Warbringer is an American thrash metal band formed in 2004. Century Media Records signed Warbringer after seeing them at a local show in LA. The band recently released their album Woe To The Vanquished and have seen many members come and go over the years. The band played Heavy Scotland earlier this year among over venues to coincide the release of their new music. Warbringer’s latest line up looks like vocalist John Kevill, guitarist Adam Carroll, drummer Carlos Cruz, bassist Jessie Sanchez and guitarist Chase Becker. You can check out Remain Violent from the latest album below.
We managed to catch up with vocalist John as he talked about Heavy Scotland earlier this year, latest album and more!
So how was Heavy Scotland earlier this year?
Heavy Scotland was great, great lineup and amazing fans! It was the first show to kick off our European tour in support of the new record, and the audience loved it! Being back in Scotland after so long felt triumphant as well.
Do you find it different playing at festivals rather than live venues?
Not particularly. A stage is a stage and the mechanics of playing a set are much the same- outdoor sound is the biggest difference. Sometimes indoor shows can be huge too, and some festivals are indoor (such as Heavy Scotland). In the end it’s about getting up there and nailing the songs as best as you can.
And of course this coincides with your fifth album ‘Woe To The Vanquished’, you looking forward to this?
Yes! The release has gone great and the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. We have been composing the set predominately from new material and it has gone over great. It is definitely tough physically to pull off a lot of the new material live, the new record contains our most fast and vicious music to date!
What is your favourite single from this album?
Single? Silhouettes. Song? “When the Guns Fell Silent”. But honestly I love every track on this record, each offers something special I think. It was a lot of work to get it this way, but it was also a really exciting and rewarding process tinkering with the idea of each song until it could stand on its own.
What has been your favourite album released to date?
“Woe to the Vanquished” hands down. I think this record shows the best standard of songwriting, playing, performance, and production to date, as well as really showing what the unique identity of Warbringer is.
If you could work with any band on new music, who would it be and why?
Honestly, I can’t even think of working with any band besides Warbringer for anything serious… it is uniquely “me” in a way other bands couldn’t be. For other band’s work, I wouldn’t even know what to do or where to start and I wouldn’t be writing for the same reasons and with the same mindset I am.
So there has been plenty of former members in the band, would you say this line is your best yet?
Way too many, we are a real life Spinal Tap of sorts. A lot of this was created by the stresses of relentless touring and the difficulty in keeping with it year after year. But yes, this is definitely our best line up to date, and we just made our best album. The live performance is also at the highest level it has ever been, but as always, the next step now is how to top ourselves again.
Will there be a tour announced with your new album?
Of course! Heavy Scotland was the beginning of our European run with Havok, Exmortus and Gorod, then we just went out in the USA with Destruction and Jungle Rot. Next we are going to Europe again for a mixture of festivals and club gigs, including some shows with Death Angel and Suicidal Angels (Dark Angel could not be reached for comment, haha). Lastly we go out in the USA again with Dark Tranquillity and Striker… at least that’s all that is on the books for now.
How much does it mean to you guys when fans take time to listen your music?
It means quite a lot to me and to all of us. To us it is a wonderful thing that people enjoy what we make- both on record and live. It is the greatest gift to us because there is a demand for us making the music that we want to make in our hearts, and this demand enables us to actually spend our lives doing it. This is an awesome gift given to us by people all over the world, many of whom we’ve never met. We try to return the favor with the most goddamn lethal thrash metal the world has ever seen.