“Black Metal. Black Shirts. Black Coffee.” The mantra printed on the mug perfectly encapsulates the ethos of Holy Mountain Printing. This North Carolina-based screen printing company, helmed by Danny Trudell, isn’t just creating merchandise; they are building an empire rooted in passion, quality, and a deep love for music and art. Beyond fulfilling custom orders for bands nationwide, Holy Mountain Printing operates an online store brimming with exclusive designs from some of the most iconic names in metal and punk, alongside a curated selection of horror and cult movie apparel. Think Leviathan, Integrity, Pallbearer, Full of Hell, Earth Crisis, Drowning the Light, Yob, and countless others – the roster speaks volumes about their dedication to the underground scene.
Full disclosure: Krieg, my own band, also has merchandise through Holy Mountain, which is how I first connected with Danny Trudell. My fascination extends beyond just the music scene; I’m equally intrigued by the individuals who contribute to the subculture’s vibrancy. Danny, with his creative drive and dedication to his craft, is one such figure. I was eager to delve into his world, explore the inner workings of Holy Mountain Printing, and uncover the influences that shaped his unique journey. Knowing his eclectic musical taste, I wanted to trace his path from early musical awakenings to the fusion of visual arts and music that defines his life’s work.
“As a kid, I was always drawing, completely absorbed by comic books,” Danny began, reflecting on his early inspirations. “Discovering skateboarding and subscribing to Thrasher magazine threw me headfirst into punk and metal music. The art plastered across skateboards further ignited my artistic interests. Later, I briefly studied commercial art but dropped out. The ‘art world’ felt too tame, and skateboarding consumed every waking moment. After leaving school, I helped my friend Brian with his zine ‘Inside Front’ and handled mail orders for his band, Catharsis. Working with Brian opened my eyes to the DIY possibilities – I realized I could pursue anything I wanted, on my own terms. I owe Brian a huge debt for instilling that DIY ethic in me. I love art, I love music, and I love dedicating my time and energy to projects that genuinely excite and fulfill me.”
This DIY spirit, forged in the crucible of punk and hardcore, is undeniably the bedrock of Holy Mountain Printing. A commitment to quality and a celebration of diverse artistic expressions are central tenets of the Holy Mountain brand. But what sparked this particular path? And how long has Holy Mountain Printing been operating?
“My shop has been around for almost 20 years in various iterations,” Danny explained, tracing the company’s evolution. “Before Holy Mountain, I ran a music venue in Winston Salem, NC. It had a rather abrupt ending during a sold-out Dillinger Escape Plan show when the police shut it down literally seconds into their set. After that, I toured as a merch guy and tour manager for a few bands. When I got married and decided to scale back on touring (except for a Madball tour I couldn’t resist), I focused more on my print shop. At that point, I was juggling the shop with a record label. As the label wound down, the concept of Holy Mountain Printing really started to take shape.”
As mentioned, Holy Mountain Printing boasts an incredibly diverse roster of bands for whom they produce merchandise, spanning virtually every subgenre of metal and venturing into various punk styles. What criteria does Danny use to select bands for collaboration?
“It’s really simple,” he stated. “If I’m a fan of the band, I reach out to them. I need to genuinely appreciate their music and find their artistic vision interesting and compelling. I’m terrible at trying to force creativity for things I’m not personally invested in.”
Given his evident passion for music and the sheer number of bands he admires, why hasn’t Danny revisited the idea of running a record label? His response was immediate and decisive.
“I ran a label for about ten years,” Danny recounted. “It was mostly a nightmare of inflated egos and constant disputes over money. I can honestly say I hated it. Holy Mountain has released a few musical projects, but those were purely passion projects—things I loved, created by people I cared about. Frankly, I’d rather endure repeated kicks to the head for eternity than run a full-time label again.”
Danny Trudell, owner of Holy Mountain Printing, a screen printing company specializing in band merchandise.
Holy Mountain Printing’s appeal extends beyond music merchandise. They also cater to enthusiasts of obscure cinema and horror films. Danny also supports independent artists by producing merchandise featuring their designs and even building webstores for them. I asked him to elaborate on the non-musical aspects of Holy Mountain Printing.
