The UK has been swelling with talented and unique bands since the early ages of Rock-n-Roll. With a resurgence of progressive, diverse musicians in the new millennium, one of the bright lights to beam from the British Isles is Young Guns. Established now for a mere five years, in that time the band has seen massive growth with the hit single “Bones” off of their sophomore album in 2012, and now look to spread their creative wings even further as they work on their third studio album. Having toured with everyone from Bullet For My Valentine to Seether, and now You Me At Six, their diversity is embraced, making them a hot act to look out for. Recently, we sat down with lead vocalist Gustav Wood for a look at the growth of the band, their forthcoming album, their current North American tour, and more.
CrypticRock.com – Young Guns has been going strong now for the better part of five years. The band has really grown since your debut record All Our Kings Are Dead back in 2010. Tell us about the natural progression of the band’s sound that we know today?
Gustav Wood – I think every band should always be looking to grow, evolve and challenge themselves. We never really necessarily had a grand plan or a goal of where we wanted to be, it has always been about writing music that excited us. We have always tried to write songs that were just a little bit better than we were as a band. We always tried to be better with every song we write. It is one of the things that has allowed us to progress and grow our career. I think also, we love the art of songwriting, we are students of that, we are always trying to learn. The truth of the matter is that the more we have done it, the better we have become, I think and hope. Our evolution as a band has been completely natural and organic. I think we are really trying to write music that fundamentally is music that we would listen to if we were not playing it. I am proud of our band, I would never want that to change. I think as long as the songs excite yourself, then you are doing something good.
CrypticRock.com – That is a great outlook. The band has really seemed to blossom with each release. The band’s sound seems to touch a broad spectrum of sounds that really transcend that of a typical Rock-N-Roll band in 2014. How important is it for yourself and the band to continue blazing your own path with your own unique style?
Gustav Wood – That is super important. We always want to be doing something that is a little different from our peers. That is not any discredit to any of them at all, we come from a music scene that there is a lot of comradery between all the bands. There has been a blossoming music scene in the UK and it is a great time. As with all things, you get a lot of bands kind of doing the same thing. We have always tried to carve our own path a little more than that. We have never actively sought out to be similar to people, not just people we are friends with, but actually bands we grew up listening to; it is really important that we try and sound like ourselves and no one else.
We have done that again on this new record, I think we have written quite a brave album. I think sonically, it is probably more of an evolution from the last record to this one than we have done with any of the other records. I think we have taken many steps up and broadened our sound an awful a lot. I am really excited and really proud of it. So yes, it is really important to us to always be changing, growing, evolving, pushing ourselves and trying and be better than we were the day before.
- Live Forever
- Wind-Up Records
CrypticRock.com – That makes perfect sense and sounds exciting, that is the whole point of being an artist; you always want to progress. You made mention to this new record, how is the working process going for it?
Gustav Wood – Yes, well it is actually being mixed right now. We finished tracking the entire thing and now we are going to mix. We are going to be in contact with the producer and mixer, bouncing ideas back and forth and putting the finishing touches on the song.
CrypticRock.com – This new record in the works, you are in fact working with Producer Steve Osborne who has worked with such acts as Joy Division and U2. Do you feel with his experience and experimental approaches, the band is set to put together their most impactful record to date?
Gustav Wood – Yes, I think so. He brings a lot of experience to the table. He has years and years of experience and worked on some all-time great records; certainly some records that have really inspired us. We were really excited to be able to work with someone of that caliber. We went in with quite a clear vision of what we wanted. We demoed the record quite a few times ourselves. We went in there with a much clearer vision of what we wanted to come out with on the other end. He definitely was really instrumental in allowing us to be a better band than we were. He helped us facilitate that in a lot of ways. I actually think, in time, his contribution will come to be seen. Hopefully the mixes will help make this record a bigger and better record than anything else we have done so far.
CrypticRock.com – That sounds like a really great experience. Now your latest single “I Want Out” is out now and really getting a lot of attention. The track further exhibits the band’s growth in sound. You are currently working on your 2015 album. Is this track a good reflection of what is to come with this new record in the works?
Gustav Wood – I actually think, in terms of reaching out and evolving, it was one of the songs most relatable to the last record. I think we wanted to put out a first single that was a good bridging point between some of the more experimental sides of this record and our last album. We did not want to show everything straight away, we wanted to grow an interest. I think the record has a lot more to offer and a lot more variety. I think the single is an accurate indication of where we are going on the record, but there is a lot more really great moments and unexpected turns. There is a lot more to discover on the album.
The reason we released the single is because we just felt it had what we hope had the classic Young Guns with an anthemic chorus, it is up tempo and has a lot of energy to it. I still think it is a lot leaner and more refined that what we have done in the past. This album is about learning when to add stuff and not to add stuff opposed to kind of adding just for the hell of it; being brave enough just to take away or allow a little space. I think it is a good indication but there is an awful lot more on the record and I cannot wait for people to hear it.
CrypticRock.com – Well that is something extremely positive for fans to look forward to. You will actually be on tour through the end of October with You Me At Six around North America. How exciting is it for you to be on this tour and look to open more eyes across the continent?
Gustav Wood – I am really excited. We have always wanted to be a band not pigeonholed in any kind of style and genre. We are just a Rock band and I think sometimes a lot of the subgenres that separate you, we just always wanted to be a Rock band and not be limited by that. I think it is great that we can play with such broad acts. I have come over with bands like Bullet For My Valentine, Seether, and now we come over with You Me At Six. I am really proud that we can do that. On top of anything else, I think it is great to be in a country as amazing as this as far away from home with a bunch of boys from the UK. I am really excited.
CrypticRock.com – That is great that Young Guns can play with such a diverse mix of bands. It is a testament to the band’s broad sound. My last question for you is regarding films. CrypticRock.com is a Rock/Metal and Horror news site, so we like to focus on all genres. Are you a fan of Horror films and if so what are some of your favorite Horror films?
Gustav Wood – To me, the heyday of Horror films was when I was a kid. To me, it was the Hellraisers series. the A Nightmare on Elm Streets series; those slasher kind of slightly fantasy based horror films. I have always been a fan of those I think, opposed to modern Horror films that are kind of tolerance based; how much can you take. I like more science-fiction, fantasy based Horror stuff. I really loved Cabin in The Woods (2012) not too long ago because I felt like it was kind of back to the ’80s with grainy undertones in it, kind of Evil Dead (1981).
- New Line Cinema
- New World Pictures
CrypticRock.com – Yes, fantasy based Horror is definitely more fun and imaginative than really gruesome.
Gustav Wood – Yes, that really does not do anything for me. I do not really enjoy watching someone in a torture device getting their arm twisted off. I do not really see the enjoyment in that, how much can I take before I have to turn away. That is not Horror to me. I kind of like my films in general to be escapism to a degree.
The best band ever! Great songs! I love this band!