The Tennessee black metal group Lenax are this week’s featured Meet The Band artist. Their full-length debut Infection has just been released. Vocalist Venomous, guitarist Mordred and drummer Bones introduce us to their band.
Chad Bowar: Give us a brief history of Lenax.
Venomous: This was originally both a solo project as well as kind of intending to be a one off, to satisfy this longing need to make music “one of these days.” I paired up with some session guys and did some co-writing, but the love for playing live was just infectious. I think about six months in I started putting a band together, and about six months later played our first show. Now about 18 months after the first show and two EP’s, the band is putting out a full length.
It is largely an extension of the solo phase in style, lyrical content, and with me at the helm of most of the direction, but with input form the group. We are already in the demo phase for the next one, where we will be working together from day zero towards something not only more collaborative, but we are cultivating some truly unique and creative ideas with the music.
Describe the songwriting process for Infection.
Venomous: Everything starts with an initial idea or inspiration, usually a guitar riff that invokes a certain mood be that anthemic, tense, dissonant, atmospheric, just one spark of an idea. I iterate through a few variants, drop in drums, and normally just follow the flow of a song and how I want it to move me, which is why we often have changes in the timing, tempo, and vocal styles throughout the album and even within one song. Lyrics come last, and those are always in turn based on what emotions and moods that inspires in me. At that point we have the first demo, and it’s presented to the band who adds their ideas.
What will be your strongest memory of the recording of the album?
Mordred: One night, I got to Venomous’ place with the intention of writing something. He showed me a pile of riffs sort of mashed together and explained the lyrics. He told me we needed to add a chaotic element to the song, and I just said “press record” and made a dissonant array on top. Thus, “Hive Mind Apocalypse” was born.
What was the biggest challenge in its creation?
Venomous: Consistency and time management! It is super easy to drop something for a day, then it becomes a week, and the next thing you know you haven’t played your instrument in fifteen years. The work involved putting an album together takes so much, especially when you need to keep tasks on schedule, communicate via email, and across language barriers. But doing at least something every day, even if small, keeps the process moving.
How would you characterize its style/sound?
Bones: It’s a blend of new and old school black metal, with groove and melody being at the forefront. There’s an undertone of darkness beneath it all, sort of like a twisted demonic figure wearing a brightly adorned robe.
What lyrical topics do you cover?
Venomous: Our lyrics convey a drive towards individuality and free will, using occult and cosmic horror themes. What I set out to do is much deeper than “Oh shucks, the church was mean to me, Hail Satan and kill all the gods.” That only goes so far. If you have broken away from a burden of your past such as religion, or if you have decided that the other person’s gods are not real, then how much effort do you need to spend bitching about it? I am more interested in tearing down the structures that utilize religion as a tool for hate, while also just making myself better. Wrap that inside of occult themes, cosmic horror, and some internal lore, and that’s where we reside.
What led you to go the independent route for its release?
Venomous: Practically speaking, we feel confident enough that our music has appeal that can truly benefit from a mid-sized label, while being humble enough to realize we need to build our brand more.
What are your goals and expectations for the album?
Mordred: Honestly, the fact that we are leaving a print of our art in this world that will forever remain is more than enough reward for me. That said, Infection is the consolidation of Lenax’s sound as a band and sets up the trajectory we’re aiming towards from this time onwards. We shall continue to create and keep doing what we do.
Tell us about the Kickstarter campaign you have planned.
Venomous: We are basically looking to fund the vinyl, and will be launching that soon after release. Self releasing vinyl would be costly, but we are going to put together something small and attainable to help us get that together. It’s not a quick process, as pressing albums typically has an 8-week lead time. We’ll do our best to have some unique packages in there, maybe throw in a few house shows!
What has been your most memorable Lenax live show?
Mordred: Memphis B-Sides was a phenomenal show. We had a packed venue, friends, awesome bands sharing the stage, and broke a string at the very last minute. That show ruled, but the best performances are ahead of us.
What are your upcoming show/tour plans?
Bones: Touring is getting a lot harder for bands, as most of us have seen on social media. Right now we are gearing up towards getting out regionally, and just exposing people to our music. Like with the label thing, we are at the stage of putting in the hard work and establishing who wwe are.
Nashville is known for its strong music scene, at least for mainstream music. How is the extreme metal scene there?
Mordred: There is a solid presence of extreme metal in Music City. We proudly form part of this newborn wave of extreme metal in middle Tennessee.
What are some of your non-musical interests and hobbies?
Bones: I’m a lover of the outdoors and animals: hiking, kayaking and caving are some of my favorite ventures to undertake in nature. I also greatly enjoy tabletop and video gaming, anything from racing simulators to RPG’s and shooters, love it all.
Mordred: I like cooking, painting miniatures, playing tabletop games like Vampire the Masquerade and D&D, and video games. Currently playing World of Warcraft classic 20th anniversary, as well as my 7th run of Elden Ring. I also enjoy reading and collecting books.
What’s the best thing you’ve binge-watched recently?
Bones: To be honest, I’m not much into watching shows or TV lately, though I do binge from time to time. The last show I probably binged was Forged In Fire. I have a desire to get into blacksmithing once I have room for it, I live vicariously through that show for now. Ah you know, Dimension 20 on YT has some great D&D content that I’ve been enjoying as well.
Morded: Severance! I found it fascinating and highly entertaining. Sparked a lot of existential questions
What’s currently in your musical heavy rotation?
Bones: I’m always bouncing around but currently my top 3 albums in heavy rotation are: Empiricism by Borknagar, Primordial Arcana by Wolves in the Throne Room and Foundations of Burden by Pallbearer.
Mordred: I’ve been listening to Rome’s Flowers From Exile album a lot lately, as it is fitting with the state of the world. Fever Ray, Enterré Vivant, Deafhaven’s crushing new album, as well as the golden masked monsters Imperial Triumphant’s Goldstar, Zeal & Ardor, Necrofier, Dead Can Dance, John Martyn, Tom Waits, Opeth, Darkthrone… I listen to a plethora of music.
Anything else you’d like to mention or promote?
Bones: Honestly, just take care of each other man. I think it’s too easy to separate ourselves from our humanity when we’re stuck online or on our phones. Put the devices down once in a while, go do something outside with those that you love and remember that we’re all headed to the same destination in the end. This is all we’ve got, so try not to fuck it up for yourself and for others.
Mordred: Check out our full-length Infection out now everywhere. We’ve got a few local shows booked, and we’re booking for the rest of the year. Keep it metal, brutal, and black. Hail!
(interview published June 28, 2025)
Watch Lenax – “The Voices” Video
