In 1995, the year Mindsnare released their debut album Under Fire, Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett was closing schools and stealing car races, Today Tonight made its television debut, Babe was a hit on cinema screens and Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" sat atop the charts.A lot has changed in life and the hardcore punk scene in the 22 years since, but the Melbourne legends continue to punch out tight and aggressive metallic hardcore and today –seemingly out of nowhere – dropped their latest full-length album Unholy Rush.
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The irony of calling their fifth studio album, and first in ten years, Unholy Rush is not lost on the four-piece but earlier this month they released two new seven inches Into Infinity and The Holy Bull Rides Fast. 50 lucky fans who preordered the records were also randomly sent the new album as a bonus surprise.Tracks from both the singles and record were recorded in the same session by Jason Fuller at Goat Sound and mixed by Kurt Ballou at God City Studios and continue Mindsnare's trademark aggression with heavy riffs of guitarist Beltsy and ferocious vocals of Matt Maunder.Listen to the track "Gateway To Madness" and read a chat we had with Beltsy and bassist Nigel Melder.Noisey: So what's the story with this new album?
Nigel Melder: Originally it was going to be three seven-inches. But then I think we were getting a bit too ahead of ourselves and it was getting a bit too much trouble. So as soon as we had enough songs, which was about 15, we worked out we were going to do two seven inches, two new songs and a cover on each. Then we were going to pick 50 random people who pre-ordered the first two seven-inches and send them the new record.Was the album recorded around the same time as the single?
Nigel: Yeah we recorded all 15 songs at once. The idea was Graham's, [Nixon,Resist Records] who's always wanted to do something like this. We're not career-driven, we go on tour once every three years. These days it's three shows in a row and that's it. So, when Graham brought up the idea with me, I was really into it - the surprise record. I spoke to the other dudes and they were into it. So we recorded all the songs and sat on them for awhile. It took awhile to get the art all together.
Nigel Melder: Originally it was going to be three seven-inches. But then I think we were getting a bit too ahead of ourselves and it was getting a bit too much trouble. So as soon as we had enough songs, which was about 15, we worked out we were going to do two seven inches, two new songs and a cover on each. Then we were going to pick 50 random people who pre-ordered the first two seven-inches and send them the new record.Was the album recorded around the same time as the single?
Nigel: Yeah we recorded all 15 songs at once. The idea was Graham's, [Nixon,Resist Records] who's always wanted to do something like this. We're not career-driven, we go on tour once every three years. These days it's three shows in a row and that's it. So, when Graham brought up the idea with me, I was really into it - the surprise record. I spoke to the other dudes and they were into it. So we recorded all the songs and sat on them for awhile. It took awhile to get the art all together.
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Who did the art?
A guy in the States named Daniel Shaw who calls himself Sawblade. He's done stuff for Insect Warfare and other bands. So when the record comes you will be able to place the two singles over the album it would make up an image.
A guy in the States named Daniel Shaw who calls himself Sawblade. He's done stuff for Insect Warfare and other bands. So when the record comes you will be able to place the two singles over the album it would make up an image.
Mindsnare hasn't changed that much.
Beltsy: We still do it for the same reasons we did when we started. Four guys who want to play heavy music and have fun with it. You can tell by the style that we play that we've never tried to do anything more than that. Sure our style may have changed here and there. The hardcore/metal scene has changed over that time but in many ways it's still pretty similar.Are you going to do shows?
Nigel: Yeah. Realistically, we play one show a year but we are going to do a tour for this release, as well. We're going to do Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane. For us, that's a lot. We haven't been to Brisbane for two years and Sydney for four years.We're older now, we fly everywhere. We enjoy playing with local bands.If you're over 40 than you're allowed to fly. Plus air travel is so much cheaper than it was 30 years ago.
Nigel: Yeah, back then it was like $400 to fly to Sydney and that was in 90s money when it was $5 to get into the show. So we used to drive everywhere. But now it's kind of tough to ask a support or co-headline band to come on tour with you to do Sydney on the Friday and Brisbane on the Saturday. I mean bands will do it and drive 10 hours on no sleep but that's a young guys game and people die doing that shit. I don't want anyone doing that just to play the show.
Beltsy: We still do it for the same reasons we did when we started. Four guys who want to play heavy music and have fun with it. You can tell by the style that we play that we've never tried to do anything more than that. Sure our style may have changed here and there. The hardcore/metal scene has changed over that time but in many ways it's still pretty similar.Are you going to do shows?
Nigel: Yeah. Realistically, we play one show a year but we are going to do a tour for this release, as well. We're going to do Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane. For us, that's a lot. We haven't been to Brisbane for two years and Sydney for four years.We're older now, we fly everywhere. We enjoy playing with local bands.If you're over 40 than you're allowed to fly. Plus air travel is so much cheaper than it was 30 years ago.
