“I get to play power chords!” That’s one of the differences singer/guitarist Mike Mullins points out when comparing his new band, the progressive metal-leaning Mothwind, with his more alternative-rock outfits Underclaire and Year of the Tiger.
Of course, what’s heavy for Mullins isn’t quite as earth-rattling for his band mates, bassist Jeremy Partin of Fayetteville death-metal favorites Vore, and drummer Kevin Rains of Holy Angels.
“This is my first time to write and play harder music … but they don’t even really consider [Mothwind] metal,” Mullins says with a laugh. “It’s heavy for me, but those guys are in bands that are much harder.”
Though there’s not an official release yet, the trio has a pair of demos posted to youtube.com, the crunchy “RedShift” and the Tool-like instrumental “Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle.”
Together since August, Mullins says Mothwind has enough material for an as-yet-untitled album and that the group plans to begin recording in September at Jason Tedford’s Wolfman Studios in Little Rock.
Lyrically, Mullins says, the album will have a gritty, science fiction theme.
For Mullins, this foray into a heavier sound is actually a sort of return to his earliest days of trying to coax tunes out of a six-string.
“I’ve always been a fan of metal,” he says. “That’s what I was playing when I started learning how to play guitar and discovered Metallica. I moved away from that, though, because it’s really hard to play.”
But the thought of playing something that sounded different from Underclaire and Year of the Tiger was pulling at him, and he reached out to old pal Partin, whom Mullins has known since Partin was writing about music for Little Rock Free Press. The pair then wrangled Rains into thegroup and Mothwind was born.
Opening the evening’s proceedings will be Jab Jab Suckerpunch, which features former members of Little Rock bands such as Ashtray Babyhead and Nessie, and Arkansas progressive metal band Enchiridion.
Mullins says Underclaire may play out in the coming months and Year of the Tiger is pretty much on hold for now, but he’s enjoying the time with Partin and Rains and this heavy rock.
“I’m having fun,” he says. “I’m learning how to do different things and pushing myself and doing something new.”Mothwind
Opening acts: Jab Jab
Suckerpunch, Enchiridion
10 p.m. today, White Water
Tavern, 2500 W. Seventh
St., Little Rock
Donations accepted
(501) 375-8400
whitewatertavern.com
Style, Pages 29 on 07/30/2013