Humut Tabal Video shoot update.

To start this passage off, I want to announce a zine that is in the works. It will be an actual printed format, not the usual web blogspot that has become quite popular. More details will be posted in the future. The publication will also include a DVD full of band footage. With that being said, it sets the tone for the following.

A few weeks ago we headed up to Austin to meet with Humut Tabal for a video shoot. The band kindly agreed to have us out to their compound for some filming. Obviously the footage will be used for the aforementioned DVD.

The journey started around 11am and concluded around 3pm when hitting Austin’s city limits. Well at least we thought it was coming to an end. After a few more hours of vegetating in some ridiculous traffic, we finally arrived.
Exiting off the main road, we were taken down a long, winding path. The thoughts of a horror movie setting were hard to ignore. I was waiting for a horde of deformed hillbilly ghouls to ravage the car.
After a little more driving, we passed through a final fortress of trees to come upon the home of Humut Tabal. The compound was rooted on a barren, yet scenic acreage.

After our lengthy journey, we exited the car to be greeted by the band. Next we were brought inside to see where all their great sounds have been summoned. Their practice space was quite impressive. It was definitely a fertile ground to conjuring some epic music. The walls were liberally admonished with past accomplishments of the band: gig flyers, posters, etc. Although it was somewhat small, the structure played a valid role in the band’s creativity. At least in my eyes I saw it that way.
After our initial pleasantries, the band set up and we prepared for filming. The song chosen for the promo was “Ode to Misanthropy – This I Swear”, taken off the Plutonian Shore split. An epic song with some fast, thrashy elements, I feel they made the right choice in that regard.
Once the filming began, there were several takes from different angles. Although the setting was in a practice space, their performance was still in full form. They definitely understood the intensity I was trying to create for the video. The footage taken definitely reflects that.
Some additional shots were taken around area…I wanted to add an extra dimension in the video, plus with all countryside available, it would have been criminal to not use.
To finish things off, we shot a brief interview with the band, basically giving some insight into the world of Humut Tabal.

All the footage will be edited and included on the DVD/zine, which is planned to be released in January. Well providing that I receive all materials from other bands in a timely manner.

The next day was another long adventure. We went to the Fun Fun Fun Fest. The main reason for attending was to see Negative Approach and The Damned. Both were in top form and sounded great. For The Damned, it was a rare US appearance. So their performance was one that I could not miss. Besides battling a raging dust storm, the event was pretty satisfying. We only went on Saturday to see the bands mentioned above. I could not imagine going for all three days. Of course the previous night’s show was the infamous Danzig fiasco. I am sure everyone already knows that story. So I will not waste any time on that. Slayer and Cannibal Corpse played Sunday, but I have seen both bands numerous times. So another viewing was not needed.
As for the “Ode to Misanthropy – This I Swear” promo video, it will be posted soon. After many meticulous hours of editing, the visual assault was complete.