M.T. Goins is an American musician and songwriter who has been based in Tokyo, Japan since 2006. He’s just come to my attention thanks to the release of his latest EP, exploring the haunted nature of adulthood. It’s called Demo 001.

By Graeme Smith

In the early 2000s, M.T. Goins was a founding member and primary songwriter for Richmond, Virginia band The Rams. After their demise, he formed metal band Man Again before heading for the distant shores of Japan.

As you might expect from its title, his new EP has a raw, demo-like quality to it. It’s a bold move but it pays off, instantly drawing you in with its intimate style, starting from record opener I die a little everyday. A memorable acoustic guitar melody accompanies melancholic vocals while the lyrics strike you with their frankness. It’s a track that journeys through stages and proves to be an arresting tonic.

Man of Bugs opens with the ambience of a crowd chattering and a guitar being tuned before arriving at a lowdown, bluesy groove. The vocals are particularly expressive, rich with a country drawl and backed by a percussive instrumental arrangement.

Cast into Darkness hits instantly with a powerful, brooding piano chord. It’s a slow-burner with a sense of the cinematic about it, perfectly encapsulating the idea of being haunted through its echoing, layered vocals. M.T. Goins background in metal is apparent in this experimental highlight.

All the Places I am Haunted closes the EP with its most Avant Garde moment, swirling genres together to make an atmospheric mosaic that builds over six minutes. Its image-laden lyrics will transport you to a dark and mysterious world. It’s another highlight.

M.T. Goins is giving us one of the freshest sounds I’ve had the pleasure of discovering via this blog, and Demo 001 is an understated masterpiece of emotional and atmospheric storytelling. It’s unconventional but with just enough cultural touchpoints to make it accessible.

You can give the EP a listen below.