Text/Interview via Canadian Metal Hell
MITOCHONDRION are a blackened death metal band hailing from Vancouver, British Columbia. In their 8+ years as a band, they’ve released 2 full lengths and a split with fellow British Columbian band Gyibaaw. With profound international success touring with Inquisition, the band is well-known throughout the North American metal scene.
I recently had the pleasure to ask Nick Yanchuk (guitar and vocalist) a couple questions regarding Mitochondrion and more…Interview after the jump!
Q – At this point in your life, who or what inspires or motivates you to create music?
A – Nick: The songs we have written to date are not heavy enough, powerful enough, evil enough, dark enough, or twisted enough. We have to keep going. We burn up good ideas as time passes, but hopefully that’s balanced out by our increasing knowledge of music, our instruments, each other, and the human condition.
Q – Archaeaeon and Parasignosis are absolute masterpieces and definitely are [in my opinion] Canadian Metal treasures. After reading reviews on Metal Archives and other on and offline reviews, what was your reaction to such excellent criticism?
A – Nick: All this positive criticism as of late is motivation to play live more often, and put more work into our live show. We still are in our growing stages as a band, and we still have to work hard and live up to what praise we get.. After couple more albums maybe we can just sit back and relax..hahahaha.
Q – You guys must hate being asked this in interviews.. but I noticed you get compared a lot to Portal (AUS). Ever thought of doing a split or something musically with Portal?
A – Nick: No, we haven’t. In my imagination right now, I’m hearing something fucking insane and killer, BUT I still don’t know how we’d top the Rites of Thy Degringolade/Portal split. Also if we did such a split, to me, it would just seem like we’re trying too much to be like Rites.
Q -“Mitochondrion” is an organelle that generates most of the cell’s supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), used as a source of chemical energy.” That is the literal definition of your band name, but what does Mitochondrion really mean to you?
A – Nick: We get this question a lot, so I’m going to be brief with my answer: Mitochondria are thought to be originally, parastic bacteria that survived consumation. They now are intrinsic to life. Mitochondrion are also responsible for programmed cell death. The suffering, pain, and plague you ingest in your life, is what gives you your life, and brings you to your death, and there is nothing you can do about it.
Q – Shawn and Nick.. you both have some disgusting Death metal vocals! I mean that in the nicest way possible. Would you say that the vocals are the key element in your songs? Do you think they define your genre?
A – Nick: Between the two of us, I believe we cover a decent range of death metal/black metal vocals. Its moreso we have the ability to pick what kind of vocals we want where, rather than they themselves being the key elements. I do think though, that our vocal scope is large part of what gives us the whole black/death stamp instead of one or the other.
Q – What are your thoughts on the Black, Death and Heavy metal culture today?
A – Nick: At the end of the day, I fucking love it, but sometimes I think people go a little too far identifiying themselves soley based upon their music subculture. You don’t have to go dragging metal into every little tiny fucking thing you do in your life order to be respected as metal. I used to think so, but nothing did I reap from living like that…sadly.
Q – You guys are playing Rites of Darkness III in less than 6 months! You must be excited to share the stage with some Black and Death metal legends. Also a few fellow Canadian bands (Weapon, Akitsa, and Adversarial). Who are you most thrilled about sharing a stage with?
A – Nick: PAGAN ALTAR. HOUR OF 13. Ok, let me settle down for a sec. Dead Congregation, Mournful Congregation (what’s with the congregations?), Adversarial….fuck…THE LIST GOES ON.
Q – Mitochondrion is on Profound Lore Records. Along with Slough Feg, YOB, Portal, Agalloch and more. Have any of you had the chance to see or play with your label brothers?
A – Nick: We’ve seen Slough Feg, Played with Portal and Antedeluvian, have yet to see YOB and Agalloch or Stargazer…We’re pretty big Slough Feg fans actually.
Q – Favorite metal releases in 2011 so far? Least favorite?
A: Nick: Favorite? Maybe Nader Sadek “In the Flesh”?. It’s bloody difficult…so many good releases this year. The new Blut Aus Nord kills. As a least favorite, Morbid Angel would be cheating…
Q – What does the future look like for Mitochondrion?
A – Nick: Canadian shows will have syncronized smoke and lights. We will start integrating new songs into our set. For the most part, we will just be playing one off shows, supporting touring bands here and there, and maybe doing fests.. Might be able to squeeze a week or two of tour into a summer here and there, but don’t count on it. We work slowly, but there are no signs of stopping EVER.
Q – Anything else to add?
A – Nick: BEWARE! (Your Trials have already begun!)
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