Super Monster Party seamlessly merges metal with video game nostalgia, delivering a high-energy, immersive experience. We dive into their creative process, iconic tributes, and the story behind Rage Quit!
1.
Congratulations on the release of "Rage Quit"! Could you tell us
about the creative process behind this album and what inspired you to blend
metal with video game nostalgia?
My creative
process is to not only write a song from the perspective of the character but
also find an emotional connection between us as the listener and said
character. Our song Another Castle is a perfect example of that. If you
know the game, you'll easily pick up on the references. If you don't you can
still connect with the message of the song. It's a very powerful thing, in
my opinion, when you can accomplish that.
2. Your
music offers an immersive experience, with narrational interludes that feel
like a story unfolding. How did you develop this concept, and what do you hope
listeners take away from it?
The concept
was always to create this immersive story where you could lay down and
just close your eyes and go on a journey through all these classic games, most
of us grew up playing. It was an idea I had for many years but never had the
time to focus on until the last couple of years.
3.
"Rage Quit" features an alternate narrative path and various iconic
video game worlds like Mortal Kombat and Super Mario. What were some of the
challenges of capturing these universes musically?
I think the
hardest part was not trying to stick to a mold of how the song should sound
collectively for the sake of a flush album. From the inception, I always made
sure that the priority was to capture the essence of each game as it was
part of the soundtrack and let the narrations make the interconnections between
worlds.
4. Your
new Super Mario-inspired lyric video "Another Castle" is a fun
tribute! What made you choose this game for a video, and how did you approach
bringing the classic game’s themes into a metal sound?
Well most
of the videos we released so far have been heavier tracks and I wanted to
showcase something that was different from the rest of the songs. The approach
to Another Castle was always to look at it as a love song where the hero(
mario) never gives up searching for their princess, but she's always
somewhere else.
5. Could
you tell us more about the free-to-play 2D game "Permadeath" that
accompanies the album? How did this game come together, and what role does
it play in the overall experience?
So our
"Permadeath" 2D game was created as a way to create an even more
immersive experience for our listeners. The idea was to create a game that used
the song tracks in the background and took you into those worlds where you can
battle yourself and determine your own outcome based on the events of our
story.
6. SMP
has a fascinating mix of influences, from NOFX to Rhapsody to Van Halen. How do
you balance these varied genres to create a cohesive sound for each song?
I
wouldn't consider it a balance. I think I just do what's best to capture
the essence of the song and the styles will naturally blend together. Some
songs will be heavier. Other songs like "Blue Hurricane" are more
symphonic or punky. In the end. It's always about what's best for the
song.
7.
You’ve released several albums since 2020, each with unique themes. How has
your sound evolved over time, and what new ground do you think you've covered
with "Rage Quit"?
I think my
sound has slightly evolved since the first album. It was one of the reasons we
wanted to revisit some of the previous songs from other albums and give them a
fresh coat of paint. We are definitely heavier.
8. What
inspired you to create Clone Hero downloads for your album tracks, and how do
you feel about fans getting to play along with your music in this way?
I found it
a great way for people to learn and hear our songs at shows that might have
never gotten a chance to hear us. Kinda just involved from there.
9. Each
song on "Rage Quit" seems to reflect a different video game, with
specific references to characters and settings. Do you have a favorite track or
video game homage on the album?
I
love each track in it's on way but If I had to pick one, Id say
"Castlevania" because it was the first song I ever wrote for the band
back in 2019 before I took this project off the ground.
10. Your
live shows must be incredible, given the high-energy and multimedia nature of
your music. What can fans expect from a SUPER MONSTER PARTY concert?
Our
concerts are highly interactive video game experience with
an unpredictable and high energy performace. We truly leave it all on
the stage every night.
11. As a
band with deep roots in video game culture, what do you think is the future of
video game-inspired music, and what role do you hope SMP will play in it?
I think
video games are here to stay for a very long time. We will continue to pay
tribute to some of our favorite classic games for years to come.
12.
Looking ahead, what’s next for SUPER MONSTER PARTY? Any plans for more
albums, new game collaborations, or maybe even more multimedia projects?
We are
looking to tour for 2025 so that's all we have so far in the books. We will be
announcing things real soon!
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