ZEOLITE // BEHIND THE BAND

Fraser Mainwaring - Vocals |Patrick Haas - Guitars | Lucas Tolputt - Bass |Grant Mcguinness - Guitars The boys in Zeolite sent me their sophomore record 'Sermones Mortis' a few weeks back. I gave it a spin and enjoyed it- cover to cover. I was curious as to the backstory behind this record, given the anticipation and the tour to follow! These lads have done some great things in the record, go and suss it below. While you are here, check out the interview I had with Guitarists Patrick and Grant

//Can you give us a brief history of the band and releases?//

PH: We're Zeolite, we've been around for four years or so, and have released, "Sermones Mortis" aside, one EP and two other singles. We've toured Australia a few times and played with some really cool bands, in some cool places.

GM-I was not apart of the band during the older releases but i heard that Pat actually wrote 'Compulsion' on the Guitar Hero track creation suite.

//How did the band originate?//

GM-Probably chicken nuggets.

PH: I was writing songs in my bedroom, I posted one online, Fraser contacted me to do some vocals. He sent across some vocals on a demo I'd done, and it was exactly what I imagined for the sound... and here we are.

//What's the first band who made you love music?//

GM-In Flames would definitely be the first band that really made music i could really connect with.

PH: Probably something my parents made me listen to? I know they used to play me a lot of classical music when I was really young, but the first band i remember worshiping was Silverchair. I remember getting "Freakshow" and playing it on repeat for about... a really long time. My mother hated me.

//Who inspires you to make music now?//

GM-The Black Dahlia Murder, Cattle Decapitaion, Gojira, Aborted and Fleshgod Apocalypse are all big

influences at the moment not only on records but also by their extremely tight live performances.

PH: Hmmm, So many bands. Aborted, Meshuggah, Decapitated, The Contortionist....

//What are some of the most important things you have learn while being together?//

GM-Jaeger Bombs rule and drummers are Unicorns and don't be an egotistical loser chances are there is someone in Newcastle 300x better than you.

//How do you view your band now as apposed to when you started?//

GM-Still a bunch of nerds.

PH: No real difference I guess? Its such and ever evolving thing you don't get time to reflect back that much I think. If anything I see it now as such a massive part of my life, as opposed to the beginning where it was just something I wanted to do.

//What's your favourite venue to play?//

GM-The Bendigo Hotel In Melbourne is my favorite venue seen many a good live show there. They also have Melbourne Bitter so that's a win.

PH: Crowbar, Hands Down. Awesome venue, awesome beer on tap, great in house engineers, fantastic staff.

//Can you explain what goes on during the writing process?//

GM-Patrick Haas does a thing and I sometimes steal it and slow it down.

PH: Grant and I will write riffs, and then (for this release) we came together and worked on them together, and worked on the structures together. Then rough demos are sent to Fraser for vocals, and then there is a lot of back and forth from there. For this release we all got together for a weekend away from everything to work on the release together, and that was super productive, all writing together in a room.

//Can you explain the recording process you go through?//

GM-Patrick does another thing with the stuffs and sends it to the big sounds making man.

PH: We record everything ourselves, and then send away for re-amping/mixing/mastering. For example, we tracked and edited the bass/guitars and again edited them, and Fraser tracked his vocals which we outsourced editing for. We then send everything to Henrik (Udd) for mixing!

//What does this release "Sermones Mortis" mean to you?//

GM-This is the first professional sounds quality release i have been apart/contributed too i really hope people like it.

PH: The cumilation of a LOT of hard work, and the proudest I have been of anything we have put out to date.

//What does the scene mean to you?//

GM-The Melbourne Death Metal scene is like my second family I've made so many good mates and learnt a lot about music from attending shows.

PH: The scene we're involved is pretty tight knit, and you end up knowing everyone. Its just ahuge bunch of mates really, and its heaps of fun, it just so happens a lot of your mates play awesome music.

//If you could change one thing about the scene, what would it be?//

GM-More riffs, more windmills and more Melbourne Bitters.

PH: When bands rag on other bands. Dont do that.

//What song means the most to you?//

GM-'Repudation' as it is the song i contributed the most too. (Even though, it was only a bridge and the outro haha) plus Fraser does a high in it too. What a nerd.

PH: Of our songs? Probably one off the new EP, "Reticent". Its an instrumental, but i find it a very cathartic song personally. Of other bands, The Contortionist's 'Flourish'. Such an emotional song.

//What's your favourite song to play live?//

GM-That would be 'Ruination' at the moment but it is also new, that they may change when our touring begins post release.

PH: I think when we play it, 'Repudiation' of the new EP. The pace is so varied and it has some staunch moments that i cant wait for live.

//Why do you play music?//

GM-Music has been a huge part of my life since i was 15 it keeps me focused and a sense of purpose In life i really couldn't imagine myself doing anything else. Plus riffs are sick.

PH: As theres nothing else I want to do more.

//Would you encourage people reading this to start bands?//

GM-Most certainly. If you love music like I do there is no better feeling than performing live.

PH: Without a seconds hesitation. You meet so many amazing people and makes so many friends. Not to mention simply writing your own music is an incredibly rewarding albeit frustrating, experience.

//What advice do you have for new bands?//

GM-Play riffs. Try not to imitate the in thing and just try to have some fun ya' know? Don't suck the life out of it for yourself.

PH: Do what you like. Don't follow the trends, and write something you are truly invested in without trying to sound like anyone else.

//How important is it to network with other bands?//

GM-It builds a tighter scene and also helps bands with not having conflicting touring/release schedules and just an overall tighter family vibe. If you network hard enough you can even start stealing Hollow World merch without them noticing.

PH: Probably one of the most important aspects of being in a a band, particularly in regards to your progression. I'm terrible at it as I'm awkward as fuck (hahaha) but I'm lucky to be in a band with dudes who can actually talk to people.