Remission are a four-piece modern Thrash metal band from Perth, Western Australia founded in 2015. Despite recent lineup changes the core ideology of the band has remained unchanged since inception – combining a vast variety of influences to create an unmistakably unique and savage new breed of Thrash. The band recently announced a brand new album titled “The Tether’s End” and are set to close out this year’s edition of Metal United World Wide at the Civic Hotel in Perth on June 15th. We grabbed a few words from vocalist/guitarist Jacson Robb on the new release and the upcoming show.
What can people expect at your set at Metal United World Wide in Perth?
A: They can expect us to play some never-before-heard tunes off the new album. Along with a scorching set chock full of razor sharp songs – unrelenting riffs, thunderous drums and bass, tormented screams and tonnes of blistering guitar solos thrown in for good measure.
What was it like to open for Alien Weaponry?
A: That show in particular was one of the best we’ve ever played as a group. For our new members Josh (Bass) and Curt (Guitar), it was only the third time they’d played live with the band (it was only Josh’s third show EVER), and to play to a crowd that huge, get such an insane response and play as tightly as we did on the night – I couldn’t have been more stoked on a show. Definitely one for the books and one I’ll remember forever! Full love to the Alien Weaponry guys too, they are all legends of the highest order and it was great to be put on such an amazing show.
How do you pick out a setlist and is that a difficult process?
A: It’s not difficult for the most part, as we just like to choose songs we think go down well in a live setting and will garner a good crowd response. The only hard part is that we legitimately enjoy playing ALL of our songs too much, so cutting songs from the list is always a difficult process haha.
What is your favorite song to play live?
A: I LOVE playing ‘Mother War’ live, but we have some other awesome songs that are great fun too; ‘Submit To The Order’ is a fun new one that has a couple of sick breakdowns and real fun riffs, I also love playing ‘Black Scorched Earth’ too, as it’s a bit more of a modern take on a fun, traditional thrash-style song.
How has the experience of playing live been like for the band so far?
A: As far as the new lineup goes, all the shows we have played so far have been incredible. It’s been amazing to come back to the live scene after a prolonged absence to play alongside not only some of our dearest friends, but also some of our bigger influences in bands like Earth Rot, who helped us out massively during our tour of Japan in July last year.
Any favorite places to play live?
A: I think Badlands Bar is a band favourite at the moment. Amazing sounding venue, great vibes and a sick $5 happy hour from 7pm? Can’t go wrong.
Any stand out shows or personal highlights from a tour or show?
A: Getting to tour Japan last year with one of my favourite bands ever in Norwegian legends Taake, it was an incredible experience.
Tell us about the process of writing and recording the new songs on “The Tether’s End”.
A: It has been a tough one. Writing for this release actually commenced in around 2016, under the old lineup. Only one of the songs from then has actually made it onto the final product haha.
Recording was the hardest part. We went into the studio in September of 2017 to begin recordings, however we made the decision to delay things and put some more work into the album before recording as it felt rushed at that stage. Fast forward a year later, and we started recording for the final product with Cody Brooks (Iconoclast, Daybreak etc.) in late September of last year. We finished recording guitars and drums with him, and completed the remaining recordings of vocals and bass ourselves. We have still felt that we have rushed the release of this album a fair bit, with it being so close in it’s final stages, and yet again decided to postpone the release until we feel it’s ready. You can’t rush perfection and our lesson for that has been well and truly learnt.
For recording of drums and Guitars, we worked with Cody Brooks, who had done some really great things with bands from this city that I myself had kept a keen eye on, reason being that he definitely had the production style that we were after and I knew he could help us make this record sound as good as ever. During vocal recording, I did all the sessions with my good friend Ilija Stajic (Illyria). He was the one to first teach me how to master harsh vocals, so recording with him felt like the right thing to do. He ended up recording a guest spot on our song “Temples”, which is the second track of our album.
What were some of the things you wanted to achieve with the release?
A: As all bands do, we want to now start pushing to get the record on a label (which is part of the reason for the release delay – read more here). This would be to help it reach the highest level it can in terms of exposure and distribution, as well as help with future touring plans – of which we want to do A LOT. We really did want to showcase our level of musicianship in this release too. Writing and recording it over the last two years has definitely pushed my guitar playing skills beyond what I thought even imaginable.
Do you enjoy the process of creating? Are you someone who continually writes or does the best come out under a little gentle pressure?
A: I love the creative process. I’m not one to continuously bust out song after song, day in day out. Inspiration strikes me rather sparsely, so when it does, I like to get my ideas down and then bring the other boys in for a bit of creative guidance. For one, I love collaborating with other people creatively, it can open doors for songwriting you never thought existed. So for that, I always like to bring in suggestions from my bandmates in writing new music, which in turn makes it all the more enjoyable.
What does it feel like as an artist waiting for the songs you’ve lived with for some time to get released to the fans? Is there a sense of excitement or a little panic in there too?
A: Ahh, I wish there was a short answer for this haha. Personally, I’ve been living with some of these songs for about 3 years now, and it’s driving me crazy. As much as I want to have them out already, we have had well over our fair share of ‘panic decisions’ when it comes to this album. So, panic is always there, but now it’s about being patient and appreciating the release process.
How does it compare to previous older songs?
A: People who think they knew our band before – get ready for a whole different beast. Savagery, heaviness and unrelenting riffs in these songs have gone up to 100. We are certainly no longer the “Trivium Cover band” that we had affectionately become known as.
