Behind the Scenes with Haunter: An Exclusive Interview with the Bandmates

Hawk-IT Interviews
Aug 8
32 min read

Photo Credit: Michelle Mace / Empyrean Imagery

Welcome to Hawk-IT Interviews!

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Anthony Rivera, Miguel Corpsova, and Thomas "Grim" Nero of Haunter from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for an in-depth conversation. We discussed the band's beginnings, their musical evolution, the inspiration behind their songs, and the creative process that fuels their sound.

Our conversation went beyond the music, giving readers a chance to get to know each member on a more personal level. We explored their hobbies, interests, creative influences, and the life experiences that have shaped both them as individuals and Haunter as a band. Whether you've been following Haunter for years or are just discovering their music, this interview offers an intimate look at the personalities behind the band and the passion that continues to drive their creative journey.

Let's Begin!!

AMIT AHUJA: Before we dive into your music, I'd love to begin at the very foundation of Hunter's story. Every band has its own unique journey, and I'd like to go back to where it all started. Anthony, Thomas, and Miguel, tell us about your backgrounds growing up, the communities that shaped you, and how each of your musical journeys began.

ANTHONY RIVERA

My background is a mixed bag of influences. My mother was always into 80’s hair metal music like Guns N’ Roses and Def Leppard. My step-father was into more modern, heavier music like Rob Zombie and Korn. Those things shaped what I thought was sonically and visually cool. My own musical discovery was mid-00’s metalcore music like Bullet for my Valentine and Killswitch Engage. Specifically seeing BFMV’s “Live at Brixton” 2006 live show captivated and changed me. That was what made me say “Oh man, I want to do this for the rest of my life.” All of those things played such an important role in how Haunter and I fit together. The musical dynamics, the visuals, the intensity, the showmanship, all make total sense in the context that is Haunter.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

My mother introduced me to Bon Jovi when I was 3 years old and as I watched their music video for “I’ll Be There For You” the seed was planted for what I wanted to do with my life. When I was 13 years old my vocal career began mostly within the metalcore and deathcore scene in Wisconsin. It helped shaped my range and versatility while also maintaining and mastering that poetic charm those genres had in the 2000’s. Encase it all in my love for goth culture, horror media, and theatrics and you have what you hear and see before you.

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

It all began back in 2005. I begged my parents to let me join the orchestra program. I began my journey as a cellist. Played cello up until the fifth grade. In 2007 I decided to change instruments. I began to learn the bass. My orchestra teacher at the time was shocked, like my parents. I was determined though. I have been a bassist ever since. Playing numerous school concerts, learning music theory, attending bass conferences, traveling around the country to play bass. I took all of this knowledge and began to apply it towards my love for metal music. I began to collide my love for classical techniques with the wild styles I’ve seen being done in the metal world. To my surprise though, Most of my favorite bass players also did the same. Making my love for music even greater.

AMIT AHUJA: How did your paths eventually cross, and what brought the three of you together to form Hunter? While each of you comes from a different background and brings your own personality and influences into the band, how have those individual experiences helped shape Hunter's identity and the creative partnership you share today?

ANTHONY RIVERA

I met Haunter as a pre-existing band. I was hired to photograph a set for someone else and Haunter happened to be on the bill. I loved the visuals, I loved that it defied the common music style of the area, I thought it would be a great fit for me. Thomas and I have an enormous amount of influences and goals in common, so I was able to step into the picture and bring in elements that he wanted to the band but had otherwise not found yet. And vice versa, Thomas offered me and opportunity to spread my wings, creatively, like I had not been able to with previous bands. Miguel offers a great personality fit and a solid work-horse mentality, on top of in-common influences. So the partnership with all three of us just made sense to put in place full-time.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

Anthony Diabolos had the most straightforward story and approach. In his own way he asked to be a member of Haunter hahaha! Miguel Corpsova and I met briefly when they were trying out for my old blackened deathcore band known as Archiver. During the early days of Haunter we reconnected, he became our lead crew member, and then a little bit later on he tried out on bass after our former member respectfully resigned. Our individual experiences similar and different shaped Haunter to a degree we could have never predicted. Our love for horror and its sub genres is something we all share that is forever a part of our music’s atmosphere but our love for different genres seems to blend rather well surprisingly.

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

I met Thomas “Grim” Nero about 11 years ago. I forgot what band he was in at the time, but our bands had crossed paths and I remember just being blown away. A few years later Thomas posted a status online, his band Archiver was in need of a bassist. I shot my shot, we all met up and that’s where our friendship honestly started. Thomas and I bonded over our love for horror and Godzilla. I didn’t get the gig though. Haha Go forward a few more years, Thomas asked me if I wanted to be a crew member for the HAUNTER. I of course agreed and began to help with he band’s merchandise sales, as well as their set up for shows. The band was playing in Madison, WI. Where they opened for Vampires Everywhere! and that is where I first met Anthony “ Diabolos” Rivera. He was taking photos of the bands playing that night. Move forward another year, Anthony had taken me under his wing and taught me what I know about photography. We also bonded over our love for horror, and our love for art and its various medias. Overall our three very diﬀerent personalities collide in a beautiful way. We have this connection that definitely shows through our performances and music.

