2023-05-04 16:35:28
Foto: Morgan Parrish
Enforcedthe southern gentlemen of hardcore and thrash, return with a new work, ‘War Remains’the third studio release from the band from Richmond, Virginia, in which they step on the accelerator to the fullest with ten songs that are a continuous explosion of riffs, extremely accelerated drums and an absolute demonstration of metal energy to denounce (or redeem themselves from) the evils that afflict the world. Tommy Segura He did not hesitate to throw his questions to Knox Colby so that the vocalist opens the doors of this new work for us.
Congratulations on your new work, the third study that you publish. How has your sound evolved since ‘Kill Grid’ (2021)?
“Thanks dude. The songs are faster, shorter and more beastly. On this record the whole final mix is much heavier.”
Tell me regarding the recording process for the album. How long did it take you to get it ready?
“We never stopped writing music, and the themes started coming together right following we put out ‘Kill Grid.’ We spent a week in the studio in September 2022. The drums and rhythm guitar were done in one day, the bass the same and the lead guitar in two, with the recordings of the vocals peppered all the time…”
The album starts with the powerful “Agressive Menace”, and my friend, what a brutal song to start with. It’s a opener perfect for an Enforced song, and the riffs are amazing. Talk to me regarding this topic.
“We had to start with a total sound punch. When you put the needle and the music starts you are already immersed in our music. No intros or samplers or voices…”
“War Remains”, the song that gives the album its name, is another great song. I loved the second half of the song, with all those riffs. It’s one of my favorite moments in this job. In these times, do you speak of the war as a reality or of the internal wars that we all fight inside?
“War is an integral part of our nature and also the contradiction that it always is. We do not know how to live without her or with her. It is a constant throughout history. The theme talks regarding all kinds of wars and the listener is the one who has to interpret it”.
It is always a difficult question, but is there a moment or theme in this work that you liked more than others and that stands out? Any stellar or favorite moment?
“Songs one through ten are my favourites. Every song is special.”
“Nation of Fear”, “Avarice”, “Starve” (nation of fear, greed, starve to death…) are some of the songs on the album. Is the world getting more screwed up? Where do you find the inspiration for the lyrics?
“Does it look like the world isn’t getting more screwed up? This is getting worse, friend. I usually look for inspiration in psychology, anthropology, history and etymology. They are all there latent in the fabric of the human being and it is what motivates me to continue writing to understand the world and understand myself”.
On the closing track “Empire”, you seem to have slowed down a bit (which seems difficult for Enforced). How did this song end up being the final cut?
“The lyrics deal with the beginning of the end and the cycle of death and rebirth of the being. It seemed only fair to put it at the end, so that you play the record once more and you can enter your own cycle of death and reincarnation by listening to the record once more (laughs).
Foto: Morgan Parrish
Traditionally you are described as a thrash and hardcore band… What bands were your influences? By the way, Richmond is gradually becoming one of the capitals of metal with bands like Gwar, Lamb of God or you. Tell me regarding the Richmond metal scene.
“Slayer, Sepultura, Agnostic Front, Cro-Mags, Discharge… In Richmond there is a very rich hardcore-punk scene that has always supported us. Anyway, they must have released something into the water…brain-eating amoebas, perhaps.”
Going on tour with Obituary must have been one of the highlights of your career.
“And best of all, now we are all like brothers. It was an amazing experience, easily the high point of my career.”
What awaits Enforced in 2023? Will you be in Europe?
“We are not going to tour Europe this year, unfortunately. We’re going on tour with Venom Inc., Exhumed and Acid Witch all June and July with other bands to be confirmed. Stay tuned”.
Listen to ‘War Remains’ on Spotify:
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