A quick bit of background: I first discovered this band after publishing my 2025 Albums of the Year post on Instagram, where Nxxses commented and prompted me to check out their music. If I had to sum up Womb of Error in a short statement, I’d say, This is a band that keeps you completely transfixed with deep, chunky guitar tones…music you simply can’t help but headbang to.

I’d like to thank Nxxses and Tom, the gentlemen behind Womb of Error, for joining me in this exclusive interview. In this Q&A, we dive into everything that makes up Womb of Error—from mixing and mastering to their journeys into becoming musicians, the gear they use, and much more. Enjoy reading.

To start at the beginning, I’ll ask the question I usually open interviews with, because it sets a solid foundation. Why the name Womb of Error, and how did this project first come to life?

Nxxses: I originally came up with the name for a more gritty, doomy death project and wanted to thoroughly express something just completely negative and crushing. I’ve also had this name for ages as I used to just come up with band names to create logos for back in the day. Womb Of Error describes the idea of not only being an outcast, or becoming one, but being born into it. Being born wrong, incorrectly, not only as if you’re the problem, but that it was instilled in you since or because of you even existing, and you were bound for failure since inception. Along with the secular idea of the name, myself being a devout Christian, it falls in line with the belief that everyone is born with a sin nature and is inherently bound to grow into these behaviors without the Savior to free, redeem, and help them purge and overcome that negativity. As for the project itself, I’ve known Tom for years since my early solo black metal project “Empty…” and loved his brand of black metal, so I invited him to create this new project with myself and another vocalist who eventually left the band before our first official release.

Before we dive into the writing process, can you take me through your personal journey. what initially pulled you into music, and how has that evolution influenced the way you create today?

Nxxses: I grew up all around music, mostly from the radio as a kid, to growing into the alternative music scene as a young teen. You know, going through the emo phase and from post-grunge and hard rock like Three Days Grace, Linkin Park, and Disturbed, into the whole metalcore/post-hardcore style and eventually just getting more extreme from there moving into deathcore, death metal, black metal, etc. I still listen to most of those bands, especially Three Days Grace, so the ideas in their songwriting lyrically and expressively with vocals was both where I started and impacts a lot of where I remain today. I started out in vocals with metalcore and deathcore with styles that also tend very much towards melodic death metal in my opinion, so even in trying to broaden my horizons and vocal abilities with stuff like black metal, that melodeath/metalcore style definitely still influences both my vocals and writing as far as expression and relatability goes.

Tom: I remember that when I was a little kid, my father had this really fancy sound system and would play music all day. He usually listened to stuff like Frank Zappa and CCR, stuff that I couldn't really get into despite a handful of CCR songs but my father was also a huge Rammstein fan and when I first heard those distorted heavy guitars on Mein Teil, I was hooked. My mum used to drive me to school playing Metallica. But when I was 15-16 I really got into metal properly after listening to 90s Hip Hop and german rap for years. When I first listened to Black Metal, I fucking hated it, it threw me off immediately. But after I randomly stumbled upon Hypothermias Skogens Härta, I was intrigued and slowly but surely gotten into BM as time went on.

When you’re creating a new track, what usually comes first — a personal idea you’ve been developing on your own, or something that grows out of working with others?

Nxxses: Most of the tracks I envision and do blueprinting for as the main lyricist and vocalist come out of personal ideas and experiences, though I try to express it in such a way it can be relatable not only to Tom but also our audience. At the end of the day it’s our music, but what good is it if we can’t share that experience and feeling with others? I have my own solo project known as “Surveyor” for the more personal themes that Tom at least can’t immediately relate to such as my faith and the nature theme in tandem with my actual job and career. I do hope for Tom to join me on vocals and definitely want him to have his own freedoms and say on that side in the future but we both work very well together and whatever ideas we have tend to meld together very easily anyway.

Tom: As Nxxses already said: We work very well together. I'm gonna be honest with you, Nxxses does more of the thinking than me. We communicate some ideas and try to realise them. But for me, when I create the instrumentals, which are the skeleton of the songs, I just sit down, try to immerse myself into that feeling or emotion we are going for and just go. I don't think too much and just let it flow. If it's good, I make a song around it, if it sucks it gets deleted right away.

I saw that Tom took care of the mixing on We Will Never Be Okay Again as well. I really admire artists who immerse themselves in the technical side of their work. Did you build up to that through other projects or practice runs before taking full control on this one?

