Emerging from Oaxaca, Mexico, Hellmidian have spent over a decade carving out their own path in heavy metal, blending classic influences with an unwavering dedication to the genre. Following a landmark year for the band, we caught up with Hellmidian to discuss their journey, their music, and what lies ahead.
Interview
TheNwothm: For readers discovering Hellmidian for the first time, how would you introduce the band and its approach to heavy metal?
Hellmidian: Hellmidian is a heavy metal band from Oaxaca, Mexico. Our music is rooted in classic heavy metal, NWOBHM, and speed metal, with influences from bands like Helloween and Judas Priest. We love metal with powerful guitars, great riffs, memorable melodies, and that kind of energy that makes you want to turn up the volume.
For us, heavy metal is not just a musical genre; it’s part of the way we live. We like to keep things direct, authentic, and free of pretension. We’re a brotherhood that enjoys making noise, playing live, and taking our music as far as possible without ever losing sight of where we come from.
TheNwothm: Hellmidian has been active since 2012. What inspired the formation of the band, and what were your original goals?
Hellmidian: It all started with our passion for heavy metal and our desire to play the music we loved. We began by playing covers of Helloween, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest. We wanted to form a band that sounded like the kind of metal that made us fall in love with the genre: fast guitars, melody, and plenty of energy.
At first, our goal was pretty simple: to play and have fun. Looking back now, I realize how much we’ve evolved while keeping that same goal. After playing covers, people started telling us that there was something special about what we were doing and that we should explore writing our own music. Back then, we didn’t have a big strategy, and we had no idea how far this journey would take us. But we took the first step, and here we are.
TheNwothm: Oaxaca isn’t a location that many international metal fans immediately associate with heavy metal. What has it been like building a band there?
Hellmidian: Building a heavy metal band in Oaxaca has been a challenge, but it’s also become an important part of our identity. Oaxaca has an incredibly rich cultural and musical heritage, although heavy metal is part of a much smaller scene. That means you have to work hard to find venues, connect with other bands, and reach new audiences.
Being far away from some of the main music circuits means that many things require more effort, organization, and resources. But you also learn to be independent, solve problems, and stop waiting for opportunities to come to you.
On the other hand, Oaxaca has gradually developed a scene that can sustain itself, with great bands that have become national benchmarks, such as Cuero y Metal, Survival, Dr. Jeckyll & Mr Hide, Hexenbiest, Demential, and many others. In recent years, Oaxaca has started exporting some really high-quality metal.
We’ve also seen more venues and significant events emerge here. One example is the upcoming Amethyst show next year, which will take place exclusively in Oaxaca. We’ll be sharing the stage with them at that event.
TheNwothm: Your themes include space, love and personal experiences. How do these subjects influence your songwriting?
Hellmidian: We like our songs to explore different ideas. Heavy metal has a long tradition of dealing with fantasy worlds, science fiction, and adventure, but it can also be a way to express very personal things.
Sometimes we start with an image, a story, or an idea that catches our attention. Other times, we draw inspiration from experiences, emotions, or situations we can relate to. We don’t believe every song has to be about the same thing, or that we should limit ourselves to a single theme. We always try to explore new subjects or draw from our own experiences.
TheNwothm: Looking back at your early releases such as “Demo 2013” and “Lado B”, what do you remember most about that period of the band’s development?
Hellmidian: We remember it as a time of discovery. To be honest, for all of us, it meant stepping into a world that seemed so far away, yet somehow within reach. Being able to record a song in the genre we loved brought us one step closer, even if only a small one, to the bands we admired so much.
I remember how happy we were to hear our first songs fully recorded, especially since, for many of us, it was our first time playing an instrument at a semi-professional level. Most of us were self-taught. Eluzai had only been playing drums for a few months. For me, Toño, it was my first time singing, and Romel had never taken guitar lessons either. In short, everything was a new experience for us.
I think when you listen to that material today, you can hear exactly that: a bunch of young guys full of energy and eager to make their instruments tell a story.
TheNwothm: “Rising Up” was released in 2017. What are your memories of writing and recording that EP?
Hellmidian: Rising Up was an important stage for us because it represented another step in Hellmidian’s evolution. By then, we had gained experience writing songs, playing live, and working on our recordings, which allowed us to develop our ideas further.
Looking back, Rising Up represents part of our growth. It established that Hellmidian had a place on the national and even international scene. We started shipping our releases to several countries, which opened doors for us and helped us build relationships that have continued to support and push us forward to this day.
TheNwothm: Since your formation in 2012, what do you consider some of the most important milestones in the band’s journey?
Hellmidian: Several moments have shaped our journey. Releasing our first recordings, putting out Lado B and later Rising Up, and continuing to release our own music have all been important steps in establishing the band.
