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

John: Well it started from the breakup of the hardrock band GreyHate (Me) and the Metal/Thrash band Clench (Thomas Piehl). Me and Thomas  got together and wrote some tunes and then got Örjan Baudin (ex Clench) to join on bass and Jens Wide (ex Clench) on drums. In that setting we released some songs on compilations under the name ‘Nosedive’ and later on wrote the material what would become the debut album “grandiosity”. Just before the release we decided to change the band name since we didn’t like Nosedive that much. Me and Thomas sat down to find a new name and after some searching and experimenting we got the word Mother from a half finished song together with Misery as the second half of the song My Misery (which later became My Enemy on grandiosity). It was released in March 2004 on daredevil records (DE). In 2005 just before our first Germany tour Jens (drums) and Örjan (bass) decided to leave the band and got replaced by Marcus Jäderholm (ex GreyHate) on bass and Jimmy Lindbergh on drums (ex Evelyn Grace). Marcus stayed until 2008 when we did our first tour in Holland with Entombed. At that point Stiff Hell stepped in on bass to this date. Last year Thomas Piehl decided to leave the band and got replaced by Emil Ström (the Strikeouts, ex Manny Ribera) on solo guitar.

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

John: Me and Stiff is from Enköping, Jimmy lived here when he was young but is located in Stockholm. Emil is from Kopparberg which is about two hours by car from here. From the beginning we all knew each other from being in different bands or growing up together. Me and Stiff have known each other since kindergarten. Jimmy is a bit younger but was also in bands in the same area at the time. 

TMA: Who are your favourite artists/bands and how have they influenced your own sound?

John: For me it started out with Kiss, Iron Maiden, Accept, Judas Priest etc and later on I was into Monster Magnet (which you can hear a little bit of in ‘grandiosity’), Soundgarden, Alice In Chains etc. After that I discovered Bombus, Machine Head, Hardcore Superstar and lot´s of other great music. Of course I think they somehow influence me or us but we never steal anything knowingly. It may show in small pieces of the music perhaps ha ha.

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

John: No I started listening to Kiss when I was around 10 or so and the band dream started there somewhere. I picked up the guitar at age 13 and my younger brother Hans Hermansen (ex GreyHate) tought me how to play the song Cadillac. From then on we started making our own music in our room at home and then in the garage when mom and dad couldn’t handle the noise anymore ha ha. I remember practicing my guitar to Helloweens Keeper of the seven keys l and ll every day after school until I got better and better. I never wanted to be a singer but was forced into it since no one else stepped up for the part. Today I see myself more as a singer than a guitarplayer. 

TMA: What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

John: It’s a long playlist but I can mention a few in the start and you can decide how many you want to publish he he.

Death Diviner – Soilwork

13 in 1 – Hank Von Hell

Rust – Bombus

In The Shadows- Bombus

6:36 – Mustasch

You Can’t Kill My Rock n Roll – Hardcore Superstar

El Bajo – The Awesome Machine

Urobor – Quasarborn

Dystopia – Megadeth

Grand Massive – Blind Silence

Superunknown – Soundgarden

Ghosther – Doomed

Automatic Thrill – Gluecifer

Bark At The Moon – Ozzy Osbourne

Epic – Faith No More

In Your Face – BREED

Fear Of The Fallen – Helloween

My Hands Are Empty – Machine Head

Into The Eyes Of A Stranger – Queensrÿche

Etc etc…..

TMA: Do you sing in the shower?

John: Ha ha not as often as I’d like to or should I think, no good echo in my shower.

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

John: Yeah, we recently signed up with the mighty Doc Gator Records (AU) and they just released our latest album ‘From Shadow To Ghost’ on an amazing looking and great sounding vinyl in four colours, we are promoting that album as much as we can with the help from the awesome Markus Eck and Metal Message (DE). We had to hold the bookings for a while since Thomas left but it is starting to catch up a bit on that end. We have three coming shows in Sweden and hopefully there will be more and some outside of Sweden as well.

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

John: ‘From Shadow To Ghost’ is still pretty fresh and shipping out from Doc Gator as we speak but we will see what happens ahead, we might have some surprises up our sleeves but to early to say.

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

John: Oh, haven’t really thought about that. Maybe Madison Square Garden or something like that. Would be cool to do Download Festival at Donington as well or our own Globen Arena now known as Avicii Arena.

