Summon: How did the band get started?
Eldred: Bangulo and I met about 15 years ago while working at a local arcade. We started jamming together playing Metallica and Slayer, stuff like that. We didn’t really start writing music together until years later. Angel is Bangulo’s cousin so when he was available, we asked him to play bass and do growling vocals. Fortunately he said yes. Since then we have been writing original songs, and I think our individual styles blend very well together. We don’t have a drummer so I program all the drums and synth and we play to it on a mp3 player.
Summon: What kind of music do you play?
Angel: We’re a metal band that loves music. We take all the styles we like and blend them.
Bangulo: We are what I call jokingly a “Mixed Metal Arts” band. Also I’ve seen on some pirating websites that we are labeled as “Fusion Death Metal.” We are just a metal band that plays many styles of metal in one song or separate songs, usually with a growling Vocal style. Sometimes we use Eldred’s or Angel’s clean vocals or higher pitch screams/growls.
Eldred: I tell people we are “melodic death metal” heavy bass, strong guitars, a lot of harmonies and growling vocals.
Summon: How has the fan response been?
Angel: It’s been awesome! It’s always great to know that so many people like your music.
Bangulo: The Response so far has been great! I always enjoy meeting new people. People who love to talk about music in general!
Summon: Where did the band name come from?
Angel: We were looking for a name to fit the atmosphere and style of our music. Otoño rolled off the tongue nicely and fit well.
Bangulo: Otoño is the word for the season autumn in Spanish, since me and Angel are Mexican American and Eldred liked that name as well we stuck with it.
Summon: Introduce the band members and what they do in the band.
Angel: Lead bass and growls.
Bangulo: Guitar and the” MEDLY MEDLY MEDLY!! MEEE”.
Eldred: Guitar, backup vocals, drum programming.
Summon: Who writes the music? Lyrics?
Angel: The writing process generally starts with one of us tabbing out some music in a program then emailing it to the others to learn, add or change up any of the music. Once we’ve all learned our respective parts we play it in practice as a whole. Very different writing process, but it works well. We all share lyrical work.
Bangulo: Eldred and Angel usually write the lyrics, I don’t. I haven’t written any for the band so far haha.
Summon: And where do the lyric ideas come from?
Angel: As lame as this might sound, but love and heartbreak are two big lyrical themes. It’s easy to write lyrics when you’ve been there. I also enjoy the challenge of writing about something I’ve never experienced or don’t know a whole lot about. We’re also heavily influenced by film and other types of art. As well as nature and the seasons, but life is the main topic we tend to write about.
Bangulo: Years back we had an interviewer kind of mock us for our lyrical content on “Ghosts of Smoke” somewhere he was getting the idea that we were trying to act like tough guys I guess? It stated something like” could we ever do love songs”, so we kind of took that as a challenge, now the majority of our songs are tragic love songs.
Summon: What is your view in Satanism and Occultism?
Angel: Just as any other topic. You’re into it or not.
Bangulo: I have no idea. I never really looked into it, I am not really into religion or large groups, Clans or gangs, I am more of a solo person.
Eldred: That’s why he does guitar solos, lol. I’m pretty neutral. No real views on religion except don’t preach your shit to me.
Summon: How many albums/CD’s have you released?
Bangulo: We have 2 full length albums, One is a Christmas Album and the other is our debuted “Ghosts of Smoke” Ghosts of smoke is our only Physical release, But the Christmas album is a free Digital Download check it out here
“http://otono.bandcamp.com/album/winter-metal-land-ugly-sweater-edition”.
Summon: Tell me about some the songs on the latest CD?
Bangulo: Well we have an EP we are working on coming out later this year! So look out for that, it will be free as well, it may turn into another full album haha but “We Will See”
Summon: Do you have any side projects?
Bangulo: Actually i have a few, But none of them are metal, You into Hip-Hop? Or down tempo electronic? Instrumental guitar music? Haha Me and Eldred have one project based off Voynich Manuscript if you wanna check that out www.myspace.com/vmanuscript
Eldred: What he said. ^
Summon: Who are some of your musical influences?
Angel: This list can go on for a while. Opeth is the big one. Machine Head, Buckethead, Red Sparowes.
Bangulo: Currently I’d say. Andy James, Persefone, Diabolical Masquerade, Dan Swanö, Opeth, Agalloch, it’s always changing.
