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Gallows
 The UK doesn't really have a strong reputation when it comes to international attraction. The beer is warm, the fish and chips are cold, the majority of the people complain about anything they can, and the weather is about as upsetting as a funeral on a Monday. Despite these depressing factors, there are some appealing features within the small yet incredibly powerful island which Royalty resides: The Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the English Pound and even the next big thing in punk/hardcore: Gallows.
"I'm not really quite sure if we have become that popular yet, I mean we are playing the Vans Warped Tour at the moment with some amazing bands like Killswitch Engage, New Found Glory and Funeral For A Friend, and not that many kids know us. But then again we have had kids come up and ask when we are playing, which kind of sucks because we are on early, so they miss out. But it doesn't matter, we still give it our all," Laurent Barnard (guitars/keys/vocals) enlightens me whilst enjoying a few cold beers on what I'm told is quite a hot American summer's day.
It's no secret Gallows have exploded since the release of their debut album 'Orchestra Of Wolves'. With appearances on the Vans Warped tour and the upcoming international Taste Of Chaos, as well as supporting well-respected bands like Papa Roach and signing to a major label, it seems like the world is their oyster just waiting to be devoured. "We have suffered a bit of criticism for signing to a major label for being 'sell-outs' or whatever, but we haven't changed and neither has our record. The way we see selling out is when you change your music to try and sell records. And we haven't done that; we still have the same album that we recorded for £1,000 back home. We have had a lot of support with our decisions from everyone whether they were a punk or hardcore band, or just people from back home, which has been great. I guess at times you do question what you have done; it's like major labels are awesome, but at the same time they don't always think on the same lines as you do, it's just a case of working things out in the end."
Promoting a strong DIY work ethic, this quintet may be considered the odd band out at times. But being witness to their live show may cause even the most dangerous stuntmen to cringe. Not only is it a hazard to be near the chaotic frenzy of a Gallows show for the fans, it also is for the band. Bernard laughs, "We have all at some time, done serious injuries on stage. One time Frank [Carter, vocalist] was head banging so hard he ended up going to the doctors because he couldn't move his neck at all the next day. Anyways the doctor asked him 'How fast was the car going when it crashed?' and Frank just said he wasn't in a car crash, he was playing a show. The doctor seriously thought it was a car accident related injury. But that's just the start of it; I mean Steph [Carter, guitars/vocals] once split his head open on stage. Even today, I climbed up the scaffolding of our stage, ripped the interior muscles in my arm pretty badly. I guess it's never an easy ride, but we can't help it, we just get so into the music, we can't control what our bodies do."
Abstract is possibly the best way to describe Gallows, whether it's negotiating their intense live performance, or the addition of piano on their album, something which not a lot of punk/hardcore bands dare to even consider. And although it is unique it does work, and well. "We don't stick to a formula; we write what we think sounds good and we don't really give a fuck about the rest, because we love our music. We heard Australia has a great hardcore scene so we are looking forward to coming over and hopefully some of the other kids who aren't there for us, watch us and enjoy what we do."
Will Oakeshott
Gallows play Taste Of Chaos on Sun 21 October at Entertainment Centre with The Used, Rise Against, Aiden, Escape The Fate and The Bled. 'Orchestra Of Wolves' out now through Warner.
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