Doomed Confessionary: John Flynn (Sod The Earth)
Sod The Earth is a dadcore doom/sludge band from Grand Rapids, Michigan, screaming into the void between missing your son’s T-ball practice and total existential collapse. Fueled by Kirkland brand liquor, crumbling dreams, and the faint hope of a fair alimony agreement, they turn suburban dread into slow, crushing riffs. The mid-life crisis is over and the Trans Am is starting to rust.
Sod The Earth started as a one-man band recording project by John Flynn (main guitarist/singer/songwriter) and still functions mostly as that outside of the live shows.
Can you please say a few words about your band?
Hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Sod The Earth is a nihilistic suburban apocalypse themed sludge/doom band. We love songs about wizards and demons as much as the next doom band, but we write songs about the true darkness hidden in the reality of modern suburbia. Getting in fistfights at softball league, getting laid off because of A.I., and getting too drunk at your stepson’s 4th birthday party.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
All of us are actually dads of young kids, so just finding time to write, record, practice, and perform can feel like a herculean effort but it honestly ends up making it feel more rewarding. We couldn’t have written this music without the life experience we have, and there’s a real satisfaction that comes from having to fight for your life to get two toddlers to bed before running off the rehearsal space running on energy drinks and fumes.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Hearing from fans when they really get what we’re doing. Yes, the songs have a lot of satire and humor on them but we are not a comedy band, the rifs, music, and themes of the songs are really real and we are serious about it. The absolute best is hearing from someone who decided to give a listen because the song title or band description was funny to them, and realized…oh damn this music is actually good, the satire is just a part of it haha.
What was your biggest regret?
Being afraid to share more in the process with friends/family/online/otherwise when I was first writing and recording the songs. I was carrying over old anxieties about sharing my music and feelings like I was already too old to be starting a band, or being seen as being in a “dad band” that was lame or unserious. Like if I didn’t figure it out in my 20s I was starting way too far behind. Nothing has been further from the truth and the doom community above most others doesn’t seem to give a single shit any of that.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Our first show was honestly amazing. It was at Mulligan’s in Grand Rapids which feels like a real right of passage venue for any new heavy band in West Michigan. Actually drawing a little bit of a crowd outside of just family and friends and seeing them really get into it was just an amazing feeling.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
The biggest surprise has been the interest/support we’ve gotten from the punk/math rock/grunge/etc. scene just adjacent to the main “metal” scene. The local doom and metal scene is really awesome but it’s been surprising how accepted we’ve been outside of that world as well.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
On our next show at The Pyramid Scheme opening for Artillery, we are playing as a two-piece with me splitting my guitar signal between my main amp and a bass amp using an octave pedal to simulate the bass, so I’ve been listening to a lot of heavy band who use a similar setup:
• Earth Tongue
• Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol
• Telekinetic Yeti
• Sanguisugabogg
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
I’m not sure where I heard it but: Write songs, not sets. I wasted so much time in previous metal bands stuck in basements trying to put together sets of heavy music just to get a long enough setlist to try to book a first gig, instead of actually just sitting down and writing a song. And those bands all stayed stuck in the basement forever. Once I changed my mindset to writing doom songs instead of doom music I started writing things worth listening to that actually connected with people.
What are your guilty pleasures?
I’d like to think I’ve finally reached an age where I don’t feel guilty about anything I truly enjoy. However when my wife and I were in the trenches of newborn care we got deep into the abyss of trash reality tv, and I can feel some genuine guilt about the amount of brainrot I consumed during that dark period lol.
Can you say something more about the current music scene in Grand Rapids?
The doom/metal scene in Grand Rapids/West Michigan is honestly amazing for a city its size. Jason Doome who runs Grand Rapids Doomfest and its affiliated shows has really done wonders in building a local community and putting on great shows, and the Midwest Doom Coalition feels like it keeps getting bigger and bigger and expanding out that universe. It feels like new bands are popping up all all the time now and there’s a great network connecting all of it. As I mentioned earlier the local punk/hardcore scene is really strong as well and feel like kindred spirits. Grand Rapids has always been unique, we get a lot of great mid-week shows since we’re exactly halfway between Detroit and Chicago so a lot of bands play on their way through haha.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
Our next show is at The Pyramid Scheme on September 18th opening for the legendary Artillery, we are beyond excited for that. Beyond that we are playing our first show in Kalamazoo on October 23rd at Shakespeare’s lower level, and more shows are in the works beyond that.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
We honestly feel like we’re just getting started, because we kind of are haha. Our first album came out in December 2025 and our first show was until this past May. The biggest thing on the horizon is a new album that should be ready to start rolling out in October/Novemberish that we are super excited about, and a launch party/show is in the works! Beyond that we are just looking to book as many shows as possible and start branching out into shows across and outside the state.
How can people best support your band?
Coming to our live shows, listening online and just sharing with your friends! We went into this endeavor with no expectations and are just looking to play out and have as much fun as possible, so any way to spread the word organically is great to us.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Call your dad, he probably misses you, bud.
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well