Building upon its internationally acclaimed blistering attack, with latest album “Weapons Of Tomorrow”, Warbringer showcases a refreshed technical approach and a heightened focus on unique lyrical and vocal style. The record takes the promise of the band’s previous release, “Woe To The Vanquished”, and carries it onward, presenting Warbringer at it’s absolute best to date — over 10 years into its career. We grabbed a few words from frontman John Kevill to find out more on the album, the resurgence of the band and much more.
Congratulations on the new album “Weapons Of Tomorrow”, it sounds absolutely killer! How happy are you with the end result?
John: Very happy, love the way the album came out! The response has been great, and that of course makes any musician happy.
Tell us about the process of writing and recording the new songs. Was there many challenges? Is there a formula for creating new music within Warbringer now after so many years and releases?
John: No, there is no formula. Every single song is written as an individual piece from the ground up. I guess the trick is to maintain a level of passion and hunger in the music and writing, despite having written several records under the Warbringer name before.
What were some of the things you wanted to achieve with the album?
John: Basically creating an even stronger version of what the band was already doing. Our own brand of “extreme thrash,” taking influences from black/death metal, but also from pre-thrash straight up heavy metal. To further the standard of musicianship and songwriting we had set in our band, as well.
How does it compare to previous albums in terms of the evolution of the band’s sound and style?
John: It mostly compares to previous works in an evolutionary sense. If you are familiar with the band’s whole discography, you will find the roots of every new idea here, going back several albums. We took these ideas further on “Weapons of Tomorrow” though, in both the extreme and progressive musical elements as well as the narrative lyrical aspect.
What were the lyrical themes of the songs?
John: Varied, but the album’s title and core idea is centered around technology making a darker future. Some songs, like “Firepower Kills” are very direct in that, where others talk about this subject in terms of the past instead of the present and future. There are also lyrics about inner isolation and depression on songs like “Defiance of Fate” and “Unraveling”
What were the main inspirations for the album in general?
John: A wide range of things, mainly trying to continue our previous work and just progress the sound of the band to the next step. Our influences are rooted where they always have been.
Where did the album title “Weapons Of Tomorrow” come from?
John: It was in the lyrics for “Firepower Kills” and started with a “W,” so we decided to make that the album title early into the writing.
With the current situation across the world that has affected touring, how will Warbringer plan for 2020 and beyond?
John: Basically, we don’t know. We will tour as soon as we are able to, and can’t wait to perform live for the fans across the world.
With the major changes and challenges that affected the band in 2014 with the lineup, was there a resurgence and a sense of renewal for Warbringer with the previous album “Woe To The Vanquished” and did that affect anything for this new album?
John: Yes, we felt the same. We feel as if the “Vanquished” lineup will be our “classic” lineup, which is unusual for 5 albums in. The core of myself, Carlos Cruz, Adam Carroll, and Chase Becker is unchanged, and Chase Bryant is a strict upgrade in the bass department, being the most technically skilled and devoted musician we’ve had on that instrument. Basically, we felt stronger than ever on this one, and we set out to prove it.
Read the review of Weapons Of Tomorrow
What have been your greatest challenges to date, and your favourite moments musically?
John: Just keeping the band alive for well over a decade now is the biggest challenge. Keeping my heart in it, never accepting less than the best from ourselves. Doing that year after year is pretty relentless. I feel a huge sense of accomplishment having rebuilt the band from scratch in 2014-2015, and come back with our two strongest albums yet back to back. To me that is a testament to the power of tenacity and dedication.
From what you’ve learned so far what is the most valuable advice you’ve been given so far as a musician?
John: Basically to just stick it out and keep doing what one is doing. I’ve heard this from a number of different people, but it’s the one thing I’ve found to be universally true.
Who are some of your main influences?
John: Classic thrash/heavy/death/black metal. That right there includes hundreds, thousands of bands. You all know the main ones. The whole original evolution of the metal genre, from when Iommi first played the tritone all the way to the early/mid 90s extreme metal, and almost all in between.
Who or what inspired you to be in a band and play music?
John: Just a love for metal and rock music in general as a listener is what brought me here. I dove into records, eventually went to concerts (Iron Maiden and Metal Church around 2001-2002), and that got me thinking that I needed to form my own band and make my own metal.
How do you feel about the current music scene right now and in particular the thrash scene which enjoyed a resurgence a few years back?
John: Well, naturally I have a few thoughts on that, as we are commonly considered to be a part of it. I think that there’s a lot of good stuff that came out of this, and that given some time to develop, that the surviving bands of this scene (now over a decade old) have become real forces unto themselves.
Do you believe music can still change the world?
John: I think the personal experience of music changes individual lives, and so in that way, hell yeah it can. It sure changed my life.
In terms of- can music have a significant effect on world geopolitics? Probably not, probably never did. But that’s not really what it’s for in the first place, I think. So I guess it depends what kind of change you mean when you say “change the world.” I think music means a lot to people in their day to day life and that is its primary purpose.
If you could be a fly on the wall for the recording of any album in history, what album would it be?
John: There are many. I’d love to see the sessions for any of the experimental later era Beatles records, something like “Dark Side of the Moon” or “Wish you Were Here,” any of the classic Maidens (Powerslave or Seventh Son in particular), Heaven and Hell by Black Sabbath, or hangin’ in the basement with Quorthon while he edits out his neighbor’s lawnmower on “Twilight of the Gods.”
Oh, or “Epidemic of Violence” so we can see how the hell they got those drums to sound like gunshots.
What is the meaning of life?
John: Well, galactic supercomputer “Deep Thought” worked out that the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything. It took a thousand years of computation or so, but it worked out that the answer is 42.
The problem then is- if the ultimate answer is 42, what’s the ultimate question? (This whole bit is from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I have no goddamn idea what the meaning of life is)
Cheers and thanks!
