Vital Vinyl: Ash Weaver on God Damn's Debut LP, 'Vultures'

U.K. rockers God Damn are gearing up for the release of their debut studio album, Vultures, in mid-May. Ahead of it hitting the streets, Diffuser caught up with one-half of the band, drummer Ash Weaver, on what fans can expect from their live show, what the writing process was like for the album and why, even as a new band, they're pressing Vultures on vinyl.

First things first: Congrats on your debut LP! How does it feel to have it wrapped up?

Thank you very much. It’s been a long time coming, it feels like a massive relief to be finally getting the album out. We have had it wrapped up for a while and have been really excited for people to hear it; finally they will be able to!

What was the writing and recording process like for Vultures?

We wrote the album a few months before we recorded it, which worked great as it all fits together pretty well as an album. It was recorded at Metropolis studios in London, where a whole load of people have recorded, from Queen to Rihanna. It was an amazing experience to record in such a prestigious studio -- we certainly didn’t expect to have the opportunity to do so, and we took full advantage of it.

Why do you prefer to call yourselves a “band” rather than a “duo”?

Mainly because we don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves. It’s really "trendy" to call yourself a duo or a two-piece at the moment, but who wants to be known by how many members they have? We want people to appreciate our music and hopefully we can have a bit of longevity if we are lucky.

I love that you’re putting Vultures out on vinyl. It’s not easy or cheap for a new band to do it, but I think it shows your commitment to the music and to your fans. Why is it important to you to release your debut on vinyl?

It’s very important to release your music across all types of platforms. There are a lot of vinyl fans out there and it’s vital that you reach out to those people. Although music is easily accessible online nowadays, nothing compares to the authenticity of buying vinyl.

How important is vinyl to you personally, as a fan?

I think it’s a very organic way to listen to music. There’s nothing nicer than to pick up a vinyl, complete with artwork. It’s very real, and feels amazing.

One Little Indian

Do you have any “white whales” out there ... that record that you’d do anything to get your hands on?

Ah man, good question. Anything by Led Zeppelin I guess. Robert Plant is from the same area of the U.K. as us, and John Bonham was too -- I’m a massive fan. I hear there are a few rarities, especially on albums I and II.

What’s on the horizon for you as a band once Vultures is out?

We have a lot of touring and festivals planned over the summer, including our own U.K. headline tour which heads into Europe, and Download Festival.

We live in such a fast-paced society -- at least here in the states -- and as soon as something is done, people are ready for the next, new thing. As musicians, when you completed this record, did you put it behind you (to an extent, obviously you're playing it live) to focus on your next effort?

I think you have to appreciate the record for what it is. It’s our debut album and something we are very proud of. On the other hand, you have to move on very quickly; you can’t rest on your laurels, you have to keep writing songs and move forward. We have already started work on songs for the next album and this one isn't even released yet. It’s just something that happens naturally and you can’t stifle your ideas when they come along.

For U.S. fans who haven’t caught you live yet, what can we expect from your show?

These kind of questions are always tough. I would say it’s definitely pretty intense and loud ... so bring your earplugs.

Andy Hughes

God Damn's debut full-length, Vultures, is set to hit the states on May 19 (May 11 internationally) via One Little Indian. You can find details on the release, as well as God Damn's full tour itinerary, at their official website.