1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?
During the 2020 lockdown we spent pretty much most of our time working on the mixing and mastering of the album with Scott Middleton and Nick Ginn. We also finished editing our ‘Lift The Curse’ music video and finalized all the album art. Emailing labels and trying to figure out how to release an album during global pandemic took way more time than we thought, but hey - here we are.
Once the restrictions eased up we went back to playing shows to see how the audiences would react to our new material. But since we could only could play in China, traveling outside to play shows like we used to still seems near impossible. We were lucky though and got to play a few festivals with a highlight of headlining the 10th anniversary China Hardcore Fest.
2.You have a new album coming out in March, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
This is the first album we recorded in a professional studio which marks a massive leap in quality and the first time we’ve had an outside influence by working with Scott Middleton from Cancer Bats, who produced the record. It captures really everything we all love individually, and finally has our own unique sound to it.
3.This is also the first album you have released since 2017, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?
We started writing The Wrath It Takes a little after we got back from our tour across Russia. I think the first riffs were played in January 2018, and the writing process took a lot of effort and time with us almost never leaving our tiny ass practice space. As the new songs started to come together, we got to tour China with Cancer Bats and co-headline Silence festival in Kathmandu, Nepal. Around the same time the Chinese government decided to tighten up live performance rules, basically limiting all foreigners from playing live shows. In 2019 we did two East Coast Canada tours, during one of which we stuck around after our tour and tracked our album - originally planning to release it in 2020. But, like many other releases, it got delayed by the pandemic.
4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new album and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?
As a band we lived through an extreme grasp on life by the government, which escalated into our homes being raided, constant live show raids and cancellations, arrests, and deportations from the country. It was pretty crazy looking back on it now. As we witnessed our scene being forced back into invite-only jam room studio shows, it seemed like personal problems just kept piling on top of it all. The resulting turmoil in our lives meant that lyrically this record took a much darker and deeper path than anything we’ve written before and focuses on a threaded narrative of personal liberation; from relationships, from governments, from societies and from very real turning points in our lives that we’ve all had to go through.
5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Spill Your Guts'?
When our drummer Tyler and I first met back in 2010, we were leaving a show we had just been to and he explained to me that the expression ‘Spill Your Guts’ meant saying what you really think and feel. It seemed kind of fitting to match all the stuff I wanted to write about, plus it just sounds kind of mean.
6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
It is an ironic take on a fresco renaissance painting on the cathedral ceiling with an image of uniformed forces pressing peaceful society into brackets of obedience; actually a reflection of many events we’re currently witnessing, and what we’ve watched happen in the past.
7.All of the band members are also from different parts of the world, what impact does this have on the musical style that you play?
I wouldn’t say that coming from different parts of the world has a big influence on the music itself, as we found out we all grew up in more or less similar circumstances in life. But differences in our individual music tastes is what had a big impact on the music we play, trying to mix different things we each like which gives our music a unique sound compared to most other hardcore bands.
8.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
We played a giant warehouse in Bangkok with some insane mosh pits, literally kids in balaclavas kartwheeling over each other. Just mental. There was one time we played at a fancy art gallery in Shanghai with an owner absolutely freaking out that we would destroy it, but we left it pretty much untouched of course. Once we were invited to play a tattoo convention in Beijing with people hanging on hooks swinging above our heads - super weird. The hottest show we ever played was at a squat basement with no a/c or even windows in mid June in Kuala Lumpur, where 2 of us fainted on stage from heat exhaustion. The best view we ever played in front of was on top floor of a skyscraper in Hong Kong overlooking the city. The best bar we ever played was in Siberia with a viking’s longship as a stage. And the wildest festival we ever played was in Suzhou during a typhoon, where we continued to play in the pouring rain.
From the moment when we start writing we always aim to have intricate songs that are interesting and fun for us to play as musicians live, but at the same time songs that would allow us to destroy venues while keeping listeners intrigued. We’ve always got high energy on stage, it’s really a big part of our show, we all just go absolutely crazy. And this is what we do at every show, from the moment we step on stage until we play the last note! Leaving the stage drenched in sweat or nothing!
9.The new album is also going to be released through 3 different labels, can you tell us a little bit about the labels you chose to work with on the new release?
The record will be co-released on 5 different colored vinyls through PermCityPunk Records (Russia), Trepanation Recordings (UK) and Graboid Of The Ground Records (China) on March 25, 2022. DIY labels with hardworking and dedicated people behind it, we’re very happy to release this record with our friends and be able to cover the distribution in pretty much every part of the world!
10.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal and hardcore?
No matter what music you’re into, black metal or hardcore, pop punk or experimental noise, drum’n’bass or indie rock – our mission is to get every venue dancing and so far it’s worked out! We leave every show with new friends, fans, and memories.
11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Looking to tour more and more once we can travel again! (bookers, hit us up!)
12.What are some of the bands or musical styles these days that the band members are listening to?
Here’s a little list of influences we put together:
Turbonegro
Kvelertak
Trap Them
Every Time I Die
The Bronx
All Pigs Must Die
Refused
Shai Hulud
13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Stay safe, wear a mask, get vaccinated, don’t watch YouTube conspiracy stuff too much and let’s work together towards making our planet safe again!
https://spillyourguts.bandcamp.com/album/the-wrath-it-takes
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