Greetings, friends. We have another new one to introduce you to… and it’s one that will linger. California’s Mordeo, a raw and abrasive intersection of styles from the minds behind Amarok, Aberrance, and Level, will release their self-titled debut tomorrow through Hypaethral Records, Forever Never Ends Records, and Shove Records. The entire crew contributed to this Profile to help us gear up for its full emergence only a few hours from now, so give that a read and check out “Bring Back the Fear” immediately below. You’ll want to prepare yourselves for this one. It’s best served loud.

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How and when did you first get into playing music, or metal more specifically, and how did your band get its start? Any pushback from family/those close to you?

Colby: For the most part, speaking for everyone, the music found us more than we found it. Where we are from has been an oasis for heavy music in northern California.

Brandon: As far as getting the band started it was mostly wanting to play something more aggressive than what we had been doing and then finding the right people who shared in the vision of wanting to put something ugly into the world. No one in my life has ever given any pushback on the type of music I write/perform. I think they were just excited that I found something to do with my energy.

Jake: I got into playing music going to my buddies’ shows when I was in high school, quickly realized it was a safe place to hang out with other dorks who are into the same stuff I was. As far as playing music with these guys, it was collecting those friends for 20 years and we landed at this configuration which has been a blast. No push back from people in our lives because they know to expect our free time is best spent riffing and creating.

Bryan: I started going to shows and playing in my first bands when I was in high school, about 16. I’ve mostly been in punk and hardcore bands. This is the closest I’ve come to metal and it’s been great to play in a band that’s challenging in a different way. Mordeo started when Brandon came up to me after a show we were at and said he wanted to start a band where he just makes insane noise and asked if I was into it. I said “Yes, you know who else we should get?” and pointed to Colby.

Dave – I’ve played music in some way the majority of my life. It wasn’t until I was 13 that I started playing drums. My later teenage years are when I was introduced to doom and crust by fellow musicians. Luckily for me, my mother has always been very supportive of my music.

How would you describe your band and what you play to someone who is completely in the dark?

Brandon – Angry and punishing, but basically fast paced d-beat, noise laden, sludge.

Colby – Imagine, if you will, you’re getting confronted.

Jake – Loud, wear ear plugs.

Bryan – Sort of like if the cave troll from the Mines of Moria in Lord of the Rings was on speed.

Dave – ​​Heavy, fast, and filthy.

Is there anything about your upcoming album or about your band that no one will find in any interview or review that you care to divulge?

Colby – For the first year we were together we didn’t have a drummer.

Brandon – Until it was time to put the songs on a record they also didn’t have song titles.

Jake – took us forever to come up with a name for the band.

Bryan – I was looking up a lot of Latin words when we were naming the band, Mordeo means “I devour” or “I consume”.

Dave – The album artwork was originally a wood engraving that was done by Brian
Nicolás-Espinoza here in Chico.

Any funny stories from playing shows / tours / festivals, etc?

Colby – We played with a band called Stool, they played for 2 minutes and it was about as long as i expect a normal bowel movement to be, just the right amount.

What do you see as some of the great things happening in and around the metal scene (yours or just in general) and what are some of the worst things happening right now?

Colby / Brandon – We think the best thing would be young people getting into heavy music. It seems like there are a lot more that are attending shows and starting bands.

Jake – the best thing is the youth getting into going to shows. The worst thing is doing it all for the wrong reasons like attention and clout.

Bryan – I feel like the music kids are making now is much less restricted too. They’re getting together and starting a band that references a dozen bands that sound nothing alike and it makes for really interesting music. Worst thing, content creators I guess?

Dave – Best thing happening in the scene is an overall acceptance of heavy music. There will always be people that want to gatekeep and say that they want heavy music to stay underground but, the more exposure and more acceptance the better off it is for all people trying to make a living with their art. Worst thing happening is people using the scene as a platform to push horrid, hate filled agendas.

Most folks have passions for a cause or causes that are close to them. What, if any, are some of the most important issues (social/political/humorous/etc.) for you / your band and how do you insert those issues into your music?

Brandon – It’s not necessarily a cause, but a general anger towards life and all the terrible people we seem to be surrounded by everyday.

Do you have day jobs or hobbies you want to share?

Brandon – we all have normal jobs, because to be honest this is not music that makes money.

Jake – Most of my hobbies directly help with being in a band, photography, videography, graphic design, audio engineering, etc etc. Its all one giant connected bubble to make being in a band more cost effective.

Bryan – I’m a graphic designer by day, currently working at a screen printing shop. My hobbies are all nerd shit. Gaming (video and I’m trying to get into tabletop. If you’re a DM @ me), you can find me at any number of west coast renaissance faires.

What advice do you have for music critics and outlets out there? How can we all better serve the genre in the eyes of a hard-working musician?

Brandon / Colby – Make music, listen to music, and get out and see music played live. It’s such a different thing to see if performed.

Any specific long term goal(s) in mind?

Brandon / Colby – Just play as much as possible wherever we can.

Bryan – Have fun, that’s kind of been the MO of this band since the beginning.

Dave – Keep writing music and keep playing for anyone that wants to listen to us.

When you’re not obsessing over your own material, what are some of your favorite albums to listen to currently?

Colby – Black Breath – “Razor to Oblivion”, Brian Jonestown Massacre – “Thank God for Mental Illness”, Throbbing Gristle – “20 Jazz Funk Greats”

Brandon – BIG | BRAVE – “A Chaos of Flowers”, Panopticon – “Songs of Hiraeth”, Abandon – “In Reality We Suffer”

Jake – Jesus Piece – Self Titled EP, State Faults – “Children of the Moon”, Touche Amore – “Parting the Seas”

Bryan – Oasis – “What’s the Story Morning Glory?”, Mastodon – “Crack the Skye”, Primus – “Frizzle Fry”, Blackwater Holylight – “Silence/Motion”, Sleep – “Dopesmoker”, Sunn 0))) – “Life Metal”

Dave – As I fill this out I am listening to the album “Lost in Life” by Backtack.

What is the near future outlook for you or your band? Any specific events on the horizon that the masses should be aware of?

Brandon – The first record is coming out on March 27th and we are already working on the next album. We knew what we wanted to write style-wise as a band but actually getting together and writing the first album we figured out what our sound was going to be and we can’t wait to get the next album out as well. Just basically want to keep writing and playing as much as possible. There’s still a lot to be mad about.

Summarize your band in one word.

Brandon – Anger

Colby – Confrontation

Jake – Loud

Bryan – Friendship

Dave – Filthy

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Many thanks to Mordeo for the time!

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Mordeo will be out March 27th through Hypaethral Records, Forever Never Ends Records, and Shove Records. For more information on Moreo, head over to Instagram or Facebook.