Interview with MAX CHAOS | Modern Ways, Traditional Punch

From the diverse musical landscape of Los Angeles comes a new project: MAX CHAOS, which fuses the aggression of nu-metal with a sharp, modern melodic sensibility. Helmed by a dynamic frontman and featuring collaborators like Karlos Doom (Evil Dead), MAX CHAOS is a project with a unique visual scope. The debut single “Ride The Wave,” from the upcoming album Order of Mayhem, introduces this vision; one that links aggressive rock music with a distinct animated narrative. It’s an ambitious approach, bringing a new layer of storytelling to the genre.

Introduction: Who is behind the release “Ride The Wave” ?

With “Ride The Wave,” MAX CHAOS channels a theme of modern frustration through powerful guitar work and dynamic vocals. The track builds on a nu-metal foundation to capture the cathartic energy of breaking free from the daily grind. The approach serves a deeper purpose: to have the music function as the soundtrack for a distinct animated story. The result is both a potent debut single and a clear statement of the project’s artistic direction.

---

Full Interview

In this interview with MAX CHAOS, we explore a new voice in heavy music scene. With roots in the Los Angeles scene and a sound forged from both nu-metal and modern rock, MAX CHAOS crosses genre lines with raw energy. Fresh off his debut single, “Ride The Wave,” he shares the story behind his distinctive sound and the launch of his ambitious animated world.

---

Congrats on the explosive debut of “Ride The Wave”! It’s hit the radio charts hard, landing as the #2 most added on both Metal Contraband and NACC. For a debut single, that’s a massive statement. How does it feel to come out of the gate with such strong support from radio stations like WPJX, WMFR, and WHPC?

Thank you so much! It’s honestly an amazing feeling. We put everything into “Ride The Wave”, so seeing it get such strong support right out of the gate feels like all the hard work has paid off. The response from stations like WPJX, WMFR, and WHPC is remarkable with their reach. It’s not easy for a band coming out of nowhere to break through, especially with a debut single, so to have these stations backing us like this—it’s a humbling validation for us as a band and as artists. but, honestly, it’s not just about the charting numbers; it’s the energy and passion we feel writing the music. To hear that our music is getting played on the airwaves and resonating with people that love music like our is the real reward and encouraging to finish the album ORDER OF MAYHEM.

“Ride The Wave” hits with this incredible, raw energy that feels both nostalgic for the nu-metal era and completely modern. We hear nods to the greats, but it’s undeniably your own sound. What was the creative spark for this track? Was it a riff, a lyric, a feeling of pure frustration?

Ah, that’s exactly it! The riff was the heartbeat of “Ride The Wave.” It all started when I was messing around with my Digitech Whammy pedal one night. I had this raw, distorted tone happening that felt a little chaotic but also really grounded. It just felt like something intense and vibrant needed to be built around it. The riff came first, and then everything else kind of followed in its wake. It felt like this perfect blend of frustration and adrenaline. From there, the song started to take shape both musically and emotionally. Lyrically, it’s a reflection of all those moments where you feel like you’re on the edge-whether it’s with your own internal battles or the larger, chaotic world around you. But even when you’re feeling that frustration or tension, there’s this sense of determination too-kind of like riding the wave, even though you know it might crash at any moment. The nu-metal influences definitely seeped in, but we wanted to push it further, make it feel modern Nu Heavy and fresh, but still have that rawness and grit you can trace back to the classics. You know, bands like Korn, Linkin Park, and Deftones-they did it so well, and we wanted to channel that energy into something new.

The track was co-produced with Dan McConomy and mastered by Maor Appelbaum. What was it like working with them to shape the sound? How did they help you translate the “chaos” in your head into the final, polished track?

Working with Dan McConomy and Maor Appelbaum was a total game-changer. Both of them brought a level of expertise and vision that really helped us refine what we had in our heads and make it a reality. Dan, especially, was amazing at capturing that raw energy we wanted, but he’s also super meticulous about making sure every element fits together. We’d come in with these ideas that were sometimes pretty chaotic, like trying to bottle up lightning, and Dan was able to translate that into something that was still powerful but didn’t feel disjointed. He’s got this great ear for finding that balance between heavy, gritty tones and making sure everything stays dynamic. Like, we didn’t want it to just be a wall of sound; we needed the chaos, but it had to be organized chaos, you know? Dan really helped us pull that off. Then Maor Appelbaum, when it came to mastering, he was the final piece of the puzzle. He took everything we recorded and made sure it hit the right frequencies and tones. He knew exactly where to bring out those heavy, visceral moments and then give space where it was needed, so the track still felt like it had breathing room. It was like he gave it the final polish that made everything explode in the right way. We didn’t want to lose the “live” feel of the song, but Maor made sure that when you hear it through headphones or on big speakers, it hits you in the chest. It was definitely a collaborative effort, and working with people who understood what we were going for and had the skill to help us reach it was an incredible experience. I think that teamwork really helped us find that blend of chaotic energy and tight, refined sound.

The vocal performance on the track is wild, shifting from guttural growls to soaring, clean melodies. You’ve said you just “woke up one day” and realized you could use your voice in these different ways. Can you talk about that journey of discovering and honing your vocal style?