What were the lyrical themes of the new songs?
A: The songs vary in their lyrical direction. This album has a good mix of everything we feel personally about; Political and World issues like war, climate change, religion, corruption and slavery; as well as personal struggles such as depression, loss, anxiety and separation. We feel there is something on this album for everyone to relate to. The title track of the album ‘The Tether’s End’, for me is a massively personal song that touches on some of my past and ongoing struggles.
What were the main inspirations for “The Tether’s End”?
A: We draw on SO many different influences for our songs. The inspiration for the release itself came from seeing so many of our peers who are releasing great, modern, thought-out and well-written albums and EP’s, so we wanted something that was going to stand out amongst them. As for musical influences, the main ones consist of Sylosis, The Black Dahlia Murder, Skeletonwitch and Revocation. Other influences include a range of subgenres including Watain, Aborted, 1349, Lamb of God, Slayer (of course) and MANY more, as well as some metalcore bands such as Polaris and Architects.
Any favorite moments or songs on the album?
A: Personally, either the Title Track, Mother War or Breaking The Sun are my favourites.
Did you imagine how these songs would play out in a live situation?
A: We have been playing some of the new songs live recently, since our relaunch earlier this year. The ones we have been playing have been great, super punchy and fast tunes that are really fun to play. There are definitely challenging sings on this album though, and getting them to be up to scratch for a live performance is taking practice, but they will get there!
How did the band form and get started?
A: It started with myself and our old frontman, Ferdi, back in early 2014. Just two metal fans who liked to try to downpick really fast and wanted to form a band. Enter our drummer Lewis a few months later and things really started to come together, writing a few original tracks without any real experience in doing so. We ended up with enough original material to record our first EP in early 2015 and the rest is history from there! It’s certainly been a wild ride.
What have been your greatest challenges to date, and your favourite moments musically?
A: I’d say the greatest challenge came about when we got back from Japan last year. By that time, we had lost half of our main lineup, we had an album written but essentially nobody to play on it or do anything with once it had been recorded, and a big question mark over the future of the band, as we didn’t know what the best way forward from there was going to be. Thankfully, we called on two of our closest friends to step up to the plate and it has been an absolutely sensational ride since then. Make music that you love with your friends, it’s the best fun you can have!
With technology changing so much over the last few years and seemingly not slowing, and TV force-feeding us the lowest common denominator, what hope is there for rock & metal music?
A: I think there is heaps of hope. To push beyond the force-feeding and enforced commercial shitheap that is aburdened to us day in-day out by commercial TV and radio, you’ll find that at the moment, the heavy scene is absolutely thriving! Technology has been both a help and hinderance on a number of levels, with commercialism doing it’s best to exacerbate that in recent years. However, there are new bands all over the world who are doing amazing things in today’s climate. Look at Australia; the amount of talented bands popping up everywhere is amazing, and the feats of some of the scenes bigger up-and-coming bands has been nothing short of phenomenal. To get music out of a place like Australia and become renowned on a worldwide scale is both greatly encouraging and inspiring.
From what you’ve learned so far what is the most valuable advice you’ve been given so far as a musician?
A: 3 things:
1. Always trust your gut instinct (actually advice given to me by my old swimming coach, but it’s proven to be the most valuable piece of advice I’ve ever been given).
2. Always Be Creating – no matter what you’re up to as a band, the creative process can always be ongoing and developing.
3. Use all of your influences – there can never be ‘too many’ influences for one song, cause at the same time, limiting yourself to one genre can be futile and tiring. Expand your mind, expand your sound. Don’t be afraid to try doing something you haven’t tried before or go outside the box.
Who are some of your main influences?
A: I’m huge on The Black Dahlia Murder, Sylosis, Polaris and Watain. I’d say that they constitute my ‘main’ sources of influence music-wise. I find myself being influenced a lot by what’s going on in the Australian scene, too. We have so many amazing bands and so many doing great things in terms of releasing albums and touring, it’s hard not to take notice of it and want a piece for yourself haha. I find it great inspiration to work hard and not settle for things easily.
Who or what inspired you to be in a band and play music?
A: When I left high school, I watched the ‘Get Thrashed’ Documentary on youtube. Seeing how the bands did it in the old days, I was immediately inspired to pick up a guitar, riff ‘til my fingers bled and go out on the road. I haven’t looked back since.
How do you feel about the current music scene right now?
A: As said before, I think the scene right now is positively thriving. Specially in Australia. There are now so many bands who are incredibly talented and are doing amazing things with their art, and are only helping to spread the word of the Aussie music scene to a worldwide audience.
Do you believe music can still change the world?
A: The world, not sure. It’s a weird place out there at the moment. Can it change your life? Don’t doubt it for even a second.
If you could be a fly on the wall for the recording of any album in history, what album would it be?
A: Either Ride The Lightning, or Watain’s ‘The Wild Hunt’, I’d love to see the atmosphere in which that record was created.
What is the meaning of life?
A: Riffs.
METAL UNITED WORLD WIDE
June 15th 2019 – Perth, Australia
The Civic Hotel, Inglewood
Remission, Hailmary, All This Filth, Icarus Lives, Cage The Hate, Broken Hymns
7pm Doors – $15 entry
RSVP event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/2161563063880918/
Watch the trailer here
http://metal-united-world-wide.com
http://www.black-roos.com
http://www.krunchentertainment.com
https://www.therockpit.net
https://www.facebook.com/CriticalMassRTR/
