Mourning High guitarist and vocalist Reid Balog and bassist Tyler Parsons shred at Chilkoot Charlie's in Anchorage, Alaska, on Nov. 30. Photo by Lela Sieler. Courtesy of Mommy's Little Monsters Photography.
Recently, on TikTok and Instagram, a thrash metal band from Southern California/Arizona has been rising to fame. This band is called Mourning High, and they started because they “fell in love with metal” when they were teenagers and thought they “might as well try and do some shit with it.”
The Northern Light was lucky enough to gain backstage access to Mourning High’s free concert at Chilkoot Charlie’s — also known as Koot’s — in Anchorage, Alaska, over Thanksgiving weekend. This gave us the opportunity to interview the members of the band, as well as the members of Wayward Shot, who opened for Mourning High.
Mourning High was brought to Alaska by Wayward Shot, who paid for their flights and housing, wanting to bring thrash metal to our home — and undoubtedly creating a strong friendship between the two bands.
Wayward Shot’s effort to fly Mourning High up to Anchorage was a major development, as thrash metal acts rarely travel to Anchorage to perform. Exodus performed at Club Millennium in 2008, Lamb of God canceled their Anchorage tour date in 2012 and Slayer was set to perform in 2013 but canceled due to “logistical issues.” These cancellations left the Anchorage metal community disenchanted for many years, so fans anxiously anticipated this event.
Mourning High didn’t disappoint and they brought all the nostalgia of thrash and 80s thrash bands with them.
In short — they kick ass.
Friends since preschool, this group of guys started a band originally out of a love for metal and took it full time when they had the realization that they actually had something with this band.
In their interview with The Northern Light, lead guitarist Ryan Williams said, “One thing I like about us is that I feel like we're all just like best friends, traveling and doing what we love.”
“It's not like traveling with strangers, it's like traveling with family,” he said. “It’s our first time in Anchorage and we're having a blast so far.”
“Everybody here is super nice, dude — nothing compared to the West — so it’s fucking awesome, dude,” said Williams. “We got a bunch of free drink tickets, people buying us beers and whatnot, so I don't know — we're having a good time.”
Williams said that Megadeth is the band's biggest influence.
As both bands finished up sound check and prepared to play, snow peacefully fell from the sky. The Koot’s parking lot slowly filled with cars and local metalheads poured into the Ice Bar, ready for the bands to break the silence of the night.
Mourning High fired off their set with an interesting thrash metal version of the Eastern Mediterranean folk song, Miserlou. It was an interesting choice that caught the crowd’s attention.
They switched to their self-titled track, “Mourning High,” a fast, heavier, downbeat thrash tune. The punchy riff sequence had a raw and cold energy to it that harkened back to the intensity of Sepultura's “Beneath the Remains” album.
During their set, they struck a good balance of interaction with the crowd — so much to the extent that the audience felt not only included but actively a part of the performance.
Both moshers and headbangers alike were having a ball. The pit got rowdy, just as it should, and the headbangers had the perfect tempo to keep pace with.
Jake Victor’s drums were a highlight of the musicianship of the band. His dynamic style is characteristic of modern renditions of thrash, pulling from the extensive backlog of thrash and death metal drummers throughout metal’s rich history. The beat drove relentlessly at times and slowed to a groovy skank beat at others, allowing the riffs to breathe.
The guitar tone was crunchy. The riffs were well-composed and unique.
Williams' guitar playing was precise and well-synchronized with vocalist/guitarist Reid Balog. Williams' leads resembled the style of early 80s thrash guitarists, utilizing quick, flashy pentatonic licks. This style worked well, but could benefit from more experimentation as the band evolves.
Balog’s vocals fit perfectly over the drums and guitars, never taking away from the band as a unit. This lack of focus on vocals can be difficult to enjoy for people who are accustomed to vocal-driven genres but is characteristic of traditional forms of metal. It is also important to note how difficult it is to be a vocalist while simultaneously playing thrashy riffs.
Bassist Tyler Parsons' playing was consistent and added depth to the mix. Parsons was all business and didn’t let Victor’s drumming down. Despite this, adding a touch of high-end jangle to his tone could give the band a more modern thrash sound. This would also call back to “Rust in Peace” era Megadeth, reinforcing how some fans already associate them with the legendary band.
After the music settled for a moment and the band took a breather, a quote from the crowd could be heard, “I can’t hear anything bro” — this comment proved just how heavy Mourning High is.
The break ended quickly as the absolute onslaught to the senses continued through the speakers. Metalheads rejoiced in the glorious noise that is Mourning High.
Mourning High topped off their set with a cover of “Whiplash” from Metallica’s 1983 debut album “Kill ‘Em All.” The Koot’s crowd responded with excitement.
Truly, there is no other that is currently performing that can even hold a candle to them. If the overall sound during their performance could be compared to any band, it would be a mix of Violator and early Megadeth.
Making the journey to Alaska that so many bands have failed to make, it seems that Mourning High might have what it takes to go all the way and find their place among the biggest names in the industry.
They have caught a lot of attention in a short period of time due to their image and TikTok presence, and it appears they have a shot at leaving their mark on the metal scene on a global scale — if they can maintain their focus.
The band is still noticeably new to fame. They still have their humble nature — hanging out until closing time at Koot’s, talking with fans and drinking. They seem to be more comfortable on stage in front of a crowd than they are in normal conversation. This is not to say that they are unfriendly in any way, just that they were truly born to be on stage in front of a crowd.
Whatever “it” is, this band has it. Thankfully for all of us in the audience, they are doing something with it and seem dedicated to their work.
So, if you want to be able to say the age-old line of “I knew that band before they were popular,” you may consider giving Mourning High a listen if you haven’t already. It will be exciting to watch how high they go.
Mourning High and Wayward Shot continue their tour on Dec. 20, at Bully’s Studios located in New Westminster, B.C.
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