Eight years of hard graft, hundreds of shows across the planet and more than their fair share of blood, sweat and piss in the making – Johnny Truant are back with their third full-length album No Tears For The Creatures.
A 10-pronged bludgeoning attack upon your senses – the Brighton five-piece have left no instrument intact, no vocal chord still strung and no issue deep and buried – as they let it all hang out in their heaviest, angriest and most honest release to date.
“This record is fucking pissed off,” states frontman Olly Mitchell between clenched teeth. “It’s about us being honest, having issues, being truthful, being sarcastic, being British… and making a really, really, really heavy album.”
Working with ex-Sikth members and highly respected producers Dan Weller and Justin Hill - No Tears For The Creatures was recorded in early 2008 in the band’s hometown of Brighton. Having cut their last release (2005’s In the Library of Horrific Events) with Killswitch Engage’s legendary Adam Dutkiewicz behind the desk, this year’s monster has taken an intentional, knarly, and twisted turn into a far darker realm.
“We knew when we went in to record this that we wanted it to sound a lot more live,” says Olly, “ and we wanted a very British sounding album, as we have always been proud that we have been a UK band. This album is not only a lot more raw - it’s a lot more real too.”
With a brand new line-up in place since the last output, and a fresh sound ready to blast out – Olly believes that not only are Johnny Truant now at their strongest point to date – but the changes have only helped to reinvigorate this bands love for their craft.
“This is a totally new Johnny Truant, a big rebirth,” states Olly. “ We have two new members in the band, and it’s the first time that we’ve ever written as a five-piece. The sound is therefore a lot more dynamic and we worked out what we wanted, and we focused hard. It’s taken a lot of time to get here and if it wasn’t for the years on the block, playing where we have, and all the shit that we have gone through – the struggles – we would never have got as far as we have,” he adds. “The band is an anchor for all of us to get through our shit, and that’s what No Tears… is all about. It’s a very honest and mature representation of our band in 2008.”
Having played shows in the UK and Europe over the last decade with As I Lay Dying, Killswitch Engage, The Bled, Funeral For A Friend among others, performances at the infamous Download Festival in 2005 and 2006 – Johnny Truant have also set heads a spinning internationally.
With a whopping five Canadian national tours under their belts – with such local luminaries and rising stars as Alexisonfire, Cancer Bats and Attack In Black - Johnny Truant are now in big demand across the pond. Sold out shows, a Canadian record deal, support from the Canadian government -and being star-spotted in the streets of Toronto – the metal five-piece have made a massive impact over the water.
“The shows in Canada are always great,” says Olly. “There is a big demand over there for our band - the fans and the government themselves keep asking us back. Working hard, having the friends that we do out there, and having people support us, has worked very well for us. We can’t wait to go back!”
These international ties have even impacted on the new record – as Alexisonfire’s own Wade MacNeil contributes vocals on the crushing track Widower. Driving from Scotland to Brighton in the back of a transit van – in the middle of his own UK tour – just to take part in the Truant collection, the UK lads are ecstatic to have MacNeil involved.
“It was important that we had Wade on the record,” says Olly, “as him and the rest of the band are such good friends of ours now. It was great to have him on there – and his parts sound amazing.”
From those energetic and aggressive parts on Widower, to the intense metal surge of Death Ride (video online now), the opening ferocious blasts of The Grotesque and the gripping dynamics of Fog Lights - No Tears For The Creatures is a relentless, hard hitting lesson to all new fashion posers in how real heavy metal should be done.
Satisfying fans of Converge, Botch and Meshuggah – as well as having enough of a well-structured groove to impress followers of Killswitch Engage and Machine Head among others – Johnny Truant have crafted a sweaty, gritty and seriously tasty wodge of the most ferocious aural onslaught this country has to offer.
“No Tears For The Creatures is the biggest achievement that we have ever had as a band,” states Olly proudly. “It’s everything that we’ve always wanted to achieve, and we are so happy with the sound – and with ourselves. Meanwhile, if you like the record,” he states, “great. And if you don’t like the record – great too. 'Cos we didn’t write it for you,” Olly finishes. “And we don’t care what anyone thinks, in any way… shape… or form.”
