Texas metal masters Mean Mistreater are celebrating the release of their brand new album “Razor Wire!” We had a quick catch up with the band to learn more about them and the new album!

TheNwothm: Hey there mean Mistreater! How you doing? First of all can you tell us who is in the band and where your from?

TheNwothm: So you guys only came together last year ! Can you tell us more about that? 

M.M: We all met while we were playing in other bands but a Halloween party in 2022 really made it official. Janiece and I (Alex) had written the song, Bleeding The Night, and once we put it together with a full band we were eager to get the single out. In early 2023 we booked some studio time with our friend Jeff Hensen of Duel and recorded the single along with some live demos of songs that would be on our first album, Razor Wire. The rest of the album came together in a couple months. 

TheNwothm: Were any of you in any other bands before and if so did you bring any of your influences over to M.M?

M.M: Alex is also in War Cloud an old school metal project that formed in Oakland, Janiece was the singer of San Francisco based heavy psych project called Wild Eyes. We met Quinten when he was touring with Los Angeles based Saber. Theron was in Austin’s The Roller, and Terry has a project called The Compilations. All of these projects are heavy rock and roll based so it would be hard to say that our previous bands didn’t bring influences over to Mean Mistreater. 

TheNwothm: So how did you decide on Mean Mistreater as your band name?

M.M: Yes, it’s totally from the Grand Funk / Muddy Waters song. We all agreed that the name also sounded kind of metal. 

TheNwothm: And who do you take influence from currently? 

M.M: Wasp, Chastain, Warlock, we’re finding the 80’s metal vibe suits us. 

TheNwothm: So looking at nwothm scene right now, who are some of your favourite bands and who have you shared a stage with so far? 

M.M: We really dig Iron Curtain, Cruel Force, and Blood Star. Some folks we’ve shared the stage with are COFFIN, Watchertower, Hirax, and Helstar.  

TheNwothm: So you guys are based in Austin, Texas? How is the metal scene there?

M.M: The scene has a lot of variety, most shows here have lots of crossover in genres. It’s not uncommon for a bill to have thrash, hardcore, and rock bands on it. 

TheNwothm: The USA is pretty big on Nwothm! Where do you think that comes from and where else do you think it is going strong?

M.M: It probably comes from the support of American festivals like Legions of Metal, Hell’s Heroes, and Blades of Steel. Western Europe still crushes when it comes to keeping metal alive. The amount of festivals over there, large and small, is insane.

TheNwothm: Can you tell our readers a little bit about yourselves?

M.M: Janiece and I moved from Oakland, CA to Austin, TX in early 2020 right before Covid. Two years later we meet Quinton and get the band off the ground. We’re just some blue collar rockers. 

TheNwothm: Janiece, when thinking about other vocalists who have you I guess idolised or looked up to as inspiration?

M.M: Leather Leone and Etta James!

TheNwothm: Lets talk about your debut album “Razor Wire!” The first single you put out from the album was “Bleeding The Night.” Tell us how you chose that as your lead single? 

M.M: Janiece and I (Alex) wrote that song while still living in Oakland and we sat on it for years until the band was formed. Since it was the first song we wrote it made sense it would become the first song we release. 

TheNwothm: So how did the rest of the album come about? Where did you get influence from and can you discuss some of themes both musically and lyrically that you explore?

M.M: Once we started jamming with Quinten the riffs were just flowing. We had nearly worked out 12 songs but cut it down to our favourite 8 for the album. Some songs ended up biting the dust or we harvested some parts into other songs that might have been missing something. Janiece is mostly an autobiographical lyricist, drawing from her life with fast cars and partying, anxiety and women’s stuggles, with a little bit of fantasy thrown in for storytelling. 

TheNwothm: Can you give us a brief overview of the tracks on the album and do you have any personal favourites?

M.M: “Forget it” is about shitty bosses and social punishers. Razor Wire straps you in shotgun going to a metal show. Visions is an acid flashback of time on tour in Sardinia. Waiting To Die tells the story of a man cursed to live forever. Let Em Roll is muscle car love letter. Bleeding The Night is about taking the night for all its worth. One by one is about the war machine complex our country has  and the price women have to pay to care for themselves. Bedevil is about battling anxiety.  

TheNwothm: So the album artwork is a skull and razor wire. Did you have any ideas for albums names or artwork concepts before you landed on razor wire?

M.M: Razor Wire was the track that pretty much summed up the vibe of what we wanted. It’s also something that everyone can picture in their head without seeing any art. We just thought a skull was cool and the flare in the eye gave it some mystique. 

TheNwothm: So what is 2024 looking like for the plan? Where will you be performing? And do you have any pre or post show rituals?

M.M: We just got back from a Midwest tour out to Legions of Metal festival. Also planning a full west coast tour later in the year. No rituals just a little warming up and then we rock!

TheNwothm: Where can fans buy your music and merch?

M.M: You can find our music, merch, and tour dates at MeanMistreater.bandcamp.com

TheNwothm: Is there any thing else you would like to mention?

M.M: We self released Razor Wire earlier this year, but just signed a deal with Dying Victims Productions in Germany to re-release the record with worldwide distribution. We’re also demoing new songs, so expect a follow up album next year!