The vocal journey for “Ride The Wave” actually started with the instrumental. I had this riff that felt intense and chaotic, and when I played it back, I immediately heard these screams in my head-like, I could feel the aggression and emotion the track needed. At first, I was considering bringing in a collaborator to handle the vocals, but then I decided to step into the booth myself and see what came out. To be honest, I was surprised at how much better it sounded than I expected. There was this raw, gritty energy that pushed me to experiment with different vocal techniques. I spent the next few months really honing in on my vocal performance, trial and error style. It wasn’t about trying to nail one perfect sound-it was about exploring what worked for the track, letting the chaos and power of the music lead the way. The growls came easily, but the clean melodies took some more time to figure out. I had to experiment with range, dynamics, and transitions, and over time, I found a balance that felt organic and true to the song. The whole process was super rewarding. I think that raw energy and grit-combined with the freedom to experiment-gave the vocals a unique quality that fits the track perfectly. It’s about capturing that feeling of pushing through something difficult, of finding strength and release in the chaos. It became not just a performance, but a journey of self-discovery.n to pause.

The lineup came together in a unique way, with Justin being a long-time collaborator and Karlos Doom (of Evil Dead fame) being brought in by your producer. What has that chemistry been like in the studio, and how is it shaping the sound of the upcoming Order of Mayhem album?

The chemistry in the studio has been absolutely electric! Having Justin on board as a long-time collaborator was a no-brainer-he and I have worked together for so long that we almost have a telepathic connection when it comes to creating music. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, so when we’re bouncing ideas around, it’s smooth and intuitive. We push each other, but there’s a lot of mutual respect there, which makes the creative process feel really natural. Karlos brought this whole new energy with him-his experience, his musicality, and just the raw power of his bass playing. He’s got such a unique style, and having him contribute to the project really shifted the dynamic. The way this lineup has come together has shaped the sound of Order of Mayhem in a big way. The blend of Justin’s and my chemistry with Karlos’s contributions creates a kind of tension and release that’s going to be central to the album. We’re exploring more complex arrangements and textures, but we’re also staying true to that gritty, hard-hitting sound. There’s a balance between chaos and control that the three of us are able to tap into, and I think it’s really going to come through on the record.

The music video for “Ride The Wave” is a trip, blending surreal live-action with an animated alter ego who loves metal, muscle cars, and crowd surfing. What’s the story behind this visual concept, and how does it tie into the larger world you’re building with the upcoming comic book series?

The “Ride The Wave” music video! That was a total blast to bring to life. The concept came from this idea we had about blending reality with the surreal-a visual reflection of the chaos and energy in the track itself. I wanted to create something that wasn’t just a traditional music video but something that could stand on its own as a narrative. The animated alter ego you see in the video is kind of like a hyper-realized version of myself, but also an embodiment of everything I love about metal and the world around it-muscle cars, crowd surfing, and, of course, that pure, unapologetic chaos that comes with the music. The idea was to take the viewer on a ride through this wild, almost dreamlike journey where the line between reality and fantasy gets blurred. There’s this freedom in being able to create an animated version of yourself, and it allowed us to amplify the things that make the song feel larger than life. It’s about pushing those boundaries, just like how the track itself mixes the aggression of metal with melodic moments. The crowd surfing, the muscle cars-those are all symbols of the energy and rebellion that’s at the heart of “Ride The Wave.” It’s all about embracing the chaos, but also celebrating the freedom that comes with it. As for how it ties into the larger world we’re building-this is where things get really exciting. The animated alter ego actually ties directly into a comic book series we’ve been working on. The story of the comic is a mix of fantasy and reality, where the protagonist-kind of like my animated alter ego-navigates a dystopian world that’s filled with chaos, rebellion, and larger-than-life characters. The visuals in the video are just a taste of that world. We wanted the video to be a sort of introduction to this universe we’re creating, a teaser for what’s to come.

Lyrically, the song is a powerful anthem about escaping the daily grind and societal pressures. You’ve mentioned it’s about being empowered to conquer fear and frustration. In a world with plenty to be frustrated about, what message do you hope fans take away from “Ride The Wave”?

“Ride The Wave” is all about embracing the chaos of life, but also using that energy to fuel something bigger than just surviving day-to-day. I really wanted to create an anthem for people who feel stuck or overwhelmed by the grind and societal expectations. It’s easy to get bogged down in frustration, fear, or feeling like you’re just a cog in the machine. But the core message of the song is about empowerment-about recognizing that even in those chaotic, stressful moments, you have the strength to push through, rise above, and ride the wave of whatever comes your way. I want fans to feel like the song is their personal battle cry. It’s okay to feel frustrated, it’s okay to be angry, but don’t let that define you. Instead, use it to break through the barriers, push yourself past your limits, and ride through whatever challenges come your way. It’s a reminder that even in moments of uncertainty or fear, there’s always a way forward if you’re willing to embrace the ride.

“Ride The Wave” is the first taste of the full-length album Order of Mayhem. What can you tell us about the album as a whole? Does it follow the sonic path of the single, or are there more surprises in store?

Order of Mayhem is shaping up to be a wild ride from start to finish. While “Ride The Wave” gives a taste of the album’s energy-chaotic, raw, and unapologetic-the full album is a bit more of an emotional rollercoaster. The single definitely represents a core element of the album’s sound, but we’ve got a lot of twists and turns in store, both musically and lyrically. The album’s themes dive even deeper into rebellion, frustration, and empowerment, but we also explore more personal territory. There are tracks that dig into internal struggles-dealing with self-doubt, pushing through moments of personal breakdown, but also moments of triumph and clarity. We didn’t want to just create a record that stays in one lane; we wanted to show the full spectrum of emotions and experiences that come with confronting chaos, both in the world and within yourself. While you can expect a lot of that hard-hitting, metal-infused energy, there are also moments where we experiment with more atmospheric or even melodic passages. We dive into some heavier, darker tones, but also flirt with more melodic and even almost cinematic sections. It’s about creating tension and release, keeping listeners on their toes, and giving them space to breathe before slamming them with something heavy again.

---

Conclusion

---

MAX CHAOS References and Links of Interest

• Website
• Instagram
• Spotify
• Youtube

---