GELD has recently released Currency // Castration, a brand new album via Relapse Records. I spoke with Tom and Al about the records, influences, and plans for the future. Enjoy!
Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions. How have you been?
TOM: I have been mental. Running around overseas and interstate and rurally. I have spent 30 hours at home this month. I am tired, I’ve been having anxiety but I feel so alive and in love with the world.
AL: Fantastic, thank you.
Can you provide a brief origin story of Geld to our readers
TOM: Basically the gist of the origin is Al and I were looking to do a band inspired by Poison Idea, Gauze, Lip Creem etc. We played around with a few line ups that didn’t work and happened to get drunk with Isaac and Cormy one day and recruited them in and Geld was born. Originally it was all out secondary band but as those bands slowly fizzled away it went from our red headed step child to our favourite baby.
You recently released Success, a third single that promotes your upcoming full-length Currency // Castration. What’s hiding behind the album title, and could you explain what’s the song about?
AL: It’s about the futility of career. I grew up in a conservative environment and so naturally everyone’s worth was cantered around money and (perceived) status. None of it matters, and the only thing we’ll contribute to the planet is food for plants once we’re dead and gone.
Can you walk us through your songwriting process for Currency // Castration?
TOM: We originally were trying to do something more chill like an EP and focus more on our influences like SSD or Negative Approach but being how we are we got bored and other things came in. I know for a fact one of the songs of this was influenced by the Mamas and Papas. One song was based on an earlier Three 6 Mafia riff and if you listen to ‘Secret Prison’ that is just straight up Voivod worship. Turns out being ignorant is really hard when you’re a bunch of ignorant dudes with sick taste.
What are the themes you explore through your songs?
AL: All Geld songs lyrically are focused inward. The only thing I feel comfortable screaming about is the chaos inside my brain. The last thing the world needs is another dude waxing poetic about the problems of the world.
What was the experience like collaborating with Relapse Records on your third LP?
TOM: It was incredibly surreal, especially seeing it in CD Format. In the late 90s/early 2000s I remember holding ‘Gore Metal’ on tape and seeing the relapse logo. If you told me 25 years later I’d be holding my own tapes band seeing the same logo on there I would’ve said…’well shit’. I honestly I’m just stoked to be on the same label as Suffocation tbh.
Who are some of Geld’s musical influences, and how do they manifest in your sound?
TOM: I covered the initial influences before. Fast weird hardcore bands but it comes from all angles. We love all types of music. We have based songs off reggaeton beats. We have based songs on Elvis Costello drum lines. A lot of sixties garage. A lot of black metal too. Overall the only bands we all mutually agree on are Sepultura, Sabbath, Poison Idea and Killing Joke and I think that comes out in our sound.
How do you balance the need to maintain your signature sound while also experimenting and evolving as a band?
TOM: The main rule in our band is ‘try everything’. We don’t mean to have a signature sound. I think the Clevo hardcore influences really defined us in the way of our chunky riffage. That’s Geld. We have been playing together for nearly ten years. It just sounds how it sounds. Aesthetics are beautiful for a while but like roses they wilt. A rotten rose stills smells like something familiar and romantic.
Perfect Texture showcased your initial sonic direction, but Beyond The Floor saw the band evolve towards a heavier, dirge-inflected sound. How does Currency // Castration push that evolution further?
TOM: The only was I can say it is ‘perfect texture’ was our ‘Fleetwood Mac’, ‘beyond the floor’ was our ‘rumours’ and ‘C//C’ is our ‘tusk’.
Are there any unique challenges or advantages to being a punk band in Australia?
TOM: I See bands like Gel and Gag bustin their asses so hard all over touring. When I see them release the shit I have mad respect for that. We are lucky enough to have toured Europe and the US before but that wasn’t without a hard amount of work I organisation in money and spending 18 hours in transit just to play to a bunch of disinterested Germans. On the flip side we excel in writing music and I think everyone in the band would agree that’s the most fun time we have. For every week without fail except holidays we lock ourselves in Cormys Bongalow and write prolifically. I will even say we basically habe a whole new LP written at the point of this new album coming out.
What’s next for Geld after the release of Currency // Castration?
TOM: Touring. If you want a bunch of mixed raced hardcore boys with a mentally ill singer coming to a town near you then hit us up. We don’t have a booking agent or nothin but if you’re a booking agent also hit us up. As I said we basically have a new album in the bank so expect that in 24 or 25. Hopefully still on Relapse but if not and hardcore is still cool then see you on Flatspot.
That’s it. Thank you so much for your time. Anything you would like to say to our readers at the end of this interview?
TOM: At the end of the day always choose love. Let your ego fall and see that people and the world have faults. It’s hard but you will feel happier in the end.
Thoughts Words Action 