Upholding the grand Welsh tradition of bands who like to play slow, heavy, fuzzy and a little spooky, doom metal trio Goat Major hail from Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire and are releasing their debut album, Ritual, this week. Noel Gardner asked them some questions about it, and related matters.
I’m bang into the name Goat Major because it uses one of the time-honoured ‘doom band name’ words, but in a kinda fresh way, and also references some Welsh trivia without having to go on about dragons or whatever. Am I on the same page as you re: how you came up with the name, would you say?
Simon Bonwick, Goat Major drums: You’ve pretty much hit the nail on the head – the Goat Major pub was prominent when Tom [Shortt, vocals/bass] and I were studying in Cardiff. Tom came up with it as a band name probably 10 years ago and it stuck with me…
I gather you all grew up in Haverfordwest – how far back does your shared musical background go?
Jammie Arnold, Goat Major guitar: In the mid-00s Simon and I played in a band called Blacktooth while Tom played in Intensive Square. The separate bands would regularly do gigs together and the boys supported each other’s bands.
And more recently, though before Goat Major, a couple of you were in another sludgy west Wales band, Lurcher?
Jammie: Yes, Lurcher was formed before Goat Major but we actually started gigging at the same time due to COVID restrictions. Tom and Simon would play double sets whenever we were on the same bill, which was quite often the case when we both started – Tom no longer plays in Lurcher but Simon is still there. Joe [Harvatt] from Lurcher produced, mixed and mastered our album.
A couple of members also played in Hark with Jimbob Isaac, formerly of Taint.
Jammie: Simon played in Hark and then Tom joined later on for the tours that followed the release of their second album. This was obviously a great learning curve for both; it’s hard to say if Goat Major had more opportunities because of the Hark connection. Those with a deep scene knowledge may be aware of Simon and Tom’s involvement; we’ve always been comfortable with our own musicianship and work ethic.
What’s it traditionally been like in Pembrokeshire for people who want to play heavy music?
Jammie: It comes in waves. We don’t get many touring bands coming down this way so maybe we do have to work that little bit harder to create a scene. Saying that, there’s always been something bubbling away under the surface down here.
Is the fact that Goat Major formed during lockdown just a case of bad timing, or does it explain how the band progressed?
Simon: Jammie and I had got together for one or two jams before lockdown began, and fortunately had a private space and were able to carry on rehearsing together. We invited Tom to join, and the chemistry was obvious from the start. The band was a bit of a sanity project at that time: two of us work in the NHS and our work continued whilst everything else stopped.
Jammie: If it wasn’t for lockdown, Goat Major may well not exist. No-one planned for this band to happen.
How do Goat Major lyrics come together and what sort of things are they about?
Jammie: We all contribute but Tom is the main man when it comes to lyrics and vocal melodies. Considering he’s only been the bassist in his previous bands it’s been great watching him grow into a frontman.
Tom: I like to make notes of interesting or cool things while I’m watching documentaries or lurking about in museums. Little ideas that may tie together after working them into a melody. I treat the songs like they are little films and write about what I would want to see or feel in that film.
Tell me about the recording process for Ritual, and any inspirations for its sound…
Jammie: We spent time experimenting with different amps, pedals etc. Having the expertise of Joe Harvatt and Tom Chaloner in the production was a blessing. We all go back a long way so those sessions were a barrel of laughs; I love the raw energy and attitude that comes across on this album.
Simon: We were listening to bands like Windhand and Acid King at the time and I think that influenced the vocal treatment a little. I really love that trippy, melodic, otherworldly vocal over a huge guitar sound.
Tom: Joe and I stayed up late into the night before the vocal takes, listening to isolated vocal tracks of bands like Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden and Alice In Chains. I had lots of harmonies, and the layering approach in mind.
What was the sequence of events that got you hooked up with Californian label Ripple Music for the album? Chronologically speaking you’re following The Obsessed in their discography – pretty cool if you ask me.
Jammie: We had the album in the can and ready to go. We talked about doing a self-release and then after discussing things it was Fieldy from APF Records who suggested we reach out to Ripple Music.
Simon: Jammie is a really great networker for us: he got in touch with Todd Severin at Ripple, sent him the album and he loved it from the first spin. It is very cool and surreal to be named alongside a legendary band like The Obsessed!
Ritual is released on Fri 8 Mar via Ripple Music.
Goat Major’s upcoming shows include Bunkhouse, Swansea, Fri 22 Mar [supporting Conan and Wallowing – tickets]; Elysium Gallery, Swansea, Sat 27 Apr; Desertfest, London, Sun 19 May [info]
Info: Facebook
words NOEL GARDNER
