Power Trip

Biography

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. Drummer Mark Rubin played and recorded with the group at its formation in 2008 before departing within several months. 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×Manifest Decimation11 June 2013 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 8 tracks1Manifest Decimation4:332Heretic’s Fork4:023Conditioned to Death3:224Murderer’s Row3:525Crossbreaker3:466Drown4:457Power Trip3:528The Hammer of Doubt6:26 (2013) and Nightmare Logic×Nightmare Logic24 February 2017 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Soul Sacrifice4:112Executioner’s Tax (Swing of the Axe)3:453Firing Squad3:184Nightmare Logic4:225Waiting Around to Die4:236Ruination3:107If Not Us Then Who4:108Crucifixation5:21 (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, and receiving a number of accolades by publications. A live version of the song "Executioner's Tax (Swing of the Axe)" received a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.

History

In 2013, the band signed with the Southern Lord Records label and released their first studio album, Manifest Decimation×Manifest Decimation11 June 2013 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 8 tracks1Manifest Decimation4:332Heretic’s Fork4:023Conditioned to Death3:224Murderer’s Row3:525Crossbreaker3:466Drown4:457Power Trip3:528The Hammer of Doubt6:26. Their second album, Nightmare Logic×Nightmare Logic24 February 2017 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Soul Sacrifice4:112Executioner’s Tax (Swing of the Axe)3:453Firing Squad3:184Nightmare Logic4:225Waiting Around to Die4:236Ruination3:107If Not Us Then Who4:108Crucifixation5:21, was released in 2017 to critical acclaim. The Guardian mentioned that singer Riley Gale's lyrics on Nightmare Logic, were about "social inequality and activism". He described Nightmare Logic as "dealing with this waking nightmare, things seem so surreal that they're unbelievable … trying to find optimism and a motivating force and realising that the 99% of us have more in common than we think". The success of Nightmare Logic, as well as sharing the stage with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Anthrax, Exodus, Testament, D.R.I., Suicidal Tendencies, Napalm Death, Lamb of God, Hatebreed, Five Finger Death Punch, Opeth, Danzig and Obituary, helped Power Trip become one of the most popular thrash metal bands in the 2010s.
In 2018, the album Opening Fire: 2008–2014 was released as a way to compile their extra tracks. In late 2019, Power Trip announced that they were working on their third album.
Vocalist Riley Gale died on August 25, 2020, at the age of 34. His death was announced by the band the next day. 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.
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.

In a March 2021 interview with Los Angeles Times, the surviving members of Power Trip stated that they were unsure of the band's future, but did not rule 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."
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. 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. They also embarked on their first tour in over five years as a direct support for Pantera's early 2025 European tour. This caused some criticism towards Power Trip, as late vocalist Riley Gale had stated in 2017 his views against Pantera vocalist Phil Anselmo and refusal to tour with Superjoint, following Anselmo's allegations of Nazism and racism stemming from his controversial 2016 tribute show to Dimebag Darrell. Blake Ibanez announced in November 2025 that there would be a new Power Trip album in 2026. In March 2026, it was announced that the band was signed to Blue Grape Music and plans to release their new album later in the year or in 2027.
On April 1, 2026, Power Trip were announced and scheduled to appear at Dark Mofo in Tasmania, Australia.

Musical style and influences

Their sound has been described by critics as thrash metal and hardcore punk, as well as simply crossover thrash. 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". AllMusic wrote that their music reached fans of both "hardcore punk and extreme music". Other influences they have cited include Anti-Cimex, Bad Brains, Breakdown, the Cro-Mags, Discharge, D.R.I., English Dogs, Entombed, Excel, Exodus, the Icemen, Killing Time, Leeway, Nuclear Assault, Prong, Sacrilege, Sepultura, Sodom, Suicidal Tendencies and Vio-lence.

Band members

Current members

Blake Ibanez – lead guitar, backing vocals (2008–present)
Nick Stewart – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2008–present)
Chris Whetzel – bass (2008–present)
Chris Ulsh – drums, backing vocals (2009–present)
Seth Gilmore – lead vocals (2023–present)
Former members

Riley Gale – lead vocals (2008–2020; his death)
Marcus Johnson – drums (2008–2009)
Mark Rubin – drums (2008)