Miruthan: Our inspiration comes from a mix of real life, pop culture, and classic horror
Cloaked in mystery and steeped in dark folklore, Miruthan’s music is a narrative of survival in a dystopian future overrun by the undead. Each member — hidden behind veils of secrecy — contributes to this chilling saga with seasoned mastery
Let’s start with the beginnings: What was the decisive moment that led you to form the band and dive into melodic black/death metal?
“The idea was sparked by Demigod’s career and influences, deeply rooted in a love for horror, survival, and post-apocalyptic films. Over the years, he explored a range of genres — from the raw energy of punk to the soulful tones of blues and the grit of rockabilly — but a hunger for metal always burned within him.
This passion for something darker and more theatrical inspired the creation of a band that could channel his vision. Combining the heaviness of blackened death metal with apocalyptic storytelling and dramatic performance, the project was born to satisfy both his creative ambitions and his love for pushing boundaries.”
Could you introduce the band members, their musical backgrounds, and how each one contributes to the band’s sound?
In this chilling saga, Demigod Nzambi takes center stage as the Zombie God — a moniker well-earned. The mastermind behind this gruesome tale, he wields rhythm guitar with precision, unleashes primal Sprechstimme vocals, and draws on over 25 years of touring experience with countless bands. Nzambi is the architect of this dark and twisted odyssey.
Contrasting him is Mvumbi, known as Ghost, whose haunting vocal prowess lures listeners into the abyss of the undead. Fully embracing the darkness, he symbolically crosses into the zombie realm, embodying the world from which the band emerges. Though his roots lie in local acts and smaller tours, Ghost has seized this opportunity with unrelenting passion, making the role uniquely his own.
Priest, a figure of mysticism in their folklore, adds a haunting ambiance through intricate guitar solos and soul-searing melodies. Despite his relatively younger human age, Priest brings experience from previous bands and tours, coupled with his expertise as an audio engineer, further enriching the band’s sound.
Priestess, responsible for costumes and ethereal choir vocals, brings an air of mystique while ensuring the band stays visually and thematically aligned with their dark narrative. While new to playing music, her extensive background in promotions makes her an indispensable force behind the scenes.
The Witch Doctor, commanding the bass, lays the foundation of their sound with deep, resonant tones that anchor the band’s eerie storytelling. A seasoned veteran of the music scene, he has toured extensively with numerous bands and contributed to a wealth of recorded material.
Finally, Wrath embodies the rhythmic heartbeat of their post-apocalyptic tale as the drummer. A powerhouse of skill and energy, Wrath has been playing since a young age, a fact unmistakable in his commanding stage presence. His extensive experience with multiple bands solidifies him as the driving force behind their primal sound.
Let’s talk about your latest work, the EP “Cult of the Dead”, which has been very well received.
We’ve been working on an album for quite some time now, and its concept is rooted in the very first pieces ever written for Miruthan. However, we wanted to release something sooner, so Demigod decided to create a prelude to the album and share that first.
That’s how Cult of the Dead came to life. It was written, recorded, and paired with stunning artwork before we released it to the world. The response has been nothing short of astonishing, and we’re beyond excited to unveil the full album in the near future.
Could you tell us more about the concept behind this EP and how it ties into the band’s overall narrative?
The concept lies completely around our folklore, we have written a complete folklore that we are following and the ep is the prelude to the major event.
Each song on the EP has its own story and atmosphere. Could you share more details about the individual songs and what they represent?
“Survived the Blast” — This track marks the beginning of the story — the start of the end. It captures the chaos and realization that an explosion, of unknown origin, has occurred. The world as we know it is over. Amid the confusion, we band together, driven by survival instincts. This is where Miruthan is forged, not just as a group, but as a symbol of resilience and unity.
“At The Barricades” — Here, the group makes its way through military gates, only to discover the horrors that lie within. The military is in absolute control, making life-and-death decisions at their discretion. The song reflects the turmoil, devastation, and moral decay as those deemed weak are eliminated without mercy. It’s a brutal realization of the world we now face.
“Into the Abyss” — Having passed through the gates, we find ourselves in a new and terrifying world. It’s a place that feels hostile, ready to destroy us — not just as individuals, but as a united team and, ultimately, as a species. This track conveys the sheer magnitude of the threat we now face, as survival grows increasingly uncertain.
“Land of the Damned” — This song captures the grim realization of what lies beyond the gates. The world is completely desolate, consumed by devastation and despair. We come to terms with the fact that this land is uninhabitable and unwelcoming. It’s a brutal acknowledgment of our bleak future and the overwhelming odds against us.
