Can you tell us about the origin of the band name, a history of the band and a little bit about the various members?

The band name is basically the artist name I chose for myself when I got started making music solo. After several transformative experiences with acid, and other psychedelics, it was just the name that made the most sense for me. It also works like a double entendre for both the chill-out music I make, as well as for the heavy music, which is cool. AcidBrain is more a studio project than a band. I write and record the bulk of the music myself in my home studio, and the only other full time member, lead vocalist Steve Rasmussen, records his vocals at his home in Canada and sends them to me to mix. Steve is a horror reviewer and a killer vocalist who I’m stoked to have on board. 

Are you all from the same area? How did you get together as a band?

I am in Massachusetts USA and Steve is in Ontario Canada. We started off as friends on Facebook, and Steve would often post killer vocal covers of songs I really dig. Eventually I invited him to throw down vocals on a cover song I was working on at the time, and we’ve been working together ever since. 

Who are your favorite artists/bands and how have they influenced your own sound?

My favorite artist hands down is Maynard James Keenan. Tool and Puscifer are my two favorites, and were particularly influential by demonstrating so effectively how music can be engineered for the psychedelic experience. There are so many others I love too. Metal favorites are Meshuggah, The Acacia Strain, Humanity’s Last Breath, Despised Icon, and outside that realm Morphine, Shpongle, A$AP Rocky, FKA Twigs, Dubmatix, Charlie Hunter are some other favorites. I love many different styles of music, and feel that everything is an influence in one way or another. 

Did you always have the ambition to be a musician and in a band or did you originally have other plans?

I have always wanted to be a musician and record my own music. It was always my number one goal. 

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

I love to keep up with new releases, so I’ve been listening to the new Acacia Strain albums, the new Cattle Decapitation, Puscifer’s new remix album, Dubmatix has been releasing a lot of music lately I’ve been jamming, the new A$AP Rocky single is absolutely amazing, and I’m always reference listening to my own material as well. Oh and I cannot wait for the new Humanity’s Last Breath album to drop, the two singles I’ve heard so far are like the heaviest thing ever!

Do you sing in the shower? 

No hahaha

Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?

We are going to be dropping so much music it’ll make your head spin! 

Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?

Yes! So Much! Our sophomore album ‘The Lust Murders’ drops July 28 and it’s gonna be the most brutal thing ever! Standalone single ‘Tomb Raider’ featuring special guest vocalist Jason Stauffer drops June 30! Our covers of ‘Roots Bloody Roots’ (Sepultura) and ‘The Reflecting God’ (Marilyn Manson) will be re-released soon via our new distributor! Another standalone single called ‘The Protege’ is on the way later this year featuring both a regular and heavy version of the song! Several more serial killer singles are on the way, the first of which we’ll likely drop on Halloween which is called ‘Happy Face’ and is already finished! Songs about Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Dennis Rader are all close to completion! So we stay busy and keep the music coming at ya! One advantage of not being able to tour.

If you could play at any venue in the world where would you choose?

Red Rocks! Such a cool place and the sound there is just incredible!

Do you have a favorite album? If so, what is it?

’10,000 Days’ by Tool and ‘D is for Dubby’ by Puscifer are both up there…Mezzanine by Massive Attack holds a special place in my heart, and my favorite metal albums are Humanity’s Last Breath self titled, The Acacia Strain ‘Coma Witch’ and Meshuggah ‘Koloss’!

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

Not really no. I like what I like, and I’m not embarrassed about any of it haha it does bother me when I discover a band I came up enjoying a lot dabbles in racism though. Very off-putting. Not going to name any names, but I’m not down with it. 

If you were putting together the greatest show on earth, who would be playing?

For a metal show it’d be Meshuggah, The Acacia Strain, Humanity’s Last Breath, Despised Icon

Can you remember the first album you bought with your own money? What was it and do you still have it?

Hell yes! In the sixth grade ‘Black Sunday’ by Cypress Hill and ‘Doggystyle’ by Snoop Dogg and YES I still jam them both! The band that got me into metal was White Zombie and Astro-Creep 2000 was my first metal album and it’s still one I absolutely love!

As your fans will be reading this, is there any message you would like to send out to them?

Thank you for listening to my music and supporting what I do it means more than anything! 

Finally, let us know all your social media sites so your fans, old and new, can find and follow/like you!

My official website is: www.AcidBrainProductions.com

Instagram – @AcidBrain_Heavy

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/anthony.cotter.16

Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/acidbrainproductions

We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?

AcidBrain is as independent of an act as it gets! I do damn near everything myself. Not just the music, but post production, artwork, merch, sales, promotion… and for what I choose not to do on my own, I seek out other real talented indie artists who are also out there trying make it. So know that supporting us means supporting real, uncompromising indie artists that give back to the community! Thanks for taking the time to talk with me!

This interview is the property of The Metal Asylum