Poisoned But Well

"I think probably with the change in direction – we've gone a bit more rock – it might have thrown a few metal people who were still clinging on to the last band, that wanted to hear another metal record,” Electric Horse frontman Jason Brown concedes. “They might have been a little bit disappointed, but we can't play music for other people, we've got to play it for ourselves.”

Brown and his cohorts have been going at Electric Horse since 2009, having released their debut EP Translations in late-2010. Currently among the ranks is his brother and fellow former Sunk Loto member Dane Brown, ex-Lump guitarists Scott Jackman and Luke Atrill, and bassist Corey Absell of King Mungi. February's just released Venomous sees all the members venturing into territory that has moved on from the heaviness of their prior metal bands.

When asked to describe what sort of life experiences shaped his lyrical content this time around the family man says “that's a tricky one”.

“Probably not so much as I have in the past… [used it as] a bit of an emotional outlet,” he offers. “Songwriting and lyric-wise, you'll always be venting about something, but with this album I just kind of went a little bit more psychedelic with it. The thing is it's all relative to what you're going through in your life at the time, and right now for me things are pretty good. It was not so much of an emotional outpouring... more just seeing if I could come up with some cool words. There's two different ways of writing lyrics: you can go the therapeutic route, and if you're going through some tough shit, then that will come out. That has happened to me in the past, but this time it was more painting a picture, and seeing if it came out nice or not.”

Does he ever miss being aggressive?

“For now man, I don't miss it because I don't lose my voice anymore... that's one good thing,” he laughs. “I do kind of sometimes miss that kind of sound, but right now I'm not aggressive anymore. If I'm not feeling pissed off, or upset at life, then I'm not going to scream, or what's the point? If you're feeling a little bit content, or you're not upset, then you're not really going to scream I guess, and if you are then it's probably not real.”

His former band Sunk Loto was once one of Australia's most talked about metal groups in the early-2000s, having put out two albums through Sony. If a major came knocking once more, would he consider it?

“Man, it'd have to be a million dollar deal, because the music industry never used to be a guarantee, and now it's even less of that,” he states. “The last band I played in was involved in the industry when there was still money to be made, but even then it was very unpredictable. I am definitely happy with where I am right now. I can pick music up when I want to, and put it down when I want to. It's great going on tour and recording albums for a living, but people will change, and people will turn their backs on you.

“I've got a great family, a beautiful wife, two kids, and just bought a house about two years ago. I work a job and it's been pretty good. I drink beer and watch sport. Life's good. I still like rock'n'roll too man.”

Electric Horse will be playing the following dates:

Saturday 23 March - Tempo Hotel, Brisbane QLD
Friday 29 March - Bald Faced Stag, Sydney NSW