Church Of Misery | Sonic Flower | Interview
Sonic Flower were formed as a side project of Church Of Misery in 2001. Tatsu Mikami (bass) and at that time Church’s guitarist Takenori Hoshi (guitar on Church Of Misery’s second album ‘The Second Coming’), teamed up to play more bluesy and non doomy instrumental heavy rock.
They were influenced by seventies heavy rock bands like Cactus, Grand Funk Railroad, Groundhogs, Savoy Brown etc. Soon guitarist Arisa and drummer Keisuke Fukawa joined the band. In 2003, they released their self titled debut album on Japanese heavy rock label Leaf Hound Records. Heavy Psych Sounds announced reissues of ‘Sonic Flower’ and ‘Rides Again’. The first being available in January 22, 2021 and ‘Rides Again’ in January 29, 2021.
Tatsu Mikami also shared with us that he nearly finished recording his first solo album which was influenced by a colorful mixture of British Psychedelia. Mikami also announced a new double Church Of Misery album!
“It’s just back to the roots when I formed Church Of Misery.”
It’s nice to have you. How are you doing in the midst of pandemic?
Tatsu Mikami: We had the 25th Church Of Misery Anniversary North American Tour in February and March. We got back to Tokyo on March 10th and soon after all airports were closed. We were lucky! I lost my part time job due to pandemic and I just stayed at home for long months. Most of the time was spent writing new songs and finishing older material. Thanks to COVID-19 for that, haha.
It’s a tough time for touring musicians. Do you think you’ll be able to go back on tour in 2021?
Hopefully we will be able to go back on tour in late 2021.
You are the sole constant member of Church Of Misery. Who is in the line-up right now?
Hiroyuki Takano on vocals since 2017. And two new guys; Yasunori Takada from MONO on drums and Fumiya Hattori on guitar.
“I wrote many new songs. It’s enough for a new double Church Of Misery album.”
Any plans for a new Church Of Misery album?
I wrote many new songs. It’s enough for a new double Church Of Misery album. We are practicing two times a week now. Hopefully we will enter the studio early next year.
I was pleasantly surprised when Heavy Psych Records announced the reissue of Sonic Flower. What was the creative process like recording this album?
Me too! I was also surprised. Church Of Misery was playing with Black Rainbows a few times. So sometimes we emailed each other. Also we shared the stage with other Heavy Psych Records bands such as High Reeper, Crypt Trip, Mondo Generator and Nebula. I’m so proud to be part of the Heavy Psych Sounds family!
I formed Sonic Flower just for fun. It was a lot of fun recording the material for the album.
What gear did you use for ‘Sonic Flower’?
Like always, Rickenbacker bass, Sunn model T bass amp and some pedals – cry baby wah and vintage 80s Yamaha distortion.
What would you say influenced you the most when you formed Salem in the late eighties? Have influences changed during the years?
I’m deeply influenced by NWOBHM. Especially Angel Witch, Witchfinder General, Quartz etc. Nothing changed. I still love these bands.
What changed when you started Church Of Misery?
I bought a bass guitar when I was 12 years old. I was influenced by my big brother. He already played guitar and was always listening to rock music in his room. Stuff like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple etc. I joined my big brother’s band when I was in junior high school. He was already a high school student. They played covers of Cream and Jimi Hendrix. So I was already influenced by 70s rock music before forming Salem. It’s just back to the roots when I formed Church Of Misery. Nothing changed! By the way, my brother still plays in blues band now.
“Our strongest concept is Serial Killer.”
Your albums always include a certain concept to it, don’t you think?
From the beginning I had a clear concept. It’s really important and necessary for the band to have a certain concept. Our strongest concept is about “Serial Killer”.
What brought interest in writing songs about serial killers?
First of all, I’m disgusted by typical lyrics by a typical stoner rock band; “Smoke weed, get high” or “Trip to the unknown galaxy”. It’s so boring to me. In the beginning of Church Of Misery, I’ve been reading and watching about serial killers. It’s really interesting to see the process from normal guy to psychotic killer. It’s very very interesting. And I thought that this topic is very fit to our heavy and doomy music. That is the reason I choose this concept. And the combination is really strong and brutal. It’s very suited for Church Of Misery.
What’s on your turntable right now and what are you reading?
I’m listening to ‘The Night School’ by Electric Dragon on vinyl. They are from UK and their sound is very similar to Italian Horror/Giallo movie soundtrack. It’s like Goblin or Fabio Frizzi. Label guy is my friend and he sent it to me.
I just finished reading ‘Chernobyl’s Prayer’ by Svetlana Alexievich.
“It’s my new solo album. I spent almost 10 years creating it.”
Are you involved in any other bands or do you have any active side-projects going on at this point?
Except for Church Of Misery, I’m involved in Sonic Flower and Skull Pit. I know you already know about Sonic Flower, haha. Skull Pit is project by me and ‘Mem’ from German thrash legend band Exumer. Skull Pit sounds like the early Motörhead. We already released our first album on Metal Blade Records in 2018. I’m writing new material for the future release. And I have one more project now. This is the first time talking about it to other person! It’s my new solo album. I spent almost 10 years creating it. In isolation I stayed more than six months indoor and managed to record and edit the album. It’s almost finished without vocal tracks. It sounds like early Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett (solo) and 60s British Psychedelia. Psychedelia with colorful and catchy sounds. Except for the drum tracks, I played all instruments. Maybe you’ll enjoy this more than Sonic Flower, haha.
Let’s end this interview with some of your favorite albums. Have you found something new lately you would like to recommend to our readers?
I don’t often buy new releases. Currently Japanese major record company released some legendary 70s Japanese heavy rock bands. They reissued albums with OBI. I just got debut album by Flower Travellin’ Band, Blues Creation’s first album, ‘Social Gathering’ by Food Brain, and Speed, Glue & Shinki album. You should all have a listen to these bands!
Thank you for taking your time. Last word is yours.
Thank you very much for the interview, Klemen. We all are having a hard time, so take care and be safe. Don’t forget to enjoy listening to music. See you when this situation is cleared. Tatsu Mikami
Klemen Breznikar
Church Of Misery Official Website / Facebook / Instagram /Twitter
Skull Pit Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Bandcamp / Bigcartel
Heavy Psych Sounds Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Bandcamp / YouTube
