Sydney’s Shinto Katana have recently released their new album ‘Redemption‘ and will this week head out on tour with Antagonist A.D. and Lionheart starting in Adelaide on Friday and Melbourne over the weekend followed by Bendigo, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane. We caught up with Mitch from the band this week in The Hotseat. Expand this post to take a read of his answers and remind yourself of the tour dates. You can pick up a copy of the album online [Here].
THE BASICS
Name : Mitch
Band : Shinto Katana
Job In Band : Bass
Website Address : facebook.com/shintokatanaofficial
HOME
Hometown : Penrith
Hometown is best known for : Westies/ Penny Panthers
Best venue in your hometown : Embassy Hotel
Favourite show you’ve seen in your hometown : On Broken Wings & Carpathian @ Embassy Hotel
Favourite show you’ve played in your hometown : Parkway Drive, Wish For Wings, Bad Blood – All Ages Assault @ Penrith PCYC
THE BAND
How did the band first come to exist? Most of the band have been friends since primary school, so basically through friendship and the love of heavy music and I joined later through meeting the guys from going to shows.
How long has the band been going? Since 2005
Any particular story behind the name? From what I’ve been told, it involved a lot of booze and googling weapons haha
What’s your most recent release? Tell us a little about it. “Redemption” Came out on Friday the 27th of July. Being our 3rd release and both previous releases being fairly diverse, I believe this record takes the elements that we liked from the first two and made what I believe is our best release yet! Heavy and melodic. Was also super stoked that we got our mates Frankie from Emmure and Jon Blake of OBW on the release!
Got a personal stand out achievement of your band to date? Touring Asia with For the Fallen Dreams for me has been the stand out. Being able to say that we toured a different continent where English is not even their primary language and people knowing the words to our songs really is a cool feeling
OFF THE STAGE
What was your first introduction to music that made you think seriously about playing it? Mid years of primary school my two older brothers introduced me to heavy music with bands like Metallica, Pantera and Sepultura the aggression of the music drew me in, I knew I wanted to learn it but I didn’t really get a chance to pickup an instrument properly until high school
Any particular band / album or song that you personally credit as a major influence? Master of Puppets- Metallica.. one of my favorite all time records
Your first band name, and what style did you play? Idle threats- Hardcore/metal
Most prized music related item you own? My new Musicman Stingray, always wanted one, finally its mine!
When you’re not doing band related stuff, what are you usually found doing? Working as an electrician, hanging with my girl, chillin with the boys or at the gym.
The thing you most look forward to just before a tour is… Hanging everyday with my best mates and playing shows every night! Sounds cliché but I love that the dudes in my bands are my best mates so getting to pretty much live with them for a couple of weeks is a blast.
The thing you least look forward to before a tour is… Long drives, lack of sleep
ON THE STAGE
When on offer, what’s your one must have item on the rider? Standard but water, I’d seriously die on stage without it
Favourite place you’ve toured… and why? As I said before, south east asia was crazy! We treat it like a holiday and got to play shows to people that actually just appreciated you were there to play for them! No egos, no bullshit.
Most memorable show you’ve played? and why? On our tour with The Red Shore and The War a few years ago, the tour crossed over with another tour that was going around the country at the time on the Gold Coast. This was the Bishop tour, packed venue watching Bishop doing an Until The End cover was amazing, every band on the show killed it!
Got a favourite song to play live? At the moment its “ghost” we released the pre pro version about 10 months ago now and always have such a great response playing it, and I think it sums up the direction of our new record so well
Any embarrassing on stage moments come to mind? Not so much for me but watching Dave stack it constantly never gets old haha
Any pre-show rituals? Stretch? Haha I dunno
What do you find is the hardest aspect of touring in a band today? Most likely the amount of venues closing down. All age venues are on the decline, makes it hard hitting every city and getting our live show to as many people as possible when there are so many venues closing. Everyone needs to realize how important these venues are! Respect them, go to as many shows as you can to support the venue itself if nothing else.
RIGHT NOW
Last song you listened to? House of Pain – The Game
Last album you acquired? Nothing From No One – Antagonist AD
Which band or album is currently on high rotation? Crooked Teeth – House Vs Hurricane… banger
Tell us an up and coming band or artist you think we should go and listen to right now? Aftermath from Sydney, really good band, new cd is heavy and super nice dudes
What’s on the cards for the next few months for the band? Our cd launch tour kicks off with Antagonist AD and Lionheart mid August. Definitely try and hit Perth and a few other places that tour doesn’t hit to try and promote the new release
IF ONLY…
You can pick any one album for your band to cover in full, what would it be and why? Korn- Issues.. Beacause it’s numetal as fuck and is such a great cd!
You can pick any one band / artist to cover one of your albums in full, what would it be, and why? D@sea maybe? His covers are cool, would be very interest to hear our songs done like that.
One band you wish you were able to see live but never had the chance? Pantera, Dimebag the king!
One venue you have yet to play that you would love to? Roundhouse in Sydney, still a venue I’d love to play but haven’t had the chance.
The chance comes up to fill in for a member of a band for one tour, which band would it be, and why? Metallica? Biggest band in the world, would definitely be an experience
A headline tour overseas comes up, tell us two bands you’d take along to support your band. Pledge This! And Deceiver love touring with mates, that would be a funny tour.
PLUG TIME
Got any final words? Redemption is out now, Come to the Nothing From No One Tour.
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‘Redemption‘ available now.
Buy Online [Here]
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