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Godhunter - Charlie Touseull (Part 2)

08/01/13 || gk

Godhunter

Here’s part 2 of the interview I did with Godhunter’s vocalist Charlie Touseull. Here, Charlie talks about the DIY approach vs. getting signed to a label, plans for 2013, writing and recording for the new album and more…

Global Domination: For a band like Godhunter, how important or necessary is it to be on a label? What’s your take on getting signed to a label versus a DIY approach?

The label vs. DIY approach is something that we have talked about for a bit. I was on a “label” for a while, when I was in Gat-Rot. It did nothing to assist the band financially. We made less money and felt more restrained being part of a label, than we did before. That is something that I do not personally want to deal with again. When used right, the internet can be a good promotional tool for a band that is trying to get their name out. The DIY approach is something that we are more comfortable with at this time. Who knows. If stuff really takes off, and we are able to tour more, maybe a label will be the right path for us. As of right now though, the independent path is completely fine and feels right.

I’m really looking forward to your full length debut. How’s the whole process going? Is song writing done for the album and when do you head to the studio?

The name of the next album will be called “City Of Dust”. We are in the midst of completing those songs right now. Hopefully, if all goes as planned, we will begin the recording process during the summer. We will again be recording at Arcane Digital with Ryan Butler. We have all of the songs roughly sketched out, and are working on arranging all of the parts. It will definitely be the most cohesive and dynamic thing that Godhunter has produced.

I’ve heard that a few labels are showing interest in releasing the full length. Can you shed any more light on this?

Well, like I said before, we are weighing options about what we want to do as a band, taking the DIY approach or signing to a label. We are in-fact weighing various options for releasing the next album via major online retail centers, regardless if we stay a DIY band or put it out on a label. We just want for our music to be heard by as many people as possible. That is all it really comes down to.

Any teasers available for what we can expect from the full length? Live songs recorded or anything like that?

Yeah. Versions of two songs that will appear on our next album are online. Someone recorded them and put them on YouTube. They are for the songs we are calling Despite All and This Will Not End Well “Despite All” was played way faster live than we intended, but now we have really slowed that down and made it much moodier. “This Will Not End Well” is just a raging song. Fast and pissed off. We will be playing a few other songs on the road this spring when we go on tour.

Is it going to follow the path set by Wolves or can we expect anything different from the band this time around?

It is going to be a lot different than anything Godhunter has ever recorded. This new album is going to feature both a new drummer and guitarist on it. That will definitely change the sound and feel of the recording. Additionally this next album is a concept album. Writing a concept album is something that I have always wanted to do. The album will be about Tucson, Arizona, our hometown. It will be an exploration about the place we inhabit. It will explore concepts of history, politics, geography, the love/hate relationship we have with the city. The triumphs, the tragedies, and everything in-between. It will be a very serious record, in every aspect. We are attempting to write songs that will be much more dynamic than what we have ever done, both sonically and lyrically.

What does 2013 hold in store for Godhunter?

We are going to be busy next year. We have a whole series of road dates set up for 2013. We will be hitting the road in January and February, for a few short tours. Then in March we will be going out for a two week tour of the US. We will be hitting up SXSW for a few shows, after we roll through New Orleans, Denver and Las Vegas. After that tour we are going to heavily prep for the studio and finish up the song writing for that session. All of our energies are thus far focused on touring and recording next year. Anything beyond that is still too be determined.

If you could only listen to 5 albums for the rest of your life what would they be?

If I only had to listen to five albums forever, I’d probably shoot myself. I worked in a record store for years, and was a DJ at a community radio station for a while. So, repetitive listening is not something I ever want to do. I’d go crazy! Well, figurative gun to the head, they would have to be a mix of everything I like. I’d have to say I would take Deftones– White Pony, Neurosis– Times Of Grace, Beastie Boys- Paul’s Boutique, Tom Waits- Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards, Refused- The Shape Of Punk To Come

What influences Godhunter when it comes to the bands song writing?

Well, if I base that question off of what we listened to a lot of while on the road it would be Orange Goblin, Kylesa, Baroness, and Black Sabbath. If I base that based on T-Shirts we always wear, it would have to be Slayer, Black Tusk, Landmine Marathon, Red Fang, Converge, and Black Flag. I think a lot of the newer material is a combination of all these bands, as well as some Neurosis, A Storm Of Light, and Atlas Moth thrown in.

How does the writing process work? Is it a democracy or do you guys have one chief song writer with the rest of the band contributing?

All of the new songs we have been writing are completely a collaborative effort. Someone shows up to the jam room with a riff. We will play it, in many different forms. If it works, awesome, it becomes part of a song. If it does not work out we just move on. Same goes with lyrics. I am primarily writing the lyrics for this album, but I always ask for input from everyone before moving forward with any specific idea. We all gel really well in the jam room, despite the heat and dust. Keeping a refrigerator fully stocked with beer makes things a little easier as well.

Any other bands from your part of the world that we should keep an eye out for?

Arizona is a hotbed of musical madness. Seriously. There are so many good bands forging their own paths in the metal landscape. We were lucky that Southwest Terror Fest featured so many of these good bands from not just Arizona, but from all over the American Southwest, and beyond. It was ridiculous the amount of talent that performed that weekend. I’m still abuzz about it a month later. My current favorite Arizona bands include: Seas Will Rise, Cave Dweller, North, T.O.A.D. (take over and destroy), and Territory. Check them all out. You will not be disappointed.

I think that about covers it. Last words are yours…

Well, first thanks for anyone who has read this long winded interview, and for giving our band the time of day. We will have a video for the song “Wolves” up on YouTube by the end of 2012. So be on the lookout for that. Check out our music at http://godhunter.bandcamp.com if you are on Face(punch)Book, check us at https://www.facebook.com/godhuntertucson666 Additionally, I’d like to give a huge shout-out to all the people over at Earsplit. They have been immensely helpful at spreading the Godhunter virus. Now…get out there. Start fights. Cause Problems