Red Deer metallers First Church of Mud are ready to convert the masses, and with the word fast spreading after the central Albertans released their debut album “Dark Humanity” last September, the shows just keep on coming.

“We like to put on a show with a lot of energy and will have you banging your head and kickin’ shit over,” said lead vocalist Greg Mix of the band’s live sound.

Mix, who also takes charge of the band’s promotional, management and booking needs, first picked up guitar when he was 16.

“I’ve always had a connection with music and find it’s a great way to relieve stress and escape,” he said. “I soon tried starting up a band and realized that good vocalists are really hard to come by, so if I wanted to have a band, I would need to become a good frontman. I started singing from there and my guitar playing eventually took a back seat to my vocals.”

How did you end up as frontman for First Church of Mud?

It’s kind of a long and confusing story, because the name First Church of Mud was used 10 years ago for a punk rock project originally started by our drummer Jason Kelts and some of his friends, but they soon fell apart. Jason started a metal project with the same name some years after that with different members, and that eventually fell apart as well. Then, in late 2006, guitarist Chris [Mazerolle], guitarist Kyle [Dudman] and I met Jason and formed a metal band, which is the core of what you know now as First Church of Mud. We were without a name for a few months and couldn’t really agree on anything that didn’t sound cheesy. Then one jam session we just decided we all liked the name First Church of Mud and, although it was a brand new band with only one of the original members, we felt the name suited us. I guess that actually makes us the “Third Church of Mud!

What was it about the band name that grabbed you?

What I really like about the name is that it means something different to everyone and can be taken a lot of different ways.

How would you describe the band’s music to those who haven’t heard it?

I find it hard to put it in a certain genre, as we explore a lot of different metal elements. We are a bit thrash metal, a bit death metal, a bit melodic metal, a bit… well, hell, we’re just metal!

Which bands or musicians have most influenced the band’s overall sound?

I really try to write by feel, and it’s difficult for me to say that we sound like this or that band. I think our sound has a lot to do with the variety of songs, but we are influenced by bands like Metallica, Lamb of God, All That Remains, Unearth, Killswitch Engage, Tool, Marilyn Manson, Chimaira, All Shall Perish, Soilwork, Slayer… I could go on forever.

Who are some of your own influences when it comes to writing vocals?

The theme of our album was the dark parts of the human mind, which is why we chose the title “Dark Humanity.” I like to write songs about personal experiences or dreams I’ve had, books I’ve read, as well as things like serial killers, religion, and all the other filth this world has to offer.

How does your individual style influence the band’s overall sound?

I bring a lot of aggression to the band. We have a couple riffs that sound kind of punk rock, but my vocals give us a nice metal edge.

How much has the band’s sound evolved since first starting out?

We continue to improve as musicians and are getting more comfortable exploring some new directions. The material we are writing now explores a dark heaviness while still embracing melodies and keeping the energy you’ve come to expect from FCOM.

You perform a cover version of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit.” Was there any particular reason behind the selection of this song?

We wanted to choose a song that no one would expect us to cover and that we could metallize nicely. “White Rabbit” worked very well because it is already such a dark and heavy song (for its time). And it’s about drugs, so there’s a bonus!

What are your general opinions on bands playing cover songs?

I love when bands put their own twist on a classic, which I think we achieved nicely with our metalized version of “White Rabbit.”

What are some of your favourite original songs to play live and why?

Personally, I think “Blind Leading Blind” is the most fun to play live because it is a very fast and intense song. The brutality of “Chunks-O-Whore” makes it one of my personal favourites to play live as well.

Do you remember your first gig as First Church of Mud?

It was at a New Year’s Eve party that we put on in a hall out at Sylvan Lake. It turned out pretty good. We packed the place, made a lot of money, and put on a decent show. I guess it helped that it was all our friends in the audience.

Which are some of your favourite Alberta venues?

We really like to play Cheers North in Red Deer because they treat us so damn well. They love us, and they have a pretty good setup and sound in there. I also really liked the setup of The Stetson in Calgary, and they had good sound as well.

Who are some of your favourite Alberta-based bands to play a show with?

We’ve played shows with a lot of wicked bands, but the boys in This Is War from Edmonton knew how to party, and we put on a hell of a show together!

What makes or breaks a show in Red Deer?

Definitely the sound/sound guy and the turnout… but this applies everywhere.