Sydney metal band Resist the Thought are set to take Australia by storm with the release of their debut album Damnation. I recently caught up with the band’s guitarist Tim to chat about the album, their upcoming tour, and what lies ahead.
Many of my readers will be unfamiliar with your music. How would you describe your sound?
We meld bone crushing breakdowns with fast, technical riffs to create a new brand of modern metal!
I’ve heard you say you try to push the boundaries of the metal genre. What sets you apart from the other metal acts out there?
It’s nothing new for a band to fuse breakdowns with riffs. We try and push past the typical metal riffs and the unoriginal breakdowns and do something that is both technically challenging but effective as well. We write music that we enjoy to play and write, regardless of scenes and trends which is the main reason for our original sound.
You’re just about to release your debut album Damnation. What can you tell me about it?
As a band we really pushed ourselves to create this record. We took an entire new approach to the writing process. We actually bought a mic and a laptop and recorded everything that we wrote, and only kept the riffs that we were all happy with. After we were finished in the studio and heard the final product, we were all stoked with it!! Our new record Damnation, will be available in stores May 7, through New Justice Records.
Your album addresses a lot of dark themes like greed and corruption. What inspires your songwriting?
We wanted to give the record a theme that had real meaning rather than something superficial. We intended for each song on the record to represent a fault in humanity, ultimately resulting in the damnation of humankind. Themes such as greed and corruption are mostly predominant in the track “Misery’s Miscreation,” but we also touch on ideas such as war, vanity and selfishness throughout the album.
You’ve been playing together since 2007. Why did it take so long to get around to recording an album?
When we first started playing in 2007 we were pretty young, about 16 years old. We spend a lot of 2007 playing local shows, trying to get tight and write good music. We released an EP late 2008, which gave us the opportunity to play around Australia in 2009 including QLD, VIC, SA, WA and NSW shows. So we have been pretty busy the past few years! Now we are all 18 and 19 years old, we feel we are at the top of our game and we are really stoked with the new CD!
You took six months away from the road to write and record this album. Are you itching to get back out on the stage?
Definitely! Playing live is by far our favourite thing about being in a band. We cannot wait to get back on the road with our brand new set!
I’ve heard that playing live is your favourite part of the music process. What is it about being on stage that you love so much?
Nothing beats the feeling of playing to a crowd that’s enjoying something that you have created! It’s the most fulfilling feeling, it’s what keeps us going!
You’re spending virtually all of next month on the road. What’s life like on the Resist the Thought Tour bus?
Touring is amazing! We usually just hire a van, bring a tent and a few friends and go! There is nothing better than travelling thousands of kilometres with your mates to play shows to people that really like your music.
You’re playing several shows at youth-friendly venues. How important is you to make sure young people can come and see you play?
The majority of our fanbase is in the under 18 crowd. We try and keep as many shows all ages as possible, purely because we don’t want anyone missing out on catching a show just because of their age. Although a lot of the all ages venues are average set ups, the crowd responses make up for it!
After this tour, what’s next for Resist the Thought?
We have a lot of plans on the horizon. We are currently in talks with a few international promoters who are eager to bring us over to tour a few countries and we have another Australian tour in the works now!
Damnation hits stores on May 7. You can catch Resist the Thought at the following shows.
6 May 2010 – NEXT, Melbourne
7 May 2010 – MusicMan, Bendigo
8 May 2010 – Urban Youth Café, Ringwood
9 May 2010 – Youth Arts Centre, Geelong
13 May 2010 – SNITCH, Brisbane
14 May 2010 – Southern Cross Tavern, Gold Coast
15 May 2010 – Price Street Hall, Nambour
16 May 2010 – Epic Skate Centre, Tweed Heads
22 May 2010 – Civic Hotel, Perth
23 May 2010 – YMCA HQ, Perth
29 May 2010 – Masonic Hall, Blacktown
4 June 2010 – Club Blink, Sydney
5 June 2010 – The Loft, Newcastle
Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment