Saviour Complex is a band based out of Moorpark, a small town in Ventura County, California. "The three of us have been friends since middle school and high school," guitarist/vocalist Dylan Maguire tells me. "I met Frankie the first day of 6th grade in math class. We played in our first band together when we were 13 and many bands since then. We met Spencer in our junior year of high school through mutual friends and bonded over music.
"At the time we met, Spencer was also fairly active in punk and alternative music scenes adjacent to hardcore which opened me up to other facets of DIY music. In Saviour Complex I would be the most musically illiterate member and both Spencer and Frankie have put me onto a lot of different bands, labels, and art in general that I love to this day."
Listening to Saviour Complex's new EP, Penance & Loathing, I'm taken back to the '90s when labels like Crank! and Jade Tree were prominent. That line between hardcore and emo. "I always have a challenging time answering questions about the sound of this band, I’m still trying to figure it out myself," says Dylan. "I just rely upon other people to tell us how we sound. Ultimately, I think that’s it’s a good thing. Sometimes I want to just say, 'I thought these chords sounded pretty and I figured out how to sing in this particular way.'
"But for context, the loose idea was to make a band in the realm of Rites of Spring, Wipers, and Drive Like Jehu. But I don’t feel Saviour Complex sounds very much like any of those bands. Calling back to Frankie and Spencer being the tastemakers of the band; I think their love for '90s emo and hardcore stuff off of labels like Ebullition and Gravity Records really directed and shaped the songs I was bringing to practice. In a three piece the bass and drums can really flavor and transform an guitar melody.
"Also, Spencer turned me into a massive Alkaline Trio fan so maybe that’s to blame."
I ask Dylan if their sound walking the fine line between emo and hardcore has gotten in the way of playing shows on more traditional-style hardcore bills. "Fortunately, I wouldn’t say the sound has gotten in the way of much. We have played quite a lot of hardcore gigs and they’re always great. It’s a comfortable environment for us. It’s where we come from and a scene we’re still actively involved in. Massive shoutout to the 805 scene, Cameron who runs Ventura County Hardcore, Nick with Enthusiasm For Ruin, Vince at Room 11, and Thomas who operates TBD Presents and who actually booked our first gig before we had any recorded music after Cameron from VCHC sent him a voice memo of our practice.
"But regarding shows we may not have played because of the sound, I think there are just gigs in the HC scene that simply don’t make much sense for Saviour Complex to be on. If we wanted to play all the hardcore gigs we would have made a hardcore band. That’s just not particularly where our interest lies.
"It’s been a gratifying experience to not compromise on sound, carve our own path, and to win over kids in the hardcore and punk scene to the point where we’re quite embraced. Watching kids figure out how to two-step and spin kick to Saviour Complex songs will never cease to amaze me. Please keep doing that."
How about the material on Penance & Loathing from a lyrical standpoint? "Both are very much 'on brand.' 'Penance' leans far more personal. I’ve always struggled with bouts of severe depression and existential angst throughout my life. It’s just kind of a part of me. Which I imagine is a fairly garden variety and relatable disposition for many people. This element of my character is in part what motivated me to both play in bands and work in the field of mental health as a licensed clinical social worker. I find both immensely cathartic.
"'Loathing' is a bit more straightforward. It was an exercise in being honest about ugly emotions directed towards another. Which is a change of pace, as most of my writing is about me. It’s simply expressing my loathing of a person whom I love but who has brought harm to myself and my loved ones. Loathing to the point where you feel you would draw satisfaction from witnessing this person experience some sense of pain, guilt, remorse, or suffering for the pain they have caused. Sadistic sounding, I know. It’s easier to write mean things about yourself. I found writing them about someone else to be more challenging and I actually felt somewhat guilty. But it was honest."
Penance & Loathing is being released by Extinction Burst, a label that has definitely carved out a cool space within the hardcore community these past few years. "Working with Ray again has been very rewarding. We owe a lot to him for giving us a chance on our first record and has been an avid supporter ever since. He understands our vision really well and has never given us any restraint. Not on Chance Your Arm or this new EP.
"He’s been wholly supportive of our music, the artwork to coincide with it and how we wanted to physically present this release. We have been on the same page as Ray and Extinction Burst since day one. Can’t ask for more, honestly."
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Penance & Loathing is out now across digital music outlets, and the vinyl is up for pre-order via Extinction Burst.
Saviour Complex on social media: Instagram
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