Pittsburgh nu metal band Guides released a new single, “Drain,” with two more on the way, all produced by Zac “ZROKK” Diebels from the band Simon Says.
”Simon Says was one of the first bands that I ever saw when I was 12. It was the moment that my rock star dream was born,” Guides singer Jonathan Joseph said. “Decades later to be in the position and have the opportunity to be in the studio making a record with my hero and one my biggest influences is practically unthinkable. It’s just special. And it was a life-changing experience for all of us.
“But it wasn’t all easy by any means. ZROKK put us through the ringer both in terms of creativity and execution. This was boot camp for us. We went back to school. We adopted the mindset that we’ve never done it before at this level and that’s why we hired a producer. We checked our egos at the door. The end result of that is a much more focused, intentional and completely elevated product that we are extremely proud of and excited to share with the world. We got there as a team.”
The single, which Diebels also played guitar on, is heavily influenced by the Deftones’ sound on their 2010 “Diamond Eyes ” album, according to Joseph.
“We used eight-string guitars to write and record the new material. So it’s immediately heavier and darker than our previous EP. There’s a distinct Sacramento influence being channeled, that raw edge and bite that you hear from bands like Far, Simon Says, Deftones and Will Haven,” he said. “… Thematically, the song is about growth through suffering. Growth is not inevitable. Yes, we grow older, bigger, etc. But spiritually, mentally, emotionally … growing up seems to be optional for a lot of people. In a lot of ways, the song is about my struggles watching people around me refuse to grow. Not everyone will grow at the same rate, but over time this dynamic will drive wedges in relationships. We literally grow apart. That being said, people need to grow on their own. As an adult, it can be a hard thing to observe knowing that there’s only so much you can do or say to help.”
Guides has had the opportunity to open for some big bands of the genre, including a sold-out show with Sevendust last year at Mr. Smalls Theatre. (Guides is also among the support bands for Powerman 5000 Monday night at Crafthouse.)
“It was an unthinkable dream come true to play our original music in front of that many people at one time,” Joseph said. “Once you do it, you can’t wait to do it again.”
In the group’s third show ever, Guides opened for Taproot, which is Joseph’s favorite band.
“During the promotion cycle, we started pranking the band with our content,” Joseph said. “They reached out to let us know they were in on the joke, which led to us covering Limp Bizkit with their singer Stephen Richards on stage during our set.”
Joseph filled in TribLive on what else to know about Guides:
Band: Guides
Band members: Jonathan Joseph (vocals); Tim Evans (drums); Zach Hess (guitar/bass)
Founding story: Guides actually started in an earlier form in 2014. The EP we released in 2023 was mostly written during that era, but the lineup fell apart before we could ever properly record it. Honestly, those songs meant too much to me personally to let go of completely. Eventually I decided to rebuild the band locally instead of moving away and starting over somewhere else. Once we found the right people — especially our drummer, Tim, in 2019 — things finally started moving in the right direction. Then the pandemic hit and stalled all of our momentum before it really even began. I think everyone has their own version of that story. There were definitely moments where it felt like maybe Guides just wasn’t meant to happen after all. But we kept going. As soon as it was safe, we got back to writing, rehearsing, and demoing constantly. A lot of what people are hearing from the band now was shaped during that period.
Origin of band’s name: We intentionally wanted a name that was simple and direct. One or two syllables. Around the time we were naming the band, I had become really interested in spirituality and metaphysics, and the word “guides” kept appearing in a lot of what I was reading. It reflected a personal transformation I was going through at the time.
It’s also a reference to lyrics from one of my favorite Taproot songs, “Comeback”: “So I pray and wait for a sign from my guides.” That idea of searching for direction and meaning really connected with where I was in life when the band was taking shape.
For fans of: Deftones, Finch, Chevelle, AFI, Staind
Influences: Taproot, Finch, Alice in Chains, Bush, Underoath, Deftones
Releases: “When Everything Reverses” EP, 2023; “Drain” single, May 13, 2026; upcoming single releases in June and July
Next shows: May 18 with Powerman 5000, 12 Stones at Crafthouse Stage and Grill; July 18 at Mr. Roboto Project
How to find them: Guides can be found on their website, Linktree, Spotify, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
Three other Pittsburgh area bands to check out:Spiral; Find Ethel; A Moment in Pompeii
Favorite pizza shop: Milano’s downtown is the unofficial sponsor for every Guides after-party. Maybe we can work something out to make that official.
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