Interviews    Church of Misery
by Daniel Hodgson

Proving that doom is an international language, Japan's Church of Misery crank out some of the most turgid and raw riffs this side of vintage Black Sabbath. Their early, hard-to-find material gets a pretty penny from collectors on Ebay and 2000's Southern Lord release Master of Brutality still gets accolades on it's primal brilliance. Hellride Music's roving reporter Daniel Hodgson chats with Church of Misery founder and bassist, Tatsu Mikami on the empty vocalist slot, the upcoming album and much more.

Hellride Music: So, how is the search for a new vocalist going?

Tatsu Mikami: We placed an advertisement in some Music/Rock magazines and are still looking for the new singer. Also, we have stuck the advertisement in record stores and venues, etc. Already we've been auditioning some singers, but there were not talented people corresponding to our band.

Hellride Music: What led to (former vocalist) Yoshiaki Negishi leaving the band, anyway?

Tatsu: As you know well, we are doing other projects independently. It is because we think that good influence can be obtained by being concerned with the music of various styles. Firstly, SONIC FLOWER, this is a heavy blues influenced heavy rock band. Our first album was released June 10th on the Japanese brand new heavy/doom label Leafhound Records. Me & guitarist "Hoshi" play in this band. Next,"THE G.A.T.E.S", me & Yoshiaki Negishi formed this band with some Japanese hardcore band's friend. We play Motorhead influenced Hardcore rock n' roll. Also we'll release our 1st vinyl on Japanese hardcore label on May 25. Also Yoshiaki plays in a hardcore band Assault- He liked the Hardcore Punk from the first. It was decided that priority was given to the hardcore band and he concentrated on "Assault". It seems that he is not interested in doom/heavy rock any longer, which is regrettable.

Hellride Music: Does it matter what area of the world the new vocalist is from?

Tatsu: We are a live band. The live show is carried out 4 times or more per month. Someone Japanese is sufficient if they are able to carry out this live activity in large numbers. Probably, there is not a foreigner with this type of mindset... coming to Japan to do live shows. We might have immigrate to a foreign country! Ha!

Hellride Music: How is the new album coming along and what can you tell me about it?

Tatsu: Sure!! All the material for the new albums coming out is completed. It is because two years or more have already passed since our Master of Brutality album was put out. Almost all the music recorded on the new album has already been performed live. The music to already enjoys popularity here. You will be blown away from the opening track of the new album!

Hellride Music: Are there any plans on compiling all the 7" and EP songs and putting them on a CD?

Tatsu: Good question!!!! Leafhound Records to which I talked previously is doing it. It will include all materials before the Master of Brutality albums like - Born Too Late (split w/ SHEAVY), Taste the Pain (Mini CD), Murder
Company (split w/ IRON MONKEY) and all materials from Various artists & tribute albums - 2 hours on 2 CDs!!!! Maybe they'll put out it in the summer or fall this year! Even now, there is much inquiry. However, we do not have stock of CD. Early items of us are "hard to find" items. However, everybody's trouble will be lost if this is sold. It's a perfect item!! Don't miss it!!

Also our old material from '96, recorded by the original line up will be put out as a split CD with some tracks from Acrimony (before they split up). This will be put out by Game Two Records this summer. The Boston Strangler EP was repressed last year. It was limited to 400 vinyl copies and sold out only in three weeks!! This will be put out on CD with one bonus track also this summer.

Hellride Music: Will Church of Misery ever tour North America?

Tatsu: Of course! When the next album is out, we'll attack USA!! It will become like the violent live gigs in Japan. Please come to riot! Ha!!

Hellride Music: If you could tour with one band right now, who would it be?

Tatsu: Ummm....this is very difficult question... We want to play with more than just one band. But we really want to play together with High On Fire. We played together in their Japan tour last year.

Hellride Music: What is the doom scene like in Japan?

Tatsu: There is no doom scene,here in Japan. It can be purely called "doom" because only Eternal Elysium exists with us. However, we have been playing with bands of various underground genres like Hardcore/Psychedelic Rock/Noize/Punk etc. for five years or more. We are especially popular among the hardcore audiences. Conversely, we don't have this popularity with the heavy metal audiences, ha!

Read the Hellride Music review of Master of Brutality

Purchase Church of Misery's Master of Brutality at The Hellride Music Super Store

Listen to a Real Audio sample of Megalomania (Herbert Mullin)

Visit the Church of Misery website at www.d7.dion.ne.jp/~church

Copyright 2002-2003 HellrideMusic.com
Interview by Daniel Hodgson 6/29/03