Molt (Molt)

Greg Aramini
May 3
4 min read

Updated: May 4

Released: 2024

Genre: Math rock, Punk

Sounds Like: Fugazi, Drive Like Jehu

Homeland: Oregon, USA

What makes Molt elite and sit atop OHMs Peak?

Molt delivers an impressive blend of classic Math rock infused with elements of noise and punk, reminiscent of bands like Fugazi or Drive Like Jehu.
This unconventional punk style is difficult to master and is refreshing to hear. Molt seems to possess the perfect chemistry for a band that is relatively new.
The production is spot on. The album does not feel over polished and contains somewhat of a homegrown sound. It must translate perfect in a live atmosphere.

Track Listing:

Midvillain 3:03
Sucker Spring 4:09
Good Person Test 6:13
Unhealthy For Sensitive Groups 4:06
Self-Harm Is The New Self-Care 4:03
Not Yet Diagnosed, Nervous 4:43

Dive deeper into Molt with our Q&A with Singer/Guitarist Stephen Shodin from Molt.

OHMs Peak: Would love for a brief glimpse into your process and time commitment in making the album.

Stephen Shodin: On the music side of things, we're a very collaborative bunch. Ideas and sketches of ideas are often pressed together, re-arranged, and tweaked until we feel like we're doing something that resonantes for us. We endeavor to pay service to the song and each other as musicians and people. This can sometimes happen very quickly, but often it takes a lot of time, effort, and patience.

OHMs Peak: Your self-titled album is wise beyond its years. Eloquent noise rock that harkens us back to the classic days of Drive Like Jehu or Transition. While this is an EP it is chock-full of diversified hardcore sludge and plays like an all encompassing full-length. ‘Good Person Test’ in particular features your range on the EP and is one of our favorites. Such a warm and heartfelt track. We would love to hear more about the message behind this track and how it came about?

Stephen Shodin: Warm and heartfelt are unexpected adjectives for this tune, but I love that. The song's organizing theme is: There is no shortage of toxic people in the world and sometimes the worst ones are the closest to us. Finding the courage to set boundaries and protect our hearts is vital to surviving. Our pasts contribute to who we are, but the story doesn't have to end there. Every day we wake up affords the chance to make different choices.

OHMs Peak: What was your band’s most memorable live performance? Where was it held and why was the night so special.

Stephen Shodin: Our very first show was at a loft and it was all-ages. The combination of "first show jitters" and getting positive feedback from a variety of people was pivotal in terms of inspiration, intention, and the potential for not only making more music, but more importantly, fostering community

OHMs Peak: How has the tremendous Portland Oregon music scene impacted your formation? We understand that it’s your new home base and you played your first show together in 2023.

Stephen Shodin: It is tremendous and we're grateful to be part of the music scene in Portland. We are all regularly inspired and enriched by the entire art community here. Our hope is to pay it forward and pay it back.

OHMs Peak: What band NOT in your genre would you love to tour with that would most compliment your sound?

Stephen Shodin: Metric springs to mind. I'd like to think that we have similar energies.

OHMs Peak: We would love any insight as to your current and upcoming tour plans?

Stephen Shodin: April 4th we will be in Seattle at the Southgate Roller Rink with High Priors (highpriors.bandcamp.com) and No Edits (noeditsband.bandcamp.com). April 5th we're having our EP release celebration show at High Water Mark in Portland. We'll be sharing the stage with Inny, Ex Everything and Kowloon Walled City. We'll be taking some time this summer to flesh out new song ideas and are working towards having new music to share with people in the fall.

OHMs Peak: What is your favorite venue of all time?

Stephen Shodin: My favorite venue of all time closed permanently in 2016 and I still miss it. Cake Shop in New York City. Andy and Nick Bodor created something very special there. It felt like a clubhouse or a friend’s basement but with a professional sound system. Bands were always given a fair deal and everyone on staff was welcoming, patient, and enthusiastic about interesting music. It was everything I had hoped a small club in Manhattan would be and then some..

OHMs Peak: Molt is stranded on an island with only a solar powered turn table and majestic powered solar blue tooth speakers. The band collectively can only choose one album. Which album to you agree to?

Stephen Shodin: It would most likely be a Fugazi record. Which one would be a difficult and lengthy debate.

Follow Molt: Bandcamp

Molt are:

Benjamin Caragol - Drums

Joseph McClune - Electric Guitar

Jonathan Schmitt - Electric Bass

Stephen Shodin - Electric guitar & Vocals