Haserot Takes The Throne
Metal Messiah Radio Band of the Month chosen by the MMR faithful.
For over 18 years, Metal Messiah Radio has been here doing what we do: playing metal, supporting the underground, backing the bands, working with the labels, and giving real metal fans a place to call home.
We have had a lot of great Bands of the Month through the years. Every one of them earned their spot in one way or another. But this time, it hits a little different.
This month, Haserot rises to the top not because we simply picked them, but because the listeners made their voices heard.
Through player votes, fast play web requests, email requests, and support from the MMR faithful, Haserot earned this spot. This is not just another Band of the Month title.
So to Haserot, horns up. You earned this.
To the MMR listeners, this one belongs to you too.
You voted. You backed them. Your Band of the Month.
Band of the Month: Haserot Talks Advent of Suffering
For readers who may be discovering the band for the first time, how would you describe who Haserot is and what drives the band?
The band is definitely a brotherhood of individuals who truly love the old approach to death metal, particularly the Swedish sound, but we also blend it with a healthy dose of our love for American classics like Morbid Angel. Our intent is to create songs that balance that brutal aspect with a sense of melody and memorable songwriting.
Haserot does not feel like a lineup that was just thrown together on paper. There is a real Texas underground history running through the band, with members coming from death metal, doom, heavy metal, and other extreme music backgrounds. How much does that shared experience and scene connection shape the way Advent of Suffering sounds?
It's a huge factor. I think it provides us with a canvas that differs from a lot of our peers. There's a whole lot of influences being thrown into the mixing bowl and that tends to add a lot of texture and color to the riffs and arrangements.
Does having that many different backgrounds make the writing process easier because everyone brings something different, or harder because everyone has strong opinions?
Probably a little bit of both. There's no shortage of ideas and we make sure all ideas are heard, but at the end of the day we are going to go with what works best for the song.
The Band
Haserot already had credibility in the Texas underground, but now this album has bigger names attached and real label support behind it. Does Advent of Suffering feel like the band’s next major step forward?
Absolutely and its been a long road to get here, but we are happy everyone is finally going to hear this album. With that being said, we are already waist deep into the next record, so the wait will not be as long for the next one!
Throne of Malice helped establish Haserot in the Texas underground, and by the time this album arrives, it will have been a little over four years since that debut EP. For fans who were there from the beginning, what do you think they will hear in the new album that shows how the band has changed, grown, or sharpened its sound?
Well, for one, I think this release is more concise and focused. We went into the studio extremely prepared, in fact, that was one of the first comments from our engineer. "You guys are much more prepared this time!" (laughs) We had a lineup change between the EP and this album, with Garrick Smith (Helstar, The Scourge) replacing Ben Yaker on bass. This added a whole new dimension to the songs we were working on that became this record. Both are amazing players with different styles.
The album is called Advent of Suffering, and the record was tracked back in December 2023 before finally getting release in 2026. So what has been the real suffering: writing it, recording it or sitting on it waiting for the thing to finally come out?
Honestly the latter, we knew when we did it we had captured lightning in a bottle. Obviosuly, we wanted it to come out sooner, but in this business sometimes what the band wants doesn't line up with what the label has going on at the time, so decisions have to be made. The music speaks for itself, regardless of what year is time stamped on it, I think that's what is most important.
Haserot is releasing Advent of Suffering through Redefining Darkness Records. What made that label feel like the right home for this album?
Thomas is an awesome brother in arms, he took a chance on us with the EP, and ultimately, we wanted to have our follow up release on the same label. The roll out on the EP was strong for an unknown band, so we figured it would be stronger this time around, and so far that has been very much the case. Just saw an ad for the album in the June issue of Decibel Magazine.
In underground death metal, the physical release still feels like part of the ritual the cover, the layout, the vinyl, the CD, the whole thing. With Advent of Suffering getting digital, CD, and vinyl treatment, does Redefining Darkness help give the album the kind of physical presence this music deserves?
Without a doubt, absolutely. This is the first time any release I have been on is available through mainstream avenues like Barnes and Noble. To me, that's the icing on the cake to have the possibility to reach those other audiences. It's not a guarantee, but it's a possibility.
