Recently I had the opportunity to catch up with Texas Metal Legends Pissing Razors. Our conversation came on the heels of their some of their 30th anniversary celebration tour dates, which saw the band demonstrate to metal fans just why they have remained fixtures in the metal scene for over three decades.
Join me as the band discusses their writing process, their legacy as a band, and what we can expect from them in the future.
TDIM: Congratulations on 30 years! Looking back, what stands out as the most defining moment in Pissing Razors’ career?
“For me, I believe it was opening for Suicidal Tendencies before we were signed. That show elevated us in many ways... and we never looked back.” ~Eddy Garcia
TDIM: The band’s name, Pissing Razors, is quite iconic! Can you share the story behind how you came up with the name?
The original singer for the band was Dave “Loco Pelon” McNutt. He took a friendly trip to Juarez, Mexico (sister city to El Paso) and came back with the clap. When he tried to urinate, he said it felt like PISSING RAZORS. The band’s name was then cemented.
TDIM:Your sound is a unique blend of groove metal and thrash. Which bands or artists influenced Pissing Razors in the early days, and how did those influences shape your music?
“The band was formed in the very early 90s when heavy music was seeing large progressive shifts in merging unique sounds, styles, and crossover aesthetics. More energy and intensity was the key, and translating that from studio to live was the goal. It didn’t have to be perfect, but the right energy had to be there. Our approach was in line with this concept where we framed as many different flavors of beat-driven riffs into each song as possible, which was somewhat chaotic at times but still made sense to us and kept us constantly challenging ourselves.” ~Mat Lynch
TDIM: Your self-titled debut album really helped establish your presence in the metal scene. What do you remember most about the recording process, and how did you approach creating your sound on that album?
“We had been working on most of those songs throughout the years. Andy Sneap was key in helping us in preproduction as per arrangements. As per the sound, we really liked the release of Machine Head’s “The More Things Change!!” Fucking heavy-ass record!! That’s what we were after!” ~Eddy Garcia
TDIM: I feel metal fans gloss over what a hotbed Texas was for the American Metal Movement in the early 90s. With several great bands emanating from the state (Pantera, Exhorder, Devastation, Rigor Mortis, Gammacide), was there a competition (friendly or otherwise) amongst the groups that pushed each other forward?
“I believe there’s mutual respect and admiration between everyone. We were just happy to be noticed among all those great bands!” ~Eddy Garcia
TDIM:You released your last studio record, “Eulogy Death March,” in 2021. Can we expect any new material in the future?
“Yes. We will have new material in the near future. We had started working on new material prior to going out on the last tour. Mat has several new ideas in the works.” ~Geo Gomez
TDIM: Can you walk us through your songwriting process? Is it a collaborative effort, or does one member tend to take the lead when it comes to writing new material?”
“Yes, the process is almost always collaborative and pretty democratic. Someone generally presents an idea, whether it’s raw or fairly developed, and we build on the layers from there. Could be either a riff or a drumbeat or pattern, and most times it goes through a fair amount of rigorous restructuring. Personally, I write riffs from a percussive perspective with the drums in mind, and then Eddy almost always puts an inverted spin on them opposite of what I hear, which creates a cool contrast. Joe and I generally work out the vocal arrangements and lyrics, and the band in full works out the musical arrangements until it feels right.” ~Mat Lynch
TDIM: With 30 years in the rearview mirror, how do you see Pissing Razors evolving in the next decade? Are there any new directions you want to explore musically?
"From my perspective, we’ve built up a solid foundation on our approach to writing and performing together over the years, and that continues still. It’s a fairly stripped-down and raw process that takes the predictability out of the writing equation, and there’s always room for fresh ideas in creativity and imagination without sounding overpolished and overproduced, which has become standard now. It’s a very democratic system where everyone finds their place in the material, and that’s a winning formula for us moving forward." Mat Lynch
TDIM: If you could go back to the beginning of Pissing Razors, is there anything you would do differently?
“Move to LA for 6 months to a year before we were signed. I believe we would have landed a much better deal.” ~Eddy Garcia
TDIM: If you could perform one dream show with any lineup and in any location, where would it be and who would share the stage with you?
“Man. The Garden would be amazing, or The Wacken Open Air Fest. It would be killer to play with Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Pantera, Gojira, to name a few.” ~Geo Gomez
TDIM: What’s a lesser-known or underrated track in your catalog that you think deserves more attention and why?
“Train of Thought.” This tune has the great imprint of everything Razor. Great breaks and intro. The chorus change is killer with a fantastic, memorable ending. A great written tune. The chorus changes on “Train of Thought” are some of my favorites. This tune grabs you from beginning to end.” ~Geo Gomez
TDIM: You have a dedicated fanbase that has stuck with you for decades. What do you think it is about Pissing Razors that resonates so strongly with fans, and what has kept you motivated over the years?
“The music, period!” ~Eddy Garcia
“We believe that our music can compete with the best in the metal scene. The time signatures and grooves are a staple of Pissing Razors music. It really moves you, which is what resonates strongly with our loyal fans. Just being around the guys and getting into the room is all the motivation we need. There's still that fire to succeed, and it carries over to one another.” ~Geo Gomez
TDIM: How do you feel about the current state of metal music? Do you think the scene has changed in ways that benefit or challenge bands like yours?
“I believe the current state of metal music is still very strong and still has a great fanbase. The scene has changed to a point where it could be very challenging for bands like ours trying to get our music to broader areas.” ~Geo Gomez
TDIM: How do you see your music connecting with younger generations of metal fans, and do you feel a responsibility to keep the genre alive for the future?
“I noticed this last tour had quite a few younger fans in the audience. When I had the chance to speak to a few of them, they had nothing but good things to say about finding our music and catching us live. Most wondering why we aren't playing the bigger festivals.” ~Geo Gomez
TDIM: How did the tour go, and how was the reception from the fans? Memorable moment from the tour?
“Always a warm reception from everyone! Much love!! A guy getting shot across the street from the club in OKC!!” ~Eddy Garcia
“This last tour was amazing. We had the support of our good friends SALEM'S CHILDE. They did a great job in getting the audience fired up. The fans were great, new and old. We are very fortunate in having such great support and response from our loyal fans. So many great memories are always made on each tour, but the one that stands out was the HEAVY CHICAGO show. It was a bit more memorable since we had a day off and were able to hang out the night before we performed.” ~Geo Gomez
TDIM: Looking back at your career, what are you most proud of as a band? And what do you hope Pissing Razors’ legacy will be in the world of metal?"
“That we stayed true to ourselves most of all with little compromise and did it for the love of it.” ~Mat Lynch
“The honesty of what we do and how we go about it! In the end, we were a good and respected band.” ~Eddy Garcia
“Have to be most proud of the longevity of the band and the determination to be the best we can. To always be known as a great metal groove band with catchy, punky, heavy riffs.” ~Geo Gomez
