alive.
MM: You have released four tracks so far this year. Congratulations on that, by the way. Can you give me a bit of background on the most recent single, “Oceans”?
Seethe: “Oceans” is one of the first songs in a while that wasn’t written introspectively. It’s more of an observation about the world as we see it now. All of the doom and gloom and tension that hangs in the air. REM said it best: “it’s the end of the world as we know it.”
In the recording side of things, this was a fun/challenging one to work on. Jacob Lizotte is an amazing producer/composer, and that forced me to really up my game vocally. The music not only goes hard in the paint, but it’s also very open and has a sort of ambient atmosphere to it, so I had plenty of room to paint the canvas with my craft.
MM: I wanna ask a question that’s kinda just for fun, but I love the answers I get. If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
Seethe: Dream collabs would be Layne Staley, Phil Anselmo, Damien Starkey, Brock Lindow, and Chad Gray.
MM: A Chad Gray collab would be SO good!!! So what is your creative process? How do you piece songs together? (I’m interested in both the writing and recording aspects, but hands down, I grasp the writing part a lot more easily. I know nothing about recording.)
Seethe: The creative process varies. It’s honestly one of my favorite things about art. I am a multi-instrumentalist, but I unfortunately don’t have a means to record anything besides vocals. I have been fortunate enough to work alongside multiple producers and composers to build songs from the ground up. Sometimes, someone will hit me with a piece of music and want me to man vocals. Other times, it’s merely me scavenging on BeatStars or YouTube, looking for a beat that catches my ear. A lot of times, the songwriting for me is very spur of the moment or if something catches my ear. You never know when inspiration is gonna strike.
Or other times I will have a song written up and it’s a matter of finding or creating the music to bring it all together. There are times I will sit on a song or idea for months, or it comes out on the spot in minutes. Collabs are always fun as well. It’s a different energy when you have someone bring you on and you are putting your craft with someone else’s vision.
MM: We could probably keep talking for ages, but I’ve already used up a lot of your time. Thank you very much for this interview. I look forward to hearing what you come up with next and perhaps having another conversation about…well, everything!
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In the time since we wrapped up our chat, Seethe has announced the release of his fifth single for 2025, “Reprieve.” The track will hit streaming services on April 26th. You can pre-save it here!
But while you’re waiting, be sure to listen to the other songs he has dropped since January – “Mandela Effect,” “IDT (Falling in Wait),” “Depths,” and “Oceans.” These four offerings grant a glimpse into the wide creative range Seethe possesses and the varied stylistic choices he makes. If you enjoy what you hear, follow him on your favorite platforms so that you never miss any Seethe music news!
Collide the Gemini is a post-hardcore band hailing from El Paso, Texas. The trio consists of guitarist/vocalist Chris Reza, bassist Nate Sansom, and drummer Brian Carbajal. They have released one EP so far, 2022’s Dioscuri, but another EP is on the horizon!
I had the pleasure to chat with Chris about the band’s beginnings, their influences, the upcoming EP, and even his favorite sci-fi movies. (We also might have briefly touched on the topic of the Backstreet Boys…) Read on for more!
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Mostly Music: So I always start super basic out of the gate. How did Collide the Gemini form, and what’s the story behind the band name?
Chris Reza: Collide started out of the end of a previous band my drummer and I were in called The Roaring Twenties. Brian [drummer] and I wanted to continue pursuing music so we kept going, but we felt like the new songs and new lineup needed to be under a new name, so we decided to change it to Collide the Gemini.
The name came from my weird obsession with the word Gemini. The more I researched the story behind the Gemini and the twins, the more I felt it connected with our music. The name basically reflects what we try to do musically, colliding opposing sounds – light and dark, heavy and soft, simple and complex – and creating a balance between the two.
MM: That is one of the better stories behind a name I’ve heard, and it serves a purpose while being memorable.
So let’s go back a bit and talk about you. What inspired you to start creating music? Is that something you’ve always wanted to do, or did you have a defining moment that changed your trajectory?
CR: Well, I think art in general has always been something that I’ve wanted to do. Since I was a kid I’ve loved drawing, and growing up, I got into film and photography and graphic design. Music was just another creative outlet and one in which I could combine everything else. Even now I do a lot of our merch designs, music videos, and promos.
MM: Oh, so you’re a multi-talented creative person. I’m jealous. Lol. I want to be good – or…capable, I guess – at so many things, and I’m not. Writing is just about it.
Who would you say is your biggest musical influence?
CR: That’s a tough one. It changes all the time. I would say The Mars Volta. Mainly because they are hometown heroes of ours and also musical geniuses. But I would say we strive to sound more along the lines of a Dance Gavin Dance or Fall of Troy.