AMIT AHUJA: Looking back, were there any early moments that made you realize this group had the potential to become something special?

ANTHONY RIVERA

For me, it was immediate when I watched them live. My thought was, “I think I have the sauce to add to this in a productive way.” There were so many things I was inexperienced on that this band could help me with, and so many things I could offer that I felt the band needed by lacked, that Thomas and I both could see the bigger picture together and both of our lightbulbs went off at the same time.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

I knew Haunter was something special during quite a few moments. When we released our very first single “Dance Gothica” via record label Ghost Killer Entertainment to overwhelming positive reception, when we opened for Creeper to overwhelming positive reception, and when we toured for the first time and received overwhelming positive reception.

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

Personally, I knew HAUNTER was meant for greater things after I watched them play at this placed named The Sabbatic, in the Milwaukee, WI area. I had gone to the show to film the band for what was supposed to later be B-footage for an interview with them. That never happened as I never moved forward with that idea. Haha I was blown away with the bands performance, the way Thomas captured the crowds attention.

AMIT AHUJA: Once Haunter officially came together, what was the defining moment that convinced the three of you this band could become something more than just another musical project? Was there a rehearsal, songwriting session, live performance, or conversation where everything suddenly clicked and you realized Hunter had its own identity and future? Looking back now, how important was that moment in shaping the band you've become today?

ANTHONY RIVERA

If I had to pick on moment, it would be when we opened for Creeper at The Forge in Joliet, IL. It was a Thursday in October and we had just been added to the show the week before. There were technical issues as the sound guy no-call-no-showed and they were scrambling to get us a new engineer for the night. Doors were pushed 30 minutes or so. Then doors opened and no one had sound-checked yet. Suddenly we had 300 people in front of us who didn’t know who we were, no basis to play music, but there we were on stage. And Thomas and I took the lead on entertaining the audience. We both instinctively saw it as “this is extra stage time, we don’t need music to make a statement” and we spent 20 minutes interacting with the crowd, singing My Chemical Romance and laughing with them. So by the time we played, the audience was intimately familiar with us and they showed it. By the time we got off stage, we had a swarm of people at the merch booth and our social media was going nuts. That crowd connection made me say “wow, people really can care about what we do at this intense level.” I think that set the bar for us going forward to make sure we weren’t just playing and leaving, that we loved and interacted with the audience. And that’s an element we continue to be praised on to this day.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

The moment we stepped onto the stage at Rock N Wrestling Festival II and performed what became our hit single “Sanguine Famine”. It shaped us into a familiar but new form of beast that stampedes to this day.

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

I came into the band later in its time but for myself that moment was when Anthony and Thomas brought Sanguine Famine to life. This song was a major symbol of where HAUNTER was headed compared to the sound our fans were used to. Sanguine Famine was still good ‘Ol HAUNTER with the atmosphere we all love, but with a slightly more raw industrial sound that wasn’t heard from us before.

AMIT AHUJA: What does the name Haunter represent to each of you, and how was it originally chosen? Has the meaning of the name changed as the band has grown, released more music, and developed its own identity? When people hear the name Hunter, what emotions, imagery, or ideas do you hope immediately come to mind?

ANTHONY RIVERA

I’ll leave the origins for Thomas as the creator, but for me, it immediately said “Halloween”. We don’t get nearly as many Pokemon questions as I thought we would with that name, which is kind of nice. Because I want people to think of graveyards and gothic imagery. With our newest updated logo, I think we have firmly accomplished that.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

Haunter represents its meaning from us to all who witness us in any way, shape, or form. We’ve had times where we’ve felt pretty invisible to the masses but once they’ve seen or heard us it haunts and possesses them long after the last notes have ended. Haunter is a name that grows more and more meaning to me as time goes on and was actually the name of a song a good friend of mine and I wrote when we were 16 years old and I always thought it would make a great band name.

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

Response not provided.

AMIT AHUJA: Every successful band depends on chemistry as much as talent. How would each of you describe the personalities within Haunter? Who tends to be the perfectionist, who brings unexpected ideas into the room, who keeps everyone organized, and who helps lighten the mood when rehearsals or recording sessions become stressful? How do those different personalities strengthen the band?