Tom: I've been making my own music with my main project Tom Gekas since 2019 and I basically started from scratch back then. I am the first and only musician in my family and I never had a musician environment so I was on my own when I started doing what I do. I've lost count on how many Youtube videos I have watched. Obviously, my first EP's and albums I released were horrendous but I have learnt with every release and fine tuned my sound slowly but surely over time into the soundscape that I have right now. Life is an ongoing learning process, so I hope to enhance my sound even more in the future. 

For the gear enthusiasts out there, what was your setup like for this release? Any specific guitars, tunings, amps, plug-ins, or outboard gear that really defined the character of the record?

Tom: The setup used is actually pretty basic and boring. I mix and record everything in Samplitude Pro X8 with the guitars going into a cheap as shit Behringer interface. As for plug-ins: I actually work with EZMix 3 a lot. 80% of the guitar-, drum- and vocalsound is coming from EZMix, I then play a little bit with samplitudes built in EQ and Compression plug-ins. The way I mix and master is actually no rocket science but thank god it works! The drums were programmed with Superior Drummer 3 (yes I use toontrack a lot!). And last but not least: I used the Jim Root signature Squire Telecaster that I upgraded with EMG 81/60 tuned to B standard tuning on the whole record.

Nxxses: I’m definitely not a gearhead, but so far what I’m currently using for all my projects is the ol’ reliable Shure SM7B microphone and the SSL 2 Audio Interface from Solid State Logic with a CL-1 Cloudlifter in between the interface and microphone. As for my software, I’ve always found ease using the Soundtrap online DAW to record and send to Tom or my other band’s instrumentalist Alex to work their magic on haha.

So, my personal favourite track on the album was Perpetually Exhausted. I loved that main riff with the drums driving behind it. It really felt like the headbanging sweet spot of the record. With that said, was there a particular track that stood out to you as your favorite to record and which one do you find yourself coming back to most as a listener?

Nxxses: We’ve gotten that a lot about Perpetually Exhausted. It's kind of humorous as that and the title track were definitely what we expected however didn’t feel quite right as the singles leading up to the EP. Personally I do think that track and the title track are definitely the best as you can probably hear the higher confidence and comfortability we both had in those songs being the latter end of the album, and those were definitely where I really felt I was hitting my stride despite both being daunting to me beginning on them haha. I think Perpetually was definitely my favorite to record, however I still believe that the title track is 100% one of the Magnum Opuses of my musical career. Without a doubt my favorite to listen to again and again, and something I hope to be able to stack up to and capture the essence of in our future releases. Everything Tom did on that track I believe checks all the boxes for me as well when it comes to post-black metal. It's almost unbelievable to me to be able to say that song is from one of my projects honestly.

Tom: Perpetually Exhausted is also my favorite track of this EP, it feels like lightning in a bottle, especially the second half of the song. The title track is also high up there with its gloomy atmosphere but to me personally No Refuge is very special to me. I like the high energy combined with the somber and eerie beginning. Maybe it's because it's the first song I ever wrote for Womb so it has this kind of nostalgia but to me, No Refuge will always be special.

If you could describe this album in three words to someone who hasn’t heard it yet, what would those be and why?

Nxxses: Melancholic. Ruminating. Real.

I definitely think overall the tone is very melancholic, almost nostalgic but almost in a bittersweet kind of way. Not “Wow I remember when I was 6 playing this old Pokemon game, that was so fun.”, more like “I miss those days when that was my whole world and nothing more.” Evoking the pangs of a modern daily life is definitely expressed greatly with No Refuge and Perpetually Exhausted, as well as looking back and having remorse for not holding onto those times more with Years Spent In Regret. Ruminating also gives that very pensive, thoughtful vibe that really drills in like, yes we want you to hear the music, but we want it to make an impact and have you reminisce and really feel what we’re expressing as well. That might also be some of the reason I opt to keep my vocals a little clear and less distorted honestly. Real also falls into the idea of: We’re not really shrouding or obfuscating our feelings or trying to make them into something they’re not via poetic twists or anything, at least not with this album. These topics are all things we’ve felt through our daily lives in the (mostly) real world and definitely want to make something people can listen and immediately understand and relate to. Just keeping things real.

Tom: Relentlessly self destructive.

