26th July 2023

Exclusive Interview: Callous Hands talk writing and recording “Trapped in Animated Flesh”!

The follow up to 2019’s impressive “Earth Mover”, which took the band to the New Blood stage at Bloodstock having finished as runners up in Metal 2 The Masses as well as support slots to Memphis May Fire and Ashen Crown, “Trapped in Animated Flesh” by Callous Hands has been ringing in our ears since the 5th July. The second of our creature double feature of interviews with the Birmingham natives is all about the writing and recording…

How did your previous experiences writing and recording help to smooth the path of the new record? “A lot of the feedback from the Earth Mover EP gave us a clear direction for which sounds to expand upon and performing songs live always lets you know exactly what works and the sections that need some work. Teaming up with Neil again was a no brainer for us as he had learned things about our sound and had told us what he would do differently to help us to achieve exactly what we wanted. He also made us feel so welcomed and relaxed that we just had so much fun working with him, and I think that that always has a massive impact on the quality of the finished product”

How does the writing process of a new track start? Melody, riff or rhythm first? How does it evolve from there before you consider it the finished article? “The process generally starts with the riffs and melodies, this isn’t always the case though and it usually results in something a bit different but always adds to the dynamic of the track. Some tracks can take a long time before the final arrangements and all the elements of the song are in place and some songs just damn nearly write themselves, but we’re usually always trying different nuances here and there, whether that be a lead guitar, different drum patterns or the vocals which usually come together towards the end of the process or being developed along the way”

You returned to Neil Hudson (Phobetor, Disinherit, From Eden To Exile) at Initiate Audio & Media having done your first record “Earth Mover” with him; what do you feel he gives you in the studio? “One of the many pleasures about working with Neil is the shared vision. He usually understands what we’re trying to create and pushes us to our full potential. His biggest skill is to work for the vision, not the musicians”

If you had the opportunity to work with a guest in the studio next time around, who would you like to work with and why? “To work with Tatiana Shmayluk of Jinjer is something that could be interesting, she has an amazing voice both dirty and clean with an amazing range, it would really add a new dynamic to a Callous Hands track”

For us gear nerds out there, can you tell us what you’re using gear wise (pedals, strings, drums etc) to get your sound? “Laney IRT120. Both guitars are a simple set up. Jim uses a Boss Compressor, Bad Monkey Distortion pedal (mainly for boost) Poly tuner, wireless. Eddy similarly uses a boost pedal and wireless with the addition of a Vox wah pedal, both through Laneys. Honcho uses a Dingwall through a darkglass micro 900 v1 to get that beefy bass tone. Adams kit involves a Mapex Saturn series with a Black panther Persuader snare, meinl and paiste cymbals on a pearl rack with Axis pedals and ProMark sticks”

What difference would it make to you as a band if you could land an endorsement from a gear manufacturer? or as you recorded with a steady stream of beer and strong Polish coffee, would seeing your name on an artisan coffee brand like Deathwish mean more to you? Fancy selling some of that at the merch stand? “We’ll sell coffee if that’s what the people want! But yeah, I think we’d all like a new guitar from one of the top metal brands but power slinky’s might be more appropriate, who doesn’t love shiny new strings. And as you can hear, Adam loves smashing the hell out of those toms, get that man some skins!”

“Trapped in Animated Flesh” by Callous Hands is out now. We know you know where to find it…