GUILT TRIP
Q1. Can you give our readers a little background on yourself and the band: where you’re from, your sound, your mission, any other context for those perhaps unfamiliar with you?
I’m Tom, Guilt Trip’s drummer. I’m from a town just outside of Manchester called Macclesfield, the rest of the band are from areas scattered around Manchester and north of England.
Our sound is technically Crossover/Metallic Hardcore but we believe our sound ranges from a lot of different areas of Metal music , we just try and create music we enjoy listening to. When writing, we aim to experience the same excitement we felt hearing our favourite bands for the first time when we were younger.
Q2. What would you say are some of the primary influences on Guilt Trip’s sound and aesthetic?
Our sound is influenced by a large amount of different types of music but our main influences in metal/hardcore would be bands like Metallica (of course), Machine Head, Linkin Park, Hatebreed, Merauder.
As far as aesthetic goes, we just try and be ourselves. Authenticity is key for us, we have to just be who we are.
Q3. What made you want to start a band and just “go for it” (live the life of touring, recording, investing yourself in Guilt Trip and taking it to the next level)?
I think I can speak for everyone when I say that it’s the only thing we’ve ever wanted to do in life. For as far as I can remember it’s the only thing I’ve ever aspired for is to be in a band and tour etc, it’s the same for all of us. When you have a group of people that have those real aspirations it feels a lot more realistic to reach those heights.
Q4. Your latest full-length Severance dropped at the end of September. For those who haven’t listened yet—what are you waiting for!?—what can they expect to encounter?
It’s heavy.
Q5. Is there an over-arching theme you wanted to communicate on the record or a vision or direction you wanted to take it as you were writing and recording? What was the recording process like? The album sounds really good—it’s crisp and punchy but it’s still got that “sandpaper” (roughness).
We never really went to a deep thought about what we wanted it to sound like as a whole. It was a case of just writing the best 12 track record we could but staying true to the band’s sound. There were a few new sounds thrown in there but nothing that didn’t feel like Guilt trip.
The recording process was great. Our producer Robin Adams has always been a pleasure to work with. He’s always incredibly helpful throughout the process of recording.
Q6. I’m really intrigued by the album art. Who did it and what is the significance behind it?
Andrei Bouzikov, we just thought some form of physical battle between good and evil. He killed it.
Q7. What makes a good breakdown?
The Lead up to it and deliverance. Make sure the tempo is right for the riff.
Q8. “Sanctified” features Mike from Lower Than Atlantis. How did that come about? For those readers who don’t know, Lower Than Atlantis actually started out playing heavy music on the phenomenal Bretton. That was the era of bands like Don Broco doing their metalcore-ish thing, too, with “Thug Workout.” Is Mike/are they still plugged in to the hardcore/heavy music scene?
I think he rated us so we dropped him a message and he said yeah.
Q9. There are other great features on the record, too. How did those come about?
Same thing as the last answer really, the track with our mates from Malevolence and Rough Justice was especially easy as everyone is from the same area and label etc.
Q10. What are some of the best/most memorable shows you’ve played or tours you’ve been on?
Bloodstock Festival, Hellfest, our first European Headline tour, Malevolence tour we’ve just come back from were all were very memorable.
The London show on the Malev tour a couple of months ago was definitely a contender for our best show in my opinion.
Q11. What does the near future hold for Guilt Trip (tours, festivals, etc)?
We’re going to be busy this year with touring along with festivals in the summer but we plan to try and spend any spare time in-between to continue writing, we’re very excited to get started on the next project.