Atlanta’s Holy+Gold are the perfect example of why you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Comprised of former members of Norma Jean, the Glass Ocean, and the Chariot, it would seem logical to pigeonhole the group as some offshoot of hardcore before hearing a single note. Instead, however, the five-piece take cues from bands like Color Revolt and Dear and the Headlights, crafting moody, artful songs that still retain some of the dirty grit of their previous projects.

After unveiling a pair of singles earlier this year, the band has remained relatively quiet as they complete work on their debut EP, Feral Children. Although the record is scheduled to drop this Friday via Bandcamp, anticipation has been building steadily for weeks. This buzz hit a fever pitch when the group was awarded a much coveted spot on the Stuffing 2016 lineup where they will get to perform with the likes of Citizen, Into It. Over It, and local heavyweights O’Brother and Manchester Orchestra. Ahead of the sold out show, I had the opportunity to speak with frontman Keller Harbin about the band’s upcoming debut and who they’re most excited to see at the Stuffing.

You’ve been booked to play The Stuffing, which boasts a petty stacked lineup. Are you excited to play? Who do you plan to see?

We are very excited to be a part of The Stuffing. There are a ton of great bands playing. We are incredible thankful to Andy Hull for putting us on the show; I haven’t seen them play in quite a while so I’m excited to see their show. Also I can’t wait to see Jesse Coppenbarger (Colour Revolt). He has has been one of my favorite songwriters since the first time I met him about 14 years ago.

You are currently in the studio recording your debut EP. What’s the recording process been like and where does the name come from?

[Our guitarist] Scottie [Henry] came up with the name. It plays into the lyrical content of the EP; we are exploring parts of music we haven’t been able to with our former projects and the lyrical content is a little more raw and straightforward. It’s highly personal with this release, which is [often] overstated by bands but I think we really tapped into the things we hide on a daily basis and shined a bright light on them. But that’s what we want to achieve with this band—honesty.

Will “Bat-Bird” and “Gravity” appear on the record?

“Bat-Bird” and “Gravity” have both been re-recorded and will appear on the EP along with four previously unreleased songs. Our hope is to hit the studio more often and keep a steady stream of music flowing. We are constant writers. We have taken a big chunk of time away from writing to record so we have a backlog piling up.

Will the EP be self-released or do you have a label lined up?

We are doing this release as DIY as possible. It will be self-released, and it will be available for a free download on Bandcamp for a limited time. But you can purchase or stream from iTunes, stream on Spotify, Amazon… all that jazz.

You’ve played a few shows, but do you have any plans to tour before the year is over?

We won’t be touring before the year is over. Our goal is to play shows within a few hours drive. We are somewhat spread out so it takes some coordination to get a weekend run together. But we are looking forward to future tours.

Holy+Gold will perform tomorrow at The Stuffing VII at the Center Stage complex. Doors open at 5 p.m. The show is SOLD OUT.

More Info
Bandcamp: holygold.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @holygoldband
Instagram: @holygoldband