Interviews: Komodo

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Metal band Komodo from Panama. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did the name Komodo come from, and what does it symbolize for the band?

The name actually started as a ridiculous inside joke about increasingly worse creatures that could infest your house. We started with ants, cockroaches, escalated to mice, tigers, crocodiles, and finally, a Komodo dragon. We thought: "Well, that's it, nothing beats that". To us, it’s a badass, fearsome apex predator, but it’s also kind of awkward and goofy-looking. It's an exact match to our personality.

2. Looking back, what has been the biggest lesson learned since forming the band?

Long-term success depends on being patient, tolerant, and, most importantly, true friends to each other. After 11 years, we, the same original lineup, are more united than ever. And that has been challenged in so many ways. But every time we felt someone wasn't at their best or we were unhappy with their behavior or attitude, we chose to think: "What's going on in their life? How can we help them?" And that's the only reason the band is still going strong.

3. Battle Pass is a unique album concept inspired by gaming culture. How did that idea first develop?

We all grew up very passionate about video games. When it was time to decide on a strategy, we noticed that the modern entertainment industry now demands constant content. We saw that games now rely on DLCs and live-service models more than they do on releasing new games. So we thought, why not lean into that? Instead of disappearing for years, let's do our own "Komodo Season Passes" and release music like gaming seasons. In a way, releasing Batlle Pass as the definitive final package to the whole "season" and beyond just made sense.

4. What made you decide to release a series of standalone singles instead of following a traditional album cycle?

As an up-and-coming band, it just makes more sense to keep you in front of people. In the streaming era, dropping a full-length album all at once means a couple of songs get noticed, and the rest get buried. Releasing individual songs, each with its own sound, artwork, music video, and even merch, ensures every song gets its moment in the spotlight. So many people told us it was "wrong" to do things this way from the start, but does art have a right way?

5. Did the "Battle Pass" approach change the way you wrote and recorded music?

Absolutely. As perfectionists to a fault, focusing on a single song at a time allowed us to obsess over every single detail and polish them to perfection without burning out. It also allowed us to create a music production iteration machine, where we tried out new composition, demoing, tracking and post-production techniques in quick succession. Because of this, every song we released used better methods and was finished faster. Imagine learning this much over much slower album cycles instead.

6. How did you decide which songs would ultimately become part of the final album?

We included what we wrote during this 2023-2025 period. It captures the sound from that moment in time and follows the same inspirations. The cut was made at the song "Rise of the Blind" because the material started to sound different. You'll notice it's harder to categorize. It felt natural to conclude the season here, release "Battle Pass," and move on. The newer material expands on this direction and sounds more "modern" to us as well.

7. The record combines previously released material with four new tracks. How do the new songs expand on the story of the album?

Lyrically, the album talks about internal battles: Psycho-medication, self-sabotage, and losing oneself, among others. The 4 newer tracks cover more of these internal battle topics, such as entitlement over others (All You Get), addiction to social media (Rise of the Blind), the fear of being forgotten (Chronostasis), and doing evil for religious reasons (Devotion). Musically, they all fit perfectly between existing tracks. We never doubted they belonged together.

8. What does Battle Pass represent to you personally and creatively?

It represents survival and adaptation. We survived long enough to see some long-term success, to triumph over seemingly impossible odds, and to learn enough about our strengths and weaknesses to evolve creatively and as a working team. The Battle Pass era was our opportunity to adapt and expand, and we seized it.

9. Having already toured internationally and performed in seven countries, how have those experiences shaped the band's evolution?

Greatly. Going international helped us raise the standard we aim for. The Panamanian metal scene is small, and we've shared the stage with most of the local acts. However, the moment you travel and interact with artists, venues, and industry people abroad, you immediately notice areas for improvement: Simpler rigs, better warmup routines, tighter shows and monitoring, etc. It's been humbling and eye-opening for us, but also rewarding to see people who don't even speak your language move to your music.

10. Winning the Wacken Open Air Metal Battle Central America was a major milestone. How did that achievement impact your career?

It was everything to us. Before, Wacken was a dream we didn't think possible. The entire Wacken journey showed us there is actual demand and passion for our music. It gave us the "this could actually work!" a-ha moment that kicked us right into the Battle Pass era. Now that we know what we can become, we won't stop until we get there.

11. What was it like sharing stages during Sepultura's farewell tour?

Unreal. Panama isn't a metal hub, so seeing 2,000 people packed into a sold-out venue, with tons of them wearing Komodo t-shirts, in the first make-or-break event by a new promoter taking a huge risk on metal after decades, felt like a massive celebration marking the start of a whole new era. Plus, hanging out with Greyson Nekrutman was awesome. He watched our set, gave our drummer some warmup tips, and was just incredibly down-to-earth.

12. Komodo's sound blends aggression, melody, and experimentation. How do you balance those elements while maintaining your identity?

