Moros Eros singer Zach Tipton is a perfectionist, one who also happens to defy convention in every way possible.

In a day and age where bands beef up albums with upwards of 20 tracks, hoping one of them hits as a single, the new Moros Eros album – Jealous Me Was Killed by Curiosity – features only nine. And then there's the whole band name that anyone unfamiliar with Greek mythology will most likely find perplexing.

No wonder the Georgia-based quartet is still struggling to find an audience.

Tipton recently touched on his band's quirks and eccentricities in an interview with 210SA, before Moros Eros plays at Rock Bottom Tattoo Bar on Saturday, Nov. 17.

210: You were originally called Vitro, but had to change when another band claimed the rights to the name. How did you come up with Moros Eros?

ZT: We needed to come up with a name, and our bass player (DJ Schulz) knew I really liked Greek mythology. He came up with it, and I liked it. It was one of the least ridiculous things we all thought of. Moros means “impending doom,” and Eros is the God of love, so people think it has something to do with love. But it has nothing to do with that. It's meant to show that duality of everything, the good and bad parts to everything. That's prevalent in our music, so it's fitting.

210: What about your album titles? Jealous Me Was Killed By Curiosity and I Saw The Devil Last Night And Now The Sun Shines Bright are both pretty interesting choices.

ZT: I don't really like a short little thing. I think at one point, because I don't want to seem like I'm trying to be catchy and I'm not exactly the most quotable person, I wanted to be honest and get one sentence out to (listeners) about the whole album. The last one (I Saw the Devil) was ridiculous and based solely on getting our keyboardists' (Chris Firebaugh) grandparents to disown him. It worked. This one is more for the hell of it.
Maybe the next one will be a two-letter word.

210: How detailed were you in writing the latest album?

ZT: I wrote some of (the songs) eight or nine different times with different lyrics. They're exactly what I wanted, at least most of them are, but we'll see as time goes on.

210: It sounds like you're a bit of a perfectionist.

ZT: Yes, when it comes to this kind of stuff. I read a lot and write a lot, and I know how hard it is to write something and turn it into something ..... Sometimes it doesn't sound right, so I'll alter it, and it will make more sense.

210: It seems like a lot of bands overstuff their albums. Why did you go the opposite way with only nine songs on the new album?

ZT: Yeah, it's so annoying. I'll listen to a record, and every song is completely different. I'm not a fan of The Beatles, but everyone who likes them says every song has its own personality. I take that to heart.

210: You're a musician, and you don't like The Beatles?

ZT: I don't really know. It's just one of those things. They could be amazing, but it never really struck me. I've listened to everything and given it many chances, and I understand why people like them. Their songs are very catchy and they have the whole character thing going on. They're a very collectible kind of band. But for me, I listen to Tom Waits and Björk.

CLINT HALE | 210SA