5 minute read
Onward
Resurrecting The Mighty ONWARD
Interview by Ken Morton
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Founded by guitar virtuoso Toby Knapp and celebrated vocalist Michael Grant in 2000, Onward unveiled their classic albums Evermoving (2001) and Reawaken (2002), both released on the renowned Century Media. In 2007’s, their next The Neverending Sun manifesto would see the light of day. After the passing of Michael Grant, a fourth and presumed final album New Fathoms Down was issued as a tribute to their fallen singer. And now founding member Toby Knapp has resurrected the mighty Onward, now featuring Robert Van War, best known for his tenure with US Power / Heavy Metal act Attika on lead vocals. Of Epoch and Inferno is the name of Onward’s fifth glorious power/thrash metal magnum opus - available wordwide via the legendary undergroud Moribund Records label! Highwire Daze caught up with Toby Knapp to find out more about this absolutely explosive comeback masterwork! Read on...
What made you decide to resurrect Onward after all this time?
I felt like this new music fit best under the Onward banner. I said I wouldn’t operate under the name again but when I heard the music start to really take shape I decided “This is Onward”. This album will introduce Onward to new listeners, some of those people will seek out the early albums. That’s a good thing.
Is there any overall story or concept behinds the album title Of Epoch and Inferno?
It means a few things. It can refer to a resurgence or comeback of something. The other meaning is a bit darker. You can’t look at the world and not see that our collective days may be wrapping up relatively soon. The final period of time to be washed away by an Inferno.
How did Robert Van War of Attika become involved with Onward? He’s seems to be getting back on the scene with last year’s Metal Lands album.
I was working on this music and word got to Robert that I needed a vocalist. He had never heard of Onward, but knew I was a Shrapnel Records artist. I listened to Attika’s new album and liked his vocals and thought “Onward Mk. 2, a reinvention!” There are singers who have taken things from Michael Grant. Ultimately, I didn’t want a clone.
What made you decide to release Epoch on the legendary underground label Moribund Records this time around as opposed to Century Media?
I’ve been with Moribund Records almost exclusively for a decade. The Onward album will be the ninth record I’ve done for them! I’m happy how things are. I have recorded
lots of music and when I did have to shop for a record deal, Century Media never came to mind. I had some good experiences with CM and am thankful for that.
Who did the cover art for Epoch and how much influence did you have on it?
An Indonesian artist named Wayhu Phitoe. It was artwork he had for sale and we bought it when the album was already well underway. This thing with blazing eyes rising from hell is the opposite of the mystical figure on early Onward albums. The logo looked great on it too. The album title lined right up with it as well.
Would you like to tour or do a few live shows with this Onward lineup?
I’d really like to do some shows with Onward. I’m not really interested in touring at this time. It sounds like a real struggle these days. Tours getting canceled because bands can’t find buses and things like that - and we would be starting at the bottom again and that means touring in a van, if you’re even that lucky.
The first two Onward albums Evermoving and Reawaken were released 20 years ago. When you look back on those albums now, what do you think of them in retrospect?
I hate to say it, but as of now, they make me sad. Michael Grant and Chris Payette are gone and I fucking hate it. I don’t listen to the albums. I want to get others the chance to hear them though. They need to be in print.
What did you think of Michael Grant’s work in Crescent Shield and where were you when you heard about his passing?
I liked what he was doing in CS and felt it suited him better anyway. Plus, his bandmates lived close and were his best friends whereas Onward were getting nasty towards each other at the end because of third party instigators. I actually was putting together a new Onward in New York when I learned of his passing and abandoned the idea immediately. I always thought we’d have our second time around so I was going to do a few Onward albums with a different vocalist. That actually turned into Where Evil Follows a few years later on Moribund Records.
Another Onward member Chris Payette also passed away but more recently in 2020. Did you keep in touch with Chris after Onward began to wind down?
I never lost contact with Chris. I was friends with him a decade before Onward and all the years after Onward. I talked to him a week before he passed away and he was fine. One thing I didn’t know is that Chris and Mike remained friends after Onward up until Mike passed away. If I’d had known Mike was grieving or sick I would have set our petty disputes aside and reached out.
You had a solo album entitled From The Aether released on the mighty Moribund Records earlier in the year. How did this album compare to Onward and what was it like playing every single instrument on the album?
I started recording the new Onward album as soon as I finished the solo album, within weeks. Now I’m getting ready to do another solo album. I’ve been making tons of records completely on my own since Onward split in 2003. I enjoy it and explore lots of sounds I wouldn’t integrate into Onward.
What was it like playing with Darkane in 2009 and how did that come about?
A mutual friend at Nuclear Blast Records got me on their Canadian tour dates. In hindsight, it was cool. They tuned so low and used such heavy gauge strings (compared to me) it fucked my Stratocaster up. I made a few bucks and got to tour Canada. There were Onward fans at a few of those shows just to see me play and I was humbled by that.
Are you currently involved with any other bands or solo projects?
Always working on something whether it’s solo stuff or my Black Metal project, Waxen. Onward signed a 2 album deal with Moribund Records as well!
Any final words of wisdom?
Thanks for visiting with me and supporting this music!
