USA NAILS

USA NAILS Fighters, probably. Having said that, I am up for working with you, Rick, if you are reading this, which you definitely are.”

INTERVIEW WITH VOCALIST/ GUITARIST GARETH THOMAS AND VOCALIST/GUITARIST STEVEN HODSON BY CALEB R. NEWTON The London-based group USA Nails have captured a marvelously vibrant I’ve started to reflect a bit more on my experiences and my personality. I’m quite an anxious Behind that accomplishment, Thomas explains that he “wanted to expand on the more melodic ideas” Even if Rick Rubin happens to hit up the band soon, USA Nails will always be rooted in the bustling DIY heavy music community. mash-up of noise-rock abrasion character but cover it up a lot that cropped up on the band’s 2019 “Things are so vibrant at the moment with punching melody à la clas- through having one too many record Life Cinema. The production in the underground, and it is great sic-feeling post-punk on their new beers to build confidence. I have from Wayne Adams, who has han- to hear what’s coming out at the album Character Stop, which drops recently become a father too, dled all five USA Nails albums, also moment, but the fact that even the October 23 via Hex Records. which is great, but it has brought figures prominently in the latest re- DIY scene is still dominated by white, some mad experiences up from cord’s construction, as Thomas sees it. cis, het men is telling,” Thomas obIn the music, the vibe of the rainbow my past. I lost my dad when I was serves. “We try to be more mindful of that’s splashed across the cover quite young, and certainly don’t “I don’t think we are that similar that these days, like doing what we shines through quite brightly, but want my daughter to have to ex- to any singular noise rock band, can to make sure bills we appear on not to the exclusion of the album’s perience what I did. It’s made me or any band, really,” he observes. are inclusive and diverse, and that grimier undercurrent. There’s a think about my lifestyle a lot.” “Having said that, I don’t know if gigs provide a safe environment for free-flowing tension in the lyrics, the Wayne has go-to references when everyone to enjoy. sometimes-shouted vocals, and the The band members have “all played we’re making records with him. Ofsharp music. in bands for years,” fellow vocalist ten, when we’ve tried to give him “Not saying that we are perfect, of and guitarist Gareth Thomas adds, our own references, he’s come course, and there’s always more

“As well as the overarching, mid- but he personally reached a mile- back and said stuff like, ‘Nah, your that can be done. But thankfully, it dle-aged man still trying to be stone with Character Stop. drumming isn’t crap enough; this feels like most people share the idea in a punk band, there’s songs won’t work.’ that more needs to be done to make that are a bit more personal,” “I think this is the first recording ses- the scene more inclusive and more the band’s vocalist and guitarist sion where, as soon as I stepped out I’ve always thought a large part safe. There are so many generous, Steven Hodson explains. “I think, of the studio, I immediately thought, of genre comes from production. progressive, wonderful, and talentin the past, my lyrics have been ‘I really love what we’ve done here,’” Imagine how we would sound if Rick ed folk who are part of it; it makes a bit more tongue-in-cheek, but he shares. Rubin produced us. Like the Foo me excited for the future.” �� �� �� 20 NEW NOISE

INTERVIEW WITH VOCALIST/GUITARIST JOHN MCENTEE BY ADDISON HERRON-WHEELER

Always the powerhouses of more. It’s definitely satisfying to quality output and pro- hear the final product.” duction, it’s no surprise that Incantation not only came out Incantation are tentatively planning with an awesome record during to do a European tour in November COVID, they are also using the down- with Belphegor, but are well aware time to focus on creating. And after that cancellation is a possibility. taking their time with the last record, They’ve also done livestreams and they’re excited to see it come out into tried to get into the digital spirit. But the world, pandemic or no pandemic. most of all, they’ve been focusing on Incantation unleashed Sect of Vile Divinities on August 21 via Relapse Re- “We've been working on new material, cords, and 2020 is better for it. so we have about nine new songs pret“I'm just excited to get it out there. have been keeping really productive We've put so much work into it, and as far as writing goes, and we have we actually recorded the drums, like, some other plans in the works as well. two years ago,” says vocalist and gui- We have some videos coming out, and tarist John McEntee. “We were trying then we’re doing a live, rehearsal video to do the rest of the recording in be- of us playing some of the songs. Right tween touring, but we ended up doing now, it kind of feels like everyone’s just so much touring that we didn’t have trying to figure out what is going to be time to work on it. Finally, we got to- between intense, classic blast beats style, and I think overall, the album the best idea, and no one knows what gether and said, ‘We have to get this and catchy riffing. It’s an Incantation has more harmonies on it and a lot that’s going to be since no one’s had to thing done with.’” record at its best. more double-guitar work,” McEn- deal with craziness like this before.” tee adds. “Some of our earlier alkeeping busy with new material. ty much finished,” McEntee says. “We And the wait was definitely worth it. “There were certain things we felt bums like Diabolical Conquest had Get Sect of Vile Divinities now, and be Dark themes that interweave religious like we wanted to express or elab- a lot of guitar work and stuff that on the lookout for more music and legends and horror folklore dance orate a little bit more on with our I kind of wanted to revisit a little tour announcements soon. �� �� ��