California thrashers Warbringer have released their new album, Wrath and Ruin, earlier this spring via Napalm Records. Continuing to push boundaries, the record gives their catalog another heavy dose of modern thrash. Metal Insider caught up with frontman John Kevill to further discuss the album.
What was the writing and recording process like this time around? Did you approach anything differently?
This one began with a few lyric ideas, which I accumulated on a document with the concepts and some musical references of what I imagined them sounding like. I discussed this and passed it onto Carlos, who began arranging songs to match it. Once we had the first half of “The Sword and the Cross” a direction was clear and we went ahead in this way. Compared to before this record was very “planned” in that almost every song had a title and a lyric idea before any music was written.
Wrath And Ruin marks your seventh full-length release, how do you feel it stands apart from your previous albums?
I think for me the main distinction is how “Wrath and Ruin” has these dystopian themes at the forefront, and a feeling of bitter disillusionment throughout it. I think it is also a bit darker than the previous record.
Which song on Wrath And Ruin was the most challenging to write or record?
Different songs were challenging in different ways. Getting the ending of “The Sword and the Cross” to work as it does was a challenge. It took me a while to land on a lyric I was happy with for “The Last of My Kind.” “Strike from the Sky” had a lot of really high shrieking that was tough to pull off.
Can you share more about the inspiration behind the track “The Sword And The Cross?”
The idea is a medieval lord explaining to the listener how and why he owns them. The sword is some original act of violence, described in the first verse, and the cross is ideology to legitimize his rule, described in the second verse. The end of the song talks about how even though the feudal system is long gone, that there are still very much lords and peasants today. The speaker of the song laughs at the listener and says he will own them long after he is dead.
What was it like working with Juan Rodriguez for the video, “A Better World,” and what was the experience like behind the process?
Juan did a great job on these videos, he directed “A Better World” and “Through a Glass, Darkly” in the same day! It was an arduous day of shooting that went well into the night, but we got two great performance videos out of it.
What made you decide on having bonus live tracks to go along with the new album?
We had all this material from our 2023 Euro tour, our sound man Bob Breisink had recorded all of it. So he took a collection of the best audio from there, and here it is!
What’s next after this tour?
Another tour. We will be doing a lot of different European festivals this summer, as well as playing alongside bands like Kreator and Suffocation!
With nearly two decades in the game, what’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a band that you wish you knew earlier?
I think just how to ride it out, how to manage oneself on tour. There’s a sort of zen towards it I’ve acquired in more recent years that I didn’t have when I was younger.
Is there anything else you want to say or add about the new album?
We are really proud of all the songs on “Wrath and Ruin” and we hope you guys enjoy it too! I think it’s some of the darkest and sharpest material the band has put out. Play it loud!!
