Atlanta-based metal quintet Irist, who have gone from gearing up for the release of their eagerly-anticipated debut album to the crushing reality of the Covid-19 emergency, have told RTÉ Entertainment that things could be much worse - and that their fellow bands need support now more than ever.
Singer Rodrigo Carvalho talks to Harry Guerin about making the album - and making the best of things.
Harry Guerin: Your album Order of the Mind has been one of the most-eagerly anticipated metal records of 2020, and you've gone from that joyous build-up to seeing the world closing down. How difficult has that been to get your head around?
Rodrigo Carvalho: It has been a little bit of a letdown, but we also could have had it much worse. We feel legitimately bad for so many of our favourite bands that were on tour and had to cancel their shows. Many of them were already in Europe and had to fly back. This is their main source of income, so it has got to be a major blow. If anyone can help artists at this particular time, it will be much appreciated.
Given how much people are having to rely on their resilience and look after their mental health more than ever, does the title Order of the Mind now feel eerily prophetic?
Well, we weren't trying to, but challenges are always going to be part of our lives. The album actually talks about these challenges, and one of them is mental health. The song Order of the Mind addresses this point. More specifically, it talks about issues with self-image. Hopefully, the positive aspects of our music and lyrics can make it a little easier for people to get through these difficult times.
What have you learned about yourself these past few weeks through your reaction to the current situation?
I'm not really sure. We are trying to keep ourselves busy by doing as much music as we can. We have been writing a great deal, in fact. But times like these do show how fragile we are as a species. In my opinion, this is a key takeaway in this situation. We should learn to respect our boundaries as a species and think about the way we have been treating the planet. There might be no better time to do it.
In terms of people pulling together, your album exemplifies the idea of a band as a team, or gang. What were the touchstone records that you all bonded over when Irist began?
We all come from very different musical backgrounds. Other than the classics - Metallica, Zeppelin, Sabbath etc. - I don't think there is much we share in terms of musical taste, and I think this is great. I want to believe that at some level, this helps make our sound more unique.
Before and during your time in the studio, when you talked together about the best debut albums, what records kept coming up again and again?
I don't think we had that conversation. However, one album we keep mentioning is Conjurer's Mire, which was the reason we decided to work with our producer, Lewis Johns. It's truly a great one. When we were recording the album, I was actually listening to Brutus' Nest. I love that one.
And what are the other records from your own life that made you want to follow this path?
Personally, I think [Sepultura album] Chaos AD might be the most influential album to this record. I am sure different band members have their own pick, but this is probably true for at least a few of us. I grew up listening to Sepultura, Biohazard and Ratos de Porao. Nineties Roadrunner [label] had a major impact in the way we see and write music.
How has being in this band changed your outlook on life and concept of success?
Not much has changed. We are just now getting our feet wet. With the pandemic, we haven't even been able to tour yet. Having said that, we have been following Order of the Mind‘s eception on magazines and social media, and it has been very positive. Not much has changed, but we are happy about the work we did.
Is there one moment shared between the five of you during the making of the album that sums up the experience?
After we finished recording the album, we took a trip to Ghent, Belgium. I have a high school friend there who has a band called Vagabundos, and I really wanted to see him. We ended up playing a show at a venue called Kinky Star, and had never been so well received. The place and the people are so warm and welcoming to artists, it's no wonder so many great bands come from there. That was our first ever show outside the US. It will be one for the books.
When the world returns to some sense of normality what are the short-term goals you are most looking forward to achieving?
Playing shows. We have been writing this album for a good one-and-a-half years. We are dying to go on tour and play it live. We just hope that things go back to normal as soon as possible.
In this strange downtime, what would you recommend for a playlist of uplifting songs to help people through the day?
When I am feeling down, I tend to listen to streight-edge hardcore like Youth of Today, Shelter, Have Heart etc., and some classic power metal like Angra, Helloween, Blind Guardian, which makes me think of home. I grew up listening to a lot of hardcore, and my brother listens to a lot of power metal. The memories I have associated with these genres are very positive.
Do you get a sense right now that people are developing an even greater appreciation of just how important music is?
I certainly hope so. As I had mentioned, this is a great time for reflection, and that includes the role of art in our lives. In my country in particular, Brazil, many people don't value art as much as they should. I hope that times like these help people understand that art is as important as any other industry.
What lyric from Order of the Mind sums up how you're feeling right now?
This is a lyric from our song Nerve. "Gravity, drags the air, fail to breathe..." It's going feel like that for a while with the pandemic. Hopefully it will all go away soon.
Irist's debut album Order of the Mind is out now via Nuclear Blast.
