– Hello, thanks for taking your time. How are you holding up?

Hey no worries, I’m doing good thanks!

-Has this infectious era has affected GUTLESS in any way? You’ve even played live during the pandemic. How has it been?

Definitely. For a good part of 2020 we were unable to rehearse and, at points, even see each other in person which definitely wasn’t ideal for keeping things moving forward with the band. However, we’re lucky enough to be in Australia where things are well on their way to returning to normal which has meant that we’re back to being able to write and rehearse and even play shows. It’s a good feeling being able to play in front of people again.

-You were also recently joined by Joe and Dan. How did everything arise?

Well Dan is a good friend of ours and plays in my other band (Vile Apparition). He dug the demo when we put it out so it only made sense to hit him up and see if he’d be interested in playing in Gutless too. He actually joined at the end of 2019 but only got the chance to play one show before COVID put a stop to pretty much all band activities for a while there. As for Joe, after our bud Jamo left we put the feelers out for a new bassist and jammed with a bunch of sick bassists but Joe definitely felt like the most natural fit for us as a band and as people. We’re super stoked to have the lineup we have and count ourselves lucky to be playing with such good buds (and shit-hot musicians).

-And if I’m not mistaken you’re already working on some new material. Is there anything that you can already tell us about it?

Yeah, we’re currently in the process of writing our first full-length album. It’s been real fun writing with Dan and Joe, those guys have both dived headfirst into it and I think we’re currently the most productive we’ve been in a while in terms of songwriting as a result. Hoping to have it at least finished by the end of the year and out as soon as possible!

-Your latest release was the split with MORTAL WOUND last year. How did this come to be?

It just made perfect sense to do I think, both bands had demos out on Maggot Stomp and we all loved their demo so we were chuffed to do something with them.

-And it was released by really well-known labels in the underground. How did this step feel like after having put out only a demo?

The support from people in the underground in general has been amazing, from labels to artists we’ve worked with to people who just dig our shit. But yeah the guys at Maggot Stomp and Me Saco Un Ojo killed it with the split, not to mention Karina Monzon’s absolutely insane artwork for the front cover.

-How has GUTLESS evolved since “Mass Extinction”?

I think since it came out there’s been a process of experimentation with what other musical elements do and don’t work with the blueprint we laid down in the Mass Extinction demo. The songs on the Mortal Wound split are probably slightly more technical and busy than the demo is, but I think for the album we want to strike the right balance between the intensity of the split and the simplicity of the demo.

– What do inspire your lyrics? Literature, movies…? And your music? What would you say have been the pivotal bands when it came to build your sound?

Well Tom writes all the lyrics for the band so I’m probably not the best person to answer that but as for the music there were definitely a few bands that Tom and I initially bonded over when it came to writing the Gutless demo. Pivotal ones for us would be Solstice, Malevolent Creation, Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, as well as thrashier stuff like Demolition Hammer and Carnivore.

– What fuels the band? Booze? Horror? Filth?

I’d say some sort of disgusting combination of instant coffee, chicken and chips, beer and joints.

-By just having a look at your covers or reading your name anyone can guess what style you’re playing. Do you think sticking to certain stereotypes is almost necessary to build this kind of old school aesthetic and to provide something entertaining?

I don’t think it’s necessary but I do think death metal is a genre that’s best in its purest form. There’s plenty of good bands who can mix it up stylistically/artistically or put some kind of modern or forward-thinking spin on it but that’s not really our thing. In my opinion death metal peaked in the early 90s and all we can hope to do is try recapture some of what made those bands and albums so good. And the aesthetic just feels appropriate to me. The artwork should look like the music sounds and I hope that’s the case with everything we’ve put out.

– In fact your style is just OSDM in every aspect. What’s to you the most important in an opus of the genre? The overall feeling? The filthy sound? Or is it a mix of different elements?

I think if you can make something brutal while also making it memorable or catchy then you’re on the right track.

– There’s now an obvious resurrection of old school Death Metal. Is it easier to get out there due to the growing interest or the fact that there are a lot of bands doing this makes it harder?

I think it’s easier at the moment because people are currently paying attention to the death metal scene. I can’t imagine it’ll stay that way for too long though as these sorts of resurrections have a tendency to die down after a while.

-And finally, what are now your near-future plans?

For now we’re just focusing on writing our first full length and playing sick shows now that we’re able to again.

– That’s all from our side, thanks again for your time. If you’d like to add some final words, feel free to do it.

No worries, thanks!

Tania Giménez

Tania@queensofsteel.com

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