Live-Metal.Net - Interviews: Taint

After one listen to Taint's new album, Secret and Lies (review), there's no doubt that the power of the riff is what compels this band. The trio is from South Wales, U.K., and has toured with bands like Clutch, The Sword and, more recently, Kylesa, impressing many fans along the way. Taint will ride out a monstrous guitar riff and drive it into the listener's head relentlessly. Their style can be described as sludge meets hardcore (think a less commercial Helmet) and a 23-minute song closes their album. Also notable is that the album was mixed by Fudge Tunnel's Alex Newport, who also has produced albums by The Melvins, At the Drive In and The Locust. Vocalist/guitarist Jimbob answers a few questions from Live-Metal.net's Jeff Maki and gives us an excellent introduction to this up-and-coming band.

Live-Metal.net: I just finished listening to your new album, Secrets and Lies, and I'm most impressed. The album is all about the riffs, so my question is: How did you get such a enormous guitar sound on the album?

Jimbob: Thanks a lot. Well, I have a really simple set up. SG, Matamp, tuner and wah. What can I say? It works for me.

Alex was great to work with. We communicated online and gave ourselves deadlines for the different stages of his mix. It's been important to us that he's been so into what we do, and his feedback has been most encouraging. Fudge Tunnel influenced us greatly, and I'm a big fan of a lot of the records he's worked on.

The album plays out as almost a jam-session. Did the band have the songs completely written before entering the studio or were there any impromptu moments?

The songs are all written prior to recording, and we know 99 percent of how it's going to come out afterwards. We tend to jam and discover riffs in rehearsals, but we spend a lot of time constructing them at the same time. I'd like to think our albums have distinctively different songs, but flow as albums each time.

For those who are unfamiliar, give us some background on Taint and it's members.

We did our first show in December '94 in Swansea, South Wales. We've released demos and mini/split albums before our two full length albums on Rise Above Records. Alex plays drums, Chris plays bass/backing vocals and I play guitar and sing.

TAINT - SECRETS AND LIES

Well, specifically there are our core musical influences, such as Led Zeppelin, Helmet, Clutch, Metallica, Quicksand and Neurosis. They're in addition to countless other bands and artists that have influenced me over the years and continue to do so. As a band, we have a wide range of tastes and will be spinning Nina Simone or Dizee Rascal one minute, to Exhorder and Rush the next.

Playing a style like you guys do, stoner rock, sludge, etc., or whatever you want to call it, what do you think you are adding to the genre that hasn't been done before?

I'm not sure if we play stoner rock. I'd prefer to think that we're doing something that differs in so many ways to the common perception of what "stoner rock" is.

I saw that you guys have toured with Clutch in the past. What was that like and how much of an influence do they have on the band?

Touring with Clutch was a dream come true. They've influenced us so much and continue to do so. They're masters of the craft and are a pleasure to travel and work with.

You just toured with Baroness and Kylesa. How were those shows? Were more fans coming out each time?

Yeah, we did a short run with those guys. They're great folk and are a pleasure to watch and hang out with each night. I think we all share a commonality somehow, even though I think we offer different things musically.

For those hearing the band for the first time with Secrets and Lies, does your debut album, The Ruin of Nova Roma, follow the same type of style? How do the two albums differ?

I'd say we've continued the same flow of creativity that spawned The Ruin of Nova Roma. Although I think that through time, we've refined ourselves somewhat. In terms of production, I think Secrets and Lies is a bit cleaner but allows for more dynamics to shine through. I think we've explored melody a bit more too and have increased the bombast with the rhythms employed.

Most of your material is likely too long for rock radio. Would you ever consider condensing any songs if given the chance for airplay?

Well, we have a few punchy numbers that could fit a radio format. They weren't written with that in mind, however. It's not really a concern of ours, as I think we'll always have the desire to write shorter, as well as longer songs.

Another band from Wales is hitting it really big right now with an album, Bullet for My Valentine. Do you know those guys and what do you think of their success?

I don't know that band personally and all I can say is good luck to them. Their music does nothing for me, or to me, other than confirm the fact that young, teenage, metalheads love that kind of thing.

I'm going to answer in the most easily understood way here: Because it fucking ROCKS, dude.

Well, thanks a lot guys. Secrets and Lies has a monster sound and I've been listening quite a bit lately. Good luck with the album and hope to see you in the U.S. sometime soon.

Thanks a lot. We're hoping to come over soon. All of the American bands we've toured with have said we should go over, so it's a matter of hooking something up with them. We're just starting some conversations with relevant parties. We'll keep you posted. Other than that, we're touring in Europe this March and playing the Roadburn Festival in April. That's in Holland, with Down, Isis, Celtic Frost, The Groundhogs and Capricorns amongst others. Should be a great run.