EMQ’s With Madrost
EMQ’s With Madrost
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with USA Progressive Death Thrash band, Madrost. Huge thanks to their Guitarist/ Vocalist, Tanner Poppitt, for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
Hello Ever Metal, my name is Tanner Poppitt and I am the guitarist and vocalist for Madrost.
Founded in the summer of 2007, Madrost is a Progressive Death Thrash act focused on precision songwriting and energetic diverse approach to their sound. Influenced by the likes of Metal Church, Death, ELP, Believer, Coroner, Mekong Delta and Iron Maiden, the band has transformed from a more simplistic Death / Thrash style to incorporating a wide range of other instruments and time signatures into their own unique sound and style.
With the release of 2012’s “Maleficent” album, the world had gained a small taste of what was to come for the bands overall sound and career. A standard Death Thrash style album, but was only further developed with 2014’s sophomore release “Into the Aquatic Sector”. The same year, the band had been on a few tours and was starting to gain more support within the metal scene world wide. It wasn’t until 2017’s “The Essence of Time Matches No Flesh” that the band really saw a huge jump in popularity.
Incorporating more of a progressive element into their sound and getting reviewed by such magazines as Decibel, the band had really come together and found their sound.
September 2020 will see the release of the band’s fourth album “Charring the Rotting Earth.” The new release incorporates more symphonic elements into their sound with the help of keyboardist Sam Meador (Xanthochroid). The band is on a pathway to a new and unique sound that is sure to be remembered and taken to the next level.
How did you come up with your band name?
The name itself is Bulgarian for “Wisdom” and I initially saw the word on a Wikipedia article back in 2007 and thought it was so cool looking. I wish I had a better story than that, but that is the absolute truth behind the name.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
The band itself was started in Lake Forest, CA and as of today, we are all located around Southern California.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
The latest release would be our first standalone live album entitled “Lost Lives Vol. I” which comes out October 11, 2022.
Who have been your greatest influences?
I would say that between all of us, bands such as Cannibal Corpse, Death, Kreator, Metal Church, Mekong Delta and many others have influenced our sound throughout the years.
What first got you into music?
Funny enough, rummaging through my Uncle Greg’s cassette box which contained nothing but the best of Extreme music.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
That would be a number of musicians besides my own band who I would love to collaborate with. One of these would be my buddy Carlos Cruz of Hexen, Warbringer and Mantic Ritual because of his vast knowledge of composing music and talent behind the different instruments that he plays. Another would be Shannon Frye of Avenger of Blood for his blistering drumbeats.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Wacken would be my number 1 next to Bloodstock, because I have grown up watching my heroes play those festivals.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Thank you, thank you, thank you for continuing to support us throughout our vast career span so far.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Either Freddie Mercury or Layne Staley as to me those two singers still have not been replaced in the world of rock n roll.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
The most enjoyment I get from being a musician is when we are writing and recording new music. There is just something about the creative process that is unmatched by every aspect of life itself. I love collaborating with others and figuring out how the song or album is going to flow to the listener.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Easy question. I would like journalists and musicians to stop bringing up their politics when promoting a new album. Stop dividing this industry! Let’s give people hope through our music instead of spreading fear and hated towards one another. We have way more in common than you think.
Name one of your all-time favorite albums?
Mahogany Rush “IV”.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs or Downloads?
Definitely the compact disc. No question about it in terms of sonically and durability it can’t be topped for me.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
I don’t think I have a particular favorite gig as they tend to blend in together for me. I think it may sound clichéd, but anytime we get to play on stage, we always play like it is our last gig. That is what makes it the best gig to date.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Anything creatively wise I would be doing, writing, painting, poetry, all of the above. I have to create, it is a part of who I am.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
For me personally? Definitely Frank Marino of Mahogany Rush, Charles Barkley just because he was one of my favorite basketball players, my parents who I couldn’t have picked better heroes than that, and lastly Alexander Ovechkin who is without a sound of the greatest players to ever play the sport of hockey.
What’s next for the band?
We are currently working on a new album for 2023 and it is shaping up to have more Progressive elements mixed in with our already established Death / Thrash type of sound.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Definitely through our bandcamp at https://madrost.bandcamp.com/
Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll or a Tea Cake?
If I had to guess without doing any research on this… I’m saying cob or barm.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
I would like to thank Ever Metal for the opportunity and doing this interview with us, as well as our friends and fans for continuing to support what we do. Thank you.
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.