Front Line Assembly’s Rhys Fulber recently told Lynette Cerezo that her most recent single, “Road Of Thousand Tears,” is her, “David Lynch song.” So, it’s only fitting that this Saturday, 10/28, Lynette will be playing Eraserhood’s own Underground Arts. Lynette Cerezo is better known as Bestial Mouths, a goth/industrial project that has been kicking out gloomy and doomy jams for more than a decade, and which has been entirely written and conceived by Cerezo since the 2019 INSHROUDSS EP. This August, Bestial Mouths released their sixth studio album, R.O.T.T. (inmyskin), which was produced by Fulber.
“That song shows the sadness, the hardships, but also the glimmering hope,” Cerezo tells me of “Road Of Thousand Tears” (the album’s most recent single), during a recent phone chat, where she clarifies for me that it is actually the title track of her most recent LP, R.O.T.T. (Don’t pretend like you figured it out, either…) The song has an exceptionally cool music video directed by Bestial Mouths tour manager Katarina Sjostrand, inspired by surrealist and silent cinema. Cerezo explains that film has always served as a major inspiration, likely because, “I’m really esoteric when I talk…”
“I feel like this new one is like the next level for us in terms of being polished and clean,” Cerezo tells me of the new album, before going on to admit, “When we started the band, I didn’t really know what I was doing [laughs].” She also admits that she’s a huge fan of Rhys Fulber, who is also a member of Delerium, in addition to having his own project, Conjure One. “He put a lot of energy, heart, and soul into it,” Cerezo says of working with Fulber. The two actually managed to churn out the nine songs of R.O.T.T. (inmyskin) in a mere three days. She tells me that the collection of tracks actually have more influences from outside the world of music than music itself: “Most of it was just about my journey and my life and what I’ve been through.” She says much of it focuses on being bulled, and never feeling good enough, in addition to finally feeling comfortable in her skin, while, at the same time, feeling trapped in it.
Bestial Mouths have played the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection a handful of times over the years, including a 2011 date at the long-gone HeadHouse, a 2013 stop at Kung Fu Necktie, a 2017 performance at The Barbary, and a show just last year at Silk City, which proved to be especially exciting for Cerezo: “Last time I played, I got to meet Rodney of The Dead Milkmen, and I’m such a huge fan!” However, she admits that we always manage to show her a good time: “I’ve always enjoyed playing there, and I’m always looking for vegan stuff. One time Shari from Void Vision was like, ‘This place has the best vegan cheesesteaks!’ and it totally did!”
This Saturday’s show at Underground Arts will have Bestial Mouths playing as part of Dracula’s Ball, alongside headliner Ayria, and A Cloud of Ravens. “We’re definitely focusing on the new album, and we always project live visuals,” Cerezo tells me of the live show, before going on to add, “I’ll have my synth player from France, and an electronic drummer.” In addition to the kinds of venues Bestial Mouths tend to play in the 215, they also regularly find themselves playing major outdoor festivals with some regularity, so I’m curious to hear how Cerezo approaches the different settings, and she tells me, “I love doing it all. When you do smaller, DIY things, it’s nice to be really connected to the audience, but when you play large festivals, it can be an otherworldly experience, and you also to get to meet so many touring artists that you wouldn’t otherwise!”
*Get your tickets here.
