GAYTHEIST

PHOTO BY JAMES REXROAD

INTERVIEW WITH SINGER / GUITARIST JASON RIVERA BY THOMAS PIZZOLA

Gaytheist is a power trio from Portland, Oregon, featuring vocalist and guitarist Jason Rivera, drummer and backup vocalist Nick Parks, and bassist and back-up vocalist Tim Hoff. The trio plays fast, fun, catchy, punkish metal, and on their new album, How Long Have I Been On Fire?, out now on Hex Records, they show why they are one of the best kept secrets in loud rock today.

One thing you must understand when dealing with this band is that they use humor to get their point across, blending it in with more serious messages. After all, a little sugar makes the bitter pill of truth go down smoother.

“We are silly people,” says Rivera. “Also, the three of us are heavily influenced by Karp, both in the heavy pummeling-yet-catchy music, and the not-so-serious lyrics. I think humor has a place everywhere, from heavy music, to any entertainment, to politics, to science. Although, the new album does have its serious songs. We mix it up.” munity, though, take the band’s name the wrong way.

“Yes, some people are not so happy about our name,” Rivera says. “About five years into the band I started adding ‘Gaytheist is a portmanteau of Gay + Atheist’ to our online stuff, as I didn’t realize that was not clear to everyone.”

For those not in the know, Rivera is, indeed, a gay atheist. You would think after nine years into the band’s existence, it wouldn’t bother him - but you would be wrong.

“I wish I didn’t care, but I do, which is pretty dumb considering the name we chose,” he says. “I’ve had people try to tell me our name means that we don’t believe in gay people. I’m like, I know I have low self-esteem, but I still believe I exist.”

The songs on HLHIBOF?, like on other Gaytheist albums, are short blasts of noise and catchiness, filled with Rivera’s sometimes humorous, sometimes serious lyrics. It gets in, rocks out, and leaves before you know what hit you. This has been their songwriting M.O. since the very beginning, because that’s the way they like it. “[We’re] trying to trim out all the excess, unneeded parts,” Rivera says. “Plus, when you play music with Nick on drums, you play fast and punchy just to survive. We tend to err on the side of ‘keep things as short and concise and fast as possible.’ Lyrically, [we’re] just trying to explore new topics while keeping it personal. Whether I write a folk or a punk or a rock song, after Tim and Nick get done with it, it’s a loud beast of noise.” The new album comes three long years after their previous one, Let’s Jam Again Soon. Life and other band commitments got in the way of Gaytheist releasing any new music until now. “As soon as we finished recording the previous record at the end of 2016, Nick moved to Florida for a year and a half,” Rivera says. “When he moved back we did a tour with Maximum Mad, then he played drums for High on Fire for six months last year. During that period, we got together when we could and worked on new music. Now that we are all Team Gaytheist again, we shit out a whole new album (and a 7” later this year).”

Their post-release plans (like those of many bands) were changed due to the current situation going on in the world.

ada in April, May, and July, but it’s St. Patty’s Day today and the COVID-19 pandemic is in effect, so everything will likely get rescheduled,” Rivera says. “Now the plan is: survive, take care of each other, then figure out how to get back in front of people and play some loud music. We’re working on some music videos too. And we started working on the next album already, ’cause why not?”

Why not, indeed. After all, the world could use a little sunshine and fun in these dire times. �� �� ��