We also really value the opportunities we’ve had to share the stage with other bands and bring our music to different audiences. We’ve shared the stage with some very important bands, including Metal Lucifer, Skull Fist, Voltax, Hyena, Jet Jaguar, and many others. Every one of those experiences has contributed to Hellmidian’s growth.
But without a doubt, winning the Mexican Metal Battle in 2025 and representing our country at Wacken Open Air was a turning point. We competed against more than 90 bands and made it to one of the most important festivals in the world. Being able to take the stage at Wacken as a band from Oaxaca is something we’ll never forget.
We see it as a platform for further growth rather than a final destination. It opened an important door for us, and now we want to make the most of that experience to take Hellmidian to new stages.
TheNwothm: Your discography includes demos, splits, an EP and more recent singles. What have you learned as musicians through releasing music in different formats?
Hellmidian: We’ve learned that each format serves a different stage and set of circumstances. When you’re starting out, a demo can be the most direct way to show people what you’re doing. Later, an EP gives you more room to develop your sound, while a single allows you to keep the band active and release a song without having to wait until you’ve completed a larger release.
We’ve also learned a lot about the practical side of making music: recording, production, distribution, and promotion. Being an independent band means getting involved in all these aspects, not just writing and playing music. That’s why we’ve been working on the pre-production demos for our upcoming first full-length album ourselves.
The most important thing for us has been finding the right balance between keeping the project moving and meeting the standards of quality we set for ourselves when writing music. I think that’s been one of the hardest parts of this journey. A lot of people tell us we should write and produce music faster, but we believe the time we take has always been worth it because it allows us to release songs we can truly be proud of.
TheNwothm: You released the singles “Raider” and “Power” in 2025. What can you tell us about the inspiration behind these tracks?
Hellmidian: With Raider and Power, we continue exploring the combination of energy, melody, and attitude that defines our musical identity. We like our songs to hit hard from the very first riffs, but we also want each one to have its own personality and leave something with the listener.
Although the lyrics of these two songs are different, we wrote them with one central idea in mind: our passion for what we do. They are both about metal itself.
TheNwothm: Are you currently working on any new material, and if so, what can fans expect from it?
Hellmidian: Yes, as I mentioned earlier, we’re working on our first full-length album. Since it’s a larger project, with approximately 12 songs, we want to give it the quality we believe it deserves.
With this album, we want to preserve the classic heavy metal roots that define us while allowing our songs to evolve naturally as we grow as musicians.
Fans can expect powerful riffs, melodic guitars, speed, and the direct, no-nonsense attitude we always try to bring to the stage.
We’ll be happy to share concrete news about upcoming releases as soon as we have it. In the meantime, we’re working hard to make sure Hellmidian still has plenty to say.
TheNwothm: Hellmidian won the Mexican Battle for Wacken in 2025. What did that achievement mean to the band?
Hellmidian: It was an incredible experience for us. Winning the Mexican Metal Battle meant seeing years of hard work recognized, much of it done within a small scene and with the limited resources of an independent band.
Then came the opportunity to represent Mexico at Wacken Open Air, something every heavy metal fan should dream of. Playing there on the Headbangers Stage on July 30, 2025, was an experience we’ll never forget.
It also had a special meaning because of our roots. We’re a band from Oaxaca, and reaching that stage made us feel that we were representing not just Hellmidian, but also our people and the scene we come from. So many people back home in Oaxaca connected with us and joined us in that moment. We’re still hearing from people who got up at 4 a.m. just to watch the livestream on Facebook.
Of course, this doesn’t mark the end of our journey. On the contrary, it showed us that all the hard work is worth it and that we still have a lot left to do. Wacken was a dream come true, but now we want to turn that experience into new opportunities for the band.
TheNwothm: Do you have any upcoming live shows, festival appearances or touring plans that you can share with our readers?
Hellmidian: We’re interested in taking Hellmidian to new stages, both in Mexico and abroad. We’ve certainly limited our activities somewhat while working on the full-length album, but once it’s released, we’d like to put together a series of shows across Mexico and expand our international presence.
For now, we’d rather announce dates once they’re confirmed. But we’re always open to offers and collaborations with people who share our passion for metal. If there’s a stage where we can play our music and connect with new headbangers, we want to be there.
TheNwothm: Finally, what are the next goals for Hellmidian, and do you have a message for everyone supporting the band?
Hellmidian: Our next goal is to keep growing without losing our identity. We want to release more music, play in new countries, take part in major festivals, and bring Hellmidian to places where people haven’t discovered us yet.
We know the road for an independent band isn’t always easy, but after all these years, we’re still here, doing what we love and looking for new ways to move forward. Winning the Metal Battle and playing at Wacken gave us a huge boost, but we know the work continues long after you step off the stage.
To everyone who has supported us from the beginning, to those who have discovered us recently, and to everyone listening to us from anywhere in the world: thank you for giving our music a chance and being part of this journey.
Stay heavy!
