Metal Inside(r) Home Quarantine is Metal Insider’s new column during this time of isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We asked artists five questions on what’s been keeping them busy ranging from their favorite movies, food they’ve been eating, music they’ve been listening to and more. We caught up with Mayhem frontman Attila Csihar as he’s been spending this time working on his solo project and own booze brand ‘Attila’s Ritual Spirits.’
What have you been doing to pass time during Quarantine?
Ave Metal Insiders!
Well I have been trying to keep myself busy, what else could I do? First, we were forced to cancel our USA promotional Mayhem tour of our last record Daemon. We had to come back from the U.S. without being able to play one single gig! I am kinda like an active person. I can’t just sit at home and do nothing. So, immediately, I started to work on my old label Saturnus Productions and prepared old materials to release. It is my own label and I only release the music where I have been involved. I am planning to release a whole collection of old Plasma Pool live recordings (my dark industrial band from 89-93). Also working on a Mayhem Life Eternal updated official release on vinyl with new and extended artwork as well. Doing some represses of Tormentor. Releasing my solo project Void Ov Voices. Starting my own booze brand called “Attila’s Ritual Spirits.” First one will be a pure black metal drink called “Attila’s Opium Ritual Spirit 66.6%” a booze made from poppy (the plant which is the base of Opium, it is legal in Hungary). I’m starting my own CBD brand “Attila’s Life Eternal CBD 6.66%”. Also wrote 5 new lyrics for the next Mayhem album. Working on some new demos with Tormentor. Working on a debut album with my noise project called Hiedelem. I just sang a guest song for my friend from ex-Aborym Nysroks Industrial band Alien Vampires…etc..
Also, I just bought myself my first real guitar, an LTD Gary Holt Signature which I fucking love. I am not a big player but it was the best timing cause now I can practice every morning like 1-2 hours as a morning meditation without any particular goals.
It’s a great start to a day to learn some cool Slayer, Exodus, Metallica, AC/DC, Judas Priest..etc riffs.. cool as hell.
Personally, I don’t give a fuck about this virus drama bullshit. Actually, I never felt this healthy in my whole life (I have been 100% healthy and even vegan recently, working out and taking vitamins together with great doses of CBD). In Hungary, luckily, they are not so strict so I am going out almost every day to ride my HD. I need some fresh air, you know.
Have you been listening to any music or have any playlists worth checking out?
Yes. I listen to Harsh Industrial when I am working out. It’s all those bands from Alien Vampires to Tactical Sect, Suicide Commando, Hocico, Combichrist, Aesthetic Perfection back to Skinny Puppy, Front Line Assembly, old Klinik..etc..
When I am playing guitar I just love to go deep and analyze bands like Slayer (one of my all time favourite), Bathory (too!), Exodus, Metallica, AC/DC, Judas Priest, even Fields Of The Nephilim, Depp Purple, Black Sabbath..etc. It changes day by day..
A lot of people have been spending this time cooking including making their own bread, what food have you been prepping during this time?
Nah, I don’t cook man only meth (lol). Well like I told you I have been a newborn vegan for like 6 months now.
Luckily my girlfriend joined me in that madness too and she is a great cook. Otherwise, I don’t know how I would pull this out in these fucked up times since all restaurants are closed.. I could order food online. I never thought I could be a vegan ever! It is one of the biggest miracles to me too. I saw this stupid movie once I was in Norway rehearsing with Mayhem, where Arnold Swartzenegger talked about how he became vegan too.. I was like WTF?? I just tried and surprisingly it worked.. but hey I am a very flexible and extreme personality. I can change back any day to meat and full on drugs and alcohol too.. then maybe back again.. you (even I) never know!
In terms of entertainment, what movies, TV shows, books, or games have been keeping you busy?
Well I hate to watch TV series, even these days. I feel it’s a waste of time. There were a few exceptions though, Chernobyl, that one with the meth cooking dude (can’t remember the title) .. some of Ash vs Evil Dead…etc. Movies are better. I just watched Kursk the other day, also Catch 22 (from 1970, what a fucked up one?!) I just recently saw the other submarine movie.. what was its title? Hunter Killer or something? Also, I like to watch Mr. Bean to sleep sometimes its silly as fuck haha. Even though I haven’t had any cable or any TVs for years now I started to watch some news online. It is so fucking funny to watch people freaking out and their drama all around the world. It feels very apocalyptic. I just love it sometimes lol.
What advice do you have for your fans in isolation during this time?
Keep yourself busy and listen to good music, read books, develop, learn instruments to play..etc. Improve yourself, learn new things and work out! It is a great bonus time to discover and develop your talents and new abilities! And to the rest of people: Fuck yourself with your bullshit virus and hope this nonesense will DIE!!!!
