EARTHLESS INTERVIEW
Formed in 2001, EARTHLESS prides itself on creating energetic, utterly unique and free thinking instrumental music inspired by an eclectic mix of German krautrock and Japanese heavy blues-rock. The Californian trio has dedicated itself to mastery of the mind-bending jam session, evoking the spirits of Jimi Hendrix and Black Sabbath in equal measure. Named after a song title from vintage New York garage-psych band The Druids of Stonehenge, EARTHLESS' sound has been called "A sonic kaleidoscope of lava and lightning", earning it the title of "California's loudest band". The group delivers "one of the best live shows in all of modern, heavy rock," leading to one reviewer stating that the band's "epic shredding harkens back to the days were psychedelic rock had balls the size of grapefruits and wasn't afraid to take its listeners on a ride for which they may never return."
Each member of EARTHLESS has done time in many other bands. Drummer (and former pro skater) Mario Rubalcaba currently plays in the hardcore punk band OFF! and has also occupied the drum throne in Rocket From The Crypt and Hot Snakes amongst many others. Bassist Mike Eginton played with Electric Nazarene and guitarist Isaiah Mitchell was most recently in Howlin' Rain, has played with Nebula and Drunk Horse and also heads up the Bay Area band Golden Void. In the end, EARTHLESS is the musical rock that grounds the three musicians and now, after more than half a decade since the release of their last studio LP, EARTHLESS has returned and is out to prove -- through sheer rock power -- why they are considered the cream of the modern day heavy psych scene.
EARTHLESS' 4th studio album, "Black Heaven", was recorded with Dave Catching (Eagles of Death Metal) at Rancho de la Luna in August 2017 and will be released March 18, 2018 on Nuclear Blast.
We got to speak to Mario Rubalcaba about the upcoming Earthless tour and more
TM - What can fans expect from your Australian tour?
MR - Some newer material science we just brought out new record but other than that the same unpredictable stuff that we always do.
TM - How do you pick your set list for touring?
MR - Usually we practice once or twice before we go on tour, we go through it together and we don't really write a set list, we just started playing and combine things and see how it flows.
TM - What are you most looking forward to doing in Australia?
MR - Going to hang out with our buddy Tim in his guitar shop in Brisbane.
TM - Sweet, I didn't know there was a good guitar shop in Brisbane. I am from Sydney though, I'll check it out next time I am there.
MR - Definitely go and check it out, its a cool place.
TM - You brought out your new album and that 70% lyrical content what made you want to go in this direction?
MR - We felt as a whole this is what felt natural to do, once we started playing and practicing this is what just happened. We didn't have all the time in this record so we thought it will you better to be disciplined in writing and something started happening and that's what sounded the best.
TM - What was your writing and recording process for Black Heaven?
MR - Isaiah now lives in a different city so once every three days he would come down for three days at a time and we will play and come up with ideas. Then we would take home the ideas and listen to them then the next time we meet up we would pick out the ideas that stood out the most and work on those and take it from there.
TM - How did you come up with your album cover for Black Heaven?
MR - We found a guy called Andrew on Instagram and I took some photos from outside around the studio and Incorporated my ideas with his ideas.
TM - How did you come to get signed by Nuclear Blast?
MR - After we decided we couldn't go as far as we wanted with our last record company we decided to go looking for another one, we had a few lables in mind Nuclear Blast was one of them laugh that meeting the people there we thought it was the best fit for us.
TM - What is your favourite thing about touring?
MR - Establishing friendships and meeting different people all around the world.
TM - What is your favourite festival to play?
MR - Roadburn festival last year we played and in a different set everyday.
TM - Who is your favorite artists you have played live with?
MR - Damo Suzuki at Roadburn festival he use to be in a band called Can that influenced us.
TM - If you could have any band play one of your songs which band would it be which song and in your style or theirs?
MR - Led Zeppelin or cream doing a song in their style.
TM - you could collaborate with any artist who would it be and why?
MR - Jimmy Page because I always respected his producing on the Led Zeppelin records.
TM - Who is your favourite artist you've seen live?
MR - I got to see Tom Petty three times on his last tour it was amazing.
TM - Is there Anything else you want to announce to your fans?
MR - we are excited to come to Australia and say lots of shows and see all our fans.
TM - Thank you for this interview today, we really appreciate it.
CHECK OUT ALL EARTHLESS TOUR INFORMATION
