Boston heavy metallers The Offering are gearing up to release their debut album Home, which is scheduled to arrive on August 2nd via Century Media Records (pre-order here). We caught up with frontman Alex Richichi and guitarist Nishad George to discuss more on their full-length debut, their overall sound and more.
Let’s start with the beginning, can you discuss The Offering’s formation?
Nishad George: We all used to play in different punk bands actually in Boston. And you know really like rugged, really low quality like basement shows. So anytime someone played really well, they stood out. And so everyone in the band, knew each other just because they stood out in that whole weird basement scene. We agreed that we’re all playing punky…why aren’t we playing metal music. And Alex brought us all together and here were are now. We got along really well and we have a lot of similar tastes, which is interesting considering our background in that punk basement scene.
When did you guys start working on your debut album?
Nishad George: That one was 2018, the very beginning of the year we hit the studio. But we started working on that in mid 2017. I think when we released the EP we immediately got to work on it.
I hear a lot of different influences, but they mainly remind me of a mix of bands from say the early 2000’s, such as System of a Down in “Waste Away,” to a hint of Slipknot in “Ultraviolence”. But of course there’s an original touch to it. With that being said, how would you describe your sound?
Alex Richichi: It’s funny that you bring that up because we’re only 26 and 27, so the early 2000’s metal, nu metal era is where we have our foundation. I guess from Slipknot to Linkin Park. But of course we’ve sprung outside of those things and we’ve explored the entire metal spectrum. We usually tell people that we’re a metal band. We try to not get as convoluted as trying to figure out what subgenre we have to be in.
Have you noticed a resurgence of nu metal bands?
Alex Richichi: Actually I do, and you know what it was only a matter of time. I’m speaking as somebody who grew up listening to Linkin Park, KoRn, Marilyn Manson, and whatnot, and it was really poo pooed by the who’s who of the thrash era and like the metalhead beforehand. And it was only a matter of time before the younger audience found value in a subgenre of metal that brought in legitimate frustration and hip hop influences. It makes the music a little bit more relevant to today.
Nishad George: I think people really like nu metal I think was maybe the last of metal music that really brought in weight and hordes of people. And that’s kind of what started a lot of the bands we grew up listening to. I understand why people like to diss it because it’s our last impression of metal being angry. And it’s such a weird thing to hate mainstream and metal but that’s the case. So the fact that it’s coming back is kind of a good sign that people are saying, “hey, it’s not about who likes it, who doesn’t like it, we’re just making music that’s weird for the sake of being weird, and because we want to do it.” And I think the openness of letting that in is more important than the fact that that genre is coming back.
Do you guys have any touring plans coming up for this year?
Nishad George: Yeah, we’re taking on Europe. Actually in a week, we’re rehearsing starting this coming week. And we’re going to hit Wacken and a few other awesome festivals in Europe for the month of August. Then we’re going to start planning out a fall leg after that.
How would you describe your live performances?
Alex Richichi: Different
Nishad George: I think it’s flashy. People are always asking us, especially at our label, how do you play this live? I think for us, like we love rock ‘n roll bands especially Van Halen and Led Zeppelin, guys that were super flashy in their live performances. So we like that flexing element on stage. We want to give people that larger than life experience like, “Wow, what’s going on?”
Can you guys talk about how it was signing with Century Media?
Alex Richichi: It was exciting. It’s one of those things that you dream about. But it almost fell into our lap. It wasn’t our first offer and going through the process and talking with the people…it’s really not so much about the label per say, but the people that we’re working with within the label. And we’ve been lucky enough to really work with such great people within Century Media, especially the European market. They have been so grateful and so supportive of our artistic expression.
You’re lives probably have changed dramatically ever since. So any plans for like a second album?
Nishad George: No, I think we’re trying to focus on our current release. Yeah this one took a lot out of us, and it’s not even out yet. So I think we’re more focused on making sure that we do our part and absorb this whole process of what takes to release an album on a label like this.
Alex Richichi: Yeah, exactly. It’s new to us and so it’s going to be really exciting to see how the process goes and how a major release looks like. And then after that happens and when we tour a little bit, get some touring legs under our belt, we’ll dive down the well into the writing process again.
Understandable. What are some of your favorite up and coming metal bands in the Boston area?
Nishad George: Boston that’s a good question, wow.
Alex Richichi: That is a good question. I haven’t lived in Boston in a while so I haven’t been a part of the scene.
Nishad George: Yeah you know what I’ll say, I have a few friends that have this awesome band called Thursday, and they’re really good friends of mine. And they broke up for a couple years and now they’re getting back together to work on a new album. And I’m really stoked about that because I think, me personally, I think they’re the best heavy band in Boston. But they’re more on the punk and hardcore side.
Alex Richichi: Yeah Boston is all about that punk, hardcore side of extreme music.
Any other hardcore punk bands that you can think of.
Nishad George: It’s funny, because I’m not that much into hardcore and punk, but both of my friends happened to play it. That’s how I got into the genre, which is kind of a weird thing because I’m definitely a metalhead.
Alex Richichi: I guess my favorite punk band out of Boston, that might be easier, is a band called Dent.
Is there anything else you guys want to say about the album?
Nishad George: I think we would just say try something new, and I hope that whatever we’re doing isn’t too weird for people and that we’re grateful that if you like it that’s awesome. We’re trying to do something different here and push the genre a little bit. We are open to it and if they are awesome, we’re glad, we’re excited to be here.
