Cody Votolato, a pivotal figure in the hardcore scene, has embarked on a new sonic journey with Evil Island, a project that synthesizes his extensive musical history into a fresh, genre-bending sound. Their debut album, Terraform the Afterlife, represents a culmination of Votolato’s artistic evolution, blending the raw intensity of his past with unexpected influences. This new venture reunites him with two former members of his influential band, The Blood Brothers, signaling a significant chapter in his career.
From The Blood Brothers to Evil Island: A Musical Evolution
Votolato’s musical trajectory began in the ’90s, marked by the surrealist and scream-infused punk of The Blood Brothers. His career has since seen him collaborate with notable artists and bands, including a stint with Nick Zinner of Yeah Yeah Yeahs in Head Wound City and co-writing sessions with Against Me!. Now, with Evil Island, Votolato describes Terraform the Afterlife as his “guitar dream,” a testament to the creative fulfillment he finds in the project. The album’s sound is deeply rooted in the jagged, intense phrasing of post-hardcore icons Drive Like Jehu, a constant in Votolato’s riff vocabulary. However, the record also embraces a broader palette, drawing inspiration from the acoustic textures of the Violent Femmes and the pop-experimentation of Gorillaz.
The name “Evil Island” itself is a deliberate homage to The Blood Brothers’ 2003 cult classic, …Burn, Piano Island, Burn. This connection highlights the continuity of artistic vision, as Evil Island features Votolato alongside vocalist Johnny Whitney and drummer Mark Gajadhar, the core creative force behind The Blood Brothers. The album also marks a reunion with producer Ross Robinson, who previously helmed The Blood Brothers’ Piano Island, further cementing the sense of returning to familiar, fertile ground.
Horror-Surf Influences and Sonic Experimentation
A distinctive element of Terraform the Afterlife is its embrace of a “horror-surf” aesthetic. Votolato explains that this theme permeates much of the record, inspired by his fondness for Boris Pickett’s “Monster Mash” and the macabre, surf-instrumental sounds of The Ghouls, an obscure project associated with early Beach Boys collaborator Gary Usher. The band even listened to The Ghouls extensively during recording sessions, allowing the “surfy, ghouly rock thing” to naturally integrate into their music. Tracks like “Melted Heart” and “Animal,” with their peppy, reverberating twang and lyrical references to “summertime vampires,” vividly embody this monstrous influence.
The formation of Evil Island was spurred by a successful Blood Brothers reunion tour in the fall of 2024, which marked the first time the band had played together in a decade. Although the tour was met with sold-out crowds and reaffirmed the band’s enduring appeal, it became clear that their reunion would be a temporary endeavor. Following the tour, Whitney approached Votolato about forming a new band. Votolato, who had already been developing angular hardcore material, readily agreed. Gajadhar was soon brought into the fold, and the trio recruited bassist Autry Fulbright (known for his work with…And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead and OFF!) before entering the studio with producer Ross Robinson.
Guitar Techniques and Gear on Terraform the Afterlife
Votolato’s approach to guitar on Terraform the Afterlife is characterized by its instinctual nature, whether he’s delivering pure-rage power chords, surf-inspired licks, or dissonant note splits. He and producer Ross Robinson opted for a dynamic recording process, often splitting a single performance across two different amplifier signals to maintain sonic freshness. “There’s not tons of doubling,” Votolato noted. “A lot of times it’s one take-through with some fixes, and then we moved onto the next thing.”
During the recording sessions at Robinson’s Malibu studio, Votolato experimented with a variety of vintage gear. He utilized a ’65 SG reissue through a vintage Ampeg V-2, rumored to have belonged to Sublime’s Bradley Nowell, and a mid-’60s Fender Bassman modified by X guitarist Billy Zoom. Despite the album’s intensity, Votolato was particularly drawn to the clean tones of these amplifiers. “I tend to play more high gain, so it was this neat approach to making punk songs – to have this less-forgiving guitar tone,” he explained. “You really had to perform well, because it wasn’t saturated with gain.”
Beyond the core guitar tones, Votolato also incorporated unique effects, notably the polyphonic octave effect on the track “T-Hexx.” This was achieved using the original Electro-Harmonix POG pedal, a piece of gear he first encountered while working with Head Wound City. “When we were writing the first Head Wound City record [in 2005], Nick Zinner was really close with the Electro-Harmonix people,” Votolato recalled. “He was like, ‘They gave me this pedal that’s not out yet,’ and it was the original POG. That was the first time I ever heard something like that, and we used it a bunch on that record.” While the band consciously avoids overusing the POG’s distinctive sound on the new album, it serves a crucial role in “T-Hexx,” enhancing the impact of the guitar licks.
Collaborations and Enduring Friendships
Terraform the Afterlife features several notable guest appearances, underscoring the deep network of creative relationships Votolato has cultivated. “T-Hexx” includes guest vocals from Guy Picciotto of Fugazi, a guitarist Votolato deeply admires and who co-produced The Blood Brothers’ album Young Machetes. Elsewhere, vocalist Michael Gatto, frontman for the L.A. band XCOMM (which features Revel, son of Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian, on drums), trades hardcore screams with Whitney on another track. Jordan Blilie, also from The Blood Brothers, contributed vocals to the beach-themed “I Bought a Spell.”
Although Votolato is the sole guitarist on the album, the current live lineup of Evil Island includes former Glassjaw guitarist Todd Weinstock. Votolato also credits drummer Mark Gajadhar with contributing production ideas, such as the stabbing staccato guitar heard on “Evil Island Death Cult National Anthem.” The depth of talent involved highlights the enduring friendships and creative partnerships that are the bedrock of Evil Island. “I went to elementary school with Mark, so to still be doing stuff with him at this point in our lives feels like a real blessing,” Votolato reflected.
Terraform the Afterlife is available now via Blowed Out.
