Chat Pile

“Why? Why do people have to live outside?”

It’s a question that cuts to the brutal truth. In the wealthiest country that’s ever existed, why do people suffer through heatwaves and frostbite on the streets? It’s just one of the horrific questions Chat Pile, the Oklahoma sludge quartet, ask on their ferocious debut God’s Country.

Through a series of remarkable short stories scored by unfailingly thunderous noise-rock, lead vocalist Raygun Busch tours sudden moments of shocking violence (“Anywhere”), drug addiction (“Wicked Puppet Dance”) and blood curdling promises of revenge (“I Don’t Care if I Burn”). All of this is pummeled into place by the earthquake-scale bass of Stin, Cap’n Ron’s steely drum work and Luther Manhole’s icepick-on-the-frets guitar squalls. If it’s not obvious from the names, there’s some cheek to the horror, with a deep vein of absurdity running through the album. That comes to a head on album closer “grimace_smoking_weed.jpeg” which has no right to be as terrifying as it is with that title. We sat down with Raygun, Stin and Luther to untangle the grungy, excellent mess that is God’s Country. Listen at Spotify or the free web player below.

File Under: Interviews