Canadian hardcore band Get The Shot is preparing for their next studio album, which will mark their fourth career release, with the singles “Deathbound,” featuring a guest appearance by Rob Watson of Lionheart , and “Survival Denied.” Meanwhile, the group is also preparing a tour.
Amidst all this, Dan Fisher , bassist and founding member of the group, spoke with Wikimetal about being a hardcore band today, the group's last album Infinite Punishment , from 2017, and what to expect from their next release, which still has no release date or name announced.
Check out the full interview below:
Wikimetal: Hello, how are you? First, I'd like to thank you for taking the time for this interview! For those who are just getting to know the band, could you tell us a little about the band, your sound, and how you got to where you are today?
Dan Fisher: Thank you for your interest, it's a pleasure to talk to Wikimetal . Get the Shot was formed in 2009 with no intention other than to play fast and aggressive hardcore punk music. The first demo “In Fear We Stand” (2009) and the LP Perdition (2012) were created quickly and instinctively in a sense of urgency. By then, the band had found its definitive and real lineup. At this point, we decided to deepen our musical training and incorporate diverse influences.
Most of us grew up listening to classic 80s thrash metal Slayer , Anthrax , Metallica , and Sepultura . We found ourselves comfortable in that crossover niche and explored it to the fullest on No Peace in Hell (2014) and Infinite Punishment (2017). With over 500 shows, let's just say we spent a lot of hours listening to music in the van. I think we explored and moved towards different spectra of extreme music together, and that reflects in some way in our writing.
WM: How different is Infinite Punishment (2017) from No Peace in Hell (2014) and Perdition (2012) in your opinion? Are there differences in the writing process, sound, and so on?
DF: Perdition was the definitive form of what we intended to do with this project from the beginning, a fast, straightforward, and uncompromising hardcore punk album. Then NPIH [ No Peach in Hell ] came mainly from JP [ Lagacé, vocalist] mind wanting to take the songs to the next level. He had a distinct idea of what the future sound of GTS would be. I think that album represents a new chapter in our project. Therefore, Infinite Punishment is, in a way, the logical follow-up to NPIH crossover concept to the extreme. It was more of a collaborative effort. I think over 40 song ideas were created to arrive at the final form of the album. “Blackened Sun” [fourth track on Infinite Punishment ] was really a turning point in our writing session and guided us to the end of the writing process. Working with Chris Donaldson from CRYPTOPSY certainly brought a more metal touch to the final production.
WM: When you look back on your career, how do you see the hardcore and extreme music scene now?
DF: From our point of view, I think it's more alive than it was 10 years ago. It's not uncommon to see local bands filling venues with a capacity of 300 people on their own. We try to create a safe space for everyone within the walls of our shows. A safe haven for outcasts, misfits, and undesirables. I think we can see more diversity in the crowd now. People from all walks of life brawling in mutual respect.
WM: How do you see the role of music, and especially hardcore, in current political issues? How can we use music to shed light on some of these topics?
DF: Get The Shot has never considered itself a political band. However, being a hardcore band is, in a way, a political statement. We will always stand with the oppressed and reject bigotry in all its forms. We will always voice our opinions against homophobia, sexism, racism, fascism, and all kinds of oppression. Extreme music, especially hardcore, should always be a threatening counterculture and not a sugar-coated version that appeals to the masses.
WM: Infinite Punishment is a really strong hardcore album, and many critics and underground fans consider it one of the strongest in the genre – myself included. With that said, what can we expect from the next album?
DF: As artists, we never want to make the same album twice. That being said, we went deeper into our record collections to find inspiration from the most ridiculously heavy artists. We spent many hours in the van listening to classic death metal Obituary , Cannibal Corpse , and Deicide . We also shared the stage with many beatdown and slam . That kind of stuck in the back of our heads. You can therefore expect our heaviest and most aggressive record to date.
WM: On this album, Infinite Punishment , you did something really unexpected and fun at the end of “Evil Rites,” finishing with a country song. How did that happen? Can you expect something crazy like that on the new album?
DF: Everyone in the band is a big music lover. Our taste is as broad as folk, country, R&B, hip hop, and classical. Many of the feelings expressed in our music have also been expressed in various songs throughout history. It's always interesting to confront these different styles while sharing common feelings. A respectful gesture to the musical artists we love.
WM: Thank you for the interview! Do you have any final words or anything to add for our readers?
DF: Thank you for your support, it means the world. Infinite Punishment is coming down on you next fall. Get ready for the next chapter, see you in the pit soon.
