The music of No Spill Blood is intense. Pounding swells of noise, swift tempo changes, distorted jagged vocals, a pulsating bass that would knock all the Pantera posters off your walls, all while simultaneously filling your brain with swirling sci-fi synths. The tracks on their new album, Heavy Electricity, vary from plodding rhythm sections that build up momentum and layers of ethereal sounds before violently cascading into astral pandemonium (“Now II” and “White Out”), to songs that put the probe up your ass faster than the craftiest of extraterrestrials (“El Duurto”), to tracks where the synths are doing all the flexing, sending your brain onto a space mission into the most phantasmagorical and psychedelic of galaxies (“Heavy Electricity” and “Endless Drift”).
It is hard to categorize this band, which is generally a good thing, and this makes No Spill Blood’s sound accessible to a variety of audiences, ranging from metal to noise-rock, space rock, post hardcore, etc. I recommend Heavy Electricity to anyone that is in the mood for something heavy that isn’t your run of the mill.
Here is an interview with No Spill Blood’s synth player Ruadhan O’Meara.
B.G.M. – Tell us about the history of No Spill Blood and the themes/influences on Heavy Electricity.
Ruadhan O’Meara: We are a synth/bass/drums trio from Dublin, Ireland formed in late 2011. OurStreet Meat,EP, was released on Sargent House in 2012, and we are about to release our first LP onMarch 10.
This record Heavy Electricity draws from a collective pool of influences from music, movies, books, comics and stuff we all dig. Stuff like Six Finger Satellite, the Screamers, the Melvins, John Carpenter movies, Preacher, Button Men, H.P. Lovecraft etc. It’s main themes are isolation, violence, altered states, and general cosmic malaise.
How has the writing process and band dynamic changed in the years between Street Meat and the new album?
The new record is kind of an extrapolation of the creative processes we outlined while making Street Meat. It’s a combination of homework and ideas gleaned from hours of endless jamming.
How is the current music scene in Dublin? I keep hearing awesome bands coming out of there such as yourselves, Wölfbait, and Adebisi Shank–any other bands you guys are in or recommend?
There are always new and interesting bands to check out in Dublin. Wölfbait and Adebisi are favourites of ours, but also bands like Twinkranes, Malthusian, Percolator, Dread Sovereign, Guilty Optics, and Wild Rocket are ones that come to mind who are doing great things at the moment.
What are your favorite cities to play in? Any good tour stories?
Lausanne, Switzerland was one place we made it to we all really enjoyed playing. The Venue Le Romandie was great, we had a flat tire and the staff really went out of their way to help us get sorted. Trying to negotiate with mechanics the following day using our miserable pigeon French was quite an ordeal though..
Will you be touring the United States soon? Any cities here you are excited about playing?
We are hoping to get over there soon, and we’re buzzing to play everywhere and anywhere. Texas is one place in particular we’d like to make it to.
The recording itself is formidable and heavy. Where did you guys record and master Heavy Electricity?
The LP was recorded in this great studio “The Meadow” in Wicklow, by the DEAF BROS (Rian Trench and Scan). They did an awesome job of capturing the heft, it was a great experience. We did go completely batshit crazy in the studio though, after our 3’rd or 4th 20 hour session in a row. The record was then mastered by T.J. Lipple of Aloha.
Who did the album artwork?
The cover art was done by Samantha Muljat. We loved the cover she did for EARTH last year, so we were chuffed she could do something for us..
Any plans for a music video in the near future? Your songs are begging for one!
We recently filmed a video here, which was a live session but with some added cinematic flourishes… it’ll be up soon. It would be great to do a proper concept video, with loads of Savini-esque effects and that kind of thing. Next time!
There is a hint of Goblin and John Carpenter to your sound; both seem to have a penchant for wearing turtleneck sweaters. Is this something that you guys are considering adding to your onstage performance-outfits?
No Spill Blood are definitely pro – turtle neck. Simmonetti’s Goblin played here last year, and the whole band were wearing leather pants. This is also something we should look in to.