There’s a lot of older influences in your work, but are there any recent bands that speak to you in the kind of songwriting that you’re doing? The last record I can think of that had the same feeling and energy was Every Time I Die’s Hot Damn. What I think is so shocking about you guys is that nobody else is doing this right now and it seems like such an easy, simple and good idea. Where’s the British punk scene that you came from?
We just did a tour with Every Time I Die over here, they supported us in the UK. Really good band, amazing live, amazing musicians, great songwriters. I think in the British scene, when American bands come over, kids go fucking crazy for the next big American punk or hardcore band, so a lot of British bands try to mimic their American counterparts, which is a shame because they kind of lose their Britishness and throw it away in exchange for New York hardcore or SoCal punk rock.
It’s a shame. We’ve never been about that. We’ve never been shy about where we’re from. I think you’re right; it’s been done before in the past, but not recently. There are not many bands that are playing aggressive British music in the way we do. It’s really weird. Now that you mention it, I don’t know why more bands aren’t doing it. Because if we can get this far (laughs), surely other bands can do it.
Gallows perform on Warped Tour at Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, NJ, Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY, and Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, NY, on July 17, July 18 and July 19, respectively. gallows.co.uk & warpedtour.com for more info.
