Share Video for Debut Single Feat. SUICIDE SILENCE’s CHRIS GARZA
Hard rock/metal group THE MENDENHALL EXPERIMENT (TMX) first made waves in mainstream media in 2019 as the subject of the award-winning documentary MIND OVER MATTER (Sumerian Films) directed by French filmmaker Sébastien Paquet (Korn, Wounded Warriors). The film shared founding member BRANDON MENDENHALL’s inspirational story about how–despite being born with the incurable neurological disorder Cerebral Palsy which only allows him limited movement on his left side and zero mobility with his left hand–he learned how to play guitar at 19 which helped rehabilitate his left hand without surgical intervention despite the odds stacked against him and formed TMX. Further showcasing the healing power of music, TMX bassist Nathan Stockton overcame a disability of his own–childhood deafness–through playing.
TMX—Brandon Mendenhall (guitars), Mike Lira (lead guitars), Nathan Stockton (bass), Justin Luebeck (drums) and new vocalist Alyce Hayes—have announced their fittingly titled second EP, AGAINST ALL ODDS, will be released this fall via Lucent Records (UMG) and have shared the first listen with its debut single, “Pulse Of The Lost.” The track was produced by Chris Collier (Korn, Prong, KXM) and features Suicide Silence’s Chris Garza as a guest guitarist. The band premiered its music video—also directed by Paquet—via Metal Injection which can be seen streaming below or on YouTube.
“’Pulse Of The Lost’ to me is a musical representation of how society can repress into a state of darkness, and your personal choice to either live and die there or band together with those around you and rise out of it with a positive mindset,” states MENDENHALL.
HAYES adds, “The lyrics in ‘Pulse of the Lost’ are a rally cry for individuality. We don’t need to fit into some special ‘box’ of identity, and this song is a big middle finger to the people who try to do this to us. The addition of Chris Garza on guitar added a beautiful, disturbing presence that I didn’t even know the song needed. It really took the music to another level.”
“Chris Garza is one of my closest friends on this planet,” says MENDENHALL. “We share a mutual love for guitar, pizza and positive energy. Getting to work with him professionally on this song was nothing short of a learning experience in crafting and then pushing the boundaries of the sonic landscape.”
Garza described his experience working with TMX, sharing: “Once I heard the song it felt right. I ended up flying to Vegas and tracked guitars in-person with no sleep. When the time came, I drove to LA for the video shoot and injured my back but I loved the song so it was all worth it. Brandon and I have been close friends for many years. He has the passion and obsession for music that made me stoked to be a part of this song.”
Based out of Southern California, TMX have previously performed on stages with metal mainstays including John 5, P.O.D., Alien Ant Farm, Kill Devil Hill, Fear Factory, Prong, Flaw, Metal Allegiance, Smile Empty Soul and Cold in addition to key festival appearances at Aftershock Festival and Rocklahoma.
TMX released their self-titled debut EP in 2017 which included guest appearances from James “Munky” Shaffer (Korn) and Danny Lohner (NIN, A Perfect Circle). Its hit single “Seize The Day” received over 30k views and won “Video of the Year” at the 2015 LRT Music Video Awards the same year MENDENHALL was named “Trailblazer of the Year” at the United Cerebral Palsy Los Angeles Art of Care annual event.