Back in the days, a lot of us discovered metal by Staring at album covers in record stores and taking a chance before hearing a single note was a big part of discovering metal back in the day. Advent of Suffering has artwork by Juanjo Castellano, logo art by Diablo Macabre, and layout by Thulio Franco. When you saw the finished visual side of the album, did it feel like the kind of cover that could pull someone into Haserot before they even heard the music?
Yes, and that is something that I think Juanjo is special at achieving. It gave me similar vibes to seeing artwork by Dan Seagrave back in the day when we were first discovering this music.
Marc Grewe, James Murphy, and Andy LaRocque showing up on the same album is not exactly small-time stuff. At what point did it hit you that this record had turned into something bigger? On top of that, you also have Dan Swanö mixing and mastering the album, so this record has a serious death metal pedigree around it. Did that make Haserot raise its own standards?
Well, Dan Swano also did the Throne of Malice ep, so the standard was there, it was just a matter of upholding that standard, which he definitely did this time around on his part. I think we gave him killer material to work with and the results speak for themselves. The guests were an organic thing, me and the boys were out drinking and at the conclusion of the night we started naming people we wanted to work with. James was the first, and in the conversation it was like "what if we got Andy LaRocque?" So we contacted both, not expecting both to say yes, haha! Marc came about after we were actually turned down by someone, and I for one am glad that person turned us down, because Marc came in and delivered the goods and we are better for it!
“Cruentis Omega” is the shortest track on Advent of Suffering, and it immediately took me back to those classic death metal instrumentals and dark interludes that gave old records more atmosphere before dragging you back into the brutality. Was that kind of old-school pacing intentional, and what is the story behind that track?
It was definitely intentional, we had discussed an acoustic interlude basically from the beginning of writing for this album. Something in the vein of Gorguts "... And Then Comes Lividity," which I think Maurice delivered on quite well.
“Curse of Haserot” might be my favorite track on the record. It has that old-school death metal power, the riffs hit hard, the atmosphere is there, and then you have James Murphy and Andy LaRocque adding their fire to it. Since it closes the album, did that song feel like the perfect way to end Advent of Suffering, almost like the final boss of the record?
Yeah, I think having that as the album closer was always in the plans, we pay a lot of attention to sequence when it comes to finalizing an album. Initially we wanted that song to fade and have the ending of the album fade. But Andy played right up to the very last drum fill and we felt it would be sacriligeous to fade Andy LaRocque. (laughs)
If someone checks out the album because they recognize the guest names, what do you hope makes them stay for Haserot?
The fact that if they are checking it out because of those names, they are into the same music we are that brought those names to the table. Those are our riffs they are performing over. The songs speak for themselves across the board, and in the instance of "Curse of Haserot," Maurice holds his own in his epic guitar battle with James and Andy, lol, it's like he was Chuck Jr. In fact, Dan Swano has dubbed that whole section of "Curse fo Haserot" as the "Guitar Wars."
The band gets compared to that classic death metal era of Morbid Angel, Entombed, Bloodbath, and Carcass. Which drummer from that time hit you the hardest growing up?
Most likely Steve Asheim. Deicide remains one of my all time favorite bands. He had the speed of Pete Sandoval and the power of Donald Tardy and he is still delivering with that same intensity to this day.
You’re not the kind of drummer who just blasts over everything. When people hear Advent of Suffering, what do you want them to notice about the drums that a casual listener might miss?
I want them to hear how the drums play to the song. Often, there is a lot going on with the feet underneath those riffs. The drum work also often accents vocal patterns that Justin is doing. I think one of the unique things in our approach is once upon a time I was a vocalist, so I hear things that can be accented which makes those moments in songs easier to execute.
Grimm, you have been accused of hating everything everyone else likes, and I’m pretty sure I’m the one who started that rumor lol. Is that fair, or is it just that your standards are higher than most people’s tolerance for honesty?
I was wondering where that came from! Just kidding, I guess some of it is fair and some of it is the latter. People don't seem to like being told the truth. They will say they do, until it does not suit them or their purposes or hurts their feelings.
Do you care more about praise from critics, other musicians, or local fans, and why?
They say everyone is a critic, but at the end of the day, we do this because it is cathartic for us and we enjoy it. We love when people come along for the ride.
