Dear readers we have the pleasure to offer you in this article an interview with an interesting Heavy Psych/Post-Rock band from Argentina. With a new album titled “V” recently released on vinyl by Kozmik Artifactz. We welcome IAH.
Interviewee: Mauricio Condon (guitar)
Hi, it’s a real pleasure to have you among our pages, how are you?
“Hello! It’s a pleasure for us to be featured on your site and to be interviewed by you. We’re doing great, and I hope you and your readers are as well.“
How did your passion for music start?
“As the spokesperson for this interview, I must say that my passion for music started at a very young age. I was born into a home filled with artistic expression—my mother is an actress, and my father is a composer and orchestra conductor. So, it was quite difficult for me to escape that path and choose another direction. In general, all three of us come from families where music was a fundamental part of our homes, and we all began exploring it from an early age, each in different ways and through different journeys that, fortunately, converged years later.“
The band was formed in the mid-2010s, how did the project and the choice of the name IAH come about?
“As I mentioned earlier, the three of us had been part of different bands in Córdoba, Argentina, playing music for years. After sharing the stage at a few concerts, we decided—almost as an experiment and for fun—to start a project together. Juan Pablo (bass) and I first discussed the idea in depth, focusing on instrumental music, post-rock, post-metal, and other genres that we were heavily into at the time. We felt the urge to create that kind of music ourselves. Later, we reached
out to José (drums) to join us, and without hesitation, he accepted. We set a date and time for our first rehearsal, and from that moment on, the train never stopped. Regarding our name, we have two interpretations. The first is straightforward: IAH is the Egyptian deity of the moon, worshipped in a relatively small cult. The second interpretation is more personal—it comes from our own fictional world, where IAH is the name of the planet that serves as the central setting for the story told in our first trilogy (IAH, IAH II, IAH III).“
You offer a sound that weaves Heavy Psych and Post-Rock among others, how did your passion for these sounds come about and what are your sources of inspiration?
“The journey of music and inspiration is full of twists and turns, with many fascinating detours along the way. Each of us has our own main road, but on either side, there are small towns waiting to surprise us. That’s how we see music—without limitations. Since we compose instrumental music, we allow ourselves to explore different styles and emotions, depending on where we are in each album. We try to make the road connecting all our little towns solid and strong, but we enjoy stopping in different places along the way to push the boundaries of creativity. In the beginning, bands that helped shape our sound and vision (and that we still listen to and love) include Russian Circles, Pelican, If These Trees Could Talk, God Is An Astronaut, ISIS, and Tool, to name a few.“
Your album “V” was released in 2023 and will be released on vinyl in 2025 by Kozmik Artifactz, what should we expect from this release?
“We’re really excited about the vinyl release of V. This album was an absolute joy to create. We took a different approach this time, recording each instrument separately and layering the tracks. This allowed us to compose with that in mind, achieving new textures, new stories, and of course, a fresh perspective. The vinyl release through Kozmik, with whom we’ve collaborated on all our records, adds an extra layer of satisfaction. We deeply appreciate their work—the quality of their vinyl, their prints—and it’s incredibly rewarding to finally hold a tangible version of our music in our hands.“
Long instrumental textures that span genres, how does the creative process of your music take place?
“We have multiple approaches when it comes to composing. Some tracks are created entirely in the rehearsal room through improvisation. Other times, we start with a small idea that gradually unfolds into a complete story. For example, during the pandemic, we had to compose remotely, sending tracks back and forth between our homes until they were complete. As I mentioned earlier, we compose with both the recording process and live performance in mind, since it’s our responsibility to make sure that what we capture in the studio translates to the audience in the way it deserves.“
Despite being instrumental tracks, what are the themes of the album?
“V is an album rooted in raw energy, centered on a heavy, powerful sound. After Omines, we wanted to return to a six-track format, similar to our first trilogy. The record incorporates elements of thrash and progressive metal, making it undeniably heavier than its predecessors. The closing track, Las Palabras el Mar, gradually brings the sound back toward IAH’s core, wrapping up V while setting the stage for what’s to come.“
I have always been impressed by your use of effect modulations, what equipment did you use to make the abum?
