Formed in early 2019, in Red Deer, Canada, Art Of Attrition has been working tirelessly on writing their second album “…And It Will All End Forever”, which is out now. The blackened technical deathcore band separates themselves from the underground local scene with their 8-string barrage of dueling melodic guitars, gravity blast beats, intense guttural vocals, and epic orchestration. The comment on the album:
“’…And It Will All End Forever’ is a head-first dive into self-introspection. Each track is not only an acknowledgment of the existence of inner struggle, but a confrontation. An open-ended internal dialogue, within itself. The EP is a metaphorical checkpoint on the steep and winding journey of self-discovery. It endeavours to facilitate a starkly honest sense of self-accountability.”
As a whole, the EP brings to the listener disgusting breakdowns, matched by speed and intense guitar work that channel emotions such as anger and anxiety. Hauntingly memorable solos give way to epic choruses that share relatable moments. A whirlwind of deathcore is matched with classic black metal, and capitalized with bits of groove and creative drum parts.
Compared with their first release, 2023’s “The Void Eternal”, listeners can expect more ebb and flow, build up and release, emotion, and an intense/epic listening experience. It is recommended for fans of Gaerea, Dimmu Borgir, and Archspire.
Congratulations on the release of your EP it has some absolutely killer tracks, I have really enjoyed listening to it. What was the process and inspiration for creating “…. And It Will All End Forever”?
Thanks!
We started off with arranging the riffs and orchestrations. We make a few rounds of changes until we settle on a general sonic “motif” that we enjoy. We also start layering in some scratch drums at this point. Following that, once the drums are finalized, Josh writes his vocals. He will either use something from his book that he feels suits the vibe, or he will write something new.
As for inspiration, we really just wanted to improve on what we started with “the Void Eternal.” The biggest change would be that we shifted orchestrations and synths into a more complimentary role, as opposed to having it drive the melody.
The EP artwork is so visually intense. Can you tell us a little more about it?
We actually purchased it after the majority of the EP was written. We had just started to discuss the idea of commissioning art, and decided we would take a quick look through a few catalogs first. We had Erskine Designs (Mark Erskine) in mind from the start. It was one of the first three pieces that we brought into consideration and we agreed that it was an apt representation of the albums lyrical themes.
Creating the music video for Vitriol, how long did that whole process take? And how do you feel about the overall product of this song?
We completed the filming of Vitriol in a full day. We went into it with the idea of a fairly simple video, that mostly featured us playing. Day of, we had some artistic inspirations for some of the outfit changes and theatrics, (the gold facepaint, and the gold spew) so we incorporated those in as well. This was to help illustrate the songs meaning, and bring a bit of color and excitement to the final product.
We LOVE Vitriol. We truly believe it has been one of the strongest tracks we have ever written. It was the first track we wrote from the EP, and it marks the start of us locking in our creative chemistry together.
How do your personal interests influence your creativity as musicians?
I think of our biggest non-artistic influences are our blue collar roots. We aren’t afraid to put the work in when it comes to the “off the stage” sort of stuff. If we need things such as video editing, management, etc. we put a strong emphasis on learning how to do as much as we can ourselves. We are also not afraid to fight hard for our opportunities in the industry, as that’s just how it is in real life. We are perfectly happy to put in the long drives and endure difficult conditions (with a smile) to help ourselves get where we’d like to go. I believe this attitude culminates in an “always proud, never satisfied” attitude, and ultimately aids us in putting forth the best music and show that we possibly can.
From when you first started to now, how would you describe the evolution of your music?
I would say we haven’t strayed too far from our original path. We are really just making music that we enjoy playing and listening to. However, I believe that “…And It Will All End Forever” is recognizeably more cohesive than “the Void Eternal.” This simply a result of having developed a strong sense of creative chemistry together.
The conclusion of “The Cascadian Carnage Tour” on August 6th, what have been some of the most memorable moments?
“To be stuck in this f**cking traffic”
Feel free to leave that part out, I just asked this question as we were en route to Calgary for our final show and this was the answer that I was given.
It has been a really great run, we really enjoyed dipping into the USA for the first time. We met a lot of great people and are certainly looking forward to going there again.
Our Edmonton show at the Starlite Room was probably the biggest show we have ever played, that was a phenomenal experience.
Loud As Hell 2024 was also a real treat. We absolutely love getting to see the LAH fam, it never disappoints.
With touring and performing so many shows back-to-back, how to stay energized and healthy on the road?
We haven’t quite figured that one out yet, so if you ever figure it out, give us a call and let us know!
I think we just try and eat as generally healthy as we can, and drink a lot of water. It’s not easy.
When performing live do you have any post or pre show customs or habits?
Not particularly, we are fairly mundane and practical. We do our warm-ups and then hustle hard to help with changeovers before and after our set. We will usually go for food and a beer after the show is over and we are loaded out. Those are very lovely times where we get to relax and enjoy the afterglow of all the fun!
Where can people go to discover more about AOA, and get hold of your music & merch?
We have a website: artofattrition.com where you can find links to all of our socials and outlets.
We are most active on Instagram, but we also use TikTok, Bandcamp, Big Cartel, and Facebook.
We stream on all major streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music.
And finally, any parting words to the music world?
We appreciate all of the love and support. It’s been a fun ride so far, and we are super excited to keep on making memories!
Thank you so much for taking the time to chat, it is greatly appreciated. I am looking forward to hearing more from you all in the future.
Thanks!
