San Fransisco’s FENTANYL have been turning heads and making a splash in the hardcore punk scene for years now thanks to their loud band name and louder guitar tones. Today they drop their highly anticipated self-titled debut LP on Convulse Records and it’s just as angry fast and loud as you’d expect. We spoke with vocalist and songwriter Kenny Turner about the bands sound, their upcoming tour, and why being mad at a punk band’s name is some soft shit.
First things first, from your perspective how has the general reception to the band name been? How did you land on it and how do you feel about it after hearing some reactions, especially now that the band is getting more attention?
It’s usually pretty divisive as expected. I’ve literally had people tell me it’s there favorite band name or that I should kill myself. I guess that kinda reaction is a good thing though. I thought of the idea to use Fentanyl as a band name in 2019 as the Fentanyl epidemic in San Francisco began to worsen. It was the only thing you’d read on the news or see on the street. So, I decided to use that as the band name, because it was relevant. I still roll my eyes when some dork gets upset about the name though. “Fentanyl kills people”, that’s the fucking point. Of course, it happens more often now that the band has a little more attention but being mad at a punk band’s name has to be the softest take possible.
FENTANYL’s self-titled debut LP is available now through Convulse Records.
The band has a very impressive collective resume including playing in SPIRITUAL CRAMP, SPY, and WORLD PEACE. How did you all link up initially?
Cruz and I met through mutual friends in the scene. One time at a party at my house I punished him and showed him some demos. He was into it and was down to play guitar.
Thomas and I met in 2017. We had a band that he played bass in and when it dissolved he was always on board with my next project. Thomas joined Spy a few years later.
Derek and I met when he was throwings shows in his garage back in the sunset back in 2018. Were working on a project that never took off and I later recruited him for Fentanyl. He already had World Peace going at the time and I sometimes play with them as an auxiliary member.
As always, the hardest part was finding a drummer. I had about 3 guys agree and then back out. I met Nate in 2018 while I was playing a lot of online video games because I had gotten fired from a job. I forgot he had played drums and eventually asked him and he became our drummer for two gigs. Nate had a scheduling issue when we were recording our demo and Mendo was able to step in to play drums. Instead of keeping Nate on drums, I moved him to 3rd guitar and Mendo has been our drummer ever since. Nate joined Spiritual Cramp in 2022 and Mendo joined Spy in 2023. We are all good friends so we’ve always played in each others projects.
FENTANYL has a very distinct sound, mostly from the lack of distortion on the guitars. Personally I hear a little early THEE OH SEES and of course some DEAD KENNEDYS. Can you talk a little about how you arrived at that sound? Are there any specific influences?
I like the sound of a guitar amp naturally distorting from just being turned up hella loud. To me, that’s how punk should sound. In my head, the idea of a young punk band back in the day just turning up their amps hella loud to get distortion and causing a racket at a gig is the tone I want. Growing up listening to bands with shitty recordings on bad speakers also made me lean towards the cleaner tone because it would cut through and you could actually hear the riffs.
As far as influences some obvious classics like DK, The Clash, and The Ramones. I try to take influence from local bands. Even though the regional sound of music is mostly dead, I still try. One of my favorite guitar tones is from an early 2000s local band from SF called Culture Kids. They did a split with one of my other favorites, Jump Off A Building, in 2009. Still holds up. I also got inspiration from some early 80s power pop bands from here like The Rockers and The Finders.
There is also Failures, insanely frantic hardcore from Youth Attack records. Lastly, I’ll mention the severely underrated MILK from Japan. Some of the hardest riffs from a band with a legitimately clean guitar tone.
Sonically your music is very violent, but lyrically I found it to be surprisingly introspective and even poetic at times. What is the songwriting process like? Is it a collaborative effort or is one member bringing ideas to the table?
I keep a lot of my lyrics really short. Something like 2 to 4 lines. If it gets any longer, I feel like the words are less impactful. I write most of the Fentanyl lyrics when I’m having bouts of anxiety. I used to have these episodes where I was really anxious and paranoid. I would just quickly write down what I was feeling or thinking and then use that as lyrics. Honestly, I’m not creative enough to come up with any other lyrical content.
I write all the music for Fentanyl. I am admitally, a bit of a control freak. I don’t think my songwriting process is much different from anyone else. When I’m in the mood, I’ll play guitar, and I’ll build a song if I think it’s something worth keeping. I think enough time has passed where I can admit I wrote pretty much the entire LP, and the songs for Demo II, during the 2020 shelter in place while I was “on the clock” in my bedroom.
Like most beloved hardcore records the album is short and sweet. How long did the recording process take? Were most of the songs/tracklist complete when you entered the studio?
We recorded in 2 days at Different Fur Studios with Grace Coleman I had demoed out the record like a year or more before we were in the studio. I write songs and build records sequentially, so we already were prepared in that aspect. The hardest part was dialing in tone. Even though I feel like I spent months trying to dial in the tone before we were in the studio, we still spent a lot of time figuring it out. But that’s part of the fun, I look forward to doing it again.
FENTANYL is about to hit the road with MEXICAN COKE and ASBESTOS, what can folks expect from these shows?
With both Fentanyl and Mexican Coke touring off of fresh records, I expect each night to be eager and chaotic. All the bands on this run, for better or for worse, are known for some type of stage antics. Either come to a hot gig or complain about us later on the internet.
Anything else planned for FENTANYL beyond this tour?
Yes.
Are there any other bands/labels you’d like to shout out here?
No.
FENTANYL’s self-titled debut LP is available now through Convulse Records. Pick up a copy and be sure to see them live on their upcoming Fall tour with MEXICAN COKE and ASBESTOS.