“Both in guitar and bass, we work extensively with textures, and as you mentioned, spatiality through modulation. From a technical standpoint, for V, we used pedals such as the Eventide SPACE, EQD Afterneath, Strymon BlueSky, and SonarFX TIME BOX (an Argentine brand I highly recommend), among others. In terms of recording, stereo effects and mixing—handled by Mario Carnerero, who has worked on all our albums—play a crucial role in achieving our sound.“
Very interesting cover art, who designed it and what is the concept behind the artwork?
“For this album, I was in charge of the overall artwork, but for the cover, which I consider the most important visual piece, I collaborated with a talented friend from Uruguay, Feed Deplume, who was responsible for the main photography. Feed introduced me to a concept: the palimpsest. Historically, this referred to the repeated use of papyrus, where texts were written, erased, and rewritten on the same sheet to maximize resources. We translated this idea into an urban and contemporary setting—the layers of posters on city walls, where stories emerge, reach their cycle, and are covered by new messages, yet time and life itself ensure that old stories never truly disappear. They resurface. We wanted to capture the dark, chaotic, and raw nature of V in a single, impactful image, treated like a sculpture on the album cover—immediately drawing the viewer’s eye.“
Many of your fans and our readers wonder if there will be a chance to hear your music live, do you have plans in this regard for the near future?
“We are currently planning another tour in Europe as soon as possible. We’ve already toured there twice, and both experiences were incredible. Meeting new people, experiencing different cultures, and playing at dream festivals has been one of our greatest aspirations, and fortunately, we’ve been able to fulfill it. Hopefully, we’ll organize another tour soon, where we can discover new places, new people, new bands, and continue collecting unique experiences.“
Do you have any particular memories or anecdotes you would like to tell us about your live experiences?
“For us, coming from the other side of the world, every festival in Europe has been unique. We’ve shared the stage with bands we previously only saw on YouTube or listened to on streaming platforms. Meeting and playing with Matt Pike, Elder, Colour Haze, 1000mods (with whom we toured part of their Poland run), Pelican, Baroness, and Red Fang has been surreal. Last year, in Buenos Aires at UNICLUB, we played with Russian Circles, and that was a powerful experience for us. As I mentioned earlier, they were one of the bands that paved the way for both this genre and for IAH. Chatting with them backstage, exchanging stories, anecdotes, and discussing gear was unexpected and amazing.“
This is your fifth studio album, how has your sound evolved over time?
“Our sound is in a constant state of evolution—not just because we’re always searching for new sonic dynamics, recording techniques, instruments, and effects, but also because music itself evolves. Our peers also push boundaries, experiment, and explore new horizons, and within that collective musical unconscious lies an endless reservoir of inspiration for those willing to dig deeper and uncover new elements to fuel their craft.“
Argentina is a country with a great cultural richness, how do you see the modern music scene in your country as far as heavy sounds are concerned?
“Argentina is a vast country in every sense. In terms of heavy music, one band that marked a turning point in the modern scene was Los Natas, who, by touring Europe, helped bridge the gap between continents. The ’70s in Argentina were also crucial for the development of heavy music, with figures like Norberto “Pappo” Napolitano playing a key role. Today, many exciting new bands are emerging, and we’d love to recommend some: Hijo De La Tormenta, Pieles, Avernal, Ambassador, Undermine, Sur Oculto, Mephistofeles, Levantamiento Neblina, among many others.“
How difficult, if at all, is it to succeed in the modern music scene with a sound like yours?
“From the moment we chose this musical path, we knew it wouldn’t be easy. We’ve always tried to carve out a space in the industry with an honest, heartfelt, and direct message. Being based in Argentina presents challenges, as most festivals in our genre take place in Europe or the U.S., making it harder for us to organize tours. But we embrace that challenge—it’s what drives us to keep creating, exploring new ideas, and pushing our limits.“
What advice would you give to young artists approaching music with sounds like yours?
“Be genuine. Experiment. Create without fear. Sometimes, certainty lies within doubt.“
Do you have any other activities or artistic passions outside of music?
“Personally, I love art in general—especially visual arts. José (drums) is passionate about gastronomy and runs a vegan food business here in the city (and I can confirm their dishes are amazing). Juan Pablo (bass) is a huge soccer and horror movie fan.“
I thank the band for the interview, wishing them all the best for the release of the album and the continuation of their artistic career.
“Thank you so much for this space—it’s been a true pleasure talking with you. Hopefully, we’ll see each other soon!“
Purchase their new album “V” on BAndcamp: https://iahbanda.bandcamp.com/album/v
