Doomed Confessionary: Bake, Bill, Eric & Nik (Kiritsis)
Kiritsis is a doom-tinged, sludgy death & roll band from Indianapolis, Indiana, blending the heaviest elements of metal into a sound that’s both relentless and groove-laden. Drawing influences from Neurosis, High On Fire, Carcass and Crowbar, their music combines crushing riffs, atmospheric doom, and aggressive death metal with a hardcore spirit.
Formed in 2024 by members of Base Defiler, Hatesong, Sundown and Trenches, Kiritsis just released their self-titled debut album on April 4th, 2025 via Wise Blood Records and Pout Records. From the first roar to the final uppercut, »Kiritsis« is a brawl of crushing riffs and defiant rage. These songs are sledgehammers of rebellion and bare-knuckled dissent. After a year of writing and recording, the band is preparing to bring their punishing live show to the stage.
Kiritsis consists of Bake Henry on vocals, Bill Scott on bass, Eric Mason on guitar and Nik Jensen on drums.
Can you say a few words about your band?
Bill: I’ve been playing in bands since I was teenager and this is the most fun I’ve ever had. Everyone knows what they are doing and the songs come together easily.
Bake: Kiritsis has been a breath of fresh air for me. It’s been really awesome getting back together with Eric and Nik because we used to play together almost twenty years ago and you’d think we had never stopped playing music together. Everything has gone really smoothly. Very excited about the future for Kiritsis.
Nik: We are a reunion of sorts from something we did 20 years ago with brand new songs, name and members. This is something we’ve been wanting to do for years and now that we are all older it’s become possible for us to make it a reality. Our sound is not even remotely the same and our 20 years of continued experience with other bands has helped us develop this new sound. It has been a blast!
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Nik: For me personally, geography. I live an hour away from Indy. But the trips are always worth the drive and what we are able to achieve in small amounts of time is surprising.
Eric: Probably just finding the time to get together and practice/write. Between work, family, and illnesses we have to do our best to make our time together count.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Bill: I’m proud of the album. I think it sounds pretty damn good.
Nik: Our ability to get straight to business and make things happen while having fun at the same time.
What was your biggest regret?
Bill: I’d say last year my biggest regret musically was not playing more. I get sad when I don’t play music.
Nik: Not doing this project sooner.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Eric: We have only played one show, so far, so that has to be the best. We took a different approach and tried to have this album ready to go before we really started playing out. We have only been a full four piece band for 6-7 months or so. It’s also important to note we have 8 songs that clock just over 30 minutes, so we didn’t even really have a full 25 minute set until we had about a full album anyway. We got some shows lined up and we are looking forward to play out more.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Bill: I’m constantly surprised by the music scene here in Indianapolis. There are so many amazing bands. Flesher, Void King, Veilcaste, Rituaal, Graveripper, Idiot, Obscene. Those are just off the top of my head.
Nik: For me personally all of the bands and talent in Indy. A lot of us in the music scene have interests in different genres and a lot of us have multiple projects. I see everything from all styles of metal to punk, post punk electronic and industrial stuff. It’s refreshing to see.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Bill: Godflesh’s »A World Lit Only By Dub« just came out on vinyl and is amazing. Generation Of Vipers newest album, »Guilt Shrine«, came out a few months ago but I can’t stop listening to it. I’ve been going back and listening to ISIS’s catalog recently. Fellow Indianapolis boys Rituaall’s first EP, »Elimination, Extermination, Eradication« is crushing.
Bake: Lately I’ve been into a lot of old outlaw country…lots of Johnny Paycheck, Waylon Jennings, George Jones. Some new country stuff too. Artists like John Moreland, Arlo McKinley, Benjamin Todd. Lucero. Tim Barry.
As far as heavy music goes, Sanguisiggabogg, Crossfire, Neurosis, Craft, Necrot, Ringworm, Integrity, Modern Life Is War.
Indianapolis bands – Wet Denim, Bingo Boys, Crisis Actor, Crossfire, Slur, Ritual, Veilcaste, Colossal Man (ft Wayne), Cairo Jag, Hyper Tensions, About The Fire (RIP), Gunmask, Tatakae. I’m sure I’m leaving some out…
Eric: The new Daevar, and BloodDuster.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Bill: Don’t play in a band with assholes. No matter how good of a musician they may be.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Bill: I have many musical guilty pleasures. Although I guess I don’t really feel guilty about them. I love 90’s hip hop, funk, pop, groove. It has to have groove. Budos Band, Sade, Lettuce etc…
Eric: Yacht Rock.
Bake: I have a ton of guilty pleasure. I fucking love 90’s radio rock. Gin Blossoms, Counting Crows, Matchbox 20, Candlebox.
Nik: I have nothing I’m ashamed of.
Can you say something more about current music scene in Indianapolis?
Bake: The Indianapolis scene is killing it right now across every genre. So many good bands in town. Lots of good venues to play at.
Eric: There is just loads of talent in Indianapolis, so it’s easy to be a fan of the bands we get to share the stage with. We have some really cool venues and relationships with other bands even in the Midwest region makes it easy to do some light travel/touring to gain new audiences.
Nik: Like I’ve mentioned before, endless talent flowing through the scene. And the artists all support each other as well as promoters.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
Bill: So far all of our upcoming shows are in Indianapolis but we would love to branch out and play Louisville, Chicago, Cincinnati, etc. Our next show is our album release on 4/19/25 at the Melody Inn with fellow Wiseblood label mates Crisis Actor. It is their album release show as well.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Bill: We’re gonna just keep playing and writing.
How can people best support your band?
Eric: Just enjoying our music and sharing it with their friends. We just would like everyone to hear it and hopefully enjoy it. Come out to shows and hang out with us.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Nik: Thanks for taking the time to check us out! We appreciate it greatly!
Bake: Be excellent to each other…smoke weed…eat the rich.
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well