I’ve shared this gargantuan anthem before, but not since 2021. This music was born of deep sadness but eventually became a source of joy.
I was grieving my beloved pit bull, Stacie. She was my baby girl for 16 years. I had to have the vet put her to sleep and I was with her as she passed.
To heal, I needed to make loud, angry metal guitar music. I felt pulled to something riff-based and modal, so I wouldn’t have to think about it very much. This piece has no vocals for the same reason.
I would be remiss not to mention my two main influences on this Trifecta of Doom, the bands Megadeth and Tool.
The final product was three movements, each one about twelve minutes in length. I find Part 1 to be the strongest, overall, but there are elements of the other two that others might like more.
The title is a reference to the intricate and finite spiritual sand art of the Tibetan Buddhist monks and Native Americans.
In this world, nothing lasts forever, but the only way we can be truly alive is to put 100% effort into the things we do. To half-ass things is to be dead before you die.
During that intense period of grief, working on this project was the only thing that brought me any kind of satisfaction at all.
Mandala of Sand – Pt. 1 is the final track on my third album, Area 25, available on all major music streaming platforms.
