Interview with Loh, guitarist and vocalist from Tao Menizoo

How would you describe the music that Tao Menizoo creates?

Tao Menizoo is the melt of all our musical ideas. And we all like different styles of metal, and other music too. And there is no leader in the band, and especially not about the musical orientation.

That's why Tao Menizoo's cooking-recipe is : a bit of thrash, a touch of indus or gothic atmosphere, a bit of hardcore, a touch of blast-beats, grunt voices and clear melodic voices (greatly improved on the last new songs), harsh rythmic patterns, odd measures (7/8 and so on), both deconstructed structures and classical song schemes...

We called it polymorphic metal by ourselves, but some reviewers call that, to be brief, modern thrash, and it's OK for us...

Is aggression one of your trademarks? Which are the other elements that you think distinguish Tao Menizoo´s music?

As mentioned above, we include a lot of different elements to create contrasts : loops and samples, keyboards to set some atmospheres, different kind of voices (grunt and clear, death and black...) and different tempos from a song to another or even in the same song. And we like weird structures or patterns.

Our leitmotiv is : our songs have to be different one from each other, enough to avoid people get bored when they listen to us for the first time, especially in live : we try to be more interesting and mind-catching than the drink-stand !

How are Tao Menizoo´s compositions created?

Two main approaches : rarely, one of the guitarist comes with a almost finished song, and we all contribute to finalize it.

But the most often way is the classical jam around riffs until someting good appears. And then each one of us contributes with his ideas and dislikes. Some songs have been written in few hours, some others need weeks or months to be finalized.

Even the recorded songs can be modified or partially rewritten for the live shows, if we think it can improve them !

How has Tao Menizoo music change with the addition of Cyril on synth and percussion?

First, it allows us to play the songs of the album almost as they are recorded on the CD.

He is basically a drum-player, so he can bring us new ideas about rythmic pattern.

And he has a good sens for the vocal arrangements, and provides us with cute harmonized vocal lines on the last songs.

Finally, because we have someone to play samples and keybords, we can write songs based on these instruments and sounds to explore new musical landscapes (more electro, or more brutal-indus, or more dark and atmospheric...).

How would you describe a typical Tao Menizoo live show?

We try to catch the attention of the audience with the same use of contrasted atmospheres, but, on stage, everything is boosted by the adrenaline flowing through us !

And we think about the set-list in a different way than for a record : for the live show, we have to be the most efficient we can, because we have to catch the attention of the headbangers, and of those who like more thoughtful music too.

That's why, in september 2003, we have worked a full week, about 9 hours a day, in a concert hall with our own sound-tech and our own light-tech to set a complete show : to offer quality for the ears and for the eyes too.

What are Tao Menizoo´s lyrics about?

By ther past, I wrote the biggest part the lyrics, but recently, for the last new songs, other members brought their contribution. I think it's important than each of us get more involved in the writing process.

The main orientation of the lyrics is an opinion about the world we're living in but there are also some fictitious narration about dark-depressive life, and a few personal lived-for-real stories. So our personal life is a great source of inspiration, as what the neweports are too.

BUT : we don't give solutions, only advices or opinions, we do not hold the truth. We want people to think by themselves. Ignorance and passivity are weapons against you, and knowledge can break a lot of chains.

Which are the band´s main influences?

With no particular order :

Machine Head, Opeth, Mr Bungle, Primus, Prong, Devin Townsend (and S.Y.L.), Ministry,...

Which is your equipment live and in studio?

Loh (Guitar) :

live : Epiphone Explorer Gothic

Marshall VS100 + Marshall 1960 4x12

Korg AX1500G

studio : the same + Gibson Les Paul Std, Gibson Les Paul Studio, Marshall JMP-1, Marshall 8008, Alesis Q2, Roland SE-50

Totof (Guitar) :

live and studio : Vigier Excalibur,

Digitech Preamp GSP 2101 + footswitch

Marsall 8008 + Marshall 1960 4x12

Koshee (Drums) :

live and studio : Drumkit Yamaha Recording Tour, Kick-Pedal Pearl Eliminator, misc cymbals...

Ronan (Bass) :

live and studio : Ibanez 5 Strings Bass

Amp SWR Engineering Basic Black

Roland RSP-550 FX

Cyril (keyboards) :

live : Roland SPD-11

Akai S-2000

EMU ESI-4000

+ master MIDI keyboard

studio : the same + musical softs on PC to create sounds and samples

Any final words?

1. Thank you for your interest and support !

2. We hope 'MetalHeadz' of Argentina will like our music,

3. And, who knows, maybe in the future, see you on stage !

4. Last bust not least : stay metal !!!