XS10 Magazine - Nov 2020

Page 45

ASHES TO OMENS Talented Rockers out of Georgia! Hard Rock superstars, Ashes to Omens are one of the hard rock anomalies to come out of Athens, Georgia. Headed by mastermind James Branton, their vision is inspiring and their music is a tantalizing mix of edgy lyrics and hard driving instrumentals. Certainly a faction destined to become a household name, “Ashes to Omens” might very well be 2020’s biggest surprise. Their highly anticipated new single, “War Cry” has just been released worldwide, and in celebration lead singer James Branton and I exchanged some questions and answers......

anxiety and PTSD. War Cry is a song that was built around those feelings to lift one another up and support one another in times of mental distress. We think that the song finds a way to let people know that they’re not alone and if they’re struggling with that sort of thing, reaching out for help is what they should do. Ultimately, that there will be someone there for them.

What inspired the birth of “Ashes to Omens” and how did you get the name? We actually thought for a long time about the name for the band. We wanted something that represented who we are individually and where we came from. Our thoughts were, “We’ve all been in previous bands” and this is something newer so the name itself represents the ashes of previous bands coming together to create a new vision that honors the past.

Please introduce your band to the planet and what influences your music? We are a 5 piece hard rock band from Athens, GA! Home of the Bulldogs, R.E.M. and the B52’s. We became a band in 2017 and are influenced by tons of mainstream rock bands like Breaking Benjamin, Shinedown, Nothing More, and Tool. We’ve went on several tours in the U.S and opened for numerous national acts like Tom Keifer of Cinderella, REHAB, Hallow Point, Demon in Me and Lullwater. Our music is influenced by everyday life, overcoming adversity, building relationships and standing up for what we believe in.

What inspired the theme of your newest song? I think a lot of our music that we have released in the past comes from a place of personal experience. This song specifically comes from a darker place. Two of our members struggle with depression,

Do you recall a moment in time that changed the tra jectory of your life? For me at least, I can’t really speak for the rest of the band, but not long after I founded the band I was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer. It was a pretty

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