MM: On a related note, but also just for fun, is there anyone you listen to that might surprise people? (I refuse to call them “guilty pleasures,” because I don’t feel guilty about anything I listen to. Lol.)
CR: Haha, yeah, I totally agree with you! Like what you like, you know? I would say most people are surprised that I listen to hip hop. I’ve also been known to jam to some Olivia Rodrigo as well, haha!
MM: I still pull out some Backstreet Boys on occasion. (I’m old.) I went to see them in 2019 and my coworkers judged me. Lol. They were used to me listening to rock and metal. Anyway, let me get back on topic.
Y’all released “Take to the Skies” at the end of January. Can you tell me the story behind the song?
CR: Oh nice! Nah, the Backstreet Boys are awesome!
So “Take to the Skies” is a song that will be on our upcoming EP that will be out later this year. The EP is a concept record that I wrote. It’s loosely based on some of my favorite sci-fi films. “Take to the Skies” is told through the eyes of the protagonist’s wife, who must see him leave for this journey to save humanity in hopes he’ll return.
MM: And now you have caused me to debate whether to go ahead with music questions or dive into your taste in films. I can’t help it: that’s the stuff I love to know about my favorite musicians.Okay, I have to ask. Favorite sci-fi film(s)?
CR: Haha, no worries, I love talking about that stuff! For sure, the film that really inspired me to write this record was Interstellar. It’s a masterpiece! But Alien, Event Horizon, and The Thing are all in my top 5.
MM: I watched Event Horizon for the first time last year, which is odd considering what a horror buff I am. Haha. I loved it. My dad is a big sci-fi guy, but it’s all the really old films (he’s about to turn 70). I’ll have to check out Interstellar, though. I’ve never seen it.
CR: Oh, you have to watch it! It phenomenal.
MM: In regard to the EP, I like the idea of a concept album. Has your writing process been much different for this record? And (let me see if I can word this correctly) – do you think it’s been easier to write with a story to tell, or has it made the process more complex?
CR: The writing hasn’t changed much. We’ve had some kind of concept or story in mind while writing all of our previous material. I find that’s easier, at least for me, to write this way. Writing in the moment or from my personal experience can be a really good catalyst for songs, but I find that it’s sometimes hard to complete them. Whatever I felt about that topic at the time might change the next day, and I always find myself disinterested in continuing with the song. That being said, I have written about my own experiences. They’ve just been masked by a story, which makes it feel like I’m writing about someone else. If that makes sense, haha.
MM: I was thinking I could see both sides to working with a story. Like, it would be easier in a way because you have a set focus and a point to work towards, but at the same time, there might be difficulties because you’d be confined to working within certain parameters, i.e. your story. I guess that’s why I wanted to ask the question.
Piggybacking off your answer: do you think that masking your personal experiences behind a story makes them more relatable to your listeners? Maybe it’s easier for them to apply it to themselves when they don’t feel so much of the artist’s personal element? (Or maybe I’m overthinking it…)
CR: That’s a good question. I think listeners are going to relate it back to themselves regardless, whether it’s a song about a personal experience from the artist or one about space travel. At the end of the day if the song is hitting us at an emotional level that’s all that matters. We tend to find a way of connecting to it if we love it.
MM: I feel that on a spiritual level. I don’t understand how there are people out there who don’t “get” music. I always wonder if they just haven’t been fortunate enough to find that song or artist that grabs their soul and won’t let go. Lol. Not to be overly dramatic about it, but music means a lot to me.
What are Collide The Gemini’s plans for the rest of 2025? I know you said y’all are going to release the EP…
CR: Collide has a few things planned for 2025. We have our EP coming out this year titled A Spark in the Horizon. No set release date yet, but hopefully before the end of the year. We also have some plans to do some touring this year. We’re gonna do a small Texas run, hopefully this summer. Other than that, we will be dropping singles until we release the EP. So be on the look out for that!
MM: While I have you here, I’m gonna ask just a couple more questions. What’s your favorite thing about playing live?
CR: I would say connecting with fans, for sure. Seeing how our music affects them and sharing that experience. Also, as a fan of live music myself, seeing a band live and being in the moment with them is such a great experience.
MM: I think it would be so cool to experience it from both sides! Last but not least, do you have a dream tour lineup? Collide the Gemini with…?
CR: Oh God, I have too many to list, hahaha. I would love to do a tour with Hail the Sun. We’ve gotten to open up for them a few times and it’s always a good time. But maybe my dream lineup would be The Mars Volta headlining, maybe Coheed and Cambria supporting or something like that.
MM: Thank you so much for your time! And I look forward to all you guys have coming this year!
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Check out Collide the Gemini’s latest single, “Take to the Skies,” and be sure to follow their socials, as well as on your favorite streaming platforms so you don’t miss their upcoming releases or updates about the new EP!
Mostly Music 