Mötley Crüe rocked back then. Leathürbitch rocks now. These glamorous guys from Seattle have arena-sized riffs, with even bigger hair. Their 2018 self-titled EP made my list for one of best albums of the years. In an age when "so-and-so worship" has practically become its own genre, and every other up-and-coming band is a blatant rip off the thrash, black and death metal progenitors of yesteryear, Leathürbitch get it right. Their sound is a potent throwback of the sleaze and speed that made the eighties the best decade for heavy music, with their own hungry flare.
I was blessed to receive a copy of their new CD, 2019's Into The Night, from their frontman Joel Stair. It has all the hallmarks of a great eighties metal album:
Umlauts? Check.
Grim humor aside, Into The Night is a worthy follow-up, that stands on its own as a full length offering. Look no further than the opening track, "L.U.S.T.", as in, "living under shallow temptation," which erupts with Mötörhead-esque double bass drums and a thrashy duel-guitar harmony, kissed to perfection with Joel's piercing falsetto. The subsequent "I Want What You Got" captures the youthful folly and decadence of hard rock, a playful number about finding that special someone in the heat of the night.
Here's an email interview I conducted with Leathürbitch's suave singer Joel Stair.
How do you describe Leathürbitch's music in your own words?2010's era Dokken for people in their late 20's going through a 1/4 life crisis. Just kidding!
Our music is a mixture of 80's glam and sleaze with hard hitting speed metal. That's the best way to describe it. We are trying to raise the flag for traditional metal all over the globe.
I really dug your debut EP. Tell us about your follow up record Into The Night?
Into the Night was recorded and mastered by the same people we worked with on our EP (Charlie Koryn of Ascended Dead and Joel Grind of Toxic Holocaust). Into the Night is also our last release to feature the original lineup that is present on our EP. For this album, we followed the footwork of "Nasty Reputation," and decided to write an album with a similar attitude that is present in that song. On this record you will hear sleaze, glam, and speed all mixed together, forming the signature Leathürbitch sound that you heard on our EP, only this time we are a little less sinister and a bit more Theater of Pain.
Listen to Leathürbitch at their bandcamp.
I was blessed to receive a copy of their new CD, 2019's Into The Night, from their frontman Joel Stair. It has all the hallmarks of a great eighties metal album:
Umlauts? Check.
A bunch of dudes looking tough with massive perms? Check?
At least one song title with a sick acronym? Check.
At least one song title with a sick acronym? Check.
Bare-chested drummer with a huge 'stache and bondage harness? Check.
A prominently featured model on their album cover, because, hair metal = chicks, right? Check and check.
Grim humor aside, Into The Night is a worthy follow-up, that stands on its own as a full length offering. Look no further than the opening track, "L.U.S.T.", as in, "living under shallow temptation," which erupts with Mötörhead-esque double bass drums and a thrashy duel-guitar harmony, kissed to perfection with Joel's piercing falsetto. The subsequent "I Want What You Got" captures the youthful folly and decadence of hard rock, a playful number about finding that special someone in the heat of the night.
Here's an email interview I conducted with Leathürbitch's suave singer Joel Stair.
How do you describe Leathürbitch's music in your own words?2010's era Dokken for people in their late 20's going through a 1/4 life crisis. Just kidding!
Our music is a mixture of 80's glam and sleaze with hard hitting speed metal. That's the best way to describe it. We are trying to raise the flag for traditional metal all over the globe.
I really dug your debut EP. Tell us about your follow up record Into The Night?
Into the Night was recorded and mastered by the same people we worked with on our EP (Charlie Koryn of Ascended Dead and Joel Grind of Toxic Holocaust). Into the Night is also our last release to feature the original lineup that is present on our EP. For this album, we followed the footwork of "Nasty Reputation," and decided to write an album with a similar attitude that is present in that song. On this record you will hear sleaze, glam, and speed all mixed together, forming the signature Leathürbitch sound that you heard on our EP, only this time we are a little less sinister and a bit more Theater of Pain.
What's your favorite track off the new album, and why?My personal favorite track off of the new album is probably Killer Instinct, mostly for sentimental reasons. That song holds a lot of good memories, and we had a lot of fun putting it together.
For first time Leathürbitch listeners, what song do you recommend to pop their Leathürbitch cherry?
I would recommend "Leathür and Lies" off of our EP, or "I Want What You Got" off of Into the Night. These songs are both very introductory to what Leathürbitch is all about. If you dig these tracks, you may enjoy what else we have to offer.
