ARMORY (EN)
– Hello, thanks for taking the time. How is everything going right now with ARMORY? What’s keeping you busy at the moment?
Well, we are releasing our debut album in just under three weeks so we’re very excited. We are practicing hard and all of our planning for our releasgig is coming along great, so right now things couldn’t be any better for Armory.
– ARMORY is a new band that has just released its debut album so, first off; could you please make some history of the band?
Armory rose up from the ashes of a thrashmetal band under the late summer/fall of 2012.
We recorded our first demo «Open Fire» during the following months and was released early 2013, but we was not quite satisfied with the result. A year later we entered the studio once again to record our second demo » S.M.I» which was released during the early spring of 2015. During the months between the first and second demo GG Sundin switched from bass to guitar and Anglegrinder joined as our new bassplayer. We had now a complete line-up for the first time since the band got started. «S.M.I» got good reviews and sold out in just three months. After this minor success we felt we’d really had found our own sound and started to write songs for a full-length album. In the fall of 2015 we entered Black Path Studios and recorded «World Peace… Cosmic War», and as soon as it was ready we searched for a record label to release us. High Roller Records was the one we wanted to sign with the most and we was thrilled to find out they wanted us to be a part of their family. And now here we are, barely three weeks left until our first full-lenght album is released.
– You have a really «metal» band name, as back in the 80’s; something to the point, with attitude. Was this what you were looking for? To give a hint on what can we expect when we listen to your music?
Some of us had experience with a two-word band name which was too long, too hard to understand and too hard to pronounce for some people. So when we searched for a band name we wanted a short, simple word with a punch to it. Something to the point as you said. The second «qualification» for our name was that it was to mirror our interests and inspiration. «Armory» is linked to war and, as most metal bands, we felt that different types of war and war related issues is always going to be a topic we want to write about no matter if it’s the deep trenches of WW1 or the quick, lazer-filled cosmic war between mankidn and the sinister forces of some other planatary galaxy.
– But on the other hand the cover artwork is really singular, how does it fit the album?
As the first couple of songs are quite «spatial» theme-wise. With the artwork we had decided from the beginning that we wanted something to stand out at first sight. We also knew from the start that we wanted something to potray our biggest influences and inspirations that is the mysteries of the deep space. When we got in contact with the legendary artist Matthias Frisk we sent him the lyrics of «Cosmic War» and gave him pretty much free hands to do whatever he wanted to do, and we are really impressed and happy with the result.
– Talking about such, what are some of the lyrical ideas covered on the album? There’s a few dealing with the downfall of mankind.
Our lyrics span many different areas, even if many of them are connected to science fiction, the future or the universe itself. But we also sing of other topics. “Final Breath” for instance, which was first recorded for the first demo and will also be included on the upcoming album, is about the trenches of WWI. We are inspired by many different things, mainly litterature, old movies, life in the concrete jungle, the mysteries of space and metal in general. So there’s not a single red thread throughout the lyrics, but there are underlying messages that span over the lyrics to many songs for the listeners to find out for themselves.
– Your debut album is entitled “World Peace… Cosmic War”. What are your feelings on the final result? Does it feel exciting to unleash this first opus unto the world?
We are very satisfied with the final result. We feel like we’ve painted a big picture that is Armorys sound and image. Not only are we happy with our own accomplishments but also with the work and effort our producer Oscar Carlquist has put into the album, giving it a unique sound that really tooked it to next level. As I mentioned before we’re amazed by the great artwork Matthias Frisk was able to create, giving the album a «punch-to-your-face» vibe when you’ll hold it in your hands for the first time. It is more then exciting to release it unto the world…
– How could you say the album title describes the musical content on the album?
The title does not quite describe the music on the album, it does however tell that we have a mistrust for humanity which you can find as a underlying tone in most of our lyrics despite if it’s about space wars or the downfall of mankind.
– This is coming out with with High Roller Records, a really good label for undeground bands I think, and that has some countrymates of yours as AMBUSH or LETHAL STEEL on their rooster. How did you hook up with them? Are you pleased with your cooperation thus far?
High Roller Records was the one we wanted to be signed by the most and therefore they were the first record label we contacted after the album was done. As I said in one of the earlier questions we were thrilled to find out that they were interested in releasing our debut album. Our cooperation with HRR has been nothing but a great journey through space and time together and we hope to travel through the outer rims of the galaxy for many lightyears to come.
– The album has a strong live vibe I think, it sounds really organic. How did you record it?
Thank you, that was what we were aiming for when we recorded it. We wanted to potray Armorys sound so true and organic as possible, we wanted it to be as authenic as it is live and therefore we recorded everything live in the studio. We pressed the record button and played through every song in a row as fast as we could.
– It’s also a really guitar driven record I could say, and in that aspect I’ve found some american Thrash Metal influences a lá early METALLICA. What could you comment on this?
Metallica may not be our biggest influence, but who don’t like the early albums like «Kill ‘em all» and «Ride the lightning»? However Metallica is one of the pioneers of the first wave of early speed metal so of course they are a influence for us, especially Mr. Dave Mustaine! Four out of five members of Armory are guitarists from the beginning so it’s hard not to be a guitar driven band. We lay down a lot of thoughts and work behind the other instruments as well, we want to bring out every aspect of the music, not only the guitars.
– Anyway overall is a Speed Metal album, with Heavy Metal as well as Thrash Metal inspirations so, what could you say have been the most influential acts for ARMORY?
It’s a mix between the classic heavy metal acts such as Judas Priest and the US metal such as Omen, Savage Grace and Helstar together with the old Slayer and all types of speed metal around the world. Our main influences might be a bit more towards the melodic side of speed metal, but we still love rawer bands like Exciter and Razor. We like to put a lot of diversity in our songs, and therefore we try to combine these different styles (and many, many other influences as well) and come up with our own unique sound.
– It also has something a lot of bands into the genre seem to forget about: atmosphere. There’s songs with a really somber mood and dark guitars, such as «Artificial Slavery». Was this something you were consciously striving for?
This is something that just happend. We are inspired by the grim swedish nature and the deep dark cosmos which produced this «somber mood», as you put it.
– All this about «World Peace… Cosmic War» being said; how could you describe it in just 3 words?
Hyper Speed Metal
– And finally, what are now your near-future plans? What’s in store for ARMORY?
Right now all our energy is focusing on our releasegig on the 26th of august together with mighty Ambush and Tyranex at «Truckstop Alaska» in Gothenburg. After that we’re heading to Stockholm to support Rifle at their releasegig 3rd of September and then we’re probaly going to sit down and discuss the possibilities of a small european tour.
– That’s all from our side thank you so much for answering to our interview. If you now want to add some final words for our readers feel free to do it.
Watch the skies and search the unknown. From the dark age of comsos where the stars are born to the treacherous outer rim of the universe, the end is drawing near. The comsic war begins on the 19th of august!
Tania Giménez
tania@queensofsteel.com
