Bass Videos
Premiere: Quiescent Mantis Unleashes Bass Playthrough For Their Furious Track “P.R.E.Y”
Photo, Josh Martin (ProMotion LLC)
Bass Musician is pleased to premiere the bass playthrough for Quiescent Mantis track “P.R.E.Y”, with bassist Jordan McKenzie.
Hailing from Tennessee, USA, Quiescent Mantis unleashed primal fury with their debut album “Here Comes The Swarm” produced by Yanic Bercier (Quo Vadis, Gone In April) at WaveTransform Recording Studio this past July on Exitus Stratagem Records. The genre-defying release blends elements of hardcore, thrash, death, and metalcore into a whirlwind of relentless aggression.
Today, the band is unveiling their latest playthrough for “P.R.E.Y.” from bassist Jordan McKenzie, which was filmed during the winter months earlier this year in the Smoky Mountains just South of Knoxville. The playthrough takes you on a visual yet technical adventure while the song creates a feeling of being hunted down by what seems to be an unstoppable force!
Jordan McKenzie shares how he gets his sound…
“The way I go about achieving my tone is splitting the frequency of the bass between high pass and low pass (use of a Tyler pedal) and keeping the low pass completely clean in order to keep the subs in the bass and a nice fat low end. The high pass I feed a Rat pedal going into a big muff and blend the high pass and low pass so that the distorted sound kisses the top end like a whipped cream cherry on top.”
More about the band…
Formed during the tumultuous times of the COVID-19 lockdown, Quiescent Mantis emerged from the fusion of former scientists Chris Trainor, Jordan McKenzie, and Johnny Mejia. Previously employed by the enigmatic Sub-atomic Weight Of Acceleration Research Mechanics (S.W.A.R.M.), the trio embarked on a musical journey after inadvertently opening a doorway to the mantis homeworld during a particle collision experiment, exposing themselves to a mind-altering pheromone. Thus, the Chapter 1 demo was born in 2021.
Inspired by a love for old science fiction movies and thrash metal, Quiescent Mantis presents a unique, aggressive, groovy, heavy, and relentless sound that blends old-school metal techniques with new-school innovations. The band aims to provide listeners with a groundbreaking experience, combining elements of classic and contemporary metal in a manner never before heard. They are recommended for fans of Orbit Culture, Havok, and Power Trip.
“With this album, it truly shows not only how we come together as musicians but as storytellers. This album is all the best elements of thrash metal and science fiction horror movies put into one single package. ‘Here Comes The Swarm’ is the sound we created to release the swarm to the world.”
Album orders for “Here Comes The Swarm” are available at exsrmusic.com/store/p/pre-sale-quiescent-mantis-here-come-the-swarm
Visit online:
Facebook.com/QuiescentMantis
Instagram.com/quiescent_mantis
This month, we discuss right-hand techniques to minimize injury while playing bass.
Dr. Randall Kertz is the author of The Bassist’s Complete Guide to Injury Management, Prevention and Better Health. Click here to get your copy today!
View More Bass Health Articles
Adam Russell, bassist for Story of the Year, hasn’t slowed down for a second.
With the band’s latest album A.R.S.O.N. dropping on February 13, 2026, they’ve not only delivered new music but also pushed their creativity further through a series of visually striking videos, several of which Adam himself co-directed and edited.
In this interview, we dive into the making of the new record, explore how Adam shapes his signature bass sound, and get the inside scoop on the band’s upcoming Camp Screamo Tour with Silverstein and Origami Angel.
Here’s Adam Russell.
Photo: Ryan Stephens
Featured Videos:
Visit Online:
IG @storyoftheyear
TT @storyoftheyear
FB @storyoftheyear
X @StoryoftheYear
Get ready for a conversation with one of Southern rock’s enduring forces, Tim Neilsen. For over 35 years, Drivin N Cryin has been delivering a powerful blend of grit, melody, and heart, and they’re not slowing down anytime soon. With their brand-new album “Crushing Flowers” set to drop on April 10th, the band is gearing up for another exciting chapter.
At the core of that signature sound is bassist Tim Nielsen, whose driving grooves have helped define the band’s identity and earned them a place in the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
In this interview, we sit down with Tim to talk about the new album, the secrets behind his unmistakable tone, and what lies ahead for Drivin N Cryin.
Here is Tim Nielsen.
Photos: Chris Neilsen, Carlton Freeman, Ted Lanthangue, and courtesy Tim Neilsen
Featured Videos
Visit Online
www.drivinncryin.com
FB & IG @drivinncryin
Oteil Burbridge & Lamar Williams Jr. Champion Love Over Hate in New Single “Hush” | New Album ‘The Offering’ Out May 1.
Bassist Oteil Burbridge and vocalist Lamar Williams Jr. continue the rollout of their forthcoming collaborative album The Offering, with the release of its second single, “Hush”. A slow-burning Southern soul meditation rooted in love, peace, and emotional clarity, the track is a centerpiece on the album with a potent, thematic statement, in Williams’ words to “block out all of that nonsense” and “remember that there is more love in the world than hate.” The full-length album arrives May 1 via Flóki Studios, recorded on Iceland’s northern coast and produced by drummer, engineer, and Soulive co-founder Alan Evans.
While much of The Offering grew out of Burbridge’s banjo-based writing, “Hush” emerged from he and Williams’ shaping a deliberate sonic vision. Burbridge says they were “trying to capture a more old school Memphis, Macon, Muscle Shoals vibe,” leaning into a Southern soul feel that fits Williams’s phrasing. The end result is a song that is unhurried with a deep pocket that allows the groove and the song’s message breathe and stand at the forefront.
The album features an all-star lineup of drummer John Morgan Kimock, percussionist Weedie Braimah, organist Melvin Seals of the Jerry Garcia Band, pianist and violinist Jason Crosby, guitarists Tom Guarna and Jaden Lehman — musicians whose overlapping histories connect the Allman Brothers Band, Dead & Company, the Jerry Garcia Band, Soulive, and West African percussion traditions.
CONNECT WITH OTEIL BURBRIDGE
Website // YouTube // Instagram // Facebook
When I heard that American Vanity, formerly known as Burn the Jukebox, was gearing up to release a new album this summer, it felt like the perfect moment to catch up with bassist and vocalist Virginia Franks.
With a fresh name unveiled just this past January and a clear shift in musical direction, the band is entering an exciting new chapter, one defined by both sonic evolution and a deeper, more focused message.
In this conversation, Virginia opens up about the inspiration behind the upcoming record, how she crafts her distinctive bass tone, what fans can expect from their upcoming tour, and where she sees both herself and the band heading next.
Join me as we dive into it all.
Here is Virginia Franks.
Photo, Devin Kasparian
Featured Videos:
Follow Online:
thisisamericanvanity.com
IG @thisisamericanvanity
IG @virginiagracefranks/
TikTok @thisisamericanvanity
YouTube @thisisamericanvanity
Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585585599800
Right Hand Technique Strategies with Dr. Randy Kertz
New Music: Golden Flower, Are You Even Awake?
Interview With Bassist Adam Russell
Interview With Bassist Tim Neilsen
Gear News: Fender Unveils Highly Anticipated Vintera III Series
Right Hand Technique Strategies with Dr. Randy Kertz
Mar 16 Edition – This Week’s Top 10 Basses on Instagram
Mar 23 Edition – This Week’s Top 10 Basses on Instagram
Mar 30 Edition – This Week’s Top 10 Basses on Instagram