SKULLSMASHER is grinding from California, USA which is currently consists of Andrew (guitar/bass/vox) and Jimi (drums). The band released “Cranial Emulsification” Tape in 2018 (limited edition tapes made by Night Rhythms Recordings) and limited to 25 dubbed cassettes “Promo 2018” through Nameless Grave Records. Debut full-length “Rocket Hammer Brain Surgery” was unleashed somewhere in March/April 2019; CDs by Selfmadegod Records and cassette-tapes via collaboration of Acid Redux Productions and Nameless Grave Records. SKULLSMASHER is recently (in August, 2020) back with new brand EP entitled “Advanced Disco Theory” so you guys should check it out now! – Interview by Harshziqr [13.09.2020]
First of all, please introduce Skullsmasher; history and lineup?
We’re a grindcore band based out of the Bay Area, California. It started with my friend Brandon (Azath, Draghkar) on guitar, and some of our other mutual friends on drums and bass. They put out a demo but got super busy and dropped the project; me (Andrew, I also do Azath and Ripped to Shreds) and Brandon got to talking about doing a super fast grind band and decided to revive Skullsmasher, and we wrote an album in a couple of weeks and put it out with Selfmadegod records. Jimi (Human Obliteration) joined the band on drums maybe half a year after that: he was moving up to northern California for school so it worked out that me and him would be able to jam together. Brandon ended up quitting cause he was too busy with all his other stuff going on, so now it’s just me and Jimi.
Please describe your music and sound? Bands that influenced?
We play fast melodic riffs and fast blastbeats. I mostly do high vocals. Some of the big influences on our music would Gridlink, Cloud Rat, Insect Warfare, Orchid, or Deterioration.
What are the topics and messages written in the lyrics?
The lyrics are all about my feelings. I’m not good at expressing myself directly, so I have to disguise them in metaphor. In Skullsmasher, I don’t write about video games or anime purely because I enjoy that particular show or game a lot, but because a particular scene or image is reminiscent of some feeling.
Tell us further about the latest release “Advanced Disco Theory”?
I wrote it quite a while ago… I would say around mid 2019, and we recorded it at the end of the year. It took a while to come out since our original plan for it fell through. I wanted to focus on the melodic elements that were present in Rocket Hammer and bring them to the forefront, and also up the crusty punky feel. But there’s still a lot of straight forward grinding.
What would you like to say about “Rocket Hammer Brain Surgery”?
It’s a bit different stylistically from Advanced Disco Theory. It’s less subtle and more like a brick to the face with the blasting and thick riffs. It actually uses a drum machine, not a human drummer. I’m still very proud of it and plan on playing quite a few tracks off it live.
How do you see the band progressed musically since the early days?
When Brandon started it was more like Impetigo and Repulsion, thick death metal and primitive grind. Now it’s just fast fast fast.
Next releases and future plans?
Next is a split with Fake Meat; Harlan (Bodies Lay Broken, The Men’s Toilet) on guitar/vox and Sleazy Derek (Myxoma, Brain Corrosion) on drums. They’re finishing up their full length album but next on their plate is our split. They’re good friends of mine and have performed on a bunch of my releases, Derek sang live for Ripped to Shreds in Taiwan and I played guitar in Extremely Brutal with Harlan at Antimusic Fest.
Also once this pandemic bullshit is finally over me and Jimi will be performing these songs live ASAP… The Men’s Toilet was supposed to come to California and we were going to play with them but obviously all that got canceled.
Thanks for your time. Last words?
You can still grab our new EP from our bandcamp. Also be sure to check out the recently released Human Obliteration album! Stay grind and stay fast!