“All of that is just for fun, things you feel driven to do simply for the joy of bringing them to life,” he explained. “Regarding the vintage movie shirts, I grew up in the VHS era, in local video stores. Horror movies and giant monsters basically raised me. The crew at the shop and I love taking old movie posters of films we adore and turning them into shirts. We’re all fans, and we get just as excited about creating them as the people who buy them are about owning them.”
One of Danny’s most prominent traits, particularly evident if you follow him on Instagram, is his deep-seated love for music and record collecting. Every day, before diving into work, he posts selections from his extensive vinyl collection, setting the tone for his day. From rare hardcore gems to classic hip-hop tracks, his daily selections are always diverse and intriguing. His record collection is, to put it mildly, vast.
“I have around 3,000 LPs and about 500 7-inch records,” Danny estimated, discussing his vinyl obsession. “Vinyl has always been my preferred format. As a kid, I found a used copy of the first Danzig album at a local used bookstore and record store called Nice Price. I can still vividly remember the first time I opened that gatefold and dropped the needle.”
This naturally led to a discussion about the records that hold the most personal significance. For Danny, several albums stand out.
“There are many, but to narrow it down, Buzzoven’s Sore was a life-altering album, and their live shows in my youth were equally impactful,” he shared. “My copy is signed by Kirk, and I’d risk entering a burning building to save it. Leviathan’s Scar Sighted box set is another. Beyond being an incredible album, I was deeply honored to be entrusted with his first official online store (or at least one that actually paid him), and that record represents that period. I also have a clear vinyl copy of Neurosis’s Times of Grace, gifted to me by a very thoughtful friend. It’s my favorite Neurosis album, and the personal connection makes it even more special. I’m obsessed with Belgian metallic hardcore from the H8000 scene, and my friend Tim, who lives in Belgium, helps me track down records I’m missing. He’s literally gone to band members’ homes to find things for me.”
“Thanks to him, I have a significant collection of records from great bands of that era, like Congress, Length of Time, Sektor, Kindred, and Liar,” Danny continued. “One of my most prized possessions is a 7-inch from an old Salt Lake City hardcore band called Lifeless. I searched for that record for years. After marrying my wife, I discovered she was friends with one of the band members, and she managed to get me a copy. Original pressings of Confessor’s Condemned, COC’s Blind, Integrity’s Those Who Fear Tomorrow, and Earth Crisis’ Destroy the Machines are all records that are indispensable to me. There are certainly rarer or more valuable records in my collection, but these albums shaped who I am, making them far more precious than any monetary value.”
While Danny’s personal tastes are wide-ranging, Holy Mountain Printing primarily operates within the punk and metal scenes. How does he perceive the relationship between these two genres?
“I never really distinguished between them,” he stated. “Growing up in a small town in North Carolina, I didn’t have anyone telling me what was cool, what was punk, or what was metal. I was drawn to heavy music and mostly discovered it on my own because I didn’t know many people into that stuff. At that age, Public Enemy, The Cure, Metallica, and Dead Kennedys were all heavy to me. ‘Heavy’ comes in many forms; it’s not always about distorted guitars and screaming. I gravitate towards music that feels like a matter of life or death, like the creator is compelled to express it or they’ll explode. As a 43-year-old, my mindset is still similar. Black Flag was heavy, Slayer is heavy, Diamanda Galas is incredibly heavy, and I simply love heavy music.”
In a world increasingly focused on the overwhelming weight of global issues, it’s refreshing to discuss passions without veering into political discourse. Concluding our conversation, I was reminded of the early days of DIY zines, created by individuals driven solely by the desire to share music they loved. I asked Danny about his future plans for Holy Mountain Printing.
“Just to keep working hard, continuing to create fun projects and new merchandise for all the bands we collaborate with,” he said. “To keep moving forward, refining our processes, and hopefully continually improving in everything we do. This shop has come a long way. We now have a truly talented and dedicated team, and I’m excited to keep growing, expanding, and ensuring that Holy Mountain Printing remains fun and unique.”
Explore Holy Mountain Printing’s online store here.
