Doomed Confessionary: Ramón Rodríguez (Inerth)
Photo by Jota
Inerth is a death/sludge/industrial metal band from Madrid, Spain. Their latest EP »Hybris« was released on July 5th, 2024 via Abstract Emotions.
Taking inspiration from bands such as Godflesh, Napalm Death, Neurosis, Corrupted, Celtic Frost, Amebix and Killing Joke among others, Inerth claims for the spirit of ’90s best extreme transgressive sounds showing the band ecletic influences, melting past and present in an own style based on their contemporary contexts and realities. Unafraid of experimentation and going beyond boundaries, their message being one of awareness for both obvious and occult harsh realities while offering a willful light of passion, constancy and resistance in these dark times.
Inerth are Santiago (vocals), Makoko (guitars), Víctor (guitars, synths), Ramón (bass) and Moya (drums).
Can you say a few words about your band?
Inerth was born in Madrid in 2019 just after the dissolution of our previous band (the veteran grindcore act Looking For An Answer) to create an amalgam of harsh-but-pondering music designed to reflect a lifelong passion for sounds ranging from death metal to sludge incorporating doomed and industrial soundscapes. In this first 5 years of existence, we have recorded and release a self-titled debut 12″ EP (2019), a demo during the Covid-19 pandemic (2020), a full-length 12″ LP, CD and cassette album »Void« (2022) and the latest new 12″ mini-LP »Hybris« (2024).
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Possibly the composition process and subsequent semi-live studio recording of our last mini-LP »Hybris«. We’re a restless band and we tried to risk with the experimentation of our sound in a time when some members of the band were going through some difficult personal situations. Finally managed to give our best at the worst moment.
What can you be most proud of so far?
We had the will to break up an acclaimed and established band like LFAA was in order to create Inerth from scratch under an absolute uncertainty. We’ve been friends for 25 years, managed to live together on tours and we have tried to create the music that we would like to listen to at all times. Be courageous, regardless of the greater or lesser success obtained, and keeping intact our friendship, is perhaps our greatest pride.
What was your biggest regret?
Personally, I don’t believe in regret, but rather in learning from mistakes.
Photos by Sergio Vieites Canedo
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Our tour with Godflesh, was an unforgettable experience. They’re one of our biggest influences and one of the bands we respect and admire the most. We could learn something about their sound and had many conversations with Justin Broadrick in which he gave us answers to questions we had always wanted to know.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Just the absence of surprises. I think the music scene has fallen into a comfortable and numbed immobility and a loss of creativity for the last 20 years due to the immediacy and oversaturation of new contents that our current society demands.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Basically Black Sabbath and a lot of bands from the 80s & 90s like Killing Joke, Godflesh, Celtic Frost, Swans, Amebix, Napalm Death, Neurosis, Entombed, Repulsion, Scorn, Unsane, Corrupted and Lustmort among many others, but also contemporary bands like Realize, Blood Incantation, Chat Pile and Eternal Champion.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
The fact of being clear that becoming a serious and respected band requires many personal sacrifices beyond the discipline of rehearsals, the waste of money and the loading and unloading of heavy backline.
What are your guilty pleasures?
There’s no guilt in pleasure, anyway, my pleasures consists of enjoying the simplest things like buying and listen vinyl records, movies, literature, taking routes to contemplate nature, eat good vegan food and drinking beer or wine in company of my best friends and band mates.
Can you say something more about current music scene in Spain?
Currently, not too much in Spain beyond the bands that would deserve real attention here: Altarage, Homeless Network, Avern, Orthodox, Convulsions, DeathControl, Oide, Voul, Totengott, No Sanctuary, Traidor, Lazharus and some others.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
Next week we start an 8-date tour together with the Catalan metal punk band Avern in Spain where we’ll present »Hybris« live. These are the dates and locations:
Aug 30 – Burgos – La Guarida
Aug 31 – Cangas – The Trooper
Sep 01 – Santiago – Potemkin
Sep 03 – Oviedo – Lata de Zinc
Sep 04 – Santander – Rock Beer the New
Sep 05 – Zaragoza – Utopia
Sep 06 – Barcelona – Upload
Sep 07 – Madrid – Starving
What are your plans for the future as a band?
To continue growing through building our own identity and our own sound.
How can people best support your band?
The best way to support a band is always go to their live shows when there is a chance to do it, and buy their albums, as simple as that.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Thank you Bojan / Doomed Nation for the interview. Listen Inerth and buy our merchandise through inerth.bandcamp.com. All our records are also available through the record label abstractemotions.com. Cheers!
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well