Barbarian Hermit have released a statement of intent with this record which could see the band make huge strides within the Sludge/Stoner Metal scene and it's well deserved. Their debut album was released back in 2018 and it feels that Barbarian Hermit have unfinished business which they blend hard-hitting UK Politics with soaring grooves that impressed me how topical the record can actually be.
I caught up with Mike Regan (Guitars) from Barbarian Hermit to discuss the making of MEAN SUGAR and this is what Mike had to say..
Mean Sugar is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via APF Records
Hi Mike. How are things with you all today.
Mike: Very well thanks!
For people not in the know, can you give a brief history of how the band came together and where it is today.
Mike: Absolutely! My previous band BisonHammer had come to an end due to members moving away to study and travel etc. We had a little success and a good following, winning the Metal 2The Masses Manchester event to play Bloodstock in 2009, but when it ended I very much still had the hunger and urge to write music and get back out there. As always..The riff compelled me... It started as myself and original drummer Loz Brindley in a mould infested mill in Stockport, Greater Manchester and our original bass player. We recruited Adam Robertshaw as second guitarist during this time from a super cringe post on facebook that I wrote (please don't hunt it down ) and he and I have been trading riffs ever since. A few line up changes along the way and we are now hands down the best version of the band. It takes a lot of hard work behind the scenes even for a band of our size.
APF has been instrumental in elevating us out of the amatuer stages. Massive respect to them and to all of our prior comrades though, they're not forgotten. Especially Loz.
Why did you call yourselves Barbarian Hermit
Mike: I'm too tired and broken from the weekend to come up with an elaborate story, I'm sorry! Truthfully, because it sounds doomy, stonery, sludgy and metal. There's no deep and meaningful here! I just wanted a name that would loosely define the sound that I wanted the band to have and that would draw the audience that I wanted to play it to. Some would say that that's cynical. I would say people like to have an indication as to what a band is about and can make their own conclusions after hearing the music. That's not universal though, plenty of others do it differently. It's certainly a common factor of our scene and we're very deserving of satire in that regard. In fact Hogwarts Bukkakke are one of my favourite bands, and beers.
How would you describe your overall sound for your upcoming new album Mean Sugar This has a more sweet natured or “DOOM POP” vibe compared to your heavier debut album. Though still full of epic progressive jams and Classic Hard Rock grooves.
Mike: I'd agree with that in part. We've also had catchy/poppy almost Weezer esque parts on the first album too. There's no plan when we go in the room to write. No one says "I want this riff to sound like Jason Statham!". It just has to slap, be concise, musical and serve a purpose. We've learned how to cut the wheat from the chaff over the years. I'll agree that there's definitely more of a classic rock feel, we're getting older and more appreciative of the pioneers.
What can people expect from the album and what is the creative outline or story for the album. As I noticed some hard hitting subjects currently affecting the UK political landscape. Was that because the album was written and recorded during a turbulent time for you all.
Mike: Hopefully people can expect to relate to the themes of many of the songs. It's all personal and universal. Growing up in the ruins of an empire, putting your own dignity above all, being compromised by your position and circumstances. Some of us in the band are overtly politically inclined, me being one of them.
Others aren't so we haven't centered the album around recriminations nor have we used it to set out our own manifesto. It's more "Kitchen sink" than that. It's more akin to a really loud series of The Royle Family or Shameless. Otherwise it wouldn't be fair and it wouldn't be the honest representation of the five of us. There's a strong history of political activism in heavy music that I love though. A lot of the more inclusionary and enlightened artists have changed my life and continue to influence me greatly, I could talk about them all day long. There's also a far darker political aspect lurking in the wider realms of heavy music that we're all well aware of but we won't waste our breath on them.
Where did the name Mean Sugar for the album come from
Mike: It was so named by our singer Simon about the bitter-sweetness of existence, how life’s highs often come at the cost of pain. Ever present illness, horrors and death; but also as ever present is joy, beauty and life.
It's also about dissociation. Refusal to live life at face value. Whether that means drink or drugs, nose candy (another mean sugar) or other vice, or telling yourself lies, or an escape through fantasy... how we have to top that up with more mean sugar. Hair of the dog.
Was this an easy or hard album to record compared to your debut album.
