Interview by Kris Peters
Hailing from Northern Ireland, heavy as sin metalcore outfit Archives have emerged into the music scene with a point to prove and an attitude to match.
Their 2021 debut album Decay introduced the world to the ferocious sonic onslaught borne out of a lifetime of frustration that simmered within the musical DNA of Archives, promising a bleak yet bright future for the band.
Archives will unleash their follow-up album No Bliss In Ignorance on June 7, with the crushingly brutal singles Make No Mistake, No Sweat, Self-Inflicted and Matriarch offering a glimpse into the band's intentions and setting the tone for another slab of brutality.
HEAVY spoke with vocalist Adam Holland earlier today to get the inside word on what to expect from No Bliss In Ignorance. We start by asking how he is feeling about the impending release.
"Pretty excited," he enthused. "It feels like it's been a long time coming, in all honesty, because we've been messing about back and forward and taking our time with this one. Because we kind of rushed the last album a bit I think. We just couldn't wait to get it out (laughs)."
We ask him to describe No Bliss In Ignorance musically.
"Our guitarist Stewart wrote most of the stuff," he replied. "And I think what we were trying to do was throw in a few different elements this time compared to the last album. It was good, but it had a similar thing going on with it, whereas I feel like on this album there's a couple of songs that are a bit different from the last. I guess we were just trying to have a bit of fun with it."
In the full interview, Adam discussed the band's upcoming album No Bliss In Ignorance in more detail. He talked about the deliberate experimentation and thoughtful approach taken during the recording process, emphasizing the album's thematic significance in exploring societal issues and personal experiences. Holland also discussed the music scene in Northern Ireland, including pre and post-Covid dynamics, increased local show attendance, and the tight-knit community. The interview concluded with Holland expressing enthusiasm for the band's upcoming tour in England and Ireland, as well as potential future tours in Australia.