Oct 28 2024 30 mins 2
Jamie Madrox, one-half of the iconic horrorcore duo Twiztid, is no stranger to busy schedules and big creative shifts. In a recent conversation with Meltdown, the rapper-turned-rocker discussed everything from Twiztid's new album to the highly anticipated House of Krazees reunion shows to how working with Rob Zombie's producer Zeus has taken their music to another level.
As Halloween approaches, a special time of year for Madrox and his crew, the energy is palpable. "We live for this kind of thing. Every day is Halloween for us," Madrox said with a grin. "This is like Christmas to us—with Christmas right behind, obviously."
A Twiztid Double Feature for the Ages
This week's excitement revolves around a double feature of concerts at St. Andrew's Hall in Detroit, a significant homecoming for Twiztid and Madrox's earlier group, House of Krazees. House of Krazees will perform on October 29th, for the first time in years at The Shelter. "We have a new record coming out for House of Krazees called 31," Madrox said. "It's like a throwback. It's a good vibe, and we're excited to do that."
But the action doesn't stop there. On October 30, Twiztid will headline the main stage at St. Andrew's Hall, joined by The Funeral Portrait and Blaze Ya Dead Homie. "It's going to be a good time," Madrox promised.
The New Twiztid Album: Heavy, Experimental, and Groundbreaking
While the Halloween shows will lean into classic Twiztid vibes, fans eagerly await the duo's new album, set to release in early 2025. This record, however, won't sound like anything Twiztid has done before. According to Madrox, it's by far their heaviest, thanks to the involvement of producer Zeus, best known for his work with Rob Zombie.
"The new record has a way heavier sound—everything from death metal to djent. There's a little splash of everything, which is fun," Madrox said. Working with Zeus was amazing, "It was a learning process for me, talking with Zeus and learning about all these crazy things like djent."
Twiztid had long been experimenting with rock elements, but Madrox admitted they never quite pulled it off. "We tried to do rock in the past, but it always felt short of the mark. You could tell we weren't executing it properly."
Zeus brought the expertise and production style they needed to get it right. "We recorded the whole thing differently," Madrox said. "I would send Zeus voice notes, melodies, and little ideas I had, and I'd wait for him to be like, 'Man, this is trash.' But instead, he was intrigued. He started sending me music set to the parts he liked, and the songs started to take shape. Before I knew it, these small ideas had turned into full songs, with bridges and choruses."
A New Approach, A New Sound
Working with Zeus brought an outside perspective to the group. "We've always done things our own way," Madrox reflected. "But Zeus made us rethink everything. He'd ask questions like, 'Why does this part sound like that?' Normally, I wouldn't ask myself those questions."
The album is one of the albums they have ever produced, "When you hear it, it's unlike any other Twiztid record. You can hear a progression in our sound and in our professionalism. We're still growing as artists, even after all this time."
One of the biggest lessons Madrox learned from working with Zeus was being open to critique. "I had to learn not to be afraid to fail and to try new things," he said. We were always pretty self-contained. It was safer that way. But now I'm opening myself up to new experiences, and it's been amazing."
Looking Ahead: New Material, Tours, and Growth
While fans won't hear much new material at the Halloween shows, Twiztid saves the big reveal for their 2025 tour with Coal Chamber. "We were supposed to go on tour with Coal Chamber, but it got postponed to 2025," Madrox explained. "For that tour, we'll have a full band, and we'll be playing a bunch of the new songs."
The decision to hold off on the new material for now is all about presenting it in the best possible light. "I want people to see the new songs the right way," Madrox said. "When we go out with Coal Chamber, it's going to be more of a heavy, live band setup. That's when the new material will really shine."
The band lineup for that tour will feature drummer Dan Fox, who has worked with artists like Marilyn Manson and Dope, and Derek Obscura on guitar. "These guys are phenomenal musicians, and they're going to bring a whole new energy to our live shows."
Passion Projects: Astronomicon and Beyond
Beyond music, Madrox and Twiztid are known for their love of pop culture, where they produce the Comicon, Astronomicon. In its eighth year, the convention has become a beloved staple in the horror, comic, and wrestling communities.
"Astronomicon is a passion project for us," Madrox shared. "We love pop culture, and we want to create an experience that's fun for everyone. We always think, 'Would you be mad if this happened to you at a con?' We put a lot of thought into making it a great experience."
Madrox hinted at the possibility of moving Astronomicon to a new venue but says the core mission remains: to create a positive and welcoming environment for fans of all things geeky and spooky.
The Future: No Fear of Growth
As Twiztid gets ready to release their most ambitious album yet and gear up for a major tour, Jamie Madrox says, "This new record really represents where we are right now," he said. "It's the result of us pushing ourselves, working with new people, and trying new things."
But even as Twiztid evolves, they remain true to their roots. "We're adding new elements, but we're not forgetting where we come from. We've got to remember who we are as artists."
With new music, new experiences, and a revitalized creative spirit, it's great to see what is going to be next for Twiztid, "We're still learning, still growing, and still pushing ourselves," he said. "And I'm excited for people to hear what we've created."