ANTHONY RIVERA

Personalities are always unpredictable in an environment like a band. We’re all so passionate and hungry that sometimes we can get tunnel-vision, but all in the name of something good. I love that Thomas is the “big picture” guy always looking down the road, and he trusts Miguel and I to maintain the road leading there while we all communicate ideas and observations. Miguel himself is our cooling agent. When you have to make business decisions, it sometimes comes as the cost of personal feelings, and Miguel is really good at centering us if things get hot in those moments.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

All of us in Haunter have very strong personalities. All of us have strong work ethics, all of us are well organized, level headed, strong willed, etc etc etc! I was going to label who is the brain, heart, body, and soul of the band but honestly we share all of the above. Haunter is not just one person it’s all of us past and present.

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

I am definitely the goofball in the band. Always making the guys laugh. I try my best to always keep our spirits high when things are looking a tad low. Though I could say we all kind of share all the hats. We are try to make sure we know where we all are when we are performing. We have this sense of naturally gravitating to our merch table. Haha Both Thomas and Anthony though handle the business aspects for the band. Those to are a power house.

AMIT AHUJA: Fans often see the finished music and live performances, but they rarely see the difficult moments behind them. What has been the greatest challenge Hunter has faced so far, whether personally, creatively, or professionally? How did you work through that experience, and what did it teach each of you about trust, communication, and staying committed to the band?

ANTHONY RIVERA

I’d say the toughest part of what we’ve done has been the financial aspect. It’s harder than ever to fund a band right now. We always say “being in a band is cheap, being is a SUCCESSFUL band is expensive.” I primarily run the finances for the band, so there are difficulties juggling everyone’s financial positions relative to what the band needs. It got really tough during the Sanguine Famine and Hunter$ sessions because those were back-to-back singles with big budgets for production, music videos, and marketing. That situation taught us a lot about being vocal about when we’re tapped and finding compromises to make sure we all stay above water.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

One of the greatest challenges for me personally has been losing family members very close to me within our 4 years as a band and as heartbreaking as it is to say that number has soared well above 5 people. I’m thankful to all of my bandmates that have been there for me but I have to give a special shout out to Anthony Diabolos for literally carrying the band during those dark times whether he knew he was doing it or not. Not an easy task I’m sure but he did it and I am forever in his debt. Since then these deaths have motivated me to release as much music as possible and sing it as loud as possible so that the other side may somehow hear it.

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

Thomas and Anthony can truly be the ones to speak on the hardships the band has faced before I joined. Since my joining I can say Trust and communication have always been a priority. We truly are a family, we may argue and bicker here and there, but in the end we are a strong unit. There is no hurdle we cannot get over.

AMIT AHUJA: Your newest song is called "Hunter$." Can you give readers a deep insight into the meaning and inspiration behind the track? Where did the first idea come from, what does the dollar sign in the title represent, and what themes, emotions, or messages were you hoping to communicate through the song?

ANTHONY RIVERA

I will let Thomas take the lead with this one as our primary concept creator. I’ll just say that this song is a dynamic rollercoaster with a powerful chorus and I hope people’s emotions sway around with the song as it was designed to take you on a journey.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

Our latest hit single and music video titled “Hunter$” is influenced by the John Carpenter film known as “Vampires” which is an adaptation of the book “Vampire$” by John Steakley. Lyrically it brings attention to the topics of greed, toxic masculinity, and a cursed love that is simply never meant to be.

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

Thomas is the man for this question, as he is the mastermind behind the lyrics and most themes. HUNTER$ is a masterpiece that came to life through Anthony and Thomas’s visions. I was truly such a treat to seem them bring our song to life for you all to see.

AMIT AHUJA: Anthony, Thomas, and Miguel, I'd like each of you to explain what you personally contributed to "Hunter$." Whether your contribution began as a guitar riff, vocal melody, lyric, bass line, arrangement idea, atmosphere, or production choice, how did your individual piece first develop? How did the three of you combine those separate ideas until they became the final version of the song that listeners hear today?

ANTHONY RIVERA

Our previous drummer presented a synth melody and a drum part one day when I was recovering from a surgery I had. I had time to spare so I picked it apart and re-structured the song. I wrote the guitars and bass and felt so strongly about it as a single, I sent it to the guys immediately. They were sold. Thomas worked his concepts and lyrical inspiration, and we set out to make this song a big one. This was also during the production of Sanguine Famine, so we were juggling a few things and were also able to map out how Hunter$ made sense in context to the release timeline of the demos we had on the table.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

I am the full-time lyricist and vocal melody creator of the band but Anthony Diabolos and our recording engineer Derek Moffat of 608 Studios have on many occasions helped write harmonies and pitched lines of lyrics to perfect the songs. It’s a perfect but accidental dream team and now with Miguel Corpsova doing vocals with us live it has gotten that much better.

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

Anthony and Thomas were the masterminds behind HUNTER$. My contributions were mainly int he filming process of the video. I helped with the set up and behind the scene shots.

