Getting to Know… P RAZORS | Interview 🎤

For the 205^th interview on The Musical Hype, we get the inside scoop on the colorfully-named El Paso, Texas heavy metal band, PISSING RAZORS.

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hen asked what makes El Paso, Texas groove-based, heavy metal band 🎙PISSING RAZORS distinct, guitarist 🎙 Mat Lynch responds, “It’s our ability to blend a variation of vibes heavy in texture, tone, attack and groove and inject those into each song in a very honest approach that doesn’t seem forced.”  That’s a stellar answer! He goes on to say, “We rock the audience with the ‘unrelenting onslaught’ formula— Start strong, finish strong!” In addition to Mat, on our 205^th interview, we get answers from the other members of this intriguing collective: 🎙 Joe Rodriguez (vocals), 🎙 Geo Gomez (bass), and 🎙 Eddy Garcia (drums).  So, with no further introduction needed, let’s jump right into 🎤 Getting to Know… PISSING RAZORS: Interview No. 205!

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Starting things off, for those who be unfamiliar with you, what would you say makes PISSING RAZORS distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

🎤 MAT LYNCH, Guitar: Good question, thank you! As for what makes PISSING RAZORS distinct and/or unique, it’s our ability to blend a variation of vibes heavy in texture, tone, attack and groove and inject those into each song in a very honest approach that doesn’t seem forced.  We can each take a simple particular idea, collectively tear it apart and rebuild it with a little bit of our own individuality into it. We rock the audience with the ‘unrelenting onslaught’ formula— Start strong, finish strong! 

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Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did PISSING RAZORS form and what were some of the goals or the visions you had as a band early on?

🎤 MAT LYNCH, Guitar: Mat here, and thanks for the question! So, I met Eddy Garcia somewhere back around 1991 or so. We were both musicians in the local El Paso music scene at the time, although Eddy was much more accomplished than I.  At the time, most groups played the ‘cover circuit’ throughout the United States which would consist of playing cover songs at one club in any given city for 5 to 7 days, 3 sets a night for a specified amount of cash. Club owners on the ‘circuit route’ were very particular about music played in their venues and frowned upon bands playing their own original material, unless of course you were a nationally signed act which is something Eddy and I were determined to make happen for ourselves. We formed a cover group called ‘BackDoor Cyclops’ with some friends and half-heartedly learned some covers, but songs from bands outside the norm at the time such as Ministry, NIN, White Zombie, and Pantera, etc.

We then began to write our own material and very carefully inserted our songs into the set lists announcing during our show that our song was in fact a song from any given popular band. For example, we had a song called ‘Red’ and would tell the crowd it was a song from Judas Priest or Metallica and the material was strong enough, everyone actually enjoyed it so it never raised any red flags with venue owners! After a couple of years on the circuit, that band dissolved and allowed Eddy and I the opportunity to dive deeper into our own goals and we formed PISSING RAZORS with his brother Danny and a vocalist named Dave Loco Pelon McNut.

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Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or your perspectives changed since first starting out? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

🎤 MAT LYNCH, Guitar: Carrying on from the first question, our goal with PISSING RAZORS was to dive headfirst into strictly being an original act ditching the cover circuit and write the most intense, loud and in your face music we could. Music in general was very explosive at the time with incredibly versatile and coming cutting edge bands, and we felt we could be a brick in that wall of sound revolution and make a name for ourselves doing things our way too, no holds barred.  Our goal was to be as intense live as our name and sound suggested and at that point in time, the band was heavily punk influenced with a roaring groove based flare that we felt gave us our distinct sound.  That’s where our mantra ‘Psycho, Punko, Metal, Groove’ was born from. After our first singer and Eddy’s brother departed for differing reasons, that introduced Joe and our original bassist Rick into the group which allowed us to refocus our sound into a tighter more rhythmic groove-oriented machine. We toured any and everywhere we could, but most specifically the Southern California area looking to secure a record deal which finally happened in 1997.  Our goal to this day remains to continue doing things our way, as loud, heavy and in your face as possible.

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Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Who would you consider some of your biggest musical influences and how are they influential?

🎤 GEO GOMEZ, Bass: There have been so many musical influences throughout the years, But I’d have to say some of the biggest influences came in late 70’s early 80’s. There were bands from Kiss, Van Halen, ZZ Top, Grand Funk. Sabbath, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden just to name a few. Growing up there was such a great spread of great bands that I’m sure a bit of each rubbed off becoming a collage of musical influences. All these bands really left a staple on myself with such great live performance from costumes, flames, and fantastic light and stage shows. All this rolled up into one. It totally influenced me into wanting to be on the big stage and perform to anyone who is willing to join the art of music and feel that energy of a live performance.

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Ah, the fun stuff.  What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance?  Feel free to be creative.  

🎤 EDDY GARCIA, Drums: What comes to mind is while playing Hellfest with Overkill, all of a sudden there was a guy crowd surfing in a wheelchair! There was another time when I was doing a Pantera tribute playing somewhere in Texas. There were mostly girls up at the front of the stage. The singer started telling them “Show us what your mama gave you!” Next thing you know it started with one chic flashing us! Then it turned into all of them one upping each other! After that, the bartenders were on the bar showing their stuff! I believe I saw more breast that night than in any strip club I’ve ever been to!!

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Up until this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special? 

🎤 EDDY GARCIA, Drums: I can’t really say just one song in particular… for me it’s when I or we come with something really creative or different whether it be a drum beat, guitar part, or vocally… but it’s magical when it’s all 3! There is some of that happening on this new record!

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Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left of center the world should know about you? Secret talents or surprising tidbits? 

🎤 GEO GOMEZ, Bass: Not many secrets left. HA! Well, I do have a passion for cooking. But, I believe the one thing I’ve rarely shared is the ability to draw. Which I myself think I don’t do often enough.

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Closing things out, what is PISSING RAZORS currently working on, promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure.

🎤 JOE RODRIGUEZ, Vocals: We recently finished recording our first record in 17 years titled 💿 Eulogy Death March and it is currently in the mixing and mastering process with 🎛 Sterling Winfield (Pantera, Hellyeah).  We will have our CD release party on October 1st, 2021 in our hometown of El Paso, Texas at Ricky D’s.  We are also headlining the Texas Domination Festival in San Antonio, Texas at Bonds Rock Bar on November 6, and a show in Ft. Worth, Texas at the Rail Club Live on November 7. Our goal is to tour in support of the new album. If anyone wants to find us on social media, listen to our music digitally, or buy merch, they can go here:  https://linktr.ee/pissingrazors

Thanks to everyone for all the support!

Thank you so much for sharing taking the time to answer these questions, and best of luck moving forward.

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Getting to Know… PISSING RAZORS: Interview No. 205 🎤 [📷: PISSING RAZORS, Brent Faulkner, The Musical Hype]

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