The Nwothm

Hunger is a rising heavy/ speed metal band keeping the flame of traditional metal alive. Since forming in 2022, the group has carved out a raw, energetic sound rooted in passion and grit. In this interview with TheNwothm, the band shares their story, their influences, and what fuels their unrelenting drive.

Interview

TheNwothm: Hey there can you introduce the band and where you are from?

Hunger: Well, we’re a young heavy/speed metal band from Spain, formed in 2022. Our sound is influenced by classic heavy metal and the NWOTHM movement.

TheNwothm: For those just discovering Hunger, what’s the story behind the band name, and how did you all come together?

Hunger: When I (Jara) first started the band, I did it with some friends from my city. We never really got to write anything together, and they eventually left the band, but they were actually the ones who came up with the name Hunger. I decided to keep it after they left. We saw it as representing the hunger to play heavy metal—a group of young musicians full of energy and eager to hit the stage.

As for how Hunger came together—when the first lineup left, I reached out to Vick on social media. I’d been following her for a while and thought she was an amazing bassist. She wanted to join right from the start, and together we wrote almost the entire EP. I had known Dizzy for years from seeing him perform at jam sessions—we live in the same city—and I’d always wanted to start a project with him. Once Vick and I had some demos ready, we sent them to him. At first, he was supposed to be a session vocalist, but eventually he fully came on board, thanks to Gustav (from Jawbreaker), who helped us formalize the lineup.

I had known Rudolf for a couple of years because he works with Hitten, so I’d seen him at shows and we had become good friends, always sharing music from our projects but never actually working together. A mutual friend—Dani, Hitten’s guitarist—suggested that he should join Hunger at a time when I was looking for a second guitarist, and that’s exactly what happened.

As we have some serious gigs lined up for next year, we’ve finally formalized a full lineup, which we will announce soon! Can’t say much more for now.

TheNwothm: You’re based in Seville, Andalusia. What’s something about your city or region that you feel pulses through your music?

Hunger: Well, there isn’t much of a heavy metal scene here, especially among younger people. This area used to have a lot more activity, but now there’s very little movement from the new generations. Finding a kid who likes heavy metal and plays an instrument is like trying to find a needle in a haystack, unfortunately.

That said, back in the ’80s—especially in my neighborhood (San Jerónimo, Seville)—there was a strong heavy metal culture. Those of us who know the history consider the neighborhood the cradle of heavy metal in Seville, and in a way, also in all of Andalusia. This was largely connected to the American military bases in Morón de la Frontera (Seville) and Rota (Cadiz), which were established after the Cold War. The influence of American music actually started as early as the 1950s, the American soldiers brought records and culture with them, right in time for the rock boom.

San Jerónimo, being a bit isolated from the city center, became a place where this movement really took root—young people would pick up the records, instruments, and culture that came from the soldiers. When the soldiers had to leave, they would sell some of their belongings in a small booth located just behind my house, including records and all kinds of things.

Even though this might sound like a pretty wild story, it’s really a legacy that has carried through to me. Somehow, that sticks with you from a young age, and even though there’s hardly any trace of it left now, I grew up with that mindset—or uncertainty—of wanting to start a band, especially since my parents were part of this movement from an early age. So, in a way, you could say that this is what Hunger takes from “Andalusian culture”.

TheNwothm: Spain has a rich musical heritage. Has Andalusian folklore, or local traditions ever crept into your riffs or lyrics, even subconsciously?

Hunger: Not at all. Our lyrics have nothing to do with Andalusia, to be honest. They’re mostly metaphors used to criticize certain experiences related to the music industry.

TheNwothm: What was the first album each of you bought with your own money and do you still stand by it?

Hunger: For me, I think it was Killers by Iron Maiden — still one of my favorite albums, of course. Rudolf’s was Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, also by Maiden, and Dizzy’s was Paranoid by Black Sabbath. We definitely still stand by those choices!

TheNwothm: Growing up, did any of you have posters of metal icons on your walls? Who were your heroes?

Hunger: The walls of my room have always looked like a special issue of Metal Hammer — completely covered with band posters. Mostly Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, the two bands I’ve followed the most closely since I was a kid.

TheNwothm: Your first release was the single “Hunger” in 2025. What was the mood in the studio when you laid that track down?

Hunger: We didn’t really record in a proper studio since we all did our parts separately from our own places. The whole process was pretty DIY with the resources we had at the time. The only studio sessions we actually did were for Dizzy’s vocals. If there was any reaction, it was probably on WhatsApp when I sent the first track — but honestly, it’s been ages since then, so it’s all kind of a blur now hahaha.