Nigel: Yeah, back then it was like $400 to fly to Sydney and that was in 90s money when it was $5 to get into the show. So we used to drive everywhere. But now it's kind of tough to ask a support or co-headline band to come on tour with you to do Sydney on the Friday and Brisbane on the Saturday. I mean bands will do it and drive 10 hours on no sleep but that's a young guys game and people die doing that shit. I don't want anyone doing that just to play the show.
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Do you still get a buzz out of playing live?
Beltsy: Family aside, playing is my favourite thing on earth. I'd do it every fucking night of my life if I could. The same with touring I'd do it every night. I will be the one who continually says "Yes, I want to do it." [laughs] A few of the guys have to pull my head in line sometimes and say "We can't play every single weekend in Melbourne." [laughs]Was there much jamming for this record?Beltsy: We tracked the record with [Jason] Fuller and then we sent it to Kurt Ballou from Converge, at God City. He recorded our split with Ringworm in 2012. We did thatDisturb the Hiverecord in 2007 and that was our last full length. That was also with Kurt Ballou and tracked by Fuller. He does a real good job at capturing everything as it sounds.He is someone you can trust.
Nigel: Definitely. I've recorded two other bands with him, The Hard Targets, a straight up punk band and then recently, I did one called Modern Fidelity, that's more like a post-punk The Replacements-y, Husker Du melodic stuff. Each three bands, all completely different sounds. Fuller fuckin' nailed the authenticity, because he listens to a lot of records. He's extremely knowledgeable in a lot of shit.
Beltsy: Family aside, playing is my favourite thing on earth. I'd do it every fucking night of my life if I could. The same with touring I'd do it every night. I will be the one who continually says "Yes, I want to do it." [laughs] A few of the guys have to pull my head in line sometimes and say "We can't play every single weekend in Melbourne." [laughs]Was there much jamming for this record?Beltsy: We tracked the record with [Jason] Fuller and then we sent it to Kurt Ballou from Converge, at God City. He recorded our split with Ringworm in 2012. We did thatDisturb the Hiverecord in 2007 and that was our last full length. That was also with Kurt Ballou and tracked by Fuller. He does a real good job at capturing everything as it sounds.He is someone you can trust.
Nigel: Definitely. I've recorded two other bands with him, The Hard Targets, a straight up punk band and then recently, I did one called Modern Fidelity, that's more like a post-punk The Replacements-y, Husker Du melodic stuff. Each three bands, all completely different sounds. Fuller fuckin' nailed the authenticity, because he listens to a lot of records. He's extremely knowledgeable in a lot of shit.
It's cool that there's always a level of excitement with each new Mindsnare release.
Nigel: Even if it takes us three years to record, I mean, fuck it took us ten years to put out a new record. We've been really lucky that people still care, every show sells out.
Nigel: Even if it takes us three years to record, I mean, fuck it took us ten years to put out a new record. We've been really lucky that people still care, every show sells out.
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Who's coming to your shows?
Nigel: It's a broad mix. It's a mix of kids into metal, into hardcore. Random dudes.Old dudes from the scene?
Nigel: It's a weird thing, we've got a lot of young guys coming to the shows. To be honest, I don't know why a 21-year old dude gets into our band. It's cool that they do and I think it's great that people care but I don't know how. We don't advertise, we don't push ourselves, we don't go do supports anymore.So if you're a 17-year old kid and you're into Mindsnare, where do you begin?
Nigel: Judging from most people's responses, it's likely Hanged Choked Wrists Slit from 2001 or the The Death from 2004. I think the 2007 record didn't go down so well, we play a few from it but most people seem to like those.You are happy with the new one?
Nigel: I'm really stoked on how this new record sounds sonically. We're really lucky that Kurt was happy to work on the record and that Fuller did a really good job. Everyone did a great job and it sounds unreal… almost like 15 times better than our previous records. However, with people, it's always gonna be about old records and that's cool too.Do you get much "fuck, it's Mindsnare again. Another record, they were great then, they should've chucked it in then"?
Nigel: There's probably been enough breathing space that people may be ready to digest it. It doesn't mean they'll like it, or that they'll care. Maybe they'll give it go and say, "that song's alright". We'll never play a show just full of new songs. We might play two or three new songs in the set because if people are coming to the show, they know what they want.
Nigel: It's a broad mix. It's a mix of kids into metal, into hardcore. Random dudes.Old dudes from the scene?
Nigel: It's a weird thing, we've got a lot of young guys coming to the shows. To be honest, I don't know why a 21-year old dude gets into our band. It's cool that they do and I think it's great that people care but I don't know how. We don't advertise, we don't push ourselves, we don't go do supports anymore.So if you're a 17-year old kid and you're into Mindsnare, where do you begin?
Nigel: Judging from most people's responses, it's likely Hanged Choked Wrists Slit from 2001 or the The Death from 2004. I think the 2007 record didn't go down so well, we play a few from it but most people seem to like those.You are happy with the new one?
