Doomed Confessionary: Alice Gawlinski (Mothertomb)
Mothertomb is a doom/stoner metal band hailing from the deep woods of Northern Michigan in the American Midwest. Founded in 2025, the band consists of Alice Gawlinski on vocals, Chance Gawlinski on guitar, Alton Minor on bass, and Mike Benitez on drums.
Mothertomb’s debut full-length album »Dying To Live« was just released on July 14th, 2026. Across its five tracks, the record explores themes of transformation, suffering, transcendence, and the timeless struggle between darkness and light. Drawing inspiration from Welsh folklore and the shadowed corners of the human psyche, the songs traverse landscapes inhabited by ancient spirits, inner demons, and the forces that shape the human condition.
The album unfolds through layers of metaphor, allegory, and introspection, inviting listeners into a world where darkness and illumination coexist. From brutal heaviness to moments of eerie beauty, »Dying To Live« is a journey through the depths of the human experience.
Created entirely as an independent DIY effort, the album was written, recorded, produced, and artistically directed by the band itself. »Dying To Live« stands as a testament to that labor of love, and Mothertomb are honored to share it with the world.
Can you please say a few words about your band?
Mothertomb is an emerging doom metal band from the rural woods of Northern Michigan. Conjuring crushing riffs with a dark, ethereal resonance, Mothertomb’s haunting and hypnotic sound channels influence from various genres, including doom, heavy psych, stoner, and prog. For fans of: Windhand, Black Sabbath, Pentagram, Candlemass, and Acid King
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Honestly, I cannot think of any significant challenges. We are a 100% DIY band, so juggling our day jobs and family lives alongside creating all the music, artwork, and social media content for the band keeps us very busy, but the reception we are getting – including this interview – is extremely rewarding and keeps that drive going between the four of us.
What can you be most proud of so far?
We are most proud of being a 100% DIY band. I (Alice) do all the album artwork and art designs, Chance and I manage the social media pages, Alton does all the mixing, mastering, and engineering work, and Mike handles all our streaming distributions. Additionally, we have family and friends who have assisted in various avenues, but yes, everything is done in house between the four of us. No label, no investors, no outside producers… just the band!
What was your biggest regret?
No regrets. We have worked incredibly hard to get to this point. If anything, we wish we could have done this earlier in life… but it’s better to be late to the party than not be there at all. 😉
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
We have only played 3 shows, but without a doubt the best show so far has been opening for Pentagram in Cadillac, MI. Their crew was so pleasant to work with and they treated us with total class the whole day. It was so surreal to be the support for a band that has been such a pivotal influence to part of our sound.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
The heavy underground scene is without a doubt the most encouraging and supportive scene. From my observation, there are very few egos in the room. Everyone just wants to support each other and lift each other up. This level of community engagement is what makes this such a thriving scene, and we are so incredibly grateful to be included in it.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
All of us in the band draw so many types of musical influences and are always listening to an eclectic range at any given time. Personally, I’m listening to a lot of Cocteau Twins and Faith No More (and other Mike Patton projects).
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
To just go for it. Life is short and you don’t want to wonder “what if?” for the rest of your life. If you have art and you want to put it out there, please just do it and share it with the world. You never know who needs it. We are humbly discovering that our music has brought something special to others. To be an outlet for another is a very special accomplishment for us.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Creed… 😀
Can you say something more about the current music scene in Michigan?
We are based in Northern Michigan, USA. While there is little to no scene in the rural north, we are starting to develop an encouraging fanbase in both Grand Rapids and Detroit and other areas in the Midwest.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
Our last show was this Friday, July 17th in Grand Rapids Michigan at The Pyramid Scheme. This was our album release show and we were joined by our Michigan brothers, Solar Monolith, Bog Wizard, and Temple Of The Fuzzwitch. Additionally, we are also booked to Play HUFR Fest II in Denver, CO in May 2027.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Our debut album, »Dying To Live«, was just released on July 14th. We are very excited to share it with the world. We will be playing shows wherever possible to support it. We will also be going back to work to start writing the second album which we are very excited for.
How can people best support your band?
People can support us by following us on our social media (FB, IG, TikTok) and sharing us with others. Additionally, you can purchase a physical and digital copy of our debut album, »Dying To Live«, through our Bandcamp: mothertomb.bandcamp.com. The album is also available to stream on your preferred streaming platform.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Without you, we wouldn’t be able to do this. Thank you for accepting us, sharing us, and supporting us. We hope to see you at a show soon! 🖤
Links:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well