When we think of the phrase Bonded By Blood, we think of two things: a brotherhood that is meant to outlast the trials of war, pain, and time... and the almighty EXODUS. With a bond forged in youth and decades-old friendship, the undisputed masters of thrash metal return with their eleventh studio album: PERSONA NON GRATA due to be released early fall 2021 via Nuclear Blast Records. Literally translating to "an unwelcome" or "unacceptable" person, PERSONA NON GRATA touches on themes of modern societal disgust and degradation. "The people that disgust you - cut 'em out like cancer," explains guitarist Gary Holt. "Who is that person? It could be anybody. That's up to the listener. Who is 'Persona Non Grata' to them?" The underlying irony for many of these songs is the need for unity. "As we were working on these songs, things started happening around the world that ended up tying into it all, and we didn't even know it! With the general divisiveness in the country today, and everyone being entitled to their opinions; I don't agree with a lot of them, but I'm not here to be a preacher, either. We want people to listen to the lyrics and come up with their own meanings." For decades, EXODUS has impressed us with the ability to attract opposing
factions to their music because of its intensity and versatility. A track like "The
Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves" was inspired by the riots both
in theme, and sound. "Without seeming insensitive to the riots, the song is
tongue in cheek about what the people beating on the rioters were expecting to
happen. Did you think you would beat a smile onto their face? At 3 minutes in
length, it's probably the shortest EXODUS song we've ever done. It gets in, gets
out, and is just crushing," describes Holt. While most of the songs do run on the
shorter side, this album also comes equipped with crushing, epic tracks.
Whether it's the music industry gossip sites, or the big players like CNN and
FOX, we're all aware of how news outlets love to set little rat traps; "Clickbait"
discusses their methods of picking things out of context to grab your attention,
add to their page views, and increase their revenue all while riling up your emotions.
"It's all journalistic dishonesty," explains Holt, "it's a modern-day version
of Al Capone's vault, everyone tunes in, and then there's NOTHING." Evenly
balanced with extraordinary speed and tremendous, catchy choruses, "Clickbait"
is a song that explodes with vigorous energy. "As heavy as this album is,
and it's heavy as fuck, if times were different and there was still metal radio, this
song, and probably over half the album, has single capabilities."
Sitting as the second to last song on the album, "The Fires of Division" keeps
PERSONA NON GRATA strong all the way through. "This album doesn't operate
on the normal parameters," describes Holt, "we didn't frontload this one,
it's strong right through to the end. It's supposed to be a musical journey as the
songs segway together."
For the third time in the band's history, EXODUS returned to Swedish artist Par
Olofsson to create the album artwork PERSONA NON GRATA. "After this album,
I feel like we probably won't work with anyone else again, Par just gets it,"
states Holt. A three-faced, winged creature sits atop a bloody pile of diseased
and rotting humans as they scream in pain and reach their hands up desperately
towards the beast. Undead riot cops beat mercilessly, and senselessly upon this
pile of the dying and the world is red with fresh, sopping blood. "Is it an angel,
a demon? Is the world being created or destroyed," asks Holt, "you don't really
know."
EXODUS don't fall into the usual recording slump that most bands get stuck in.
Gathering at Tom Hunting's house up in the mountains, they avoided the need to
book studio time or adhere to a certain schedule. "At first it was just Tom, myself,
a half stack, and a drum kit; we call it jam camp. We lived there. We built the
studio, we immersed ourselves in it. Number one, because we still enjoy each
other's company enough to do it. When we're not actively rehearsing or recording,
we're still sitting there talking about the songs, working on them, plucking
on acoustics until things really work," explains Holt, "we're not settling." Working
from three home-built studios, the band recorded PERSONA NON GRATA
themselves with the help of Andy Sneap on mixing and mastering and with Steve
Lagudi at the helm of engineering.
"As a band, I'm super grateful. I've seen a lot of things around the world and
we're still a band that loves each other, have each other's back, and we genuinely
like to hang out with each other," explains Holt. "Take it how you will, but
I'm this band's biggest fan. We write songs that are designed to make us feel
fired up - that's why it's still heavy."
|
dodaj do przechowalni
dodaj do porównania
powiadom o przecenie
