Nonpoint’s new album X arrived last August via Spinefarm Records and these Florida alternative metal giants will be spending a lot of time on the road in support of their latest effort. We recently attended their show on September 11th at New York City’s Gramercy Theatre and were lucky to catch up with frontman Elias Soriano to discuss the new album.
X seems a lot heavier than 2016’s The Poison Red. How would you compare the two?
Well it was a different process. Having Fred Archambault, our producer involved this time around, having the time to write the music, giving the right amount of time to step away from the project a little bit, kind of reinvigorate everybody. There was a few key factors that made us walk in a different headspace, being able to reflect on the year before, and seeing where we wanted to make changes.
What is the overall lyrical theme of the album?
I don’t think there’s any overall theme. We did our best to make sure that every song had its own kind of thing, its own personality, its own take on its position on the record. We definitely didn’t want people to say, “Oh well that one sounded like that one.”
It is a well produced and composed album. I personally enjoyed it more than The Poison Red.
Good. Thank you. I do too.
It seems like whatever happened after The Poison Red, you managed to get yourself back into gear. X is a lot stronger and heavier and probably one of the best Nonpoint albums in a while. How has the feedback been so far from your fans?
It’s been great. They’re liking the direction that we took the music, so it’s all been positive.
Looking back, despite the lineup changes, how has Nonpoint evolved since Statement (2000)?
I think musically, the addition of the second guitar, the addition of a third voice now, having another key songwriter in the band with BC. When Andy stepped out of the band, him and I were the principal writers. The other guys would come with ideas every once in a while, but the majority and the meat of the record was done by him and I. When he bowed out, and BC stepped in, especially with Rasheed, even Dave before them, every single step that we took was a step up with the actual musicianship of that position.
Throughout all ten albums, which one would you say was the most difficult to write?
I don’t think anything of them were difficult to write. The process might have been a little harder. I know Vengeance was a little bit tough because of how we had to put it together. But I enjoy the writing and recording process.
Do you think having an online presence is important to your fans?
I think having an online presence is important to anything these days. Our fans are engaged with social media, so in order to stay engaged with them on a day to day basis, social media’s the best way to do it.
I noticed that you guys are very much involved on social media, more so than others and it’s great to see the interaction. Before your break from touring after The Poison Red, you guys were on the road a lot as well as making several festival appearances. With that said, is there a particular city or festival you wish that you could attend and haven’t yet?
I want to do Coachella. I really like the whole scene behind that. The family atmosphere, the safety of it. There’s a lot of care that Coachella takes for their audience, so that’s one I want to cross off.
Coachella definitely needs more rock and metal. What’s next for Nonpoint once the tour wraps up?
Another tour in the wintertime. We’ll be continuing on from there, going overseas, doing a bunch of touring on this cycle. The album’s being well received and that normally leads to larger tours.
Sounds like you’re going to be very busy. For fun, if you could categorize Nonpoint’s entire career as a movie genre, which one would it be?
As a movie genre, it would be a probably drama. I would definitely say drama.
So you must have had a lot of challenges over the years.
Yeah.
Anything else you’d like to say or add to your fans?
To get to a show. I always say this. It’s an experience within itself to see the band in a live atmosphere, so get to a show.
You guys are very good live.
Thank you.
