A Dirty Dozen with MB from MALTHUSIAN – July 2025

Photo credit: Kate M

According to a recent press release: “Dublin-based death metallers MALTHUSIAN are pleased to share their “Eroded Into Superstition” single. The track is taken from their impending deathly opus, The Summoning Bell, set for release August 8th via Relapse Records. On their highly anticipated new album, MALTHUSIAN’s fetid hallmarks are ever present: truly unforgiving, unrelenting death metal. Swirling chords and ominous cymbal swells give way to the band’s opener “Red, Waiting.” What follows is a flurry of murk and madness – blastbeats pummel against churns of distortion. The sonic atmosphere cultivated by MALTHUSIAN’s palpable fury is suffocating; each riff carefully crafted to push and pull on the momentum behind their music. The Summoning Bell is undeniably a pitch-black take on the genre.” We get guitarist / vocalist MB to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release. What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through? Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

The Summoning Bell is our most elaborate and fully realised piece of work, in my mind. The album was written to be experienced as a complete piece and with that, is intended to reveal itself more with repeat listens. Absorbing the listener and dragging them further into the suffocating abyss. Music has become more disposable and all too easily digestable. I find those releases don’t tend to have any great staying power. It’s a subjective experience so I can only speak to my own.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

My parents were into music and we lived next door to a music store until I was 9 so it has always been a major part of my life. Ireland is a very musically rich country. I knew I wanted to be a musician from as long as I remember.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

I started playing drums at the age of 9 or so and was first fully taken by Nirvana. That was the first of many obsessions throughout the years. Everything naturally developed from there and metal wasn’t far behind.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

I’d like to have Shane MacGowan shouting drunken obscenities on a track. Alas, it’s not to be.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour? What do you like to do to unwind?

I like to drink myself into an absolute stupur and envision the downfall of England. It gives me an enormous sense of contentment.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Unhinged. Punishing. Trancelike. There were endless, and frankly lazy comparisons to Portal in reviews for previous releases. Not to take away from Portal, loved their first few records but they are a different beast entirely. The use of atmospheric as a description of music in general is also ridiculous to me.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

We all “get the drinks in” and if someone wiped out an acoustic guitar the only crack would be the guitar over their stupid head.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

I work in a venue so it doesn’t really happen. Robert Plant about 12 years ago was cool to see but that also wore off quickly when a workmate suggested throwing a can of beer at him.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

Banging my head and growling at people. I’m a part-time musician and have a day job that I enjoy, so I’m good.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

I am not a fan of interviews so no question is ever welcome, the notion of having a desired question is total anathema to me. My feeling is that art being overly explained takes away from the experience. I understand that is not everyone’s opinion and I myself read interviews but that’s where I am with it, personally. The list of questions I am tired of answering is unlimited.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

I have a lot of reservations about the recording and production of our previous album, Across Deaths. It was a draining process with an unwanted result but it I still wouldn’t change it as it is just another part of journey.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

The Happy Mondays recording whatever album it was when they went to Barbados and blew the entire advance on drugs. Sounds great. The experience that is, I’ve never heard the album, nor do I like The Happy Mondays.

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Category: Interviews