GosT recently took the stage in Columbus, Ohio as part of the 3Teeth Metatour. The venue was absolutely packed, and GosT opened while the sun set still red in the distance. After an absolutely stunning performance mixing old and new music alike, we were able to catch up with him for a few questions after the show.
Are you still the Earthly Avatar of Baalberith?
“Yes and no,” GosT says through a chuckle. “Trying to spread through a couple of other demon names as of late because I’ve heard that– I’m not superstitious, but maybe I am a bit — I’ve heard that you focus on one demon long enough it will fucking ruin shit for you. I did have a really bad year last year….I’ve been fucking with the Stomidod a little bit, which is a lesser demon, but I don’t don’t know. I’m down to change.
I think the music’s changing so it makes sense anyways.”
Your music has changed since you began producing, becoming darker and harder with each release. You said in interview a little while ago, “Possessor was the first release where it’s all me.” Can you explain a little bit about that transition to becoming something that’s more you?
“I’ve gotten to a place were I can take a chance more on writing. It just took me getting to a place of security. Once I knew people liked it, so I could take more risks. It’s stupid. ”
Was that switch to corpse paint maybe a metaphor or a symbol of your evolution into the darker music? Did that have anything to do with that transition or was that just something that happened?
“No. It was a lot of things. Definitely an ode to the metal genre, and there’s a lot more vocals now. On the new album there’s pretty much vocals on every track. It’s impossible to sing through a piece of plastic. I tried a couple of different variations of latex, but it just doesn’t sound right. It’s just more of a quality issue than anything,” he says with a laugh.
Did you feel nostalgic about letting it go?
“I mean, it was kind of scary. People react horribly to that sort of thing generally and I did have some blow back, people being jerks.”
Chris, who backed GosT on stage, speaks up.
Chris: “I think it’s a progression, honestly.”
So how did you two meet each other?
GosT: “We came up in high school and used to skate together. Some both played together in some of our first bands. When I needed some help on the road, I asked him. Of course he was downand then it just naturally progressed.
Did it have anything to do with your progression into the more metal aesthetic – the harder music?
GosT: “Actually, it’s just weird being on stage alone. After being in bands for years, when you’re on stage alone, being that much the center of attention is just fucking weird. I can’t explain it….
I don’t know how big name DJs do that shit. It just feels awful. Just having someone to share it with also helps set the stage vibe and everything. It feels like a forward step.”
Chris: “I think that’s an important thing for music. You have to be able to push limits and move forward, instead of making the same album over and over again.”
What’s Chris’s input on the new album? Are you guys co-writers?
Chris: “No, this is all [REDACTED]. I’m pretty much the person that helps him make this happen.”
GosT: “It’s a live environment, and he has a huge influence on that. There’s all the sound checks when we’re setting up a show before tour, it’s all input for him as well. We communicate creatively that way, but it’s still– Writing, it’s still just me.”
Speaking of the new album, Do you plan on going darker and harder? Is that even possible?
GosT: “Yes, there’s a mix, dude. There’s a lot of really fucking gothy, almost industrial sounding tracks. There’s a lot of mix on this album, whereas in Possessor there was either a heavy track or a postpunk sounding track. Expect tracks with postpunk and black metal all mixed together. It’s a lot of experimentation on this record.”
The next band starts up and I end the interview, I ask him if there’s anything he would like to add.
Gost: “Columbus fucking rules! We had a great fucking show tonight. Crazy crowd!”
