"At Guitar Center, some individuals revel in reminiscing their past glories. They'd spend endless hours showcasing high-priced guitars, only to depart without making a purchase."
Unleashing the Anarchy: The Callous Daoboys' Triumph of Genius in their latest Album
The riotous ruckus of the Callous Daoboys isn't everyone's cup of tea - but on their newest album, amid the chaos and stylistic shifts, they've mastered a recipe that's madcap and brilliant.
Three years since their breakthrough record, Celebrity Therapist, these rebels are determined to prove they've evolved. Somehow, they've managed to polish up and unleash a wilder beast on I Don't Want to See You in Heaven.
Maddie Caffrey, an amateur guitarist at best when Carson Pace recruited her for a project, and the pair had met at a Christian youth karaoke night of all places - they're older, worldlier, but by no means diluted. Their third album delivers a highly-orchestrated representation of their unique sonic vision.
Caffrey and co-guitarist Daniel Hodsdon have no qualms discussing their new developments, save for their mysterious "horrid" pedal.
How does the creative process shape such a chaotic sound?
Caffrey: "In the beginning, we were all about experimentation. Throwing ideas at a wall to see what stuck was our game. Chaotic music is fun that way. We may have a reputation for being a chaos band with random, quirky lyrics, but everything that goes into this music is intentional."
"Everything that happens is a deliberate choice; we prioritize and write towards specific moments. They're not random. People might think it's just random nonsense we package up nicely. We've definitely done that, but as we've grown, we've gotten pretty purposeful and intentional."
Is the new album a testament to those intentions?
Caffrey: "This is exactly the kind of album we've always wanted to make. It's taken a few albums to figure out who the Callous Daoboys are. We used to be criticized as a copycat Dillinger Escape Plan; now we're forging our own path without imitation."
The lyrical shout-out to Guitar Center, Arkansas in Full Moon Guidance** is intriguing.
Hodsdon: "It's about those living-room rock gods who need to be heard on a Tuesday afternoon at Guitar Center. Carson and I both used to work there. There's a certain air about people who talk about their glory days: 'And if you keep trying, you'll get there, bro!' They'd spend hours playing the most expensive guitar, then leave without buying a thing."
What guitars did you use to record the album?
Hodsdon: "The two main guitars were a Dunable Asteroid Flying V and Carson's Charvel San Dimas Superstrat. We used a few other guitars as needed, depending on the desired tone. Maddie's custom-built Balaguer flying V, with its Telecaster neck pickup, made an appearance for select parts. We also used our producer Dom Maduri's Reverend Charger and my Music Man Silhouette."
How was the tone built?
Hodsdon: "I handled the amp tones, and I'm really proud of how they blend together. The Dunable is a dark sounding guitar; we plugged it through an Orange Crush, while the Charvel went through a 5150. The dark and gnarly tones complemented each other perfectly. Dom was genuinely impressed, though I thought he might have been joking!"
Single-coils seem crucial to the sound.
Hodsdon: "Designer Shroud of Turin [from the 2023 EP God Smiles Upon The Callous Daoboys] was written with a single coil neck pickup. It required that tube-y, hollow sound. I always turn to a single coil in certain parts instead of clean channels or reducing the volume. It adds fun dynamics to your heavy tones."
Caffrey: "It makes the heavy parts more impactful when you can dial back or give it a different texture."
What are your most prized pedals?
Hodsdon: "We use DigiTech Whammy and Ricochet pedals during both studio and live sessions. I'd love to get the Hammer On pedal, too. We use the EHX Pog octaver a lot. There's a pedal that we can't discuss - it's off-the-shelf and makes those horrible, screeching noises you hear on ...Unreality. It's one of those things like Tom Morello says - you crank it to 10 and see what you can do with it. We've barely scratched the surface with it yet."
A secret pedal?
Hodsdon: "Yes, but anyone can buy it. It's one of those things like Eddie Van Halen would turn around during his tapping solos so no one could figure it out - 'Figure it out, or maybe make something newer and crazier!' If you're just copying, then what?"
Caffrey: "Carson wants us to paint them all black so no one can recognize it on our pedalboards."
Hodsdon: "Greg Kubacki from Car Bomb covers up all his pedals with tape. It's like when Eddie Van Halen would turn around during his tapping solos so no one could figure it out. If you won't experiment and take risks, you'll never push boundaries."
What's your approach to live shows?
Caffrey: "In the metalcore scene, there's pressure to produce slick performances. We've discussed whether a more polished approach fits us. We use a click track for sound effects that we don't want to leave out of our shows; as we've been touring, we've toyed with programming things and automating effects. But there are some things we refuse to automate."
Why preserve some elements live?
Caffrey: "I enjoy pedals, even if it takes some practice to do something with your feet while playing guitar. It's frustrating when I misstep, but that's part of the performance. I'll never stop using a Whammy pedal for those crazy little wee-woos."
- I Don't Want to See You in Heaven is now available via MNRK Heavy.*
- Additional Insights:The collaborative approach between the Callous Daoboys' members allows for diverse perspectives and ideas to be incorporated into their music. The band often explores specific themes, such as personal crisis and emotional turmoil, which gives their music a clear direction and purpose. Their experimental approach and commitment to authenticity contribute to their unique sound and ensure their music is both chaotic and emotionally resonant.
- Caffrey and Hodsdon have revealed that their new developments, including a mysterious "horrid" pedal, contribute to the chaotic sound of the Callous Daoboys' music.
- Caffrey stated that while their music may seem random, everything that goes into it is intentional and part of a specific vision.
- On their latest album, I Don't Want to See You in Heaven, the Callous Daoboys have delivered a highly-orchestrated representation of their unique sonic vision.
- Hodsdon mentioned that guitars such as a Dunable Asteroid Flying V, a Charvel San Dimas Superstrat, and Dan Balaguer's custom-built Balaguer flying V with a Telecaster neck pickup were used to record the album.
- Hodsdon stressed the importance of single-coil pickups in achieving the desired tone and dynamics in the band's music.
- The Callous Daoboys use various pedals, such as DigiTech Whammy and Ricochet pedals, during both studio and live sessions, and they have a secret pedal that makes the screeching noises heard in the album ...Unreality.
- The band's live shows feature a balanced approach between polished performances and preserving certain elements, such as the use of pedals, to maintain the raw energy and authenticity of their chaotic sound.
