Massive Wagons: We Try Not To Feel Pressure
Whenever MASSIVE WAGONS release a new album, you always know it’s going to be a bundle of energy, fun and pure rock and roll. Over the years they have captured the hearts of many with their excellent live shows and humorous demeanour. Their latest album, Earth To Grace, embodies those very emotions and then some. On the day their new album was released, we caught up with frontman Barry ‘Baz’ Mills before the band had a performance in the North West town of Bury in Greater Manchester. In a cosy corner of the town’s culture quarter we spoke to him before the band’s acoustic instore show at the record shop, Wax and Beans, to talk all things Earth To Grace, working with Matt O’Grady and Colin Doran.
As ever with MASSIVE WAGONS, they always wear their heart on their sleeve whilst still remaining humble. On the day of the release of their latest album Earth To Grace, we discuss whether or not the band still get nervous when releasing music in which Baz explains, “we don’t really get nervous anymore, more anxious. We feel you’re more nervous when you’re establishing yourself with the first album releases but you just get confident as you go on, we try not to feel any pressure.”
Moving the discussion on the recording process of the album with Mills informing us that when entering the studio they have a clear line of sight on how they want their album to be. “We’re always very focused on what we’ve got and know what it’s gonna come out like, getting across our message in certain songs is what we want to focus on.”
One aspect of MASSIVE WAGONS that always stands out is they’re not afraid to add a bit of humour into the mix. Whilst Earth To Grace has its comedic moments, it is grounded in reality and mature as it does tackle themes such as distrust in the government and also mental health problems too. When discussing this, Mills gives a nicely thought out answer that shows a much more mature side to him and the rest of the band as he says. “We’d thought we’d reign in the obvious comedy by including the humour in the lyrics instead this time round rather than make an outright comedy song, it makes us sound a bit more classier, especially with the change in producer and the album has probably benefited from that somewhat.”
Many bands by the time they reach their seventh album have the tendency to phone it in. They’ve got comfortable with their sound and have settled into a rhythm of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. For MASSIVE WAGONS however, it’s a different story. After recording previous albums such as House Of Noise and TRIGGERED! with the same producers and recording studio, MASSIVE WAGONS looked to up their game in terms of how they sound, this time turning to producer Matt O’Grady [DON BROCO, ARCHITECTS]. When asked about what brought about this change for the band, Mills explains to us that “we are of the opinion that bands that succeed the longest are the ones that take chances by stepping out of their comfort zone, we decided this time to go with something new and different and it’s really worked out.”
By being able to get O’Grady on board, Mills explains to us that he was very active within the production of Earth To Grace. “He contributed to songwriting, adding his ten pence to everything which was really good for us.” Sonically, Earth To Grace is a huge step up for MASSIVE WAGONS and with the help of O’Grady’s skills with the likes of acts such as ARCHITECTS and DON BROCO, Mills informs us that it was those bands inspired the “the exact kind of production that we were after. These are the modern bands and they’ve got a cleaner and more modern production style which will help convince people to get on board with us”, by looking at how well their latest UK tour has sold, it is definitely paying dividends for them.
O’Grady wasn’t the only big hitter that MASSIVE WAGONS sought the help of in production, post-hardcore royalty, Colin Doran of HUNDRED REASONS offered his vocals on album highlight, The Good Die Young. It’s a moment that truly bolsters the album’s pedigree and a huge moment for the band to boot. Originally, the guest spot on the album was originally intended for Wattie Buchan of THE EXPLOITED which unfortunately fell through, but as soon as Doran came on board, they knew The Good Die Young was the song for him. “He’s cool and down to Earth guy but offered a bit of his own style to the song by improvising lines over the music, as soon as he did it, we were all like ‘he is mint’.”
When it comes to a band like MASSIVE WAGONS, you can’t help but enjoy them. They truly embody the spirit of rock and roll at its purest form, which at the end of the day is to simply have fun and to have a good time. You always know it’s them when you’re listening to them, from Baz’s instantly recognisable singing style or the uncompromising fun guitar riffs. They’re continued ascent over the years has been a sight to behold as they gain more and more momentum with the help from the likes of Matt O’Grady and Colin Doran, it’s plain and simple to see that they’re attracting producers and artists of that calibre to come and work with them. It’s only going to get better for them from here, and we for one cannot wait.
Earth To Grace is out now via Earache Records. View this interview, alongside dozens of other killer bands, in glorious print magazine fashion in DS116 here:
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