1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new album?
Our last recording was the Prophecy e.p. We thought it would be cool to gather up a bunch of unreleased stuff and put it out it before we settled in for writing and recording the latest full length release. We also played shows the length and breadth of Ireland and some shows in Scotland and London.
2.Recently you have released a new album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past? I think the new recording builds on what we have done before. We have brought some additional dynamics to the sound. The addition of a guitar means we can explore a different balance between the two instruments having already set our stall out in terms of oppressive dirge on previous releases. Sonically It’s not any less more abrasive and heavy but we are able to bring a different dimension to the overall sound with the addition of the 6 strings.
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music? Lyrically, we aren’t really out to preach to anyone, it’s for them to interpret the music and the lyrical content. Up to this point lyrical themes have been based on a combination of poetry, factual events, science and fantasy. However loosely speaking on this recording the title track ‘Precession of The Equinoxes’ is about being adrift in the vast vacuum of time and space feeling the suffocating weight and sense of total crushing isolation and foreboding and inevitability of the cyclic nature of the cosmos on both a planetary and personal level. Its part sci-fi fantasy and part science fact. ‘Summon Demon Scream The Abyss’ explores inner turmoil and the tipping point between sanity and insanity. ‘Bludgeon Lord’ Brutality does not have to always be a physical act. Being swept aside under the tidal weight of dictates’ rules, regulations and those that ‘know best’ ‘From Napalm Altar’ Caustic messages and words of hate are not the exclusive domain of religion and their preachers as the title might imply. There are those that make demands of society and individuals as to how they should think and act. Their messages are no less caustic than those of the religious fanatics. All are equal but some are more equal than others.
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'War Iron'? War Iron - scrap metal gathered up during times of war to feed the machinery of war, I was nearly sure that this term actually existed to describe the gathering of scrap iron during the Second World War. Turns out it didn’t but the name stuck anyhow.
5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance? I think for us a decent on stage sound and PA sound is of course essential, but what is more important is that we enjoy the experience of playing and if the audience are enthusiastic about the show that’s a real bonus. Our stage performance doesn’t feature anything out of the norm other than we like to run all of the songs together start to finish in the set without any breaks. Occasionally we have used projections on stage and this is something we would like to explore again in the future. Best shows in terms of turn out would be Dublin doom days and Desertfest in London. Both these shows were packed and we were mainly playing to people who hadn’t seen us play live before.
6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album? We will be doing a number of shows around Ireland this side of the summer to support the release, we hope to play some shows in UK at end of summer 2015.
7.The new album was self released, are the band members open to working with another label again in the future, or do you prefer the DIY approach a lot more? The DIY approach is certainly one were you can get thing things done quickly. In this day and age it’s fairly simple to organise the whole thing record, get pressings done, artwork etc. We would be very keen to work with a label or labels to put the current release out in other formats vinyl or tape; or work with labels on future releases. Were we have worked with labels in the past the outcome has been very positive.
8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of sludge and doom metal? Worldwide we have had positive comment from all corners of the globe, from USA and Canada to South America to Australia and Japan and of course around Europe and UK. We aren’t trying to be unique or different or cutting edge or anything, this is just what we do and if people like it then that’s a bonus. Feedback on the new release has been very positive so far.
9.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part off? We do share members with quite a few other bands, certainly need to keep the diary updated to know who’s where at any time! Dave also plays bass in Terminus, their demo and debut 7” sold out in no time at all and they have been playing festival dates in Europe, their first full length album is recorded and due for release later in 2015 musically its well-executed traditional metal. Ross plays bass in Oncology, technical death metal, nothing recorded just yet. Myself (Baggy), Ross and Dave also play and record as Fuckhammer, we have just recorded three tracks for a split cassette with Russian band ‘Thy Grave’ due out later in the year, musically its sludge metal meets death metal. Marty our drummer also does drum/vocal/keyboard activity in Slomatics, their release ‘Estron’ has just been re-released on orange vinyl and I think they plan to record again early 2016. Musically its sci-fi, stoner-rock, tone-worship.
10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future? Muscially we will continue to explore the current configuration of the band with both guitar and bass. New recordings will hopefully flow quicker and we do intend to have a split release out later in the year that should build on what we have done already with the latest recording.
11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays? Really we do listen to all sorts, however unlike a lot of bands would claim I would say that its nearly all exclusively metal that we listen to. That’s not trying to be cool or anything, I just don’t think that anyone in the band is interested in anything else. I’m not sure that any bands have had a direct influence on our music, but we would all be big fans of War Horse, Iron Monkey, Black Sabbath, Graves as Sea, Buried at Sea and of course Godflesh. Outside of that We listen to anything from Iron Maiden, ZZ Top, Kiss to The Cult; death metal, black metal, doom, sludge, traditional metal, grind-core the whole lot!
12.What are some of your non musical interests? Non musical interests, given theres only 24 hours in a day there’s just about enough time to fit in work, eating and sleeping!!! Seriously, we have a range of non musical interests nothing too crazy, friends, family life, hanging out and going to other shows would be high on the agenda. Marty always seems to be able to fit in around 25 different sporting activities also!!
13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts? Thanks for taking the time to prepare the questions. As a band we are always blown away when people comment enthusiastically on our music and we do really appreciate when people buy merchandise on line or at shows this helps us fund our shows, tours, recordings. Thanks for the support. Hopefully see you at a show some time soon. Cheers.
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