Burlington band releases debut album featuring track built on sheet metal percussion

A Burlington band released its debut album this week, featuring a track that uses a piece of rusty sheet metal as a primary percussion instrument. The record, titled God Hates We're Here! To Kill, is available now on Bandcamp. The group, We're Here! To Kill, described the album as a collection of loud, melodic songs designed for high-energy performance.

The lead single, "Guillotine," was co-written by guitarist Fisher Wagg and drummer Riley Rae Burridge. Burridge said the lyrics draw from frustrations with the current political environment. Wagg and vocalist Teagan Cook modified the words to better align with the song's meaning. Bassist Becca Hammond worked with Wagg to establish the heavy guitar riffs and overall tone. Wagg noted that the group operates as a democratic anarchist unit, giving all members an equal say in the final composition.

The band consists of five members: Wagg on vocals and guitar, Cook on vocals, Hammond on bass, Burridge on drums, and lead guitarist Emma Rossignol, who is the newest addition to the lineup. The group describes itself as a grunge and punk act. Wagg characterized the band as five friends who make music on paper as a punk band but in practice as a collaborative collective.

The production of "Guillotine" included a dedicated recording day for textural elements. The band added extra percussion and gang vocals to the track. Burridge created a rhythmic element by hitting a large, rusty piece of sheet metal with a wrench. Wagg described this sound as a shocking rhythmic element that plays throughout the song.

The recording process also involved grinding a paint scraper against the metal to create a blade slice sound effect. This effect builds toward the end of the song. The outro features screams from a rubber squeaky toy and an Aztec death whistle alongside the metal sounds. Burridge summarized the track as a song of resistance that is also ideal for moshing.

The band performs locally and enjoys seeing audiences engage physically with the music. Wagg said the group loves to see people mosh to the song at their shows. The album is the first release from the band, which formed in Burlington. The track "Guillotine" is currently available for streaming and download on the album's Bandcamp page.