Excuse For An Exit Guitarist Reveals What Album Changed Her Life

Melodic punks Excuse For An Exit are back with their new single, Not Here For You, a firecracker of a single that screams in defiance against homophobia and bigotry experienced by band members and displays the kind of confidence you don't see from a band that only formed in 2019 and faced multiple strict COVID-19 lockdowns. Kicking off with a ringing riff, the Gippsland band fire on all cylinders and keeps up momentum from their 2020 debut EP, Hot Mess, and follow-up singles, Ugly Cry and Death Of Me.

"Not Here For You is about being fed up with being told what to do, how to behave and who you should be by people who don't have your best interests at heart," vocalist Edelle Merson explains. 

Continuing, she says, "I had experienced a bunch of homophobic and sexist interactions in short succession and was pissed off. I don't understand why people feel the need to dictate to others how they should conduct themselves or live their life. I'm going to do what I want because I have to live in this body, and I'm not here for anyone else; I'm here for me!"

In celebration of the release of Not Here For You, we caught up with guitarist Elise Felsbourg to hear all about the album that she reckons recharged the metalcore scene and changed her life.

The Album That Changes Lives With Elise Felsbourg Of Excuse For An Exit

Spiritbox - Eternal Blue

"The amazing thing about this album was that so many other albums had changed my life up to that point, but somehow, this one hit differently. Even in my late 20's. Maybe because it was in the depths of Melbourne lockdown and our mental states were at an all-time low, dopamine hits were a much more scarce source at this point. Or maybe it was Courtney LaPlante's soaring high and guttural lows, backed by catchy, memorable riffs."

"My first time hearing a track off Eternal Blue was on my work break after a mate suggested I listen to this new band on the scene. I gave Holy Roller a spin and had to rewind back to the breakdown several times to process what was going on… I was hooked after that point, and I'm pretty sure I was back quite late from my break.

"Eternal Blue hadn't come out at that point, but they did release four or so singles before belatedly dropping the album due to COVID. When I could finally hear it from start to finish, I had a new favourite song every few minutes. Sun Killer was such a powerful way to start the album; the whispered outro lulled us into a false sense of security before LaPlante screamed her lungs out at us."

"Each song brought something new to the table. One close to my heart would have to be Constance - a heart-wrenching ballad about loss; the song's atmosphere takes me to another place. However, I would say my favourite on the album would be The Summit - this is the one that has been stuck in my head the longest and was supposedly inspired by singer The Weeknd - you can hear the influences if you go back and listen to it."

"The aggressive guitars, yet high and flowing vocals, gave inspiration to some of my own writing within Excuse For An Exit. Seeing such a powerful band led by an equally powerful frontwoman is a very refreshing sight in the scene."

Not Here For You is out now.