BEASTMAKER play The Wayfarer Mar. 10 and Soda Bar Mar. 11; photo Ester Segarra
Three band members rose from the ashes of the “doom” metal era of the likes of Black Sabbath to re-invent the eerie, cult horror film soundtrack that is Beastmaker. Comprised of Trevor William Church (guitar / vocals), Andres Alejandro Saldate (Juan Bonham) (drums), and John Tucker (bass), the group began in 2014 as a self-promoted, any-gig band, and has now been taken under the wing of Rise Above Records. Currently on tour alongside Mothership, Thunder Gut and Slow Season, they will be stopping at The Wayfarer Mar. 10. and returning to Soda Bar Mar. 11.
“We definitely do slow… that’s the whole essence of the whole ‘doom’ type, especially old doom metal, which we’re more influenced by,” Church said. “For me, I write all the music and lyrics, and I’m into like old new wave of British heavy metal bands like Witchfinder General, they have really slow songs for a heavy metal band.”
“What me a Lee Dorrian (Napalm Death) were talking about, because he really likes ‘Tombs of the Ligeia’ a lot too, is the whole movie itself. The Knights Templar just move really slowly and eerie and that’s what we’re trying to achieve with that, trying to get some cinematic theatrics to what we do so it’s not just the same.”
The theme of the band, although dark and melancholic, is anything but depressing during a live performance. The band keeps energy high with light shows, fog and, of course, the inevitable whiplash-causing headbanging.
Even with their songs being heavily influenced by older music, older movie culture and more, Church recognized the importance of a diverse source for inspiration, finding it even in unexpected places.
“If you’re just stuck on one thing, you haven’t broadened your horizons. How are you going to know what inspires you?” Church said. “I never thought Supernatural (TV show) would spark a song ever, but I was just sitting in bed and next thing I know I was in my studio writing down lyrics and I recorded an entire song in 30 minutes.”
Their album Lusus Naturae, as a first full-length, captures the diversity of the band’s talent, displaying the low growl of early 70’s metal, while softening it with clean tones. They are an old soul band that utilize the growth of modern instruments and blend their inspirations without allowing one to overpower the other. It’s the voice of a young Ozzy, mixed with the guitar of Electric Wizard.
Beastmaker has been years in the making, the band members playing their hand at other genres and groups of people.
“I was playing with this indie band and we were in Texas and this was during my drinking days, I don’t drink anymore, we played with this band and they had this Guns n’ Roses look and I was like, ‘Holy shit, these guys are killer…’ and I was kind of fucked up and I thought they said their band name was Beastmaker but it was Peacemakers, but I was just too fucked up and I was like, ‘Beastmaker? That’s the best fuckin’ band name!’ and when they told me it wasn’t, I got online the next morning and was like, ‘there’s my band name.'” Church laughed.
“That was a really long time ago. I couldn’t find anyone that wanted to play that music, and it really wasn’t until I decided I didn’t want to drink anymore that things really started happening. At that point I started getting really serious in it, and my best friend Andy who plays drums in the band decided he wasn’t going to drink anymore either and we tried having a few bands and they failed, then finally one day our bass player John, his band was breaking up, and I just thought it was an opportune time to be like, ‘Okay, here’s the guy.’ John, he has really good hair for one, and he’s really a great musician.”
Beastmaker is the next generation of doom metal that was lost in the mix of heavy metal and power metal and is now ready to come back and thrive — apparently with great hair, too.