The Italian extreme metal trio Brainsore are this week’s featured Meet The Band artist. Their debut album is The Grip Of The Naked Mind. Drummer Don Gulag introduces us to his band.
Chad Bowar: Give us a brief history of Brainsore.
Don Gulag: The band was founded during spring 2022 in Modena by Don Gulag & Holy Father, later on Horcrux Urethra (ex-Jesus Ain’t In Poland) was recruited and the trio focused on songwriting and live activity. As far as we finalized the first songs we planned to enter The Netherworld Studios and gave birth to the first full length. The whole thing was completed during summer 2023. Meanwhile we got in touch with Time To Kill Records and his mastermind Enrico, who offered us a great deal. The Grip Of The Naked Mind was released via Time To Kill Records on August 2, 2024.
Describe the songwriting process for The Grip Of The Naked Mind.
Basically Holy Father comes along with some guitar riffs and together we arrange the song structure during rehearsal. All of our songs come out by the interacting energies and efforts of the three of us.
What will be your strongest memory of the recording of the album?
The recording sessions took place at The Netherworld Studio, den of one of our best friends Nino, so actually the whole thing came out within a very friendly and familiar vibe, as if we were home processing our greatest passion… making music.
What was the biggest challenge in its creation?
We always aim at creating the most personal, unobvious and precious style and constantly challenge ourselves in order to forge a unique and highly recognizable identity. Thus be it: overwhelming the average and looking further.
How would you describe the album’s style/sound?
It’s a mix of death metal, grindcore, hardcore, sludge and sometimes melodic overtures. We believe it to be a vivid, wild and dynamic creature, the most natural projection of our old school attitude and progressive views.
What inspired the album title?
The album title relates directly to the lyrical topics each song develops, it’s like an admission of how powerful and terribly true the mind’s inside jobs can be.
What lyrical topics do you cover?
Lyrics consider hystorical and somehow weird topics in a dramatized, sometimes traumatizing and visionary perspective. They focus on human nature and the notable consequences most of the deeds of flesh lead to, permeated by a strong hint of sarcasm.
How did you come to sign with Time To Kill Records?
The mastermind and owner of Time To Kill Records, Enrico, is well known within the underground scene, by the way we’ve all known him for quite a long time. We also played together with Undertakers (Enrico’s former band). By that time he showed interest in Brainsore and later offered us a very good deal…and here we are.
What are your goals and expectations for the album?
The new album kicks hard, we love it and it got us a deal, so this a combo of outstanding goals, nonetheless we wish Brainsore to reach the widest range of listeners and fans, play memorable gigs, get in touch with amazing people and musicians and whatever may come next.
What has been your most memorable Brainsore live show?
The most precious ones took place in Bologna, when we played at Freakout with Blood from Germany, and a couple of gigs we played in Slovenia, at Mostovna (where we played headliner) and in Dobrovo, where we’ve been receiving the most heartfelt treatment ever. People sometimes happens to reveal themselves as unique gems.
What are your upcoming show/tour plans?
We just fixed few more gigs across Italy and we’re planning a few ones abroad during fall 2024.
How did you get started in music?
When music shocks you while still a child and keeps shaking you for the years to come…and then you decide it is time to pick up that damned thing, be it a guitar, a bass, a drumset or a mic…now you know how you may get started!
Who were your early influences and inspirations?
Multiple forms of old school extreme metal, be it death metal, grindcore, black metal, etc…
What was the first metal concert you attended?
1997, Mayhem in Milan.
What are some of your non-musical interests and hobbies?
Movies, traveling, birdwatching and swearing at the sky.
What’s currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Almost everything ending up being a commercial suicide.
(interview published August 3, 2024)
Watch Brainsore – “The Mangrove Diaries” Video
