Riding a newfound wave of success with their traditional thrash sound, Warbringer has every intention of busting heads and being successful en route. Being uncompromising with their sound is what is bringing out the fans in droves to experience this renewed flavor of metal that hasn’t been popular in America for over a decade, and Warbringer wouldn’t have it any other way. I was able to interview guitarist John Laux about what the Warbringer sound entails, Teutonic thrash, their fellow bay area thrashers as well as a host of other topics.

AMR: Thank you for this interview John. To start with, most metalheads today can identify thrash, but what divides you from the rest of the great bands out today? Describe the Warbringer sound?

John: Well, our sound is what divides us from the new bands of today. The great bands of today, say Exodus or Suffocation are the bands that inspired us in the first place. Our sound comes from the same influences that pushed them — traditional old school metal. A lot of the newer bands today limit their influnces to whatever has been popular for the last 5 years. That’s why we standout now, even though this style has very old roots. Warbringer’s sound is based on pushing thrash forward from where most of the bands fell apart and left off in the mid-’90s.

AMR: Bay area thrash more or less started the movement with Metallica’s Kill’Em All, along with the early Exodus demos (of course, props have to go out to early Overkill whom released some great stuff on the East Coast), and now, there seems to be an obvious resurgence in this same area. Why do you think now, in the last 2-3 years, there has been a newfound popularity?

John: Thrash metal survived by being infused with death metal and hardcore, and now you take a fresh generation of kids who look back on the music and find great bands like Exodus and Overkill. It doesn’t matter those bands are 20 years old, they were fucking great. There was no bullshit, and those records are as violent and uncompromising as most extreme music today. Riding around the country a few times, I noticed metal hasn’t just regained some of its popularity in California, but all over the country there are hundreds of young die hard fans. On top of that there was always the same strong underground scene, I just think the music really speaks for itself and people respect that.

AMR: Has recent new outputs by Exodus, Testament, Megadeth, Onslaught, Mortal Sin, and Sadus, along with the newfound popularity of Overkill and Annihilator (amongst others) lent a hand to this refreshing interest in thrash, or are they merely a product of their environment, riding the wave like everyone else?

John: I know the climate for Exodus now is much better now than it was a few years ago. They were putting out solid records before any of these new bands started taking off. A lot of old thrash bands, Exhorder for example are regrouping because there is a bigger market and audience for the music and because they loved playing and finally have a chance to pick it back up again. Refreshing or just riding the wave I think it’s great as long as they’re trying to contribute to the genre instead of cashing in on it.

AMR: I know you guys are thrashers and probably like it all, but I want to ask this just because it’s an interesting question; what are some of the potential selling points of Teutonic thrash (German thrash) that the bay area scene lacks?

John: I think the Teutonic sound introduces a much more brutal approach. There’s more room for harsh vocals, death and black metal influnces, and speed. Both sounds have their technical merits which is what I love the most about thrash. The Bay Area style sometimes had cleaner vocals and was more mid-paced and traditional, love it to death, we take much more influnce by the Teutonic, Tech and Death branches of thrash. I think they offer much more territory for us to explore.

AMR: Do you think that bands like Tankard, a lesser known band in comparison to the big three in Germany and one that, in my opinion, plays more of the light hearted bay area style as opposed to the darker style of their peers, would find success in the U.S. if they were given a chance to tour here? It seems they are one of those legends who has just never been given their just deserves despite putting album after album of quality thrash.

John: Oh yeah! I mean that attitude is almost the same approach Municipal Waste takes, isn’t it? The Bay Area sound is much bigger and a gateway to the darker side of thrash. Couldn’t you argue that Metallica had to set the stage for a darker band like Slayer? I don’t know why Tankard doesn’t come here because many people I spoke to in Europe consider them to be a class act and that’s what really matters.

AMR: Do you ever think Metallica will remember where they actually came from and put out another good, pure thrash record?

John: To be honest, I always liked where Megadeth came from more.

AMR: In your now international exposure to the metal world in recent years, where would you say are the most rabid of thrash fans?

John: GERMANY! Oh man, they are not kidding. Also in countries that are smaller, like Portugal or further east like Poland, the kids there were staving for a good time!

AMR: What have been your craziest fan experiences thus far?

John: I think the craziest thing I ever saw another fan do was jump 2 stories into a mosh pit for Obituary. Besides the violence and injuries some fans have sustained in the pit, I don’t think anything tops that.

AMR: I bought your album a few weeks ago, which was also reviewed on this site around the time it was released in the U.S. by one of our other reviewers, so needless to say, we have been following Warbringer, and I for one love your new record. How has been the reception thus far?

John: Well I really appreciate all the positive feedback and support we’ve received from people around the globe. I feel honored and we never expected to come this far! I know we’ve exceeded our label’s expectations for record sales. Again, we just feel privileged to make the most out of these opportunities.

AMR: It must feel really great to see you and your peers like Fueled by Fire, Dekapitator, and, of course, Municipal Waste, basically paving the way for this new wave. This must be an out of this world experience to play with guys you more less came up with (which is quite similar to thrash’s origins with a mish mash of musicians inter mingling between bands).

John: Yeah, whenever we run into each other, it’s like, “hey man, remember all those homemade demos and local shows at bars we used to play, can you believe we’re all signed and working on real records now?” Interesting enough there have been lots of lineup changes in all of the bands from our scene, but those guys who really wanted it are still there, and now we all have the chance to make something out of it.

AMR: Tell us about some bands that you hope/think will get some exposure, that perhaps, we can feature on this site?

John: I think Witchhaven is really great! I love how they incorporate the thrashy elements of black metal in there mid pacers and music. I also just saw a tech band named Vector and they struck me as being totally original with a sci-fi element, reminiscent of bands like Voivod. They were also a very tight group of players.

AMR: You guys are about to embark on a new tour, tell us about that?

John: We’re going back to Europe with Sworn Enemy, we’re also playing at Wacken and at the Brutal Assault fest in the Czech Republic. I can’t tell you how excited we are to be a part of those festivals, to meet all those bands, and to travel and thrash in countries completely removed from our own.

AMR: Excellent, well that about wraps it up for us. Is there anything else you’d like to add for our readers?

John: I should let everyone know that we are proud to announce the addition of our new drummer, Nic Ritter, to our band. Look forward to some killer drums live and on the next record. With his addition we feel faster and tighter than ever. Thanks for your support, you guys rule!

Interview by CODY