Nigel: I'm really stoked on how this new record sounds sonically. We're really lucky that Kurt was happy to work on the record and that Fuller did a really good job. Everyone did a great job and it sounds unreal… almost like 15 times better than our previous records. However, with people, it's always gonna be about old records and that's cool too.Do you get much "fuck, it's Mindsnare again. Another record, they were great then, they should've chucked it in then"?
Nigel: There's probably been enough breathing space that people may be ready to digest it. It doesn't mean they'll like it, or that they'll care. Maybe they'll give it go and say, "that song's alright". We'll never play a show just full of new songs. We might play two or three new songs in the set because if people are coming to the show, they know what they want.
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Your shows are still considered an event which doesn't really happen anymore for a local band.
Nigel: The lack of care on our behalf helps! No-one has tried to make the band bigger. Don't get me wrong though, in the 90s, when we were younger, we'd be out on tour but now we're not taking tour offers to make the band bigger. We're not trying to play bigger rooms or increase the ticket price. We're doing what we do and people like that.Do you still get a buzz out of playing live?
Beltsy: Family aside, playing is my favourite thing on earth. I'd do it every fucking night of my life if I could. The same with touring I'd do it every night. I will be the one who continually says "Yes, I want to do it." [laughs] A few of the guys have to pull my head in line sometimes and say "We can't play every single weekend in Melbourne." [laughs]Is there a big American band that's doing similar stuff to you that that you admire?
Nigel: I can easily say Ringworm. They've got good records, their last two records are fucking unreal.Is their core unit of the band still there?
Nigel: Definitely. They've still got some of the same songwriters and they're in the same boat. They do what they do and they don't seem to pander to trends or the hype. They've seen lulls and peaks of success. Obviously, they are more active than we are. When you listen to a Ringworm song, you're listening to Ringworm. I wouldn't say they are a kindred spirit but we have a lot in common with them, we've toured twice with them and did a split with them. When you go out on tour with them, everyone's listening to the same kind of music, similar things. None of us pander to anything.
Nigel: The lack of care on our behalf helps! No-one has tried to make the band bigger. Don't get me wrong though, in the 90s, when we were younger, we'd be out on tour but now we're not taking tour offers to make the band bigger. We're not trying to play bigger rooms or increase the ticket price. We're doing what we do and people like that.Do you still get a buzz out of playing live?
Beltsy: Family aside, playing is my favourite thing on earth. I'd do it every fucking night of my life if I could. The same with touring I'd do it every night. I will be the one who continually says "Yes, I want to do it." [laughs] A few of the guys have to pull my head in line sometimes and say "We can't play every single weekend in Melbourne." [laughs]Is there a big American band that's doing similar stuff to you that that you admire?
Nigel: I can easily say Ringworm. They've got good records, their last two records are fucking unreal.Is their core unit of the band still there?
Nigel: Definitely. They've still got some of the same songwriters and they're in the same boat. They do what they do and they don't seem to pander to trends or the hype. They've seen lulls and peaks of success. Obviously, they are more active than we are. When you listen to a Ringworm song, you're listening to Ringworm. I wouldn't say they are a kindred spirit but we have a lot in common with them, we've toured twice with them and did a split with them. When you go out on tour with them, everyone's listening to the same kind of music, similar things. None of us pander to anything.
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The Mindsnare that I know hasn't really changed for the last 15 years.
Nigel: The band definitely altered from 95…Beltsy: We still do it for the same reasons we did when we started. Four guys who want to play heavy music and have fun with it. You can by the style that we play that we've never tried to do anything more than that. Sure our style may have changed here and there. The hardcore/metal scene has changed over that time but there.What happens next? You can't switch off.
Beltsy: I will never switch off. I stupidly think that Mindshare can go forever but obviously there will be awayYou must be proud of your legacy.
Beltsy: Yeah, I think we are all proud of what we've done. It's been fun and it has been such a big part of all our lives. I still love the band.
April 21 - Sydney at the Bald Faced Stag
April 22 - Brisbane at the Crowbar
April 28 - Melbourne at the BendigoImages: Nicole Goodwin
Nigel: The band definitely altered from 95…Beltsy: We still do it for the same reasons we did when we started. Four guys who want to play heavy music and have fun with it. You can by the style that we play that we've never tried to do anything more than that. Sure our style may have changed here and there. The hardcore/metal scene has changed over that time but there.What happens next? You can't switch off.
Beltsy: I will never switch off. I stupidly think that Mindshare can go forever but obviously there will be awayYou must be proud of your legacy.
Beltsy: Yeah, I think we are all proud of what we've done. It's been fun and it has been such a big part of all our lives. I still love the band.
'Unholy Rush' is available now on Resist.Catch Mindsnare at these shows:
April 21 - Sydney at the Bald Faced Stag
April 22 - Brisbane at the Crowbar
April 28 - Melbourne at the BendigoImages: Nicole Goodwin