Thrash metal is getting very popular these days again and I am very enthusiastic about it. The new breed of youngsters is respecting the norms but adding an extra touch to their unconformities. There is a new act in Austin that is making its way into the scene and the outcome looks very promising. CATHEDRAL OF PAIN’s members answered our call, got together and introduced the band. “… We are from Austin, TX and formed in mid-2023. We are Influenced by the legendary MEGADETH, SLAYER, and OBITUARY.  We first met Craigslist jam basically. I ended up knowing some guys. Rob jammed with us in the past and we formed with a previous drummer and vocalist who also jammed at Sonance Studios…”

 

Austin is one of those cities where music walks the streets and hills. Metal is everywhere as there are lots of acts from different genres and venues that host countless tours and musical events all year long. CATHEDRAL OF PAIN talks about what metal means for the band and what drives them into the game: “… Metal is a release. When you realize you are basically a slave to industrialized society and there's no real escape, rather than beating your head against the wall, turning to violence, or off yourself; you just pick up a down-tuned guitar and scream into a microphone. We are a mix between jokes, random acts of violence and a general frustration with human nature. We try to say what we mean, but also not take ourselves too seriously. Nothing more annoying than people up their own ass politically or otherwise. Anything we write that has political aspects is mainly just a tip of the hat towards like-minded fans. The idea is to offer an escape from the bullshit rather than serve as another reminder. We get enough of that literally everywhere else…”

The band continues mentioning its views from the local scene: “… The metal scene is a little odd in ATX. Lots of super far-left black metal acts that get a little too preachy for a bunch of dudes in leather and lace with faces covered in corpse paint. It's like a bunch of gender studies dropouts who spent their last paycheck at a spirit Halloween store and went on stage to protest shit they don't understand. There are some good thrash and death metal acts and I'm hoping to see more of an emergence of that scene…”