T R Y S T E. Sometimes endings bring new beginnings, this was the case for Dublin based duo T R Y S T E. As Gabriel Gaba’s (vocals/guitar) previous project ended he found himself looking to explore new sonic horizons, balancing emotional atmospherics with crushingly heavy sounds. Shortly after reconnecting with John O’Kelly (production/guitar) online, the two set about melding their respective influences, with John drawing on classic shoegaze and 80’s goth. The result is something all at once beautiful and devastatingly beautiful, or as the band say, ‘emotionally heavy, heavy music’. It’s this juxtaposition we hear on their latest single ‘Vessel’. An emotional black-gaze bloodletting draped in the starry elegance of post-rock and the slow crush of post-metal. ‘Vessel’ is the quintessential T R Y S T E song, and the perfect entry point for any new fans. It follows singles ‘The Long Journey’ and ‘Pipe Dream’ and is the final single to be taken from their forthcoming EP ‘To Rise You Seek The End’ due November 13th.
Sometimes endings bring new beginnings, this was the case for Dublin based duo T R Y S T E. As Gabriel Gaba’s (vocals/guitar) previous project ended he found himself looking to explore new sonic horizons, balancing emotional atmospherics with crushingly heavy sounds. Shortly after reconnecting with John O’Kelly (production/guitar) online, the two set about melding their respective influences, with John drawing on classic shoegaze and 80’s goth. The result is something all at once beautiful and devastatingly beautiful, or as the band say, ‘emotionally heavy, heavy music’. It’s this juxtaposition we hear on their latest single ‘Vessel’. An emotional black-gaze bloodletting draped in the starry elegance of post-rock and the slow crush of post-metal. ‘Vessel’ is the quintessential T R Y S T E song, and the perfect entry point for any new fans. It follows singles ‘The Long Journey’ and ‘Pipe Dream’ and is the final single to be taken from their forthcoming EP ‘To Rise You Seek The End’ due November 13th.
When it comes to writing, the pair prefer to write in isolation of each other, spending time carefully crafting the song and allowing it to present itself before demoing and sharing it. From this point onwards the process becomes entirely collaborative. The result is a sound that far exceeds the sum of its parts. ‘Vessel’ is just one example of the pair’s songwriting prowess.
The last song to be written for their forthcoming EP, Gabriel says ‘Vessel’ was the song he’d been trying to write all along. The track begins mellow and introspective, swelling synths blossom underneath an acoustic guitar as Gabriels ethereal vocals float a top cascading layers that coalesce to wrap around the listener. As drums join with a simple kick and cross sticking pattern it builds the track to fever pitch before the sonic onslaught breaks forth. A tsunami of drums, intense screams and crushing guitar are unleashed. Emotionally heavy, heavy music. It feels euphoric and cathartic, the only logical conclusion to the build that precedes it. The melody that wraps itself throughout the song and weaves in amongst the stampede of drums and distortion drenched guitars, always remaining at the heart of the track. Lyrically the song is about standing at a crossroads in life, deciding to cut and run and in the process save themselves, or if they stay aboard this ‘vessel’ and try to weather the storm. Gabriel says, “It’s about having integrity even at the worst possible situations.”
John is a professional recording engineer having previously worked in the legendary Westland Studios, so when it came time to record he was able to record all his lead guitars, rhythm guitars, bass and synth. Gabriel handled the vocals, rhythm guitars, synth, piano and ambient sections remotely. The pair made the decision they wanted live drums on the tracks and brought in session drummer, Nicola Dusmanic to replicate drums they had programmed. Given John’s experience he shouldered the responsibility of producer and mixing engineer before handing the project over to Brad Boatright from Audiosiege Studios in Portland for mastering.
Keeping things in house again, leaning on each other’s relevant skill set, in Gabriel’s professional life he is a graphic designer so it only made sense that he’d handle the visual language for the band. The band wanted to ensure that every element of the band was representative of their sound and intention leaning into the juxtaposition of contrasts that inspires everything about the band – from light to dark, from brutal to beautiful.
© Michael Smyth
