Where Inkvisitor‘s last full length Dark Arts of Sanguine Rituals featured both new and old band members, the new single Vanguardian introduces completely new Inkvisitor for the first time on record. The new bassist and lead guitarist joined after the recordings of the last full length were completed, but now they’re in with a full force. The new single also hints new musical directions for the band, offering both melodies and punishing beatings. Production was handled by Finland’s reowned team of professionals; Tuomas Kokko recording (Swallow the Sun, Ghost Brigade) Nino Laurenne mixing (Wintersun, Lost Society, Battle Beast) and Svante Forsbäck mastering (Rammstein, Lordi, Entombed, Apocalyptica).
Guitarist Jesse Kämäräinen summarises the origins of the song: “Vanguardian is a clear successor for Dark Arts of Sanguine Rituals, but it also paves the way for the upcoming third album. We have been writing stuff almost enough to fill an album and you can definitely hear the new guys’ input in the songs. We’ve been doing more what we want, rather than what has been concidered canon in thrash. Sure, some die-hard purists are gonna be pissed off, but there’s more to metal than just skankbeat and sixteenth note tremolo picking. And since we now have a band that’s capable of pulling it off, it would be a shame to waste that talent.”
Vocalist Markus Martinmäki tells the following about the lyrics and the idea behind the song:
“Many people seem to carry mental swords with them right from the get-go to the bitter end. You can also spot some ironic salutes for the dead.”
Both the music video and the album art were made by the band’s guitarist Jesse Kämäräinen. The aim was to make something different compared to the plethora of dark warehouses present in metal videos.
“The police and the security of Parliament House weren’t too happy about us swinging a prop-katana on their doorstep, but luckily they were forgiving and didn’t taze us.”
After the release the band will tour Finland and focus on finishing writing of the new album. The band estimates that the untitled third album will see the light of day in 2020.
Inkvisitor is a thrash metal band founded in 2012 from Jyväskylä, Finland. The band has released one EP and two full length albums and has toured Finland extensively.
Upcoming shows (Finland)
13.04. Kuudes Linja, Helsinki w/ Watery, My Funeral
20.04. Yo-talo, Tampere w/ Ajattara, MyGrain, etc.
24.05. Hemingway’s, Jyväskylä w/ Raster Density, DIRT
25.05. Tukikohta, Oulu w/ Denominate, Wrestling
30.05. Jack The Rooster, Tampere w/ The Jasser Arafats
31.05. Marks, Joensuu w/ Maniac Abductor, Kolossus
01.06. Henry’s Pub, Kuopio w/ Kruor, The New Classmate
