INTRODUCING: GURT
For a band now 16 years, four albums and multiple EPs into a career. It is surprising how few people in the wider metal community have heard of GURT. However, once experienced, the brand of party sludge that the four-piece deliver is not forgotten. One of the things that really stands out, as lead singer Gareth Kelly happily acknowledges is “we don’t’ takes ourselves too seriously, that’s the key…definitely what it is.”
With a foundation that comes from a shared friendship between four like minded musicians and an inspiration based firmly in sludge. Gareth openly discusses the influences. “We were born out of a love of IRON MONKEY and RAGING SPEEDHORN, people like that, sludge being a good thing.” While like many bands that develop organically amongst friends, Gareth confirms that “there wasn’t necessarily a deliberate thought.” Going on to reiterate the point that they don’t take themselves seriously, “we’re all good mates, having a good laugh the serious element was never going to be a thing for us.” It’s important to distinguish between unserious and novelty. GURT are very much NOT a novelty act.
“We are professional, that’s important to point out, but we’re very tongue in cheek.” This awareness that heavy music whatever the sub-genre, has a foundation of not taking itself seriously. “We know that it can be all a bit silly and nihilistic.”
The fact that they lean into it to ramp up the entertainment factor while retaining a core delivery of professional musicianship is something that enable GURT to stand out. It’s part of what has enabled their DIY style to flourish, albeit not necessarily in the mainstream. “We do what we want to do, without the thought process of wanting to sound a certain way or fit a particular genre.” It’s this ethos that delivers the party element to their sludge nature. As Gareth points out, it’s a DNA that’s born out of a scene that encapsulates so many bands. “We were coming up alongside so many bands, TRIPPY WICKED and SLABDRAGGER to name a couple, they all sound so different. By being around that, having the same promoters, we probably picked up a few different sounds and ideas that way.”
While the bands we discuss are still going, the scene that they were a part of also features a list of bands that are no longer. The longevity of artists can be debated as tastes and genres evolve. However, the adaptability that GURT have shown, which can be charted through their releases, coupled with the sense of fun has certainly played a distinctive role in keeping them going. At a recent Dorset Doomsday event GURT formed the middle of a SLABDRAGGER and RAGING SPEEDHORN sandwich. With a beaming smile, Gareth declares “that was absolutely fucking ridiculous, a dream come true.” From everything we discuss about the way these bands have come up together, it was a perfect line up to indicate the health in the sludge scene.
“The puns are very important.” For those that are familiar with GURT’s releases will be well aware of how you can hear them grinning through the words of track titles such as Ennui Go or In for a Penny, In for a Pounding. Gareth grins, “Spicey, our bassist (Dave Blackmore), has a list that we all sort of feed into, then there’s all these themes. He has a gin and tonic pun list for example. Just ridiculous things. So, if I’m ever stuck for a song title of a lyric idea, we can dip into the lists.”
Don’t let this fool you though. If you’re new to GURT, reiterating the point that the band is not a novelty. They balance the silly with professionalism. They can deliver a message when needed. Live Nation, Dead Scene – taken from their latest EP, Survival of The Shittiest – takes clear aim at the exorbitant greed surrounding the likes of Live Nation when it comes to gig ticket prices. Reflecting further on this, Gareth explains, “this has been like a post-COVID thing. Before then, it was all funny stuff songs about cats and bloody dinosaurs and what have you. Now, I don’t know what’s happened, but since then there’s a lot more shit going on. As the lyricist, things have got a lot angrier, like on (2024s) Satan Etc. With this release, I think there’s a continuation of that. I’ve still got things to get off my chest.”
This is clearly a passion close to the heart. “You can spend £200 going to a TAYLOR SWIFT concert, but that same money could get you into 20 grassroots venues.” It’s this support that enables things like Dorset Doomsday and other smaller venues and festivals to put on bands that wouldn’t otherwise have a chance and serve up packages like SLABDRAGGER, GURT and RAGING SPEEDHORN in one night for a relatively comfortable price. This passion for the smaller festival and grass root gig, of which GURT can be seen at a number up and down the country this year, dovetails nicely with the DIY ethos of the band too. If you don’t lose it you lose it. “We are losing a lot of venues and festivals even breweries.” This last one is said with an air of incredulous frustration. “Lots of cool, independent breweries are going the same way as great venues. Support booze and bands!”
To keep as much going for the band as they can, GURT are tied to Gareth’s label When Planets Collide. Gareth is up front about its purpose. “I used to do a lot more with it, it used to be full on.” Listing bands like RITUAL KING and PIST whom he was keen to see progress and he wanted to help along the way. “Helping with those initial first runs of CDs or t-shirts with bands that might otherwise have not had the money or opportunity to do that, now though it’s focused on GURT and it works. It’s about managing the work load.”
When it comes to the future, Gareth remains elusive but optimistic. “We are discussing a new album, at this stage, we have nailed down a theme. We’re very united on that and in all likely hood that’ll begin after this summer’s run of shows.” When it comes to those live shows, Gareth sums it up succinctly. “We are bloody good fun live! If you’ve not seen us before, we’re worth a punt. Come and get involved because you’ll have a bloody great time.”
Survival of The Shittiest is out now via When Planets Collide Presents. View this interview, alongside dozens of other killer bands, in glorious print magazine fashion in DS131 here.
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