Anyone else here for a 49 Winchester heavy metal concept album?
Whiskey Riff sat down with frontman Isaac Gibson and bassist Chase Chafin in the latest episode of the Whiskey Riff Raff podcast. The interview touched on everything, including songwriting, their career trajectory, upgrading from a van to a tour bus, their forthcoming album Leavin’ This Holler, and much more.
And by much more, I most importantly mean that 49 Winchester would entertain the idea of a heavy metal concept album. The band hailing from Castlewood, Virginia has always been hard to pin down to one specific genre, but I can confidently tell you that no one has ever mistaken them for heavy metal. That’s why the idea of them going full-on-metal is so intriguing.
As to why they might do that, Gibson explained that he and his bandmates have listened to and appreciated a wide variety of music throughout their lives:
“I think that’s why we sound the way we do. I think that’s why it’s kind of hard to put a finger on it. Is it a country band? Is it a rock band? I think it’s a lot of both. I’ve loved country music my entire life, I love southern rock.
I love heavy metal. I love good EDM, good hip-hop. I love anything man, if it’s well executed and it’s tasteful, I can get down with it.”
Chafin, the band’s talented bassist, agreed with Gibson, and revealed that many members of the band still listen to the heaviest of the metals in their spare time:
“We have a pretty diverse tastes and influences. There are still a lot of metal-heads in the band.”
So, as the good, journalistic reporters that we are here at Whiskey Riff, we straight up asked if they would ever consider putting together a 49 Winchester project that strayed away from their country and southern rock roots. Gibson might as well have responded with “hell yes” as he said this:
“We’ve mulled on the idea of doing a 49 Winchester ‘Doom Metal’ album.”
49 Winchester. Doom metal. Collision course.
Not just heavy metal… DOOM metal. I’ll speak for all music fans and say that project without a doubt needs to happen. And it sounds like they’d seriously consider bringing it to life if they can find the time to do so, as Chafin explained:
“Our lives have been so busy, you know? But if we’re ever afforded the luxury of time, we would love to get in the studio and just make really beautiful music… something off the wall.”
You can hear more about the potential concept album, along with all kinds of other great 49 Winchester soundbites, in the interview below:
