Like I Hate Sallys earlier recordings, Dont Worry Lady combines metal, punk and hardcore in a thick, crushing, melodic sludge of visceral intensity. But the bands latest album, their first for Underground Operations, doesnt rush forward in eager and fearless enthusiasm; instead it weaves its way onward with a wiser reflectiveness, almost tentative despite its brutality. The monumental weight of the record its wandering, slightly restrained, heaviness, its refusal to stay locked in place, its steamroller ferocity and Dee Prescotts throat-wrenching vocal blasphemies makes the choice of Nick Zampiello for mastering (known for his work with bands like Isis) a stroke of near brilliance, something IHS owe to the man at the mixer, Converges Kurt Ballou. The end result is a more sophisticated weapon, undeniably forged in metal (even if, as Prescott points out, they did axe the duelling guitar leads), but this beast has many faces. Dont Worry Lady unloads its secrets gradually, never laying it all down in one go around.
How would you describe the difference between Dont Worry Lady and your other albums? Prescott: Overall, I think this record has a lot more thought to it before it was kind of like lets record some songs but this one was like, "Lets record a record! Musically its mega powerful; its matured and refined. Dropping down to one guitarist was probably our best move; it allowed Marc [Garniss, guitar] and Dan [Vokey, bass] to really show off their writing skills, and focus on what they wanted to be doing themselves. Dan had taken on a lot more writing responsibilities in the last year or so and would come up with these quirky riffs, and Marc would come up with amazing ways to fit them all together. I think it sounds more raw stripped down almost dirty rock.
What was going through your minds while you were songwriting? You ever get so cloudy and fogged you have no idea whats going on? And then its done and you are like, "Wow, Im glad it all worked out. Lyrically I kind of went back to when I was younger and how I saw the world around me, then to present day, and why it doesnt make sense yet. Its kinda like a free for all, like yeah some shit sucks, but lets just forget about it and move on cause its not going to get any better.
(Underground Operations)How would you describe the difference between Dont Worry Lady and your other albums? Prescott: Overall, I think this record has a lot more thought to it before it was kind of like lets record some songs but this one was like, "Lets record a record! Musically its mega powerful; its matured and refined. Dropping down to one guitarist was probably our best move; it allowed Marc [Garniss, guitar] and Dan [Vokey, bass] to really show off their writing skills, and focus on what they wanted to be doing themselves. Dan had taken on a lot more writing responsibilities in the last year or so and would come up with these quirky riffs, and Marc would come up with amazing ways to fit them all together. I think it sounds more raw stripped down almost dirty rock.
What was going through your minds while you were songwriting? You ever get so cloudy and fogged you have no idea whats going on? And then its done and you are like, "Wow, Im glad it all worked out. Lyrically I kind of went back to when I was younger and how I saw the world around me, then to present day, and why it doesnt make sense yet. Its kinda like a free for all, like yeah some shit sucks, but lets just forget about it and move on cause its not going to get any better.