AMIT AHUJA: While writing and recording "Hunter$," were there any moments when you decided to take a creative risk or move outside of what people might expect from Hunter? Did the song change significantly from its earliest version, and were there any parts that were rewritten, removed, or added unexpectedly before you felt the track was complete?

ANTHONY RIVERA

The intro for Hunter$ was originally twice as long, there was a big build. But it was decided that it should be shortened to make sure the song maintains the audience through the chorus, since the verses and pre-choruses are also lengthy. Otherwise, the song exists as it was demoed out, which is cool. I think this song presents a few risks, including some vocal falsettos and falsetto harmonies mixed with a funky guitar and sliding bass. It was so different from what we’d done. We were confident the audience would “get it” but we knew there was a chance some wouldn’t.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

Since HAUNTER’s inception we’ve always been about taking creative risks and stepping outside of the box of what people expect. It’s rarely on purpose and it’s rather natural. The only significant change I can remember was that the intro was going to be much longer before the first verse it.

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

HUNTER$ is relatively the same from its conception to it’s released version. Though Anthony is definitely the man for this question. Haha I believe the only diﬀerence is honestly the length of the song.

AMIT AHUJA: One of the things fans rarely get to see is how a song comes to life before it reaches their speakers. Anthony, Thomas, and Miguel, I'd love for each of you to break down your role in that process. When you're writing together, who usually brings in the first spark of an idea, and how does everyone build upon it? As the song develops, how do you challenge each other's ideas, refine arrangements, and decide what stays or what gets left behind? Finally, can you choose one song—whether it's "Hunter$," a track from The Phantom Collection, or another favorite—and walk us through, step by step, how each of your individual contributions helped transform that original idea into the finished song that fans know today?

ANTHONY RIVERA

Songwriting is a fun process. It usually starts with me and an instrumental idea, sometimes guitar or synth. And I obsessively demo out a song in my home studio. Then I send it to the guys to review. They’ll give their thoughts and what could be different or better and we fine-tune some stuff. The icing on the cake, which is usually the last step, is vocals. Thomas and I work well together in that I happen to write things that he just “hears” in full in his head. He amplifies everything I lay down. It always kind of goes that route: instrument idea, instrumental demo, fine-tune, vocals, then additional vocals (harmonies, layers, co-leads), and we run with it. Our current demos are a very confident version of this process.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

It usually goes one of two ways. Either I present a song or even an album title that displays a certain type of meaning and atmosphere and we go from there and the song or songs start to take a life of their own. Or Anthony writes an entire song or songs unwarranted but very welcomed created from his own personal inspirations and sends them our way for edits and to write lyrics and melodies to them. As a band that writes about monsters, horror, science fiction, etc we have an infinite pool to draw from.

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

Anthony is your guy for this question as well. Haha Anthony is our main writer instrumentally wise in the band. He and Thomas are the bands cooks in terms of writingmusic. Though it is a group eﬀort in conceptualizing the ideas. It would be one of us has a melody and we bring it up in our rehearsals and we play with it a bit and then Anthony and Thomas do their magic and we have a single.

AMIT AHUJA: Last year, Hunter released The Phantom Collection, giving fans a deeper look into your sound and creative vision. Now that you've had some time to reflect on the album, what does The Phantom Collection represent to each of you? Looking back, what themes, emotions, and experiences tie the record together, and what chapter of Hunter's journey does it capture? I'd also love for each of you to talk about a few songs from the album that hold a special meaning. Can you share the inspiration behind those tracks, the stories or emotions that influenced them, and what you hope listeners take away from them after hearing the record?

ANTHONY RIVERA

The Phantom Collection is a compilation album consisting of our first three EPs, nine songs total. It captures the formative years of the band and lets the audience take a journey through different sounds as the band evolved. You start super electronic and end very full-band. Which acts like a precursor to Sanguine Famine and Hunter$, whose goal was to capture all of those feelings in one. TPC for me represents a line in the sand in the creative process for the band, marking the end of an old era and the beginning of a fresh one.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

The Phantom Collection is actually a compilation album consisting of our very first EP’s known as The Grim Matrix, The Real Phantom, and Sex In Hell. It’s a great reflection of our roots and reminds us where we came from all while paying respects to past musicians we’ve had the privilege of working with. “Somewhere Over The Rain” is probably the song that fills my heart the most. It’s a special tribute to every musician I’ve ever worked with which is even displayed during a montage of past performance clips towards the end of the music video. Makes me shed tears every time. It is also influenced by the lives of Brandon Lee (The Crow) and Judy Garland (The Wizard Of Oz). Our very long epic known as “Wedding March Or A Funeral” also tugs at my heartstrings as it’s a song featuring my wife Sonja Romanov & friend Jac Kury both of The Maiden Voyage and it’s influenced by The Phantom Of The Opera because “love and music are forever” truly. Last but not least we have “Tongues Of Flame” which selfishly is one of my favorite songs to sing, scream, yell, and overall perform live hahaha! And it gets me dancing haha.

