Industrial metal mavericks discuss origins, evolution, and why Inverness is always a riot
GunPoint X are a band that thrive on chaos, energy, and a relentless drive to be unforgettable. Since forming in 2017, the Glasgow-based industrial metal act have built a reputation for combining ferocious riffs with glitch-driven electronics and a fierce stage presence.
Ahead of their upcoming show at The Tooth & Claw, Inverness on 1 November 2025, we caught up with the band to dig into their origins, their sound, and what fans can expect when they hit the Highlands once again.
How did GunPoint X first form, and what’s the story behind your name / your on-stage personas (The Sheriff, Judge Dreadz, The Texorcist)?
GunPoint X formed in 2017, in secret. We spent a year building the set, with a mysterious marketing campaign making the rounds in our local scene. After the big reveal we then made our live debut in September 2018 to a packed out Ivory Blacks in Glasgow.
The story behind the persona is linked to our song Guns Guns Guns. A hard drinking, loud mouth, undead sheriff from Texas who’s hell bent on revenge. There was talks of doing a comic/graphic novel which would expand on his history etc but not got round to that yet.
You’ve described yourselves as industrial metal — merging heavy guitars, glitch electronics and tribal drumming. How has your sound evolved since you started, and what elements do you feel define you now versus early days?
Someone once described us as Metal Industrial, which kinda stuck. When we started I was doing a lot of the keys/electronics side myself onstage, but as the song writing evolved ie more of the industrial elements came out it was proving impossible while maintaining the concentration and focus needed for the vocals/frontman role. We now have Damian on the electronics side which means we can pull off everything we do on record, live. I wasn’t keen on going down the backing tracks route.
When you listen back to your earliest recordings and compare them to what you’re putting out now, what’s the biggest musical or production difference that you feel shows your growth?
When GPX started I was definitely going for a Godflesh/early Pitchshifter vibe, very raw Streetcleaner type recordings. And I’ll be honest, it didn’t suit us. So we upped the equipment, production, and while it still maintains the grit, the production is so clean you could eat off it. Steve, our bass player is def the tech geek in the band, he really helped with that whole process. During lockdown I built a small home studio, the advancements on home recordings are amazing, I would have killed to have this when I was younger!
We see you’re playing in Inverness on 1 November — do you know if this will be your first time performing in the Highlands / Inverness area? What are your expectations playing somewhere you haven’t visited (or haven’t visited much) before?
We’ve played Inverness once before, and myself quite a number of times in my previous band. Inverness basically, is always a riot! People always seem eager to come out and party, and it being Halloween, ourselves, Heart Of Hecate, The Idiotix and Thousand Mile Stare, for a tenner? Let’s do this Inverness.
What have been some of the standout moments or milestones for GunPoint X so far — whether a performance, review, collaboration, or fan moment — that changed how you see your band’s trajectory?
There have been many, but honestly, the best moments for me are our connection with the audience. On and offstage. Onstage playing in front of a crowd who don’t know you, and very slowly start to get on your side, and by the end of it you’ve completely won them over. Offstage people excited to share their stories, sign a setlist, take a photo with them, meet their mum! It makes all the time and effort into what we’re doing worth it 100%.
Collaboration wise, having Gun Drummer feature on one of our songs was pretty sweet.
What challenges or roadblocks have you faced (logistics, funding, promotion, line-up, creative differences) and how have you navigated them? What lessons do you carry forward?
It’s getting the name out there, promoting. The market is over saturated, every band is on Spotify, everyone’s in some god awful tribute band nowadays. I said in a trailer promoting our first show that all I cared about was being the absolute best on that stage. Having the coolest merch, the best material. That’s simply the best way to stand out. Become undeniable.
Looking ahead: what are your ambitions for the next year or two? Where do you want GunPoint X to be — in terms of recordings, touring, exposure — and how do you see this Inverness show fitting into that journey?
This may sound like a generic answer, but releasing more material, and more shows throughout the UK. We have a LOT of material sitting there, all of it strong, set worthy. As many eyes on the product as possible. Inverness is always a hot spot and I can’t wait for everyone there to see where we’re at in 2025, a live, bouncing groove machine, that I can guarantee you’ve not seen anything like it before.
GunPoint X’s rise has been built on grit, growth and a fearless commitment to their craft. As they prepare to storm The Tooth & Claw in Inverness on 1 November 2025, fans can expect a show that’s raw, immersive and impossible to ignore — a perfect reflection of everything the band have fought to create.
Explore more features, interviews, and artist previews on the IGigs main page.