TMA: Do you have a favourite album? If so, what is it?

John: I have had several through the years that are still among my favourites, like Queensrÿches Operation Mindcrime or Soundgardens Down On The Upside, DIOs Holy Diver etc. But since a few years back when I discovered Bombus (SE) and their album Repeat Until Death I am hooked on them and especially that album. It has everything for me, the melodies, the rawness, the heaviness and the production.

TMA: Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

John: Hm, I don’t know. Maybe Simple Minds – Good News From The Next World. A great album. I used to listen to Sabrina and Samantha Fox along side Accept and Dokken but that was when I was young so that’s a long time ago now and prescribed ha ha..

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

John: This is not possible any more but It would be Bombus, Soundgarden and DIO.

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

John: It was Kiss Alive ll on a copied cassette and I bought it from an older guy at school for 40kr (4€), which was a lot of money then. I got to discover that it was only half the show on the tape,  so the guy ripped me off.

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

John: Yeah I’d like to thank everyone who has supported us through the years and those who still does. It really means a lot to us to have dedicated people caring for the band and our music. That is what keeps us going.

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

John: Of course:

www.mothermisery.com

www.facebook.com/mothermisery

Youtube:     @mothermiseryswe

X (Twitter): @MotherMisery

TikTok:        @mothermisery2023

Instagram: @mothermisery

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

John: Thank you and a big thanks back to you for having us. A pleasure and great questions. Nothing more to ad except that we greet and welcome new followers to the band. Cheers, John.

This interview is the property of The Metal Asylum

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

My name is Gerlad and I am Karlov Lugozi. I write the music and lyrics, provide the vocals and play all the instruments. I am an avid fan of horror films, particularly the classics.  The name Karlov Lugozi comes from my two favorite old-time horror actors, Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. Karloff played the Frankenstein monster in James Whale’s Frankenstein in 1931 and Lugosi played Count Dracula in Tod Browing’s Dracula that same year. I just mashed the two last names together and changed the spelling to give it a little twist.

I started an old-school punk band when I was 15. I began as a drummer, then learned the bass, then the guitar, and finally the violin. Recently, I became enamoured with the new metal sounds. The heavy guitars and gritty vocals have that underground feel that old-school punk embraced, and that really excited my musical adrenalin.

Karlov Lugozi was conceived in 2016, Initially to provide music for an animated web serial called Zombie Home Movies. This passion just grew and became what it is today.

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

I owe a lot to Rob Zombie and his brother Spider in Powerman 5000. Their sound helped to guide Karlov Lugozi’s evolution. I also need to send a shout out to Lamb of God. Their music and vocals are a constant inspiration and always push me improve my writing and performances. Those guys are really terrific. Then there’s Dee Snider. His inclusion of Corpse Grinder on his last album is a brilliant move,  breaking down the barriers between traditional metal and newer artists. His overall philosophy toward music and life in general has helped me to think more deeply about the different facets of my own musical personality and how to embrace the different versions of Gerlad.

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

My father is an amazing jazz drummer, so I think that music has always been a part of my being. Though life can take one in many different directions, music has always been there, lurking in the background, waiting to rear its ugly head.

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

My playlists for metal generally include Superbeast from Rob Zombie, Mein Land from Rammstein, When Worlds Collide from Powerman 5000, and I simply cannot get enough of Symphony of Destruction from Megadeth. That song is just divine! Plus, I always put Ace of Spades in my playlists. Long Live Lemmy!

Do you sing in the shower?

No, but do a lot of vocal practice in the car. I find it to be a great way to try different vocal techniques without judgement.

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

Karlov Lugozi will be working on a full album to be released next year. There’s a good amount of material that has already been recorded conceptually. With the release of the debut EP, I now have a solid formula for the Karlov Lugozi sound, which will make for less experimentation and more purposeful production moving forward.

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

The debut EP Exhumed was released on October 31^st. There are 3 new tracks in addition to the first 2 singles previously released and I think they work nicely together. I know that Halloween isn’t as big a deal for the folks across the pond, but here in the states we love our pagan rituals, so releasing on the Halloween is a necessity for Karlov Lugozi!. FYI, I spent last Halloween at Stonehenge, soaking in the ancient vibes!

