The backstory of Mutagen is quite amusing: it is a classic example of a song where practically nothing remains of its original form. The musical idea was born in the summer of 2020 when Sven, Mixte’s guitarist at the time, brought in the first version of the track. Anton Ra immediately suggested adding some variety to the verse, changed the chords in it, and added a short solo. After that, the lyrics were written, and the song became a staple of rehearsal sessions. Following all these modifications, only the opening riff and the simple structure remained from the original track. Then, after Sven left the band in August 2021, even that opening riff was replaced. As a result, while structurally a close relative of Massive and Grayscale (quiet verse / loud chorus, mid-tempo, simple structure, short runtime), Mutagen stylistically leans more toward industrial metal rather than alternative metal.
During the second incarnation of Mixte’s lineup, with Luc on drums, the music video shoot began in February 2023. The band was rehearsing in the basement of Luc’s house at the time, which is where the video was captured. It was later processed by Anton Ra using artificial intelligence, which was just beginning to gain momentum back then. The intentionally gritty, creepy setting of toxic clay monsters perfectly fit the music and lyrics. Once the video was fully ready in May of that same year, the song was officially released.
