Doomed Confessionary: Antonio Muriel & Antonio Campos (Red Eye)
Photo by Raul Perez
Red Eye is a stoner/doom metal trio from Antequera, Andalusia (Spain). Formed in 2016, the band consists of Antonio Campos (guitar, vocals), Antonio Muriel (bass) and Pablo Terol (drums).
Red Eye’s megalithic and profound riffs combine traditional doom and psych heavy tunes with both melodic and harsh vocals, fast learners of Iommi and Pike to name their strongest references. In 2019 their debut album »Tales From The Days Of Yore« (Alone Records) laid the foundations of their crushing style.
Following the success of their first album, new bassist Antonio Muriel (Plastic Woods) joined the band and Red Eye quickly started composing their next full-length, which was recorded in the summer of 2020. »The Cycle« (Alone Records, 2022) explores new sounds, yet it retains the unmistakable tone that characterizes the Spanish quartet. This new album arrives in the form of a conceptual work of fiction, pushing the boundaries of the genre into a new story-telling fashion, while staying true to their roots.
Red Eye is currently gearing up to release their third full-length album »III« on February 28th, 2025.
Can you say a few words about your band?
AC: Well, for those who want to know a little more about us, we’re a band from Antequera, a small town located in the center of Andalusia, the southernmost region of Spain. We’ve been making music together since early 2016, and right now we’re about to release our third album, »III«. Time flies, but personally, I still have the same excitement to keep doing what I love as I did when I first stepped into the rehearsal space with the rest of the band. With our previous album, the pandemic hit and we couldn’t push it as much as we would’ve liked. With this new album, we’ve poured everything we had inside into it, and we’re incredibly eager for it to be released, to show it to everyone, and most importantly, to play, play, and play!
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
AM: I think the biggest challenge was transitioning from a quartet to a power trio. Losing one guitar made it harder to perform compositions that were originally written for two guitars. On the other hand, it changed how we compose now, placing more importance on the remaining guitar and the bass.
AC: One of the biggest and most exhausting challenges as a band in a scene that’s further removed from mainstream culture, is getting yourself heard. You know what I mean? When almost nobody knows you, and you have to keep writing emails to promoters, bloggers, festivals, etc., with material that you’ve put so much love into, hoping that someone notices you and calls you to play in their venue. In the end, it’s the hidden side of being in a band, and what I really want is to jam and not do office work. And you don’t even know if you’re doing it right! For example, I handle our social media, email, etc., and I’ve had to learn this “job” through trial and error.
What can you be most proud of so far?
AM: Being able to compose, record, and release three albums is a big accomplishment for me. The fact that we don’t make a living from this means we can’t dedicate as much time to it, which is quite common in the underground scene we’re part of. There are bands that existed when we started that no longer do, precisely because it’s so difficult to keep a project alive while balancing personal life. But here we are, with no intention of stopping.
What was your biggest regret?
AC: Not studying flamenco guitar more professionally. But I don’t mind, I like what little I play, and it’s a very intimate part of who I am.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
AM: For Red Eye, I have fond memories of our concert at Pub Terra in Castellón. That’s where we began testing out new songs, and it’s also where we met Dani Audí, who lovingly runs Discos Macarras, the label we’re now part of!
If we’re talking about the best concert in general, Frankie & The Witch Fingers blew my mind at SonicBlast 2023.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
AC: When we started going out to play in venues, I was surprised by the amount of good people you meet on the road. And I’m talking about both the audience and other bands, venue staff, promoters, etc. There’s a sense of family that I didn’t expect at all.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
AM: Double Horse, an amazing doom band from Valencia. They released an album this year but sadly lost their equipment due to the flooding caused by the DANA storm this past October. Go support them!
AC: Lately, I can’t stop listening to the latest from Slomosa. Those guys are doing really well. I hope we can cross paths at an event!
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
AC: When I was about 12 or 13 years old, I took flamenco cajón lessons, which is the typical percussion instrument used in flamenco, and my teacher, Abel Sánchez, who is a fantastic guitarist (I recommend his band Azuleo), insisted a lot on playing “a compás,” as we say here. That means playing in time, being meticulous, and really knowing the style you’re playing and its rhythm. This lets you play with the time, “step out” of the rhythm and then “step back in” later, and that kind of thing. Thanks to those flamenco classes, which are quite complex in terms of rhythms, I ingrained the feeling of the rhythm in my mind, and it’s something I apply to my playing ever since. It has greatly helped me understand rhythms and metrics.
What are your guilty pleasures?
AM: Burger King has gone from being a joke to an essential stop on every tour we do.
Can you say something more about the current music scene in Andalusia?
AC: The Andalusian underground scene is as strong as ever. If you don’t believe me, listen to Lunavieja, Plastic Woods, Santo Rostro, Serpiente Orión, Ramper, Orina, or Surya, just to name a few. And I’m leaving so many others out.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
AM: We’re finalizing dates to play in Seville, Málaga, Castellón, Madrid, and Portugal, but the list will likely grow!
What are your plans for the future as a band?
AM: Release our fourth album in three years and three days, to keep up with our tradition of releasing albums every three years and three days. I say it as a joke, but it’s actually not a joke, hahaha. Beyond that, we want to improve our live shows by focusing on aspects we hadn’t considered before, like lighting, visuals, and added sound effects.
Do you have any special plans for New Year’s Eve?
AM: As a band, not really. Personally, I’m going to a Mexican-themed party for New Year’s Eve. That’s about it.
AC: I’m going to a rural house with my girlfriend and some friends for a couple of days.
How can people best support your band?
AM: By giving us all their money!!! Nah, any kind of support is welcome – from listening to our music, coming to our shows, or picking up our vinyls, shirts, etc. Honestly, we’re already happy just knowing people listen to us and enjoy what we do.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
AC: Thank you for sticking with us through every riff, every live show, and every album. Your support keeps the fire burning, and we promise to keep delivering music that moves you. Stay heavy!
Oh! And if you’re organizing a festival or are an event promoter and you’re reading this, we’re looking for dates both inside and outside Spain! Write to us at info@redeyeofdoom.com. We’re good people, I swear!
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well