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

The Phantom Collection was before my time with HAUNTER. Both Thomas and Anthony can give you much more on this than myself. Though as a fan of the band, The Phantom Collection is a very unique collection. Showing the bands numerous evolutions not only in sound but, aesthetics, and growth all around.

AMIT AHUJA: I'd like each of you to choose one song from The Phantom Collection that you feel especially connected to. What did you personally contribute to that track, what memories do you associate with creating it, and why does that particular song continue to stand out to you now?

ANTHONY RIVERA

The stand-out song for me is “The Dark Fantasy”. Personally, it was the first song I recorded on guitar, first song I wrote parts for, first time I added structural ideas to the band, and the first song to feature my lead vocals near the end of the song. We close with this song every night and the audience understands the mission every time.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

I’ve picked quite a few songs already but to answer this question I’m going to go with “The Dark Fantasy”. It empties my mind, heart, and soul in the best way. I fight my depression/demons every single day and this song helps me release my darkness every time I listen to it and perform it. Therapeutic for damn sure!

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

The song that sticks with me the most is Lascivious Stimulation. Though I did not contribute to the song itself, I did help in filming the Music Video. This song was the bands first DIY music video. Shot and edited completely by HAUNTER. I was approached by Anthony to help film the music video. He had seen how much I truly loved helping the band out and how I would take initiative to also find better solutions for an even better and eﬃcient HAUNTER experience.

AMIT AHUJA: When you compare The Phantom Collection with "Hunter$," where do you hear the greatest growth in Hunter? Have the biggest changes happened in your songwriting, performances, production, confidence, or ability to communicate with one another? What does "Hunter$" reveal about where the band may be heading next?

ANTHONY RIVERA

I think the biggest evolution is in the vocals. We’ve become a band that features two lead vocals and a third back-up vocal. We’re taking chances and positioning songs in a way that make the live performances that much cooler. There are a few other big changes in the guitar work and structure, but I think those (in a good way) blend in compared to the vocal shift. Also, guitar solos are super fun. Definitely expect more of that!

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

Hunter$” definitely displayed that we could mix our haunting sound with straight up rock n’ roll and get away with it! It also provided us the opportunity to get away from the sort dark pop dance music we were known for in the beginning. As for where we’re headed next with our sound… you’ll never know. It’s always a surprise even to us.

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

I feel that most people definitely notice the diﬀerence in regards to the bands growth in HUNTER$. Sonically our latest single is much diﬀerent compared to anything from the Phantom Collection. We “decluttered’ our sound. Pulled back on a few things and focused a lot more on the actual music elements we truly cared for and believe is the “HAUNTER” sound. Though we still have that killer atmosphere we are known for, even that has grown with us. Finding even more ways to incorporate our beloved influences into our sound and style.

AMIT AHUJA: When you guys write the lyrics, are you usually drawing from personal experiences, observations about the world, fictional characters, or emotions that are difficult to express in ordinary conversation? How do you decide which experiences should become songs, and how comfortable are you with allowing listeners into the more vulnerable parts of your lives?

ANTHONY RIVERA

Thomas always does a great job telling the story real life scenarios through the lens of a movie or a video game that uses the same concepts. If you like the movie the lyrics are based on, you’ll like the song. If you don’t know the movie, you’ll still like the song because the lyrics aren’t so “on the nose” that they becomes unrelatable.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

When I write lyrics I’m drawing from my own personal experiences and beliefs but mixed with stories about monsters, vampires, ghosts, etc. I’m an open book and I’m not afraid of letting the world see my vulnerable side but I’m also not afraid to display it in an interesting way to sort of cope and even at times have fun with the emotions inside of me.

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

Thomas can answer this question best. He is the magician behind the lyrics you hear and repeat.

AMIT AHUJA: Has there ever been a message, conversation, or interaction with a fan that changed how you viewed your own music? Can you share a moment when someone explained that a Hunter song helped them through a difficult period, made them feel understood, or connected with them in a way you never expected?

ANTHONY RIVERA

I almost exclusively have fans talk to me about the instrumental side of things, so I’m not sure on the personal experiences with fans. But I do know that people have become captivated with the instrumental work, specifically the synth. As the guitar and bass work is coming forward, there are more comments about that as well. It seems there’s always someone who digs something we do on a deeper level at each show.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

Actually a dear cousin of mine that rarely displays any sort of affections told me when he listened to our song “Somewhere Over The Rain” and watched the music video he cried. It made him open up about his feelings for the first time in YEARS! I guess this is another moment when I knew we were on to something special.