What do you hope listeners will take away from “Cult of the Dead” after listening to it?
We hope listeners take away a sense of resilience and the importance of survival in life, no matter how daunting the challenges may seem. Cult of the Dead is a reminder that, even in the face of unimaginable horrors, we have the strength within us to endure. It’s about recognizing that the fight for survival isn’t something we face alone — we need to come together, unite as one, and confront the darkness head-on. The EP is both a warning and a rallying cry, encouraging listeners to never lose hope and to embrace the power of unity.
Let’s talk about your creative process. How do you usually compose your songs?
Demigod Nzambi serves as the principal songwriter, laying the foundation for each track. Once the core structure is in place, the band comes together to learn and refine their individual parts, ensuring everything fits cohesively.
Does everyone contribute equally, or is there someone who takes the lead?
The process is collaborative, but each member adds their unique flair to the music. Finally, The Priest takes the lead in crafting and finalizing the guitar solos, adding an extra layer of emotion and intensity to the compositions.
Your lyrics are very intense and emotionally charged. Where do you draw inspiration from to write about such dark and apocalyptic themes?
Our inspiration comes from a mix of real life, pop culture, and classic horror. The darker side of life and its challenges often serve as the foundation for our lyrics, but we also draw heavily from TV shows and the eerie aesthetic of 1950s horror films. The macabre imagery of that era has always fascinated us and provides endless creative fuel. Musically, we’re inspired by bands like Cannibal Corpse and others who embody the brutal intensity we aim to convey in our storytelling.
Miruthan’s music has a strong narrative element. How do you manage to balance the brutality of black/death metal with melodic storytelling without losing intensity?
Surprisingly, we find this balance comes naturally to us — which might be a bit concerning! A love for storytelling and melody, combined with a deep appreciation for the raw power of black and death metal, allows us to blend the two seamlessly. Being as much of a Johnny Cash fan as we are fans of Behemoth gives us the ability to weave these dark, intense tales while keeping the music emotionally engaging and brutally powerful. The result is a sound that’s both crushingly heavy and rich with narrative depth.
Changing the subject. In the world of metal, image and stage presence are essential. How did you develop your aesthetic of masks and cloaks, and what message do you want to convey with this choice?
We always knew we wanted to be a masked band; where the stage performance would be almost as impactful as the music itself.
We collectively spent months researching images, artwork and texts that aligned with the story of Miruthan; our Dark Folklore.
The concept was further developed and each costume was hand made by Ritual Priestess over a period of three or four months.
We wanted our stage presence to feel ominous, dark and a little intimidating to complement the folklore of Miruthan. The goal was always to create an experience with every show; it’s also just a lot of fun to dress up in corpse paint & robes!
Back to the band. This year, you will be going on the Motocultor Across Europe Tour 2025. What are your expectations for this tour, and which cities are you most excited to visit?
Yes! We are so honoured and excited to be welcomed onboard for the Motocultor Across Europe Tour 2025; with so many incredible artists — Infected Rain, Semblant, Elyose & Skin on Flesh.
Being our first International Tour, I’m not sure we have any expectations going in to it other than knowing it will be both a lot of fun & a lot of hard work! We are so keen though.
It’s a really cool thing to be a part of a show that is also celebrating women in Rock & Metal too!
What can fans expect from your live performances during the Motocultor Across Europe Tour 2025?
We love to deliver a high energy, theatrical and hard hitting performance — we always aim to create an engaging experience at each show, or ritual, as we like to call it!
We also love it when people really get involved in the fun of it too; being anointed into the Cult ov Miruthan, wearing corpse paint to the gig and embracing the theatrics of it all!
Have you prepared something special for this tour that your followers should know about?
We have! Our set list for this Tour includes 2 new, currently unreleased, tracks which we are super keen to get out into the world & perform!
Miruthan is relatively new to the scene but has already caught the attention of many. What advice would you give to emerging bands looking to find their place in the world of metal?
As you said, Miruthan as a band are still fairly new; we’ve only been performing together for 18months or so! However, if we had any advice to give it would be to stick by your craft, own it, prepare to work hard and be willing & open to always learn & grow!
Finally, looking towards the future, what are your long-term goals for Miruthan?
Miruthan are a hard working outfit. So we expect to give it our best shot and see where we can with this thing. But the new album and another film clip are first stop!
Where do you see yourselves in five or ten years?
Wow! We would absolutely love to have more European Tours under our belts within the next five years for sure! To have played large Festivals would be super exciting as well!
Links:
https://www.instagram.com/miruthan_band/