Mike: We had a superb time during the recording with our lovely Joe Clayton at NØ Studio in Manchester. We can't recommend him highly enough. I have to mention that his band PIJN are fucking phenominal by the way. It was harder in the sense that we're far more serious than we ever have been as a unit and we focussed heavily on Pre-production. Our drummer Gaz has become very proficient at recording and mixing at home so we've ended up with some very high quality demos of the tracks on the album also. It was essential for us to be as prepared as possible before going into the studio. Time is very much money in this regard so we had to ensure we did our homework and dealt with any problems before we sat down to record. We've learned a lot. We're still learning.
What is the creative process or setup within the band? Do you write the music together or do certain people within the band do that.
Mike: It's very much a group effort and we like it that way. Adam and I usually write the majority of the guitar parts pretty much 50/50. Sometimes written at home, sometimes in the practice room. The rest of the instrumentation is down to that individual but Si and Bobby will also throw in some parts they've written on guitar here and there, just as we'll give the odd addition lyrically or with the odd idea on drum parts. Everyone has agency and input .. It's how we've always worked.
Did your daily struggles, challenges and uplifting moments in life shape up the creative outline for the album
Mike: Absolutely, as mentioned the album is thematically broad but fundamentally about a personal experience. How we navigate through and around challenges and bad experiences and revel in and revere the good times. We can't let the bad times turn us into bad people, nor can we let the good times turn us into ignorant people. That's the Mancunian code.
APF Music is releasing your album and it’s good to see that you’re continuing that relationship. How did you hook-up with APF Records and did you have any offers from other labels to release your new album.
Mike: We got to know Mr Fields on the metal scene in Manchester during the infancy of the band, I think it may have been our second ever show actually and he was a fan. He set up APF in large part to give a platform for the bands that were really making a noise on the scene but hadn't been lucky enough to be picked up by a label yet.
You're from Manchester, UK. What is the local Hard Rock and Heavy Metal scene like there. Is there a thriving gig scene and community that allows you to perform regularly or do you have to travel further afield to perform on a regular basis.
Mike: The scene is thriving! The current state of it is rather more orderly than it used to be. Local bands have seriously well run and decent venues to play in now. The local promoters often help out bands with support slots when bigger artists come through on tour, there's very much a community and it's growing all the time.
I'd like to mention in a slightly broader context that cooperation and integration between bands and promoters over the North of England has had a huge impact on the health of the Rock and Heavy Metal scene in the UK. From Jon Davis from Conan in the Wirral to The Hull Noise Collective on the East Coast. Inbetween, Riffolution Promotions Manchester, Lizard King, Iron Boar Promotions Bradord, Tapestry Manchester, Bodach Promotions...it goes on and I'm sorry if I've missed anyone off the list. We massively appreciate you and what you do.
What future gigs have you coming up and will you be promoting the album more this year
Mike: We have the album launch on August 3rd at Rebellion Bar in Manchester. Tickets available at https://www.seetickets.com/
What are your favourite venues when you have toured in the past. Any particular venues or locations you always look forward to when touring.
Mike: We love The Undeground in Bradford, The Key Club in Leeds and we're practically the house band at our beloved Rebellion in our home town of Manchester. The Arches in Coventry, Big Red and the Dev in Camden. Shout out to Laurie et al at theThe Bridge/Hive in Rotherham too, cracking venue and lovely people. They all are. Although anywhere with two flights of narrow stairs is always hard to love when you have a full backline to carry up them..
How would you describe the live BARBARIAN HERMIT experience.
Mike: Lots of kisses, large bearded men embracing, sweat and beer flying everywhere. You'll be stained somehow. Chanting, vibrating, shaking and love-making.
What bands or artists influenced you to pick up an instrument and to become a musician.
Mike: Personally, it was Slash from G'n'R that lit my fire when I was 11. As I'm sure many could say. Not long after that Pantera and Sepultura hit me like a sledgehammer and my brain was completely infected. I've never looked back. Honorable mentions to Tom Morello, Stephen Carpenter, Wes Borland and Devin Townsend. I've also been obsessed with what Meshuggah are doing since Catch 33. They're beyond mere words!
Do you have any side projects that folks can check out.
Mike: I don't at the moment but I keep threatening to start a highly conceptual project with our previous drummer and close friend Loz Brindley! Our drummer Gaz has a little side project lined up but sadly I can't say anything about that just yet.
Before you go, do you have any words of wisdom for your fans currently out there
Mike: Love yourself and be excellent to each other. Seriously.
Words by Steve Howe and Mike Regan
Thanks to For The Lost PR for arranging this interview and to Mike for taking the time out for doing this.
Mean Sugar is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via APF Records