Martin Mendez: My Top Five Bass Influences
Death metal master Martin Mendez has just released the second album from his project White Stones. Where 2020’s Kuarahy was released just before the pandemic, Dancing Into Oblivion covers the bassist’s experience during the lockdown period.
“It’s a mix of feelings during the lockdown, feelings that go from fear to uncertainty as well as going through the confusion when you don’t know about the future and you feel almost as if time has stopped,” Mendez writes. “Musicians might be the last who will be back to work and we don’t have any signs of a sooner return, which makes for a huge uncertainty. I have a family and I have to take care of them. This situation creates a feeling of discomfort which you can feel on the album.”
The album is loaded with monstrous riffs for which Mendez, who also plays for Opeth, is known. While he typically keeps supporting the riff and the bass role, we also get to hear him provide the melody for “Iron Titans”.
Check out “Chain of Command”:
In celebration of the new album – and since Mendez has influenced so many bassists – we caught up with the legend himself to get his top five bass influences. Some of them may surprise you!
Dancing Into Oblivion is available now on CD, vinyl and as a digital download (iTunes and Amazon MP3).
Jaco Pastorius:
The most innovative in the history of the electric bass guitar. For me, simply “the best.”
Cliff Burton:
In metal music, Burton is the most innovative.
Junior Braguinha:
More of a modern bass player – amazing technique, and I like his feeling.
Marcus Miller:
He’s an amazing musician who has the most distinctive slap sound.
Paul Chambers:
Known mostly for his job with Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Just amazing.
