Philadelphia’s Colossal Rains mark a deliberate shift for Gee Hirsch, whose work with Blacklisted helped define a generation of emotionally charged hardcore. Alongside David Walling (Blacklisted, Shark Attack), Jon-Michael Nean (Blacklisted), and Tyler Mullen (Scarab, Gridiron), Hirsch explores a heavier, more patient sound that leans into atmosphere and restraint rather than urgency, drawing from influences like Neurosis, Katatonia, and Crowbar without feeling beholden to any one lineage.
Their debut album, Feral Sorrow, was produced by longtime collaborator Will Yip (Turnstile, Mannequin Pussy), and arrives January 23 via the producer's own label, Memory Music. The collaboration brings a two-decade creative relationship full circle. Speaking of collaborations, Hirsch, Walling, and Nean have all also played together in Staticlone.
Ahead of the release, I spoke with Hirsch about how Colossal Rains came together, how they found a voice that reflects the present moment, how they reconnected with Yip in the studio, and the personal undercurrents shaping the band’s sound and identity.
You've had a solo project in Harm Wülf; you currently still play in both Blacklisted and Staticlone. What was the spark that made you want to start this project, and at what moment did it feel like its own distinct identity? I know we've talked about your love for bands like Katatonia in the past.
A couple of factors led to Colossal Rains. One was Blacklisted, playing two shows in Philadelphia with Unbroken after not playing together for about 5 years. In that time, I did Staticlone with Dave, but I wasn’t playing music with Jon. We actually only spoke occasionally after Blacklisted was put on the shelf. So at the rehearsals for that, we started speaking more. He wasn’t really happy with what he was doing musically, so we spoke of maybe doing something.
At the time, Dave wasn’t even in the picture, and we certainly didn’t have a drummer. And two, I met Tyler a couple of weeks earlier at a record fair I attended with my friend Anthony, who grew up with him. We talked about Plutocracy, and that’s about it. Jon hit me up and said he had an idea for a drummer, set up a rehearsal, and the only two people who showed up were me and this new drummer, Tyler.
It took a while to find its identity because, as the songwriter, I didn’t really know if they would want to play what I wanted to play. So I kind of cosplayed for the first few rehearsals, writing songs that kind of played towards what I thought they wanted, more hardcore stuff, more in line with Staticlone in hindsight. At this time, we asked Dave to play second guitar as Jon was already on bass.
I'm glad you brought up Katatonia. Discouraged Ones is one of my favorite LPs, and while listening to it on the way to rehearsal one day, I decided to show them some songs I had that played a little bit towards that, which is when we said, “This is the sound.” I think I've said before that Staticlone was really me working to please my teenage self. But Colossal Rains is very much me from my 20s on. Even in little nuanced areas that are too esoteric to even explain to the other members.
What do you get from bands like Neurosis that you don't from traditional hardcore? Is it more of an atmospheric thing as opposed to a lyrical ethos?
It’s certainly not lyrics. Not because I don’t like their lyrics, but more so because I have such an identifiable style that I can’t really shake or do any other way. As mentioned above, the real, nuanced, esoteric angle of Colossal Rains and me also speaks to their influence on me.
For me, Neurosis is a folk group. I love them in much the same way I do Current 93 or Fairport Convention. They just happen to use big guitar sounds to get where they need to go. Once I came out of my shell a bit and decided to show the band some of the other ideas I had, that was probably when their influence really shone. And on a really face value level, of course, the way they and a band like Converge have operated for 30+ years is an influence on me just as a person who puts their art out there. And if I can risk being too earnest for a moment, I could never really repay either of them for the valuable lessons over the years.
Your working relationship with Will Yip stretches back nearly two decades. What was it like stepping back into the studio together and did it feel just like "the old days" in that regard?
For me, stepping back into the studio with Will was a chance to be really present and redeem myself. It’s no secret that when I was in Blacklisted, things were very difficult. And I was miserable. Some was self-sabotage and my fault; some was the work of others. But either way, this was a real chance to kind of right that in my heart.
Again, it’s really nuanced and esoteric in its explanation. The truth I've learned often is. Of course, Will never held that against me or anyone in Blacklisted, and whenever we see each other or work together, it’s all love. It’s like seeing a family member you actually love and really want to see at Christmas.
READ MORE: The Making of Blacklisted's ...The Beat Goes On Album
How did you develop your vocal approach for Colossal Rains? Was that done in the rehearsal room/demo phases, or did you work with Will on it during the recording sessions? It fits the musical style perfectly, and the audio mix is strong.
Some of this ties in with the way Neurosis influenced me. The Colossal Rains songs are what they are to the listener. But stripped down to just myself and an acoustic guitar, more than a few of them are country songs. And that was on purpose. We just happened to use big guitar sounds to get there.
I'd love nothing more than to make an album of just myself and an acoustic guitar; it’s my exit strategy if I’m being honest. But now is not the time; it risks coming across as inauthentic. But where it has helped me is in my vocal performance, because I never practice or sing at rehearsal. Playing songs and singing in my bedroom or on my couch with my acoustic guitar really helped me. And obviously, having Will and his ear never hurts [laughs].
What's the story behind the UK TV series Flowers you mentioned in the press materials? I just read the synopsis and found this pull quote: "A flourishing blend of family drama and melancholic madness..." Is it in the same vein as Six Feet Under?
[Laughs] I love that that made the press release. Ive never watched Six Feet Under. But for Flowers, it is just a black comedy. For me, the way it connected was the way it portrayed depression/mental issues as both serious and absurd. Which I think anyone who deals with that can understand. We can take these things very seriously, and should.
But we should also be able to find the absurdity in crying out of nowhere on an escalator in a train station in London. It also has an incredible way of showing how an artist or musician can be doing their best work, and no one pays attention or listens, and the type of ego that builds. It’s almost like a shield. A really, really unhealthy shield. And one I personally relied on for a long time. And through all that, it kind of just tells you to hold onto something.
I just saw Blacklisted perform here in Los Angeles at the Rich Hall Memorial Benefit. I grew up with him in Queens and was touched by the vibe in the room that night. What was it like playing that one? Also, how do you generally wind down after playing a set? Do you have trouble falling asleep?
I wish I knew you were there. Damn! A fine coffee experience was missed.
Next time, for sure!
Initially, Blacklisted was supposed to play the NYC show, and I backed out at the last minute. I felt bad about that, so when I saw Unbroken couldn’t do it, either, I asked Dave to maybe reach out to them and see if we could do something else. And I’m pretty sure [Unbroken bassist] Rob Moran made it happen.
I'm glad we did. When Blacklisted first started, our only “goal” was to play CBGBs. And Rich [Hall] almost immediately made that happen, more than once. I liked him quite a bit. Playing the show felt right, bittersweet, I guess.
I need to spend a lot of time alone, before and after we play. Which makes me a joy to be in a band and on tour with.
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Feral Sorrow will be out on January 23 via Memory Music (pre-order).
Colossal Rains on social media: Instagram
Tagged: blacklisted, colossal rains, gridiron, scarab, shark attack, staticlone
