Power Trip is an American crossover thrash band formed in Dallas, Texas, in 2008. By 2020, Power Trip's lineup consisted of Riley Gale (lead vocals), Blake Ibanez (lead guitar), Nick Stewart (rhythm guitar), Chris Whetzel (bass) and Chris Ulsh (drums); the latter replaced drummer Marcus Johnson, who left in 2009.[1] Their current singer is Seth Gilmore, who replaced Gale in 2023, more than three years after the latter's death. They have released two studio albums to date, Manifest Decimation (2013) and Nightmare Logic (2017), plus a compilation including their early tracks and a live album.
Power Trip was one of the most successful thrash metal bands of the 2010s, with Nightmare Logic entering the Billboard charts,[2] and receiving a number of accolades by publications.[3][4][5] A live version of the song "Executioner’s Tax (Swing of the Axe)" received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.[6][7]
History
This article is missing information about the band's early years. Please expand the article to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page. (May 2021)
In 2018, the album Opening Fire: 2008–2014 was released as a way to compile their extra tracks.[17] In late 2019, Power Trip announced that they were working on their third album.[18]
Vocalist Riley Gale died on August 24, 2020, at the age of 34. His death was announced by the band the next day.[9][19] In May 2021, it was reported that the official cause of death was ruled by the Dallas County's medical examiner as an accidental overdose from the "toxic effects" of fentanyl. The report also claimed that Gale, who reportedly had a history of depression and drug abuse, had been found "unresponsive on the floor at home" and the only other substance found in his system was marijuana.[20][21]
At the time of Gale's death, Power Trip was on the bill for a European tour with Lamb of God and Kreator, which was originally scheduled to take place in the spring of 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the tour being rescheduled to late 2021 and again to late 2022; the band was eventually replaced by Thy Art Is Murder and Gatecreeper.[22][23][24]
In a March 2021 interview with Los Angeles Times, the surviving members of Power Trip stated that they are unsure of the band's future, but have not ruled out the possibility of continuing in Gale's memory. Lead guitarist Blake Ibanez commented, "We do want to continue to play music together; we just are not sure what that looks like at this time."[25]
On December 1, 2023, the surviving members of Power Trip played a secret surprise set at The Mohawk in Austin, Texas with Fugitive's Seth Gilmore on vocals.[26] On February 20, 2024, the band announced they would be playing several shows in 2024, starting with the No Values Festival in June, with Gilmore returning on vocals.[27]
Musical style and influences
Their sound has been described by critics as thrash metal[1] and hardcore punk,[1][28][29] as well as simply crossover thrash.[30] Gale cited the importance of guitar riffs and pop songs: "Some of Blake [Ibanez]'s favorite bands are Killing Joke, Stone Roses, Siouxsie and the Banshees, the Wipers". Gale said that he worked hard to do concise lyrics: "each word relates to the sentence, and how the sentence relates to the verse. Making sure everything's connected and there's not a syllable wasted." "I try to write something that's catchy that people can sing along to mindlessly". "[I write about] the frustrations with what I see. People's motivations".[31]AllMusic wrote that their music reached fans of both "hardcore punk and extreme music".[1]
Band members
Current members
Blake Ibanez – lead guitar, backing vocals (2008–present)
Nick Stewart – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2008–present)
^Weingarten, Christopher R.; Shteamer, Hank; Bienstock, Richard; Grow, Kory; Epstein, Dan (December 6, 2017). "20 Best Metal Albums of 2017". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
^Epstein, Dan; Bennett, J.; Pessaro, Fred; Camp, Zoe; Geist, Brandon (December 5, 2017). "20 Best Albums of 2017". Revolver. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
