Hailing from Reno, Nevada, Cyborg Octopus drummer Josh Mathis began his drumming journey by joining his high school’s marching band. This led to him being inspired by Brian Boydstun, Jeff DePaoli, and Jeff Mitchell, who were his instructors and who were in metal bands. Through attending weekend shows, Josh was inspired to take the leap and transition to play a full kit.
The first band he joined was in 2010, playing a mix of death metal and a Lamb of God style sound. Fast forward to 2015, when Josh landed his first touring gig with Cyborg Octopus. This was right before the release of the band’s debut album, Learn To Breathe. This partnership led him to tour Canada and the Western United States, culminating in the band achieving over 1,000,000 Spotify streams.
In the summer of 2022, Josh began working with Nuclear Blast Record’s Bay Area metal band Aenimus as a touring drummer… this is just one of the many stepping stones Josh Mathis has taken to establish himself as a career drummer while traveling the world.
About Seizure of Character:
“Seizure of Character” is a fast-paced melody-driven song with a big ol’ climax. We wanted to release “Seizure” first because it sets a great tone for what “Between the Light and Air” is – increasingly serious and aggressive while maintaining our signature wacky vibes. Lyrically, the song is based on a traumatic brain injury that our saxophone player Patrick suffered while he was asleep – resulting in memory loss, personality changes, fear of sleep, and an existential crisis. Who are you if you do not remember who you are?”
“Between the Light and Air” – Pre-Order Here.
Order “Learning to Breathe” Vinyl Here.
“Between the Light and Air” was Produced, Mixed, and Mastered by Nick Loiacono
Written by Cyborg Octopus and David Wu
Video by Michael Alvarez
Full Band Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prYGLVCQ9wo
Photo By: Jake Vancil
Josh’s Gear:
Tama Hyper Drive
13″ SLP Snare Drum Wood Grain Finish
10″ 12″ 16″ Toms
2 22″ x 20″ Kick Drums
Sticks – Collision Drumsticks 5A (Endorsed Artist)
Cymbals:
Sabian 14″ HHX Hi-hats
Sabian 18″ and 19″ HHX Crash Cymbals Sabian 20″ Vault Ride Cymbal
Sabian 10″ AAX Splash
Sabian 18″ Holy China
Hardware:
Tama Hi-hat Stand
Gibraltar Rack
Heads:
Snare Head
Genera Dry
Tom Heads
Evans EC2’s 10″ 12″ 16”
Bass Drum Heads
Batter Head
Evans EMAD
Resonant Head
Evans EMAD Black
Bass Drum Pedals – 2 Single Axis Longboards
Trigger Module – SPDX
Microphones:
5 Shure SM58’s
2 Shure SM137’s
In-Ear Headphones – Shure 215 Earbuds
Recording Interface – Presonus Fire Studio
Tracking Electronics/Mics:
DAW – Cubase
Snare Microphone – Shure Beta57
Tom’s – Audix D4
Floor Tom – Audix D6
Kicks – Triggered with Foot Blasters
Overhead Microphones – Rode NT5 (Pair)
Room Microphone – SE VR1 Ribbon Mics (pair)
Studio – Mayhemness Studios
Engineer – Robert Swanson
Photo By: Jake Vancil
Cyborg Octopus Is:
Ian Forsythe – Vocals
Bobby Carroll – Guitar
Patrick Corona – Keys Saxophone Vocals
George Lallian – Bass
Josh Mathis – Drums
Josh’s Links:
https://www.facebook.com/CyborgOctopus
https://www.facebook.com/faceless3791
https://cyborgoctopus.bandcamp.com
Seizure of Character Lyrics:
Awaken from Death
Within pools of anamnesis, fluid memories come to rest
Recollection becomes weakness, I taste the salt of consciousness
Order by turmoil, my mortal toils bend and boil before the void
An absence of abstentiousness
In the wake of cerebral earthquakes,
Fissures of the mind divide between truth and time
Seizure of character
Where love and lies coincide
My forgotten lines define my caricature
I am my own imposter
These staples in my skull won’t piece back together my personality
Shadows of memories slithering through my sanity, I keep seeking
peace of mind consumed by mortality
Forgotten nature, measured in pints of blood loss
Concussive brain rot, buried are the parts of myself that I forgot
Somniphobic existentialism keeps my eyes wide open as I stare at the walls within
Terrified through the night, mortified by the light
Redefine purpose, rediscover depth
Become the catalyst and awaken from death.
Now, Awaken from death.
Photo By: Jake Vancil
