High Priest. Guitarist. Vocalist. This edition of Fistful of Questions goes out to SLOTH’s very own Ariel.
What is your full name?
Ariel Pang
Do you have any aliases?
High Priest of the Oak
What bands are you actively involved with?
I play guitar and do vocals in Sloth. I also play second guitar in Helter Skelter.
What was the first instrument that you played?
I messed around on an alto saxophone and piano when I was child. But nothing serious or long term until I picked up the electric guitar at age 10 or 11. That’s when I started taking lessons, learning songs, etc.
Tell me about one of your first musical memories?
When I was around 6 or 7yrs old my best friend at the time was very musical and I spent a lot of time around him. He played piano and guitar because his dad was some far out jazz musician. I remember going with them to this Santana concert. We had these amazing front row seats. I didn’t even understand what I was witnessing but it absolutely blew my little mind away.
What was the name of the first band you were in?
Man, I don’t even think we had a name. In high school, two of my good friends knew how to play guitar and got me to play bass with them. We started writing songs and eventually got a singer. But we mostly got stoned.
Tell me about the genesis of SLOTH.
I started SLOTH in 2017 as a solo project where I played all the instruments, recorded, mixed/ mastered the music all myself. I had moved away from Los Angeles to Northern California and I wanted to craft this image of a raw, occult, horror inspired type of music. I tried to jam with a few different musicians but no one was like-minded so I did everything myself as strictly a “studio band”. I moved back to Los Angeles in 2021 and got back together with some old friends that resulted in the current 3-piece Sloth lineup we have now.
What inspired the name SLOTH?
Although many people associate us with the animal, the band name actually comes from the seven deadly sins. And more specifically, I named the band after the song Sloth: “Open Up Your Eyes” by the band Plus (1969).
How long did it take you to write and record Necromagicka?
The song “Necromagicka” took a while. We wrote it and tried it out live a few times before recording it. It went through a few different arrangements before the release. It’s a long and meandering one so we needed to get it flowing just right. The other songs “Devil’s Gate” and “Slow Burn” are live because we always wanted to lay down some live versions of some old favorites. Much in the spirit of the 70’s heavy jam bands, we feel like a release is just a snapshot in time. Due to the open structure of the songs, they tend to change shape over time. Especially if we play them live. So it’s important for us to capture this.
If you could insert yourself into any one band what band would it be and why?
I think if we could sit in on an Earthless jam, that would be crazy. We fuckin dig Earthless. Or Supercoven era Electric Wizard.
Have you ever heard a song and immediately wished you had written it? If so… What was the song and artist?
I think every single Iommi riff.
Do you have any non-metal musical inspirations?
Definitely a lot of 70’s bands and psych stuff. It permeates in SLOTH.
What’s a non-metal song that you'd like to do a cover of?
We’ve talked about covering James Gang and KISS. That would be pretty fun. I did a solo cover of Neil Young’s “Hey Hey, My My” years ago that's somewhere on the internet.
What band have you played with that has really impressed you with their live show?
Dusk from the San Gabriel Valley here in SoCal always puts on a fantastic show. Those dudes absolutely kill it with their performance. And they also do the 70’s sound right! We also played with Moonfuzz, a power trio from Whittier, CA, and their tone and chemistry was killer!
Do you have a favorite venue to play at?
Any venue that won’t tell us to turn down the volume.
Do you have a pre-show ritual?
We’ll usually just go over the set and dial in those transitions between songs. And I’ll light up a few doobies. But that’s the usual.
What’s the weirdest experience you’ve had at a show?
We were playing last on a bill and the organizer didn’t tell the venue that we were playing. You can imagine how pissed the venue and sound guy was when it was almost midnight and we were setting up our gear on stage.
The year is 2010. Where are you at and what are you listening to?
At the local skatepark probably listening to The Misfits.
What advice would you give young musicians that are just starting out in the music business?
Don’t hesitate to release music. You’re not a band until you have something people can listen to. But don’t rush it. Rehearse and practice your songs until they’re good in a live setting. Marketing and image is important but you have to remember that the music is priority. As soon as you get the songs tight, record and put it out!
What is an absolute band killer?
When a band doesn’t think about their live performance or stage set up. It’s more than just playing your songs at the audience. You have to play FOR them. You have to draw them in and create motifs with your performance.
Have you ever recorded a song that you really didn’t like, but somebody else in the band really did?
Of course. I think there’s aspects in every song we’ve released that some of us like more than others. It’s not that we are ungrateful or perfectionists, we’re just hungry for more.
If you were to start your own music festival what would be the name of that festival and who would be the three headlining bands?
It would be called “Funeral Magick Festival” and would be in the middle of the Northern California Redwood forests. The bands would play only at nighttime and until the sun rises. Sloth, Wizard Master, and Electric Wizard would headline.
What’s the longest time you’ve gone without bathing?
What’s that?
What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?
That I like Black Sabbath.
Is the Fistful of DOOM show in the top 10 of your favorite music podcasts?
Of course! All hail Fistful of DOOM!
Do unicorns sleep standing up?
Yes. With their eyes open too.
Give me three albums that I should listen to immediately, if not sooner.
Flower Travellin’ Band- Satori
Wicked Lady- The Axeman Cometh
Sloth- Necromagicka
You’re driving cross-country and you can only listen to one album the whole time. What album will it be?
Definitely Black Sabbath self titled.
You are writing a book about your life thus far. What is the title of that book?
I’m stoned man something like “Burnt and Deep Fried”.
What is your favorite song by Taylor Swift?
War Pigs
Sleep or High On Fire (if you had to choose)?
Sleep
Doobies or Boobies (if you had to pick one)?
Damn!
Waffles or Pancakes (if you had to pick one)?
Neither. Black coffee!!
Star Wars or Star Trek (if you had to choose)?
Star Trek
Favorite band t-shirt you own?
A thailand bootleg Black Sabbath shirt. Iommi’s name is spelled “Tomy Iommi”.
Favorite meal?
2 boges back to back.
The Satanic Bible
Favorite movie?
The Exorcist
Favorite album?
It’s hard to pick but one of my top three is Electric Wizard- Witchcult Today.
Favorite video game?
Doom
Favorite Professional Wrestler?
Late 90’s era Kane or Jake “The Snake” Roberts.
Many, many thanks to Ariel for taking the time to answer my questions. I appreciate you doing so. As for the rest of you, you are definitely going to want to take advantage of the link so generously provided below and bask in the heavy glow that is SLOTH’s Necromagicka EP. You can thank me later.
~El Pedo Caliente (aka Uncle Jameson from the Fistful of DOOM show)
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