EXHALENTS

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EXHALANTS

or Converge with some hints of Gojira PHOTO BY JOSH VEGA Guitarist and vocalist Steve takes inspiration from groups like post-hardcore trailblazers Unwound and Fugazi to more doom-and-sludge-oriented bands like Sumac and Kowloon Walled City. Crucially, he explains, he doesn’t want to simply emulate either the greats who have come before, or the previous output from Exhalants themselves. Rather, he and the band would like to make their own, fresh imprint. “The older I get, instead of trying to emulate their sound so much, it’s like—alright, obviously I’m influenced by these people, but what can I do? How can I push myself as a player?” Steve comments. “People throw us under the noise-rock or the post-hardcore tag all the time, which is easy to do, and it’s a really easy, quick way to describe our band, but it’s also been done so many times, no matter how successful any of these bands are. How can we push ourselves as musicians and as artists to create music, and how do we

Chamber,” drummer Taylor Carpenter states. “So, I think that is why we are adept at playing with each other and reading each other years later. We also all look up to most of the same bands and figures in music to gain inspiration from. During the writing and recording processes for Cost of Sacrifice, our main goal was to push ourselves creatively and musically. We will always sound like

Chamber, but with each release, we want there to be an obvious sense of growth and reform.”

Chamber have really honed in on a brand of metallic hardcore that pulls no punches but isn't afraid to play around with other styles (metal, industrial, prog).

So, what did they want to do with this first full-length? working at a long-running, Austin-area music venue called Beerland that closed after employees were left unpaid and

INTERVIEW WITH VOCALIST AND GUITARIST STEVE push the boundaries of our sound?” BY CALEB R. NEWTON Exhalants are an Austin, Texas-area noise rock band united by friendship captured an especially heavy brand of noise rock with rattling drum rhythms, For Exhalants, Steve explains that some of the emotional sentiments that course through Atonement come from “strife” and love for the music that they sprung super-heavy bass groove, and propulsive that the band members were experiencup amidst. On their new album Atonement, guitar riffs, all of which helps whisk listeners ing in their own lives around the time of out now via Hex Records, the group have off into the band’s creation. the album’s creation. He himself was

CHAMBER

In a classic revolver, you have six chambers to fill with bullets. If you are sical weaponry is impressively dynamic, shapeshifting as the record plays on. This INTERVIEW WITH DRUMMER TAYLOR CARPENTER BY NICHOLAS SENIOR “We all love so many different types of music,” Carpenter answers. “So, the genre mold has never really been our comfort zone when writing. As stated above, our main goal was to push oura certain Nashville, Tennessee metalcore is all killer, no filler or fluff. selves as individuals and as a unit with act, you have a debut album loaded with this record. Cost of Sacrifice is our first LP, ten bullets in one very powerful Cham- Chamber carry the sound of a group so we did not want there to be a single ber. Cost of Sacrifice, due out October who know each other’s strengths and dull moment on it. Instead of focusing on 23 via Pure Noise, is about as powerful play to those very well. It’s especially if our songs fit a certain subgenre that an opening statement as any in recent impressive given how dense and furious people associate us with, we wanted to memory. Specializing in a ferocious these songs are while also being very make a paradox record that we could be style of chaotic metalcore (think Botch clear in their vision. entirely confident in.” went on strike.

and Godflesh), Chamber’s potent mu- “We all played in bands together before Cost of Sacrifice was the result of intense “The loss of that club really left a huge hole and a lot of anger and frustration,” Steve explains. “It’s stuff like that, and also outside—current affairs, world events, and even just looking in our own backyard in Austin and kind of seeing the problems with that, seeing the frustration with that.”

The music reflects a lot of that tension, but the members of Exhalants—including Tom on the drums and Bill on bass, who Steve notes are his best friends—don’t stop there. The swinging dynamics across the always energetic Atonement give the record a somewhat contemplative feel, as Steve explains.

“[The record is] kind of going through the experience that we did and processing it, but at the end of the day, when you come out of it, it’s a release. That’s what music is for us. It’s an emotional escape. It’s an emotional release, and at least for us and some of the fans that we talk to, it’s like, yeah, they connect to it on an emotional level. And to me, that’s, like, the whole goal of this band is to connect with people through music, whether it’s sonically or emotionally, and if we can do that, then I think we’re doing our job. We want to create music for everybody because that’s how music is supposed to be.” ��

struggle. Chamber found solace in this record and let it become a literal sounding board. That comes across beautifully in the chaotic and venomous songs, but there's almost a triumphant feeling to the songs. So, did this sacrifice bring the band closer?

“It definitely has,” Carpenter concurs. “We were touring so much before and after recording that most of us did not have a home at the beginning of the year and crashed with friends or family. We have given up on relationships, jobs, and other opportunities to stay focused and committed to moving forward in a direction that we see fit. This year has been an intense period of trial for us, as well as an insane year for everyone, obviously. Three of us live together now, and we are in a secure place that we are very comfortable in and excited about, so I am happy to hear there is a sense of triumph in the songs.”

The record's themes of frustration and empowerment seem even more meaningful now than when they were written (art has a way of being especially meaningful during times of darkness and tragedy, doesn’t it?). So, what did the band want to talk about with this record?

“[The album] ties into the concept of a ‘self’ and how easy it is to forget who you really are,” Carpenter explains. “Everyone has their own identity, and that is more empowering than people realize. That concept has stuck with all of us this year through our tribulation. We hope that the record will resonate with anyone who feels lost as a result of this tragic year.” ��