To me, the whole vibe was to just strip ourselves naked (metaphorically speaking in the context of emotions) and get the whole filth out there. I mean this is basically all do with my main project and womb. But having only to focus on making the instrumentals without having to think about how my vocals will fit in there was amazing. I know that I have an excellent vocalist by my side that will make it work because he knows what he is doing. That being said: That kind of freedom on the instrumentals allowed me to express my emotions in a very different and maybe more real kind of way.

The cover for your new record is brilliant! I've always been drawn to album artwork, and when a cover really stands out, I love following the artist behind it. Can you share a bit about the artwork for this album? Who made it, and what made you fall in love with it or choose it for the record?

Nxxses: Thank you so much! So as far as our cover arts have gone thus far, we’ve bought pieces from the very talented Vhan Spell Of Hatred for our singles, and plan on working alongside him in the future as well. As far as the EP art, I myself created that as I also do some graphic design on the side and have done so for most of my own solo releases over the years. I use whatever digital tools are at my disposal and have been doing so for about 6 or so years and I’ve learned a lot. The logo of course was by our great friend Angel Carvallo of Avenged Creations, but the graphic and the composition of the title and tracklist was myself via my own digital editing apps. Definitely spent more time on this cover than most, and I’m glad it somewhat reflects that!

Looking back on the making of this album, what’s the biggest lesson or insight you’ve gained as artists, and how do you think it’ll influence your future work?

Nxxses: Since this album was in its conception alongside my other band Miscreant Of Malfeasance’s debut EP, both these bands have really impressed upon me the art of patience haha. I’m a naturally busy and rushing person, and both of these debut EPs have given me the chance to sit back and take things as they come as well as deliver in such a way that isn’t nitpicky for perfectionism’s sake, but also gives it the proper time to breathe. As well as that, given most my projects were essentially solo with me as a vocalist and an instrumentalist I paid for the track, these bands have definitely pushed me into the headspace of letting them be altogether and not vocal-centric. Ironically as a vocalist I love instrumentals and cool stuff done within those avenues, so letting Tom do his thing while I shut up has also been a highlight of this EP for me haha.

Tom: This was the first time for me to actually work with someone together on a bigger project than this. I learned a lot about creating something that goes hand in hand with the skills the other person brings to the table. Also it helped me shit ton to learn more about mixing vocals because I always sucked at this! Couldn't have asked for a better partner than Nxxses with this project.

What’s the next goal for Womb of Error — whether creatively, personally, or in terms of reaching new audiences?

Nxxses: As for now, Tom is taking a necessary break from basically everything so there’s not much on the immediate horizon as of right now, however I have a potential tracklist and a couple songs conceptually and lyrically written for another EP and hopefully LP in the future. That LP has big ambitions from my side so hopefully we can make it work to that extent. In the meantime, my slam band Miscreant Of Malfeasance is chugging along on our debut full-length album in hopes to have that done by the time Tom is ready with some new material so I can devote my focus directly back to Womb and keep up the pace when he’s grinding out our next release. Both of us are very proud of and very excited about Womb as a creative outlet, so we’re definitely eager to get back and keep at it for a long time coming.

Tom: As Nxxses already said, the big goal is to make a proper album next. It's a scary thought because I think we crafted such a round product that I don't know how to come close to it again but we shall try! For now I am taking a break from music due to personal reasons. After a almost 20 year old personal fight, the “war” is over and the time has come to heal. I need to focus on that for now to come back when I am healed to create even more kick ass music hehe.

Thanks for being part of this interview, Great music and I can’t wait to hear what you brew up in the future. 

Nxxses: Thank you so much for the opportunity. We put a lot into this project so I’m very grateful for the chance to express it as well.

Tom: Thanks for having us!

Anything for the readers, please post here : 

Nxxses: I do have an aforementioned solo black metal project debuting in April called “Surveyor” for those who may have that black metal itch like I have in between Womb releases. The project focuses on more atmospheric and nature themes as well as leaning into more epic melodeath influences as well as my own work on not only lyrics and vocals but also overall mixing as a DIY project so I can at least promise interesting if nothing else. The debut single “Under The Forest’s Gaze” releases everywhere April 4th of this year. Womb will always take precedence but I hope to release enough through Surveyor to properly keep up in Womb’s absence. Thank you all.

Tom: It's been a pleasure to bring this music to you and I am more than grateful for the support for both Womb of Error and my other projects. The love you give me is something that I shall try to give back in the form of more music once I am back again. Much love!