Eldred: Opeth, GWAR, Persefone, old Metallica…
Summon: Which current bands?
Angel: I’ve been listening to a lot of In Mourning. Awesome Melodic Death from Sweden,
Bangulo: Right now I’ve been listening to Asrai they are like a Goth-Rock band from the Netherlands also Andy James! And a little bit of Bassnecter! Also Canorous Quintet if you like melodic death def check out that project!
Eldred: Long Distance Calling, Kauan is great, Insomnium.
Summon: What is the band like when you play live?
Angel: A lot of energy with our share of fuck ups haha! We do our best to put on a good show and we pretty much always get positive feedback.
Bangulo: Two huge guys and one short guy rocking out!
Eldred: First question is always “where’s your drummer”? We manage pretty well without one; we rock just as hard as bands with a drummer.
Summon: Have you guys ever played in another country?
Angel: No. That would be amazing though.
Bangulo: No, but it would be awesome! I think Germany would probably be our best location for our music live. We get lots of love in Germany and the UK, but I hear the scene in the UK is a lot of Pay to Play crap just like the USA.
Eldred: Modesto lol. We’re pretty big in Japan; Well, Angel and I are. Literally.
Summon: How big of crowd shows up at shows usually?
Angel: It really depends on where we play. We’re a little rural so every show is a road gig and we do have a handful of fans that will drive to see us live.
Bangulo: A decent amount but nothing amazing, The crowd size really depends on how well you promote a show, You can have a semi huge act in a small town and it will only fill up as if a local band was playing if you don’t promote it.
Summon: How is the crowd response when you play?
Angel: Positive and we always get compliments either on song structure, vocals, basswork or guitar work; sometimes all of the above.
Bangulo: Yeah, Its 99.9% of the time positive vibes. Love the feedback! Even if it’s negative, but that’s rare!
Summon: What do you think of the US Black Metal/Death Metal scene?
Angel: I think there needs to be more haha. There are some really good bands in these genres in the US.
Bangulo: The ones I like from US are Agalloch, Gallowbraid I dunno if you would consider those Death or Black but I enjoy them. There is a cool Symphonic Black Metal band from LA that I like. The drummer used an all electronic drum kit but I can’t remember the name. Also if you’re into Raw Black metal you can check out my buddies band Impaled Martyr.
http://www.reverbnation.com/impaledmartyr.
Eldred: I don’t really pay attention to genres. I like what I like, whatever kind of music it is, so having said that, I don’t know, haha.
Summon: What do you think of the Overseas scenes?
Angel: I think that’s where it’s at. So many amazing bands are overseas. It sucks that a lot of the bands we like from overseas don’t do shows here in the US.
Bangulo: This is where metal is kicking ass these days, I am enjoying Russian scene currently for The Doom and Melodic Death Side of metal. Persefone from Andorra. I don’t know any other band from there but that’s the only band you need to know from there haha.
Eldred: Yeah, seems to be more of a scene overseas, most bands I listen to are not from the US.
Summon: What are some of new favorite black metal/death metal bands?
Angel: I haven’t checked out any new bands of any sort as of late, but my favorite death metal band is Behemoth, and black metal I really like Agalloch.
Bangulo: I don’t know what’s new, I usually don’t try to just look at what’s new. It’s whatever I can find that i like. “Pressure Points” from Finland that’s probably the newest one i know of! Amazing work, “Alley” from Russia, “Wine From Tears” from Russia, Though I only dig that song “Close To Kataonia” Id still say I am a fan haha , Kauan, Amber Tears(Янтарные Слёзы), Forest Stream, ЛЮДИ ОСЕНИ(Autumn People), Welicoruss. All those bands from Russia! And of Course Persefone Avec Tristesse.
Eldred: Persefone!!!! They have been around for a few years but are amazing.
Summon: When do you guys plan on writing any new material?
Bangulo: It’s already Brewing!
Angel: We have plenty of new music in the works 😉
Eldred: in process!
Summon: What does the future hold for the band??
Angel: Get some gigs and get our name out there. Promote ourselves and other local music.
Bangulo: Gig and record some music and continue to grow!
Eldred: The future, Conan? Only time will tell!
Contact them at:
https://www.facebook.com/otonometal
http://otonometal.blogspot.com/
