After first making waves with their 2017 debut EP “Future Kill,” hailed by Metal Wani as ‘neck-breaking thrash,’ the Oakland-based CULTURAL WARFARE return with “Warmageddon,” their blistering full-length debut. A video for the album’s first single, “Divided We Crawl”, (created by Rafael Ortega (Ayreon, The Absence)) has been released while the new album is available now for pre-order via the M-Theory Audio webshop.
“’Divided We Crawl’ captures the essence of where we are today as a society,” explains vocalist Jacques Serrano. “We are so divided and forgetting our history as well. In essence it tells the story of all this division and I hope it helps some open their eyes to make some changes in the world.”
Recorded at California’s Trident Studios with producer Juan Urteaga (Machine Head, Exodus) and mastered at Sweden’s Fascination Street Studios by Jens Bogren (Sepultura, Kreator), “Warmageddon” is a “look into the future” where a “new world chaos” reigns supreme, according to the band.
CULTURAL WARFARE create music that stays true to the classic Bay Area sound of its time while creating a modern twist in the music to create a melodic, yet aggressive sound. With all five members of the band having long standing roots in the Bay Area back to the golden age of thrash metal, CULTURAL WARFARE understands the rich history and lineage of all the classic bands that paved the way for all heavy bands for the modern age. With that said, the band has created a sound of their own while flying the flag of music that inspired them along the way.
Upon releasing “Future Kill” last year, the group performed throughout the Western United States alongside the likes of Warbringer, Hatchet, Apothesary, The Agonist, Hatriot and others. Whereas the EP found Kevin Doughty playing drums, “Warmageddon” sees him join Billy Garouette on guitar to make room for new percussionist Bones Padilla, a former tech for Biohazard.
The Bay Area has a legacy for great music throughout the decades, and the influence of the region’s thrash metal bands on the international scene is unparalleled. With their unique combination of traditional metal and aggressive, melodic thrash, CULTURAL WARFARE furthers the area’s legacy and proves that thrash is undoubtedly alive and well.