Honestly, it's not easy and requires tons of iteration. We start with simple riff/rhythm ideas, develop them, which tends to add complexity, and then ask: Is this catchy? Memorable? If not, we cut and try again with something either simpler or crazier. We feel that as long as every part remains catchy, memorable, and groovy, it's us. Then each band member's influences naturally kick in as we add details on top of that foundation.

13. Which bands or artists have had the biggest influence on your songwriting approach?

We all listen to different stuff: Carlos (lead guitar) loves Slipknot, Avenged Sevenfold, and modern metal; Juan Manuel (bass) comes from classic Megadeth, Iron Maiden, and power metal like Stratovarius; Miguel (drummer) leans on proggier Dream Theater, Tesseract, Gojira; and Hugo (vocals) grew up in a Grunge background with Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains. This directly influences our songwriting: Carlos brings the heavy, Juan Manuel brings the fun, Miguel brings the weird rhythms, and Hugo brings the iconic melodic raspy vocals. It's a hodgepodge that somehow works. It's Komodo.

14. What was the most challenging track on Battle Pass to complete and why?

"All You Get" might be it. The main riff is older than COVID. We knew it was great, but building a song around it was a battlefield. We went through at least five versions of verses and chorus, cut a fast guitar solo entirely, and had some seriously heated debates about synths and sound effects. On top of that, its groove is so syncopated that everyone felt it differently during tracking. Now it’s our shortest, punchiest track at 3:13, and a fan favorite. Worth it!

15. How did working with producers, engineers, and mixers such as Azael Buendía, Nacho Molino, Ernesto Schnack, and Daniel Ovie shape the final product?

These are guys with much more industry experience than us and we're grateful to be able to learn from them. Azael is meticulous and really pushes us for that perfect take. Ernesto and Daniel are professionals with world-class ears who always go the extra mile to get the best version of the songs. Nacho is a 9-time Grammy winner, yet a metalhead at heart. He understands what makes metal go boom and personally coached us on nailing guitar tone, drum recording, and post-production techniques, and even suggested arrangement changes. He's definitely had a large role in shaping the record.

16. The album feels both cohesive and diverse. Was that a goal from the beginning?

We'd love to say yes, but surprisingly, no. We wrote each song to be a standalone single with its own identity. This was the main goal. It just so happened that the sonic signature from the era was strong enough that all these songs ended up sounding cohesive in their own explorations. This is what allowed Battle Pass to be born as an album.

17. What role does Panama's metal scene play in your development as a band?

If you know Panama, you know Panama is a small but bright melting pot of culture. That reflects directly into the metal scene. Small, yes, but also unusually densely talented. We could say half of our audience here also plays an instrument in some awesome band. This demands high quality from us, but also keeps us hungry for the growth that we now know to look for elsewhere.

18. How do audiences outside of Panama typically react when they discover Komodo for the first time?

Usually with pleasant surprise. Most people don’t know what to expect from a metal band from Panama. When they hear that the music is good, catchy and groovy, they instantly get into the vibe and stop holding back. Watching that mental barrier break is always fun.

19. If Battle Pass were adapted into a video game, what would the experience look like?

Exactly like the cover art! A retro-futuristic first-person shooter. The twist is that it's a boss rush game: Each song is a boss with its own attack patterns inspired by the song's themes. We actually have enough art to make it happen: Masochist is a puppet master controlling a girl band; The Enforcer is a team of super villain agents; The Lingering is a supernatural zombie lady; Perception of Things is the creepy eyeless guy popping out of the giant eye. Don't steal these ideas!

20. What emotions or reactions do you hope listeners take away after hearing the album from start to finish?

We want them to feel energized, inspired, and pumped up. By the time Beneath Your Race fades out, they should feel like the credits roll after beating the final level in a game. It’s an album meant to be blasted in the car or the gym.

21. The album title suggests progression and leveling up. In what ways do you feel Komodo has leveled up as a band on this release?

Our songwriting is tighter, our workflow is much more streamlined, and the end result sounds more massive and modern. We’re also now much smarter about how we release and market our music. We basically started operating less on day-to-day motivation and more like a professional unit.

22. You're already working on album number three. Can you give fans any hints about where the next chapter is headed?

We believe the first 4 tracks on the album best point toward what the newer material is sounding like: Heavier, more experimental, more diverse, more "modern". Still, we aren't locked into a particular sound. It's just where our ear is pulling us towards at the time. We have great stuff we wish we could show you!

23. What goals remain on Komodo's checklist as you continue expanding globally?

Growing our international audience numbers is our current #1 priority. An entire world of metalheads still hasn't heard a single one of our songs. We understand this requires putting more effort into social media, web, and print outreach, which helps us book more international shows. Battle Pass is just the first time we've taken "international first" as a mission and put serious effort into it.

24. (Bonus) You've conquered stages, competitions, and awards across multiple countries. What's the next boss battle for Komodo?

The next boss battle is reaching a major metal festival like Hellfest, Graspop, Hell & Heaven, but this time: On our own terms. On our own trajectory and achievements. At this pace, we know it's only a matter of unwavering focus and determination.

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