Mass Hypnosia THC Zine Interview

Mass Hypnosia is one of the Philippines’ top metal exports. With three solid albums and a slew of EPs and live releases on CDs, vinyl, and cassettes spread across Asia and around the globe, there’s no need for lengthy introductions if you’re into well-crafted, high-octane killer death/thrash metal assaults!

THC Zine has always covered their releases over the years, including Karl’s main band right now, Absit Omen.

They are on the same bill with Osaka, Japan’s Sex Messiah, Indonesia’s DN Aideath, along with Ataul, Pyre, Cult Siege, and Zenabi, happening on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at Blue Knights & Co. Bar.

We finally caught up with Mass Hypnosia frontman and mastermind Karl Rosales for a few Q&A’s.

THC Zine: Hails Mass Hypnosia! What’s the word with the band, and are you working on new stuff?

Karl: Hails! We’re doing good, brother. Glenn and I are still at it. To be honest, Mass Hypnosia is my second priority for now, but we’re definitely not idle. We’ve got a lot of ground to make up after the recent hold-ups, and I’ve got a stack of new material that just needs some final polishing. Once we get the time to define these tracks properly, they’re going to be massive.

THC Zine: You’ve toured Asia a lot. What’s the difference between those scenes and the Philippines? Who’s the craziest crowd so far?

Karl: Playing outside the country is always a blast. We’ve hit a lot of spots in Southeast Asia, and honestly, all the shows in Malaysia are awesome. Every city there has its own vibe, and the fans across the country are just great.

The people are incredibly warm and welcoming, but the pit is pure aggression. As for a wishlist, I just want to keep hitting new ground. If there’s a stage and a crowd that wants it loud, we’re there.

THC Zine: Which MH release is your personal favorite? And how was it working with Magnus “Devo” Andersson (Endarker Studio, ex-Marduk) on the Toxiferous Cyanide vinyl?

Toxiferous Cyanide is the one we’re most proud of. It changed everything for us. We poured so much blood and sweat into that record over the years—recording, mixing, and pushing for the right sound. We actually had a rule that if we weren’t 100% happy with it, we’d just leave it on the shelf.

Working with Devo (ex-Marduk) was the perfect move; he’s a pro, and he knew exactly how to give that album the punch it needed.

THC Zine: How do you decide which riffs go to Absit Omen and which go to Mass Hypnosia? What’s inspiring your lyrics lately?

Karl: It usually comes down to the tuning. Some riffs just feel right in Standard E, while others need that D Standard weight. Usually, if a song needs two guitars working together to really pull off the atmosphere, it goes to Absit Omen. MH is a different beast.

Lyrically, I’ve just been looking at the world around us—the decay, the chaos, and the darker side of how people work.

THC Zine: How do you balance life and running two bands?

Karl: I’m basically retired now, brother. I do a little consulting on the side, but that’s about it. My life is pretty much 5% family and 95% bands. I’ve moved past the “busy life” phase and just dedicated myself to the music full-time.

THC Zine: What are the biggest challenges of playing metal in the Philippines?

Karl: This is where we live, so the challenges are just part of daily life. The weird thing here is that shows are everywhere—it’s almost too much.

In other countries, fans might only see a few good shows a year, so they really value the bands. Abroad, you feel that appreciation.

Here, you’re always dealing with “crab mentality” where people want to see you fail. But you just ignore the drama and keep playing for the people who actually get it.

THC Zine: What are you listening to lately?

Karl: Right now, it’s a lot of Tyrann and Sodom. Keeping it old school and heavy.

THC Zine: What do you think about the Sex Messiah show this June 7?

The lineup is killer. It’s a perfect fit for that kind of show. We were actually a little surprised to get the invite—we weren’t sure where we’d fit in with that specific crowd—but we’re stoked. All those bands are great, and I’m sure it’s going to be one of the wildest shows of the year.