One of my favorite songs of yours is "Streetwise." What inspires you to enter that streetwise state of mind?Staying streetwise is something that everybody needs to do. Going out on a Saturday night is what inspires me to enter that frame of mind. Always watch your back, trust absolutely nobody but yourself, and keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Have integrity and always try to be proactive and not reactive. Be smart socially.
You guys all have great hair. What's your secret?
Thank you! We all go to the same hair stylist to get our hair cut. Also, a perm goes a long way and more people should have them.
For first time Leathürbitch listeners, what song do you recommend to pop their Leathürbitch cherry?
I would recommend "Leathür and Lies" off of our EP, or "I Want What You Got" off of Into the Night. These songs are both very introductory to what Leathürbitch is all about. If you dig these tracks, you may enjoy what else we have to offer.
One of my favorite songs of yours is "Streetwise." What inspires you to enter that streetwise state of mind?Staying streetwise is something that everybody needs to do. Going out on a Saturday night is what inspires me to enter that frame of mind. Always watch your back, trust absolutely nobody but yourself, and keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Have integrity and always try to be proactive and not reactive. Be smart socially.
You guys all have great hair. What's your secret?
Thank you! We all go to the same hair stylist to get our hair cut. Also, a perm goes a long way and more people should have them.
You hit some fantastic falsettos. I admire the hell out of your vocal range. How did you develop your singing style?
Thank you so much! It all started with me mimicking Rob Halford and Bruce Dickinson as a teenager. I was a huge fan of Rob Halford's high range, and I loved Bruce Dickinson's crazy vibrato. That was pretty much how it all started for me. I eventually started getting vocal training which helped me further develop my own technique. There's been a lot of trial and error, but it's been a fun road. My vocal style is something I'm always trying to improve. I have high hopes for the future and I'm not even remotely close to where I want to be yet.
What advice do you have to up and cumming vocalists?Stay hydrated, warm up your voice, make good use of your breath, don't let criticism break you, and don't compare yourself to other vocalists. Only you can sound like you! Everybody's voice has something unique to offer, so instead of trying to mimick other vocalists, stay true to your own unique gift.
Your music is bursting with old school attitude. Makes me feel like I'm cruising down the sunset strip with Mick Mars and mayhem on mind! Who are some of your heavy metal heroes?To name just a few:
Sammi Curr
Blackie Lawless
Vince "Chub a bee" Neil
Betsy Bitch
Midnight (Crimson Glory)
What underground band (new or old) is your "ace in the hole" to show people and blow their minds?
What advice do you have to up and cumming vocalists?Stay hydrated, warm up your voice, make good use of your breath, don't let criticism break you, and don't compare yourself to other vocalists. Only you can sound like you! Everybody's voice has something unique to offer, so instead of trying to mimick other vocalists, stay true to your own unique gift.
Your music is bursting with old school attitude. Makes me feel like I'm cruising down the sunset strip with Mick Mars and mayhem on mind! Who are some of your heavy metal heroes?To name just a few:
Sammi Curr
Blackie Lawless
Vince "Chub a bee" Neil
Betsy Bitch
Midnight (Crimson Glory)
What underground band (new or old) is your "ace in the hole" to show people and blow their minds?
I always find myself showing people underground 80's bands from Detroit, such as: Halloween, Strut, Seduce and Savage Grace. Detroit had a very dark approach to the whole "glamorous" aesthetic that metal held in the 80s. Their hair looked great but their lyrical content and overall sound wasn't all tits and cocaine. A lot of these Detroit bands are super underrated and had a huge influence on the Leathürbitch sound.
The west coast and Pacific Northwest seems to have a great metal scene, rife with sleaze and attitude! Are there any bands in your area you recommend us listening to?
The west coast and Pacific Northwest seems to have a great metal scene, rife with sleaze and attitude! Are there any bands in your area you recommend us listening to?
Absolutely! We recommend that you listen to Solicitor and Soul Grinder. Both bands are from here in Portland and are doing big things in our metal underground! Solicitor just wrapped up a tour and have an EP available, while Soul Grinder just released a killer new album called "The Prophecy of Blight". Both are available on Bandcamp.
Thank you Joel for going one on one with the GRIM1. Anything you'd like to add in closing?
Thank you Joel for going one on one with the GRIM1. Anything you'd like to add in closing?
Thank you for all the kind words and for giving me the opportunity to answer some questions for you. Leathürbitch has some big plans on the horizon for next year, so keep your eyes open! The bitch is just starting.
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