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

Hammersmith Odeon. I just love the name. Very metal and tons of history there. That said, the bone church in Prague would be cool as hell too!

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

I enjoy a wide variety of music styles and have many favorites across different genres. On the metal side, Hellbilly Deluxe by Rob Zombie is on the top of my list. I love the interludes and intros and the overall creepy 1970s B-movie vibe. That said, I also find that London Calling by The Clash is a perfect album. The songs flow from one to the next in a truly sublime way. It kind of blows my mind every time I listen to it. And then there’s Machine Head from Deep Purple. There’s just so many amazing aspects to that album. Ritchie Blackmore’s guitar work is astonishing and deeply ingrained in my playing style.

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

Prince’s Raspberry Beret. I love that goofy damn song!

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

I have this vision of a concert that combines metal music with a haunted attraction. Attendees would go through a haunted house to get into the show after which they would be treated to a concert with Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, Powerman 5000, Danny Elfman and Rammstein.

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

The first album I purchased with my own money was Rush’s double live album All The World’s A Stage. I started as a drummer and thought it would be beneficial to learn all of Neil Peart’s amazing moves. I still have the vinyl but is very, very “loved”.

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

Please continue to support independent artists. We bust our asses to bring music from our hearts to your ears. I truly believe the best innovations in music come from outside the big label monopolies. The underground is very fertile.

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

Insta:

@theegerlad

@skulldgmusic

Web: www.karlovlugozi.com

FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/skulldugmusic

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

I just want to add a massive thank you to everyone at The Metal Asylum. You’ve been so fantastic helping get Karlov Lugozi out into the word. Also, your reviews and comments have been spot on. You guys really get what Karlov Lugozi is trying to do and it truly warms this black, sinister heart of mine! Next time I’m in London, I owe you a pint or thirteen.

Horns up y’all!

This interview is the property of The Metal Asylum

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

I believe the band name translates to ‘Defeated’ in Swedish. The band was started as a solo project by M., however I ended up joining to do vocals as he wanted my style of harsh vocals. It’s just myself and M. in the band.

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

M. is based in Sweden, and I am based in England. We’ve been friends online for a few years, and have collaborated previously under different monikers.

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

We are both fans of multiple genres and artists, ranging from Lady Gaga to Emperor. For Defaitism, M. found Lifelover to be a huge inspiration. I personally found artists like Paramore, My Chemical Romance and The Used a great inspiration for the clean vocals, and artists like Shining and Xasthur for the harsh vocals. It’s very much a weird hybrid of DSBM and pop punk/emo.

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

I can’t speak on behalf of M., but subconsciously I think I probably did in one way or another.

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

Recently I’ve been enjoying the Daylist playlists on Spotify. It’s quite funny seeing my music taste be judged by AI. Aside from that, I’ve been enjoying Evermore by Taylor Swift. Very good autumnal music.

Do you sing in the shower?

Yeah. Weirdly I tend to just do backing vocals to stuff like Sonata Arctica or Rhapsody.

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

We’re hoping to start work on our second album soon, which will be out next year at some point.

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

Our debut album was out on December 15th via These Hands Melt.

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

I’ve played some fantastic venues in my time, however I think I’d much rather play a weird gathering in the woods. Would be fitting for this band too.

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

I have a lot of albums I’d consider ‘favourites’. However that’s far too big a list to make. Recent favourites however include Turnstiles by Billy Joel, This Is Why by Paramore and Red (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift.

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

Nah. I wear my music taste on my sleeves. I think it’s silly being guilty over music.

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

It would be an eclectic mix of stuff like Emperor, Alestorm, Taylor Swift, Billy Joel, CHVRCHES, Sonata Arctica and god knows what else. I don’t think it would be a very popular show.

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

The first single I ever bought was ‘I Don’t Love You’ by My Chemical Romance. The first albums I bought were both the Hannah Montana and Camp Rock soundtracks. As you can tell, I have always been a ‘metal girl’ haha.

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

Thanks for listening to our sad music!

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

We’re on Facebook and Instagram, and our great label These Hands Melt share stuff about us plenty too!

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

Thanks for wanting to interview us, we hope you enjoy the music we release in the coming months and beyond!

This interview is the property of The Metal Asylum