Metal Inside(r) Home Quarantine is Metal Insider’s new column during this time of isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We asked artists five questions on what’s been keeping them busy ranging from their favorite movies, food they’ve been eating, music they’ve been listening to and more. We caught up with Mountaineer guitarist Forrest Harvey as he finds Netflix’s Ozark a stressful series and reconnects with things he used to do more often. 

What have you been doing to pass time during Quarantine?

I am in a fortunate position where I am still able to work from home so that occupies my “business hours” on the weekdays. My primary focus has been making sure my folks are healthy. Otherwise, I have been treating my extra time as a staycation and getting back into things I used to do more such as reading and biking. It really is quite amazing how much time you have when the only person you are factoring is yourself. 

Have you been listening to any music or have any playlists worth checking out?

I generally have music playing throughout the day. One group I recently discovered is Jambinai from South Korea. The world has really slowed down and it feels like a soundtrack of the times. I have been slowly going through my record collection and rediscovering a lot of bands that I hadn’t played in a while like CAN or Ancestors. 

A lot of people have been spending this time cooking including making their own bread, what food have you been prepping during this time?  

I used to eat out two times a week pretty regularly. The quarantine has really eliminated take-out from my diet which means more cooking at home. Trying to consistently incorporate more vegetables into all of my meals which has been interesting when you usually eat oatmeal for breakfast. Otherwise, I have been making a lot of soups and sauces. 

In terms of entertainment, what movies, TV shows, books, or games have been keeping you busy?

I haven’t binge watched TV prior to the quarantine so I have had an abundance of shows to watch. I recently finished Ozark and I must say, I have never been stressed out from watching TV shows before. Discovering a lot of bizarre documentaries as well. 

What advice do you have for your fans in isolation during this time?

While there is certainly not one size fits advice, it is an important time to prioritize one’s well being and keeping yourself healthy. That being said, try new things, get out of your comfort zone. I have discovered so many tutorials online, it’s so easy to gain new skills. 

Mountaineer’s new album Bloodletting will be released on May 22nd via Lifeforce Records. Pre-order here.