Editor’s Note: As it’s extremely well-documented, it’s certainly been trying times for bands and recording artists around the world. However, it’s kept French “Murder Rock” band PORN incredibly busy. Not only have they released “Act III: No Monsters In God’s Eyes”, they have also released remix version of the trilogy which has included members of Combichrist, Mindless Self Indulgence, Stabbing Westward and Orgy on the remix version. In this interview with Madness To Creation, frontman Mr. Strangler of PORN discusses mental health awareness, the writing process of “No Monsters In God’s Eyes” and coping with the Covid-19 pandemic. Fans can find PORN(the band) at the following locations:
Madness To Creation: How are you coping with the Covid-19 pandemic, what are some things that have struck you or you have taken away from this?
Mr. Strangler: We had some gigs scheduled in March and April in Europe. All is rescheduled to 2021. We are using right now our quarantine time to work on new songs.
Madness To Creation: Three biggest influences in industrial music.
Mr. Strangler: Nine Inch Nails, Stabbing Westward, Ministry
Madness To Creation: How would you describe your sound using a movie title?
Mr. Strangler: One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
Madness To Creation: Give us your five favorite songs by The Cure.
Mr. Strangler: Its a very very very difficult question… “Three Imaginary Boys”
Madness To Creation: Take us into the writing process of the Mr. Strangler Trilogy.
Mr. Strangler: In 2017, we released The Ogre inside.- Act I, the first act, In 2019, we released the second act : The Darkest of human desires – Act II. 27th March 2020, we return with the final act : No Monsters In God’s Eyes – Act III.
The Ogre inside is an album about inner struggle, about dark desires, how society can oppresses your will. This is a fight no one can win, the Ogre that devours you from the inside always wins..The album is an invocation, a way to set the Ogre free, embrace your ”true”self and allow your darkest desires to express themselves. It’s an incitement to act.The Ogre inside won this inner struggle, giving birth to Mr Strangler.
In the second opus, Mr Strangler, by embracing his « true-self », expresses his dark impulses without limitations and has no boundaries. With his crew, Mr Strangler commits murders and massacres. He also invites everyone to make a step forward and act, invites you to express your darkest desires and join his death cult. For Mr Strangler and his team, the Ogre was released. They let the darkest of human desires be : murder .
In this last part, Mr Strangler’s bloody odyssey comes to an end. He is in jail awaiting execution. This final Act is his testament. Faced with the imminent end of his life, he takes stock of his life and begins a dialogue with his death and enjoins everyone to continue his work… the work of God, because if God exists everything is his. And even the worst monsters are the children of God. There is no monsters in God’s eyes.
After collaborating with Tom Baker (responsible for the masterings of legendary albums like Marilyn Manson’s Antichrist Superstar, NIN’s Downward Spiral, Ministry’s Psalm 69 or Rob Zombie’s Hellbilly Deluxe…), we worked with Brian Lucey (Magic Garden Studio in Los Angeles) the mastering of this album. Lucey previously worked with Ghost, Marilyn Manson, Depeche Mode, Arctic Monkeys, Royal Blood …
We call the musical style of this trilogy Murder Rock!
Madness To Creation: What were some of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of creating this album?
Mr. Strangler: I think about the whole trilogy is the collaboration we had with Tom Baker and Brian Lucey. And also all the bands and artists who worked on the remixes. We will release some remixes of the Act III. We are so proud to have people like Chris Vrenna ( former NIN and Marilyn Manson), Stabbing Westward, Orgy, Combichrist, The Anix, Ash Code, Lluther…
Madness To Creation: I know that Covid-19 has halted everything and made the world stand still, how have you used your platforms to promote this album?
Mr. Strangler: As usual, nothing changes.
Madness To Creation: We discuss mental health awareness for Madness To Creation, what advice do you have for our readers?
Mr. Strangler: Mental health is a complex concept. I was in an other life a student in psychology. From my experience I prefer to talk about psychological distress of psychological suffering than Mental Health, cause health can mean a lot. And to me its more about being peaceful. And that state of mind in personal. Each persons are different. And my advice would be : know yourself, respect yourself. Treat yourself like an other person you like and respect. And, maybe, and i hope, you will find you way to peace.
Just after he died, Mr Strangler became a kind of messiah for an enigmatic community : The Strangelings , led by The Guide. Growing and growing, this community travels from town to town, joined by people fleeing the modern world for a new life. These people are looking for peace. This is going to be one of the main topics of the new PORN trilogy !
Madness To Creation: What else would you like to add in regards to PORN?
Mr. Strangler: It’s time to follow Mr Strangler’s path. Join us, join the Strangelings.
And there you have it! “No Monsters In God’s Eyes” is available now on all digital streaming platforms!