With backing tracks, programmed parts, lip syncing, laptop-assisted live shows, and now A.I. becoming a bigger debate in metal, Haserot feels like a band still rooted in actual players and real death metal tradition. Do you think that human element still matters to younger fans, or has the scene become too comfortable accepting whatever sounds heavy on the surface?
I think the scene has become complacent at times. I personally reject AI in music and art. If the human element is missing, I am not interested, simple as that. We do not use backing tracks, no programmed parts, no laptops, its all meat and potatoes, blood and guts death metal. No click, for I am the click.
Brandon Johnson — Rhythm Guitar, you were there from the beginning of Haserot with Maurice. When you look at Throne of Malice compared to Advent of Suffering, what do you hear as the biggest growth in the band?
It would probably be the cohesion of the band. While we have all been friends for a long time, we never really played music together. So Throne was us trying to feel out where this was going to go. Advent is pretty much us in lockstep.
Maurice Eggenschwiler — Lead Guitar, With Haserot, how do you balance writing riffs that feel brutal without losing that hook or groove that makes people remember them?
When I write, I’m searching for a feeling inside that comes from listening to the same riffs that inspire me. If I don’t feel the breath of inspiration, it’s not the riff for the song.
Maurice Eggenschwiler — Lead Guitar / Acoustic Guitars, When you bring acoustic guitar or more melodic ideas into a death metal record, how do you keep it from feeling soft or out of place?
Ask Gorguts that question on ‘Considered Dead’. The texture of the instrument can be molded based on the emotion you wish to convey. When you revel in melancholy and discord, the instrument also weeps.
Justin McKittrick — Vocals, Marc Grewe appears on “Tears in Bethlehem.” As a vocalist, what was it like having a voice with that kind of old-school death metal history on the record?
I mean, I definitely cut my teeth on Morgoth and the like as a young metalhead. Marc turned in an excellent performance and I’m very proud to be in his company here. I think we have very different takes on vocals and the juxtaposition works great. The trade off screaming in the final chorus is blasphemous magic. Haha!
Justin McKittrick — Vocals, Death metal vocals can become one-dimensional fast. What do you try to bring to Haserot so the vocals have character and not just power?
I actually approach death metal vocals in the same way I do “clean” singing. You have to take the listener on a ride with peaks and valleys. Monotone…or worse atonal screaming gets old fast. I try not to forget that we are still creating songs, rather than a collection of riffs and lyrics. You have to be creative with patterns and tonal choices.
Keegan Kelly — Live Bass, you are the newer piece of the Haserot lineup. Now be honest, are the guys treating you nice, or is there still some official Houston death metal hazing going on? Blink twice if you need help.
They gave me Xmas gifts after playing the first few shows as an official member last December if that gives any idea to the vibe of the guys. I run into Justin at the LCS and I argue about new metal releases with everyone. The thing about this band is you have to be a metal audiophile and physical media collector to be part of the group 🤘
Keegan Kelly — Live Bass, What do you feel you have added to the band’s live show? And if we asked the rest of the guys, what do you think they would say Keegan brings to the table?
I would say I bring my specific playing style which is very technique focused while maintaining a “serve the song” rule of filling out the bottom end. I also bring a lot of stage energy and experience, having played shows all across the US and Europe on multiple tours. If you asked the guys I’d say they would mention my ability to learn songs fast with quality, my stage presence and my plug duties 😭 Also Josh is proud to have another Tony Martin fan in the band
What should fans expect from the band next?
Well, we have already begun working on the followup to Advent of Suffering with Keegan now full time in the band,so the wait won't be as long this next time around. As far as direction, I would say we are taking it a step further and beyond, there will be some pleasant surprises. His contributions to arrangements is definitely a force to be reckoned with, he hears things that sometimes we might miss, so we go back and explore and experiment a bit and as a result, the songs are killer! We will be hitting the road where the fans demand, so if you wanna see us live in your town or you wanna take us on the road on a tour, get in touch with us or the label.
Any final words for the listeners and readers of Metal Messiah Radio?
Thank you for your unwavering support and patience for this album, we promise it will be worth the wait! Keep spreading the gospel of the Curse of Haserot!
Band of the Month
HASEROT
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