Metalcore Nerds: A Music Podcast About Pop Culture · Sean Mott

Nate Cell: Mirrorcell

February 24, 2026·54 min·1 clip

How one man systematically murdered elderly residents while everyone called it natural

This episode features Sean Mott interviewing Nate from the metalcore band Mirror Cell about his deep passion for pop culture. Nate runs a side business with his wife hand-making and restoring custom VHS tapes, which directly inspired a limited VHS release for his band's new album. The conversation explores how specific films and directors shaped the visual aesthetic of Mirror Cell's latest record, *Long Nights and Lovescape*. Nate cites director Wong Kar-wai, known for *In the Mood for Love*, as the primary visual influence for the album's neo-noir, romantic tone. Other key inspirations include the works of David Lynch and Quentin Tarantino, particularly *Reservoir Dogs*. He reveals he only produced 50 copies of the band's DIY VHS, which includes music videos and clips from the pop culture that inspired the album. Growing up, Nate was a Cartoon Network kid, with shows like *Billy & Mandy* and *Courage the Cowardly Dog* planting early seeds for his alternative tastes. He currently enjoys *The Sopranos* for the first time and maintains a constant rewatch of *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia*. Nate passionately recommends the 2001 campy martial arts film *Shaolin Soccer*, which had a $10 million budget but features intentionally dated visual effects. A significant portion of the discussion analyzes the recent film *Prey* and the new *Alien* film, *Alien: Romulus*, with Nate strongly favoring *Prey*. He praises *Prey* for making the audience root for the Predator and its clever use of a synthetic character as a communication device. Nate highlights how the film's PG-13 rating allowed for creative, brutal violence using non-human blood. He expresses excitement about director Dan Trachtenberg's work revitalizing his interest in the Predator franchise. Sean recommends the A24 film *Eternity* on Apple TV+, starring Miles Teller and Elizabeth Olsen, which explores profound choices about love and the afterlife. He also endorses the true-story romance *Song Sung Blue*, starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, noting its emotional turn and theme of perseverance. The tone is a relaxed, enthusiastic exchange between two self-described nerds who bond over niche films and physical media. The style is conversational and recommendation-heavy, flowing naturally from personal anecdotes to detailed film analysis. This episode is perfect for metalcore fans interested in the artistic influences behind music and listeners who love discovering obscure or critically acclaimed movies and shows. It might not appeal to those seeking hard music industry talk or listeners with no interest in film, VHS culture, or romantic comedies.

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