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

I can honestly say that being in HAUNTER has been the most rewarding decision I have made in my musical career. Every show we attend I leave with nothing but positive emotions. Our fans both old and new are some of the kindest most interesting humans ever. Never ceases to amaze me that so many people love what we do and relate to our songs in their own ways. That’s what it’s all about in the end right? Absolutely an incredible feeling when you get approached and asked for a photo or to sign a shirt, poster, whatever it may be. I will forever cherish each interaction I have with our fans.

AMIT AHUJA: How has being based in Milwaukee influenced Hunter's identity, sound, and attitude? What makes the local dark wave, metal, and underground music community different from scenes in other cities, and what do you think people outside Wisconsin often overlook about the creativity and dedication found within Milwaukee's music scene?

ANTHONY RIVERA

That’s the fun part, we’re the only ones doing what we’re doing in Milwaukee. There is no local dark wave scene. There is a lot of hardcore and modern metalcore here. And I think it helps us stand out. The other side is it becomes tough to book a show sometimes because people want X genre, which we are not. But we have enough elements in common that we add to any local lineup to make it more dynamic without taking away from it or leaving people scratching their heads.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

Hardcore, Metalcore, and Deathcore are the big three genres at the moment in Wisconsin. We don’t really pay attention to that or try to chase what’s the latest trend though. We just do what we like, what expresses us, and what fulfills us and ten times out of ten it turns heads and widens eyes.

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

The Milwaukee scene is definitely interesting. HAUNTER definitely is unique compared to the other bands within the scene. We don’t really fit into a box. We’re a bit of everything depending on the song you here. Haha Our scene though is a massive mix of metal-heads of all the sub-genres. I believe that it self make our local scene very unique, you never know who might be in the crowd listening to your music and becoming a fan.

AMIT AHUJA: When someone attends a Haunter show for the first time, what kind of experience do you want to give them? Beyond performing the songs accurately, how do you think about atmosphere, intensity, movement, visuals, and emotional connection? What do you hope stays with someone after the final song ends?

ANTHONY RIVERA

We have a big focus on making sure we are present with the audience. We banter, have fun, dance, be goofy, talk to the audience. We connect to let them know we aren’t above them. We’re human and we just happen to be playing music you dig. I want to give the audience every emotion. I want heavy mosh pit moments, laughing silly moments, intense performance moments, all of it. The goal is to make a Haunter show fun, not just good music being played because that’s what CD’s are for.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

When anybody attends a Haunter concert we want to give them the full package. Haunting music accompanied by an entertaining and atmospheric stage performance. I think many bands of today forgot that WE as in musicians/bands that perform live are entertainment so don’t just give people something awesome to listen to but also give the people something awesome to witness visually.

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

Response not provided.

AMIT AHUJA: Looking back at your time together, what is one behind-the-scenes story that perfectly captures what it feels like to be part of Hunter? It could be something hilarious, chaotic, stressful, meaningful, or completely unexpected. What happened, and why has that memory stayed with the three of you?

ANTHONY RIVERA

What sticks with me is August 2025 through October 2025. We just played our biggest show ever at the end of July, then I had hernia repair surgery days later and was bedridden for two weeks. Exactly two weeks from the day of surgery, we had a huge show in Milwaukee to a nearly sold out crowd. I was hurt and it was tough, but we nailed it. That was followed by two more weeks of shows. Then we recorded Sanguine Famine, our first “new era” single, and filmed its music video the same day as a show (a 16-hour day). Then two more weeks of shows and a live performance podcast, with two more shows following. This was also while getting Miguel on board and practicing regularly to get him ready for live shows, and writing Hunter$. It was absolute chaos and the busiest time of my life at what was non-ideal medical timing. But man do I think that fire forged us in a crazy way. I’ll always be so proud of us for handling that time with grace and professionalism.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

Filming our music video for “Sanguine Famine” and drinking a ton of fake blood to the point of nausea hahahaha! We go in hard no matter the cost!

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

Oh, man! Where do I begin. Haha Honestly there are far too many but if I had to pick one. I would say that the memory for me is around the filming of HUNTER$. We were at our location of filming, which was a farm. Thanks to our homies in Silence In Numbers, specifically their drummer, for letting us use your space to film our video. We had actually reached out to our fans for their participation. We needed extras for the video and wanted our fans to be apart of this with us. That filming day was great! Beyond freezing out, it literally started to snow towards to end of filming. Haha Though we were all freezing it was great to not only meet some people whom I’ve not met yet, but seeing our own fans meeting each other and finding things in common outside of HAUNTER was awesome. They were all witnesses to our band humor though, getting to hear just how goofy we are in-between shots.

AMIT AHUJA: Anthony, Thomas, and Miguel, I'd like each of you to talk about your hobbies and interests outside of music. What do you enjoy doing when you aren't writing, rehearsing, recording, or performing? What activities help you relax, clear your mind, and return to the band feeling creatively refreshed?

