If Molarbear were going to war they'd go armed with riffs, and they'd win. Molarbear came out swinging with their debut single, the excellently titled 'Fierce Brosnan' with just as amazing art work to match. It had hooks that hit harder than Iron Mike in his day and was still as heavy as Jabba the Hutt. Over the course of a number of singles and album Molarbear continued their worship at the altar of the riff while still writing heavy hooks, it was this that set them apart from their counter parts. Adi sat down with us to offer the Molar story from behind the kit. Don't you dare reach for ear plugs..
Enjoy!
The old man to be honest, he played guitars and sang in bands since he was a teen and was out almost every weekend when I was growing up playing gigs. I initially started trying to learn the bass but it wasn't for me, started playing drums in school and I was hooked. Pestered my folks for a kit for ages, then started a band with my cousin and mates shortly after that for something to do at the weekends.
What bands posters did you have upon your bedroom wall and what was the first record you ever bought and why?
Mostly a pile of metal/nu-metal ones from kerrang and metal hammer, as was the style at the time at the tail end of the 90s. Deftones, Korn, limp bizkit, pitchshifter, static x, fearfactory, white zombie, raging speedhorn, Metallica and the like. I think the first rock album I bought was life is peachy by Korn.
Mostly a pile of metal/nu-metal ones from kerrang and metal hammer, as was the style at the time at the tail end of the 90s. Deftones, Korn, limp bizkit, pitchshifter, static x, fearfactory, white zombie, raging speedhorn, Metallica and the like. I think the first rock album I bought was life is peachy by Korn.
Molarbear have been together since 2014 that’s an eternity in band years! Can you talk about how the band got together and that initial period of 2014-2016 when you 7 singles including the amazingly entitled Rad Pitt. How did the band change over this period did you start of with a sound in mind and how did that change or evolve?
Myself and Rowan spent 10 years playing together all over the place in a band called Jackalfeud, we played a pile of shows with Andy's band (inside) and ended up becoming mates over a mutual love of the riff, puns, Halo and botany. We were out drinking pints shortly after our respective bands had packed it in and decided to organise a jam together and see what happened. We got Tony in on bass, he had just finished playing with The Big Grizzly and had stepped in on bass for Jackalfeud countless times. The initial jam was great craic but it was missing some extra beef, not long after we roped Rob in for a 3rd guitar and got to work churning out the tunes.
The idea for releasing a handful of singles as opposed to an EP or album for the first few years was mainly just so we could be constantly drip feeding songs and videos out to the internet in between gigs to keep the momentum going and it allowed us to try some different things each time that we might not have been able to do if we were to put out a collection of songs at once.
The sound has changed over time as well due to the line up shuffling we have done. Tony left after a few singles and we got The Beard (Gacys Threads) on board in his place. After we finished the last single Rob and Beard stepped away and were replaced with Dara (Altus) and Steve (Escape Fails), by this stage we had settled on a sound and started work on writing our first album.
Can you talk about the song writing process for the band, does having three guitarists complicate that or just give the opportunity for more riffs. From what I understand the band are spread out over the country as well does that hinder things or how do you maintain momentum?
I guess we operate like most bands, we get in a room together, throw a pile of shit and the wall and see what sticks! Most of the time someone comes to practice with a riff idea half baked and we all play around with it until a song comes out the other end. Having the 3rd guitar definitely adds another dimension to the writing and the beef. We're a bit more spread out than most as Rowan lives in the south, but he's a madman and comes up almost every Sunday for riffs, on the weeks he's not able to make the drive the rest of us still get together and practice/write.
In 2018 you released your debut album ‘Storklord’, 11 tracks of heaviosity. An album dense with sounds and riffs. Can you talk about the recording process, lyrically what themes it covers, is there and overarching theme to the record and finally who is the storklord?!!
We recorded the album with all round top bloke and occasional molarbear bassist Jonny Munro in Bearcat Studios over the course of a week or so in March 2018. Jonny's pretty much recorded everything we've ever released so he knows how we operate and how to get the sounds and stuff that were after. He's also a set of unbiased ears and isn't afraid to toss some ideas at us during the sessions. The overall theme of the record deals with the concept of a giant malevolent stork creature that is blindly worshipped like a god by humans while offering absolutely no salvation whatsoever, a somewhat tongue in cheek view of organised religion. Lyrically we cover the Storklord concept, humanity damning itself through technological advancements, galaxies colliding and Tibetan funeral rituals...you know, the usual stuff.
I love that you choose to do a physical CD release of the album, do you think the album and further to that a physical release is still valid in the days of digital and streaming. Do you feel it almost legitimises a band. How you approach ensuring the success of an album compared to the release of a single?
I'm not sure it legitimises a band or anything like that, it's just something we wanted to do, our good friend Adam (deathtodefaultdesign) did us up some amazing artwork and it wouldn't have been done any justice with a digital only release...it also gave us something else to try to sell at shows to make a few quid. I'm not sure a full physical run is something we'll do in future because it is a hard sell to the majority of folk these days where streaming is so prevalent and the cost of it all definitely adds up, that money is probably better spent on merch or touring.
Can you talk a little about the heavier music scene in Belfast and Ireland and do you feel it’s given the recognition it deserves and do you think there’s a way to further the exposure for these bands?
I don't think it gets the recognition it deserves no, there's some seriously tight, talented and hard working bands on the island but due to the nature of the music it isn't really pushed on radio or by the mainstream magazine style websites. You definitely have to hustle a lot harder for half the press if you're a heavier band in ireland - which I suppose is understandable given the style.
What are the plans post-corona for Molarbear, from your socials I notice that album number 2 is coming, can you tell us how it might differ from Stroklord, are you exploring any differ sounds or direction? Have you a title and when can we expect it?
Yep, we were about 8 or 9 songs deep before the planet went on lockdown so we're patiently waiting to get back in to the room and get finished then get them all recorded. The new tracks are definitely a step in a different direction than Storklord, slightly more condensed, faster and to the point. No title or anything yet, hope to have it out sometime this year depending on the state of play with everything. Busting to get recording and out gigging again as soon as it's safe to do so.
The scene both north and south seems to be stronger than ever, is there anyone you’d want to shout out to?
Our dudes in MAW, Elder Druid, Axecatcher, Slung from a Tree, Zohra, Iona Death Cult, Two Tales of Woe and any promoters taking a chance and booking heavy bands this weather!
And finally in the vein of Rob Gordon. What are your Top 5 favourite records.
These change on a weekly basis, but sure you know yourself!
1.Deftones - White Pony
2.Mastodon - Crack The Skye
3.Norma Jean - All Hail
4.Glassjaw - Worship and Tribute
5.Tool - Lateralus
2.Mastodon - Crack The Skye
3.Norma Jean - All Hail
4.Glassjaw - Worship and Tribute
5.Tool - Lateralus
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