The word ‘cult’ is often associated with a lot of negative undertones – that is, with the exception of Bayside fans. Cult, the American punk group’s aptly titled new album, is a collection that devotees will no doubt worship.
The band’s sixth LP, released through new label Homeless Records, took 14 months to write, demo, and record. Sending the rumour mill into overdrive, some cryptic clues were left on the band’s social media sites in the lead-up to the release, courtesy of bassist Nick Ghanbarian.
“We finished the album this past September. Hopeless had us on a schedule to put it out in February, so here we are. We’ve been just building up to the release.”
“We were fairly secretive about recording. Not a lot of people knew we were in the studio and we didn’t talk about it that much. I think once we had all the concepts, it became like this celebratory thing of our past albums. To me it became a cool little countdown to do a week before the album came out [adding mysterious symbols to the band’s social media pages] and with these little icons that represented each album… to put them out there and let people guess what they are.”
“It’s a fun time and a very creative time to be a band that’s constantly developing, because you get to come up with new ideas and try new ideas on how to promote your album. It was a cool week of people guessing what we were up to.”
“It’s a fun time and a very creative time to be a band”While the album is one for the fans, Cult is also a special celebration of the band’s work from the past 14 years – and what a celebration.
“The idea came along to call it Cult. It was important for me to really be a celebratory thing. I think the word ‘cult’ could have some negative connotations if you didn’t know a lot about our band. We wanted the imagery associated with the album to look dark but be celebratory, and that’s why the album cover has all six albums, it has our initials.”
“Just looking at the album cover, it has representations of us, our albums, and our fans on it, and that’s what we’re trying to celebrate. It’s an accomplishment for us and all of our supporters that a band, post download era of music, has been able to last this long and continually grow. We’re certainly celebrating that right now.”
While the record is one for the fans, it’s also about the band growing up and tackling more mature issues while still staying true to themselves and their sound.
“To me the album, I think, lyrically it’s a step in the right direction of us becoming adults. It’s us growing up, and a lot of people who’ve liked us from day one are growing into adulthood and they’ve been going through love and hate relationship problems, and that’s what most of our songs have been about for five albums. There’s some songs like that, but a lot of it is about leaving your mark in life, being motivated, becoming an adult.”
“The lyrical content is going to be different, but it’s the same person writing the lyrics, the same band writing the songs, and they’re going to relate to it even though the content might be a little bit different.”
“It’s not all about failed relationships and being bitter about relationships. You know, there’s the happiest love song on the album and then there’s also the failed relationship song and then there’s something in between, whether it’s our place in the music industry, our place in life, a lot of different things – but it’s all fuelled from the same point of view, which I think people will relate to.”
“…lyrically it’s a step in the right direction of us becoming adults”There are a couple of special tracks to watch out for on Cult. In particular, Ghanbarian has two favourites.
“I have two and both for the same reason, but I think ‘Stuttering’ and ‘Hate Me’. They both sound completely different, and I think that they sound a little bit different from other Bayside songs. They’re our versions of our influential styles that we have.”
“I think ‘Stuttering’ came from a rancid ska vibe, but we did it our own way, and I think ‘Hate Me’ has a bit of an alternative grunge type of thing. But again, we did it our way.”
While it may sound like Bayside have changed their sound completely, the musician is adamant that this is not the case.
“If these are the first songs from Bayside that someone has ever heard, I don’t think it would be off putting if they go back into our catalogue and listen to other songs and vice versa. I think if you have our first five albums, they might sound a little different to you, but you realise it’s clearly Bayside and they’re digestible as Bayside songs.”
“Lyrically they’re great, and I like them both for the same reason. They sound like us but just a little bit different.”
The good news for all the Aussie Bayside fans is that the band plan to tour Australia again. Ghanbarian was quick to point out that if it were up to them, they would play here two or three times a year. Sadly, there are no solid plans yet, but the bassist’s parting words are hopeful.
“We’ll be there this year. We won’t let another year go by.”
Bayside’s sixth studio album Cult is out now via iTunes.
Read our review of Cult by Bayside here
Watch Bayside’s video for ‘Time Has Come’ from Cult here:
