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Behind the masksThe true face of leftfield heaviosity
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Not too long ago, it would have had to be a cold day in hell before metal bands became critical darlings, but thanks to the success of the avant-metal movement—Sunn O)))), Khanate, Wolves in the Throne Room, Pelican—the subgenre seems to be exploding right now. One of the most interesting bands to come from left of the molten metal centre of the aggressive music world is New York City’s Bloody Panda. Featuring the Jarboe/Diamanda Galas caterwaul of lead singer Yoshiko Ohara, Bloody Panda’s new record, Summon, and accompanying DVD, Miserere, contain some of the most progressive, grim, epic, doomy and innovative listens ever pressed on plastic. “I wouldn’t really call us a metal or doom band,” says guitarist Josh Rothenberger. “We are an experimental band that just uses elements of metal to help realize our vision. I guess our biggest fanbase is now people from metal backgrounds, but we’re playing shows with a lot of experimental and noise bands as well. We love the fact that we’re nomads in that way, and aren’t really tied down to one clique of music.” With a membership made up of visual artists and filmmakers, Bloody Panda’s hands-on aesthetic lends depth to the band’s stellar doom and gloom. From Ohara’s artwork adorning the booklet for Summon to the band shooting and editing the visuals for the 20-minute-long film that accompanies the song “Miserere,” Bloody Panda have an indelible signature to their sound. Probably the most obvious visual impact the band has is their donning of masks, save for Ohara. “I wanted that aesthetic for the band from the very beginning, and I just came across the masks in this antique store in New York City. I wanted the audience to be more focused on Yoshiko because we really formed the band around her. I really like the ambiance the masks create and they’ve produced a love/hate reaction from the audience, but we really don’t want people to be concerned with our facial expressions or what kind of haircuts we have.” WITH CORTISOL AND GHAST AT |
