GILT’s unique exploration of the dichotomy between brutally heavy music and ethereal melody is exemplified with their new EP ‘Conceit’. The collection is book-ended by impactful recent single ‘Trophy Hunter’ (ft. Nat Lacuna of The Holy Ghost Tabernacle Choir) and the affecting ‘Amethyst’(ft. Shaolin G of Unity TX), which opens up the release. GILT’s poetic, emotion-drenched, post-hardcore stylings are further elevated by a series of guest vocalists on this release with the new tracks, out today, featuring turns from Syd Dolezal of Doll Skin (‘Small Hollow Bones’ – stemming from a repressed memory Ash had unlocked), Kind Eyes (‘The Shape of Tools’ – a diss track calling out every fake friend and industry insider who uses having stood next to greatness as a personality trait) and Carson Pace of Callous Daoboys (‘209’ – exploring the idea that the devil on your shoulder not even being excited you died).
‘Conceit’ as a whole explores the topic of grief in its entirety. It was recorded & mixed by Lee Dyess at Earthsound Studios and mastered by Matt Goings, with production consultation from Hansel Romero (Nightlife). “We’ve spent a lot of time as an emo band talking about grieving and addressing pain, but Conceit is the first material we’ve made since my father passed, and there’s simply no way for it to not be about that in almost every regard because it affects every part of my life,” explains vocalist Ash Stixx of the EP’s concept. “Each song is a vignette, a ‘conceit’ in the literary sense where one emotional reaction to death is explored, bolstered by guest vocalists who were each chosen for their ability to stretch our ideas beyond what we could physically do. The title is a double entendre, these are all poetic metaphors, but the feeling of righteous rage has never come through more and the marriage between those two in ‘Conceit’ is, to us, perfect.”
Having navigated topics of gender dysphoria, body dysmorphia, and mental health in their music, GILT are all about empowering their community. The band put together a livestream event during the pandemic – SnipFest – which raised money for gender-affirming legal name changes for people across the US. Born in 2018, SnipFest’s first incarnation raised money for the top surgery of a friend of the band. Though GILT have been a band since 2017, their 2021 EP ‘In Windows, Through Mirrors’ was an introduction to their new direction with drummer Ash Stixx stepping up to vocal duties with finesse.
Order the Conceit EP via the following link and stream it via your preferred service.