Live-Metal.Net - Interviews: Warbringer

Who doesn't miss the glory days of thrash metal? I'm talking old Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer, Testament, Exodus, Kreator, Clash of the Titans, bullet belts, jean jackets, skateboards, long curly hair and real circle pits--not this hardcore dancing crap we see today. Well, you don't have to miss it as much anymore. Ventura, California's Warbringer leads a pack of bands carrying the torch for thrash metal--right where it left off. A new revolution is well underway and Warbringer's album War Without End was released Feb. 5, 2007 on Century Media Records (review). It recalls all that I mentioned above and opens the door for a new order of thrash metal fans. Even more astonishing is that the band members range in age from 17 to 22. Speaking of Exodus, Warbringer is fresh off a tour supporting the thrash legends and is preparing to head out with Eygptian-themed death metallers Nile. Live-Metal.net recently talked with guitarist John Laux about getting signed to a label, their new release and what they bring to thrash metal in 2008.

What's up, guys? This is Jeff from Live-Metal.net. I first heard of you guys when a CD arrived on my doorstep earlier in 2007. Of course, that disc was your demo, One by One the Wicked Fall. I was about to do a write up for it, but before you know it I saw that you guys had signed with Century Media and were ready to release an album! So my question is, just how much self-promotion did you guys do with the EP and was this what eventually got you signed by the label?

John Laux : Well the label had some interest with us before the EP, but they were very impressed with the improvements we made after we released it. It's no secret the Internet's been a powerful tool for sharing and learning about new music.

Just some kids who met each other in high school and wanted to get a band going. We worked hard to get gigs in L.A. and once we wrote enough music, we released a few EPs: Born of the Ruins and One by One the Wicked Fall. The rest is history.

I obviously hear lots of thrash metal influences. For a band so young, how did you guys get into thrash metal in the first place?

We liked heavy metal a lot and started digging around for as much real metal as we could. Thrash metal is a well documented style, but what caught my attention was the number of underground bands. From there, I became really absorbed into it, scouring the Internet for as much thrash as I could find.

I mean, you guys look and sound like an '80s thrash band. Was this a conscious effort by the band to embrace these great bands and their sound, fashion and appeal of that era?

We really only aim to embrace the sound. Writing the music comes very natural to us because it's what we have grown up listening to. Also, we don't just try to emulate the old school music. We want to try to carry it on from where we feel it was cut short. For example, we think Kreator's Coma of Souls is an awesome thrash record that's much more technical but just as heavy as any prior Kreator releases. We want to carry thrash on in that direction.

What was it like recording your first album for a label as big as Century Media? How have things changed in your lives since being signed to a record deal?

It was fucking awesome to sit in a studio and to have enough time to record a proper sounding record. My life has been turned upside down because now I'm living with these guys on the road. I couldn't be any happier that I got to quit my day job!

In case no one noticed, the overall theme for the band and this album is war. That being said, are you pro- or anti-war in Iraq?

Were there any specific events that inspired the lyrics for the songs on War Without End?

Lots of movies ... "Beneath the Waves" is about the German sub movie Das Boot. Mostly just a lot of small things like a bad 'shroom trip, Satan and all sorts of warfare.

Are there any plans for a video/single from the album? Is Warbringer receiving any airplay?

Yup, I hope you've seen the "Combat Shock" video by now; I hear its already been aired on the Headbangers Ball. [The video premiered Feb. 9.]

What are the upcoming touring plans? You guys are playing with Exodus. What's that like?

That was the best time I have ever had in my life. They were all great dudes. We had a blast thrashing the stage and partying every night. [Read the band's Exodus tour report here.]

And finally, there seems to be a new thrash revolution taking place right now with bands like you guys, Evile, Skeletonwitch and many others. What do you think of these other acts playing music similar to yours? Do you think that over time this era will end up comparing with the great thrash bands of the '80s?

I think it's great so many bands are doing something new for a sound so many considered dead. Who knows if it's going to get as popular again. I am just excited that other bands are picking up the thrash metal torch. It's only going to help the music regain lost ground.

Related Links:
www.myspace.com/warbringer