ANTHONY RIVERA

I’ve been doing niche horror photography and videography since 2019, creating a business out of it in 2021, The Devil’s Reel. I work with special effects artists from around the world to capture their masks and props in a way that gives it life in a still image. Every year, I work a mask/art/music festival in Ohio called Palefest where I have a portable Photo Booth to showcase guests and artists alike. It’s been enormously fulfilling and allows me to hone skills that benefit Haunter in the meantime. Beyond that, I love playing single-player videos games. Final Fantasy, Dragon Ball, God of War, among others. I feel so inspired by these stories and feel it’s a gift to be able to physically experience them as opposed to “just” watching them in a movie or TV format, which I also spend a lot of time investing in.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

I’m in love with watching movies, watching television shows, playing video games, reading comics, reading books, collecting toys, and of course listening to music. I collect all of the above and worship them. They help me to relax and build my creativity.

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

My major hobby outside of HAUNTER is Magic The Gathering. I love to get a good ‘Ol round of magic in whenever I can. If I’m not playing MTG, I’m probably on my ps5 playing PinBall or whatever game catches my interest in the time. Though most of my time is currently spent in tech books. Im currently working on my associates degree in IT programming.

AMIT AHUJA: Fans often know musicians only through their performances or social media. What is something about each of you that listeners would probably never guess? Do you have any hidden talents, unusual collections, unexpected interests, or personal goals that you have rarely had the opportunity to discuss publicly?

ANTHONY RIVERA

I have a house of horrors. Literally. I collect and display masks and props in my home. I have over 250 pieces throughout my home from horror to music to video games. Some are pieces from movies themselves (screen or production used), most are replicas. All are either awesome or terrifying, depending on the viewer.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

I take way too many bubbles baths in fact it’s where I do most of my reading and most of my lyric writing. I’m a master at the pogo stick and I own all 38 Godzilla movies… and counting! My Dad and I even attend G-Fest (Godzilla Festival) in Chicago every July. Personally, I would love to achieve my goal of being in a big budget film.

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

I am a major BeeGees fan. Love their music since I can remember. I grew up listening to them thanks to my mom. She was a major disco/romatic music lover. My father introduced me to Motown and their various artist and Bob Marley. I gained my love heavy music through my older brother. He introduced me to bands like System of a Down, Toxic Holocaust, Trivium, Mudvayne, Marilyn Manson, Black Sabbath, Gun’s N Roses, and more. Ive taken it all in and try to use a lot of those baselines and techniques in my current playing. I speak fluent Spanish and English. I know a bit a French as well but not a whole lot anymore. Lack of practice. Haha

AMIT AHUJA: Beyond bands, albums, and musicians, what other influences have shaped Hunter's creative identity? Are there films, books, visual artists, family members, places, personal experiences, or major moments in your lives that have affected how you write, perform, and express yourselves through the band?

ANTHONY RIVERA

Haunter is incredibly influenced by horror movies, books, and comics. Sonically and lyrically, no story is without some kind of influential reference. We use these things and conduits to tell our own stories.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

The passing of my loved ones like my grandma Nero, aunt Roxie, cousin Ryan, and cat Arwen have motivated me to do so much more musically and to be as loud as possible live so that they may hear me wherever they are. As mentioned above many forms of media influence Haunter. Books by Stephen King, comics by Todd McFarlane, movies from Blumhouse, etc.

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

My influences go way back. I am a major Universal Monsters fan. Dracula is my man! Growing up I watched old school Mexican westerns with my parents. Which influenced my style of “Alternative” dressing you see on stage. My absolute favorite horror film(s) are the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies. Though Thomas, Anthony, and myself all love horror, I can say our completely diﬀerent styles make for the interesting look you all see on stage.

AMIT AHUJA: If you could place your music into any film—classic or modern—which film would you choose, and what kind of scene or emotional moment can you imagine your songs soundtracking perfectly? Is there a particular Hunter track that you believe would fit that scene, and what qualities in the song make it feel cinematic?

ANTHONY RIVERA

The best answer, in my opinion, is Queen of the Damned. Additionally, I’m a huge Rob Zombie guy. Without provocation, our music and visuals have been described as “If Rob Zombie directed Queen of the Damned”. Which I think is just so perfect and fitting.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

I think we could be the perfect soundtrack to a Creepshow movie and/or a The Return Of The Living Dead movie especially whenever the s*** hits the fan and things get really spooky. Hell! It would even work when the heroes are about to win or defeat said monsters!

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

Personally HAUNTER would fit any and all alt genre movies. Especially the gothic, vampiric, or even slasher films. Our songs definitely all have cinematic moments in them. I feel if you close your eyes and listen to our songs you can picture the scene itself. I love Dracula, so I feel our Sex In Hell Ep would do amazing in a vampiric short film.

