Mushroomhead: The Devil’s Got Your Number

You can’t blame MUSHROOMHEAD drummer and founder Steve ‘Skinny’ Felton for wanting to concentrate on the present and future. Prior to this interview being conducted comes the instruction that there are to be no questions regarding previous members of the Ohio metal stalwarts’ lineup – there have been, shall we say, more than a few – and absolutely no references to a certain other masked band that came about around the same time. Both make perfect sense, of course, but it doesn’t stop Skinny referencing the latter when he talks about the longevity of his band, now in their 30th year of existence.

“I think the intention is for every band to last a long time, right?” He opines. “You start off as a teenager going to bed dreaming of becoming the next METALLICA and, the next thing you know, 30 years have passed. Obviously we’re not METALLICA, SLIPKNOT, KORN or LAMB OF GOD, but we are who we are and that comes down to having a real passion for the craft. When I look back I don’t regret anything; I just wake up and think ‘What am I going to create today?’”

It’s this mentality that has fuelled Skinny to keep MUSHROOMHEAD going in the face of multiple adversities. Often seen as perennial nu-metal bridesmaids, especially in the wake of SLIPKNOT’s global popularity, MUSHROOMHEAD have nevertheless kept a hardcore fanbase; proof of this was their recent UK run, which saw them in sizeable clubs like London’s Islington Academy as opposed to smaller, more intimate venues. In addition, they’ve never rested on their laurels, continuing to release music and not play off a bygone era. Ninth album Call The Devil is the latest instalment: a melting pot of industrial, metal and samples which both fit the MUSHROOMHEAD brand and explore new avenues.

As previously alluded, Call The Devil saw a number of personnel changes, but perhaps none more so exciting as the return of Dave ‘Gravy’ Felton, guitarist and Skinny’s real life brother, after a ten year absence. “Just because he wasn’t in the band didn’t mean we weren’t talking,” explains Skinny. “After COVID we got together a couple of times just to hang out and shoot the shit; we jammed on the third occasion and the majority of that session turned into Eye To Eye (the opening track to Call The Devil). It was like riding a bike, so easy to have him back on board and work with him again.”

Making their studio bows were guitarist Joe ‘Jenkins’ Gall, vocalist Scott ‘xtriker’ Beck and former touring drummer Aydin Kerr. “Those guys were a pleasure to work with,” Skinny confirms. “As many know I also produce the albums and it’s so important as a band to collaborate, listen to other’s ideas and see them through. All three guys did this and there were some days where we got through things really quickly.”

Unlike 2020’s A Wonderful Life, which involved a lot of pre-production and an entire third of the year to complete, Call The Devil was much more spontaneous. “For the most part we would jam and come up with something depending on the vibe of the day, which is why the album is so diverse; whereas session one was more energetic, session three was more depressing so the doom and gloom came out in the writing; it also means the album is incredibly honest. Additionally, unlike the last one where we knocked it out in four straight months, this time we recorded in spurts – two weeks here, three weeks there – and we’d always pick back up right where we left off before.”

With the band currently a nine piece – and yes, that is entirely coincidental – it must be difficult to ensure balance and composure, right? “There’s a lot of pros and cons for having so many people” admits Skinny, “but like I’ve said before, it’s always very collaborative and the constant flow of fresh blood (alluding to the ongoing rotation of members) brings fresh ideas and materials. Sure there’s a lot of negative aspects, but there’s a lot of positive ones too and I absolutely love being able to share and collaborate with so many gifted people.”

The majority of bands that start out don’t even make it to three years of existence, let alone thirty, and given the ups and down that MUSHROOMHEAD have experienced, Skinny has fully learned to never take anything for granted. “I think I learned it a lot later in life than I should have!” he confesses with a laugh, “but I’ve been blessed with a number of opportunities and am grateful for every single one, big or small. It doesn’t matter to me if there’s five people at a live show or 50,000, it’s more important to maintain that passion for my craft.”

Call The Devil is out now via Napalm Records. 

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