Here's Five: Merchant Share Seed-Sowing Sludgy Albums
Merchant, for those who are unaware, are Melbourne-based proponents of crushing riffs and fuzz filth personified in sound. Last year’s full length Suzerain was a hearty slab of psychedelic sludge, which New Zealand will be privy to seeing in the flesh in April. Ahead of their three-date tour, we caught up with the band to snag some insight into their inner creative workings via five of their favourite tunes and albums...
1. Revengeance - Conan (2016)
Holy shit the second I pressed play on this album I was ready to break things. The guitar riffs, sometimes simple, yet always heavy and forcing you to bang your head in approval. The two tone vocal overlays, the enormous drumming throughout. Conan were and still are one of the bands that keeps me hooked to this ridiculous, crazy, fantastic brand of music we play. - Tommy (Vocals)
2. From Wisdom to Hate - by Gorguts (2001)
For me, this was a huge album to discover and be immersed in. The balance of odd rhythms and really long phrasings against haunting melody is pretty powerful. The angular riffs and especially the slow sections are absolutely sick. - Wilson (bass)
3. Dopethrone - Electric Wizard (2000)
When it comes to my influences, I would have to say Electric Wizard (Dopethrone) got me into slow and heavy styles but Michael Henry from Bongzilla influenced my drumming. His fills, cymbal work and beats flow so well with the rest of the band and seamlessly create a dense backline. My mind is blown every time my ears succumb to the rhythmic riffs of Electric Wizard. - Nick (Drums)
4. Reflection of the Negative - Windhand/Cough Split (2013)
Windhand and Cough were some of the first bands Wilson suggested to listen to when he asked me to join. Windhand in particular were very influential when it came to shaping my tone. Their split with Cough, Reflection of the Negative, was extremely influential to me. It is an amazing amalgamation of psychedelia and brutality, which I find shows through allot in how I write and play. - Kerr (Guitars)
5. Suzerain - Merchant (2016)
The title track from our 2016 release Suzerain was inspired by the book Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy. That book actually stresses you out when you read it, it's like a punch in the stomach. After reading about blood-soaked human scalps, charred skulls and trees hung with the bodies of children, it's easy to write the quite brutal lyrics in our own Suzerain. That twenty-minute song, paralleling the book, is a winding journey with pace changes and bloody nuances.
Merchant and Watchtower
Saturday 22nd April, Whammy Bar, Auckland w/ NIISA, Reaving and Bloodnut
Sunday 23rd April, Nivara Lounge, Hamilton w/ Bloodnut, Sick Old Man +Wolf Wizard
Monday 24th April, Valhalla, Wellington w/ Opium Eater + Ritual Abuse
Tickets available HERE at UTR and in-store at Flying Out (Auckland) and Slow Boat/RPM (Wellington).
facebook.com/DOOMMERCHANT
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