AMIT AHUJA: Being musicians and creative artists often means pouring so much of yourselves into your work that it can become mentally and emotionally demanding. Anthony, Thomas, and Miguel, throughout your journey with Hunter, how have each of you learned to balance the pressures of writing, recording, performing, work, and everyday life while protecting your mental well-being? Have there been any personal habits, creative outlets, perspectives, or support systems that have helped you stay grounded during challenging times? As a band, how do you support one another when one of you is struggling, and how important has that support been to Hunter's growth both on and off the stage?

ANTHONY RIVERA

Balance is tough. I’ve found myself completely immersed before without knowing it. I had to figure out how to make sure Haunter is getting the work it needs from me, while making sure I’m not consumed in the process (and therefore burned out). I think as a band we do a good job balancing each other out. As in we can comfortably go two months not seeing each other and there’s no steps lost. Which is a relief, I feel we are low-maintenance friends who understand we need to stay sharp. That allows each of us to invest time into our personal lives and find that balance. None of our lives are compromised by the band, and that’s really all you can ask for.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

Honestly the only thing about being in a band that destroys me mentally, emotionally, and sometimes even physically is dealing with and keeping up with social media like Facebook, Instagram, X , Tik Tok, and what not. Everything is just fine so as long as you bring yourselves to communicate and listen.

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

Balance in anything is always tough. Personally I have a struggle with it. I tend to dive fully into everything I do and never really give myself those breaks that are needed. I am beyond thankful to my wife for being my rock and keeping me grounded. She has been with me through numerous changes in my life both as my partner and friend. Without her I wouldn’t be here doing this very interview or playing bass in HAUNTER. As a band though, we do our best to be there for each other through thick and thin. We listen, we advise one another, and we communicate constantly to be sure we are always on the same page.

AMIT AHUJA: As you look toward the next several years, where do you hope Hunter goes creatively and professionally? Are there new sounds you want to explore, artists you would like to collaborate with, venues or festivals you dream of playing, or goals you want to achieve together? Ultimately, what kind of legacy do you hope Hunter leaves behind?

ANTHONY RIVERA

There’s so much road in front of us. Hundreds of bucket list moments ahead. Ultimately, we want to do this for a living. We want to the tours, we want the albums, we want the festivals. Not in a cheeky “haha yay no regular job, goof off all day” way. We want this to be our jobs. We want to put in the work. We want the trials and tribulations. We want The Eagle’s Ballroom. We want Wembly. We want Download. We want Warped Tour. We want to leave behind a legacy of uncompromising individuality and passion.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

Signing with a major record label, tours across the globe, delve into the creation of ballad songs, play Ozzfest, and get Zak Bagans from the show Ghost Adventures on a track! As for what legacy I want Haunter to leave behind? Legendary music that resonates with as many people as possible for years to come and to remember us as a group of people that were always genuinely and unapologetically themselves.

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

HAUNTER will be touring worldwide soon enough! I am putting that into the universe. Our sound will always evolve and be better than before. I feel we are reaching the point of playing out of state more. Touring is definitely on our plans for the future as well. HAUNTER is coming for the world.

AMIT AHUJA: As we wrap things up, what message would you like to leave with your fans and our readers? For anyone currently chasing a dream, struggling creatively, or still searching for their own voice and identity, what words of encouragement or perspective would you most like to share?

ANTHONY RIVERA

Do not let anyone dictate your visions. Do not let anyone else determine your goals and your timeline in achieving them. Not playing Wembly tomorrow is not a big deal. Identify if you want a career or a hobby. Adjust your goals and investments accordingly. Stick to your guns. Stay hungry.

THOMAS “GRIM” NERO

Be yourself and do it without a second thought and remember that “love and music are forever”.

MIGUEL CORPSOVA

My biggest piece of advise to you all is this, Follow your dreams. No matter haw far fetch they may seem. Be yourself, you have one life to live, make it one hell of a run. Never let anyone tell you what you can or can’t do. If you’re feeling a bit blocked step away go do something else for a bit and then come back and keep going. Never compare yourself to anyone else. This life isn’t linear. Always choose kindness.

Final Thoughts

A huge thank you to Anthony Rivera, Miguel Corpsova, and Thomas "Grim" Nero for taking the time to share their stories, experiences, and passion for Haunter. It was a pleasure getting an inside look at the band, learning about their creative process, and discovering the personalities behind the music.

If you're new to Haunter, I encourage you to check out their music, watch their videos, and support them by following their journey on social media and attending a live show if they come to your area. Independent artists thrive because of the support of their fans, and every stream, share, and concert makes a difference.

Thank you for reading this Hawk-IT Interview. I hope you enjoyed getting to know Haunter as much as I enjoyed putting this feature together. Stay tuned for more exclusive interviews with talented artists, musicians, creators, and innovators.

Until next time, keep discovering great music and keep supporting independent artists.

— Amit Ahuja

Hawk-IT Interviews