“It started as soon as we’d finished The Human Connection,” Mitchell recalls. “Everyone’s got jobs, so it’s hard to find the time. The five of us all have our different lives, which we all get on with. It’s a weekend thing, to be honest, trying to write these songs.
“We don’t write songs quickly. I wish we did,” he adds. “It takes a lot of time and a lot of fiddling to get these songs where we want them to be.”
The album marks a slight change in direction for the band, or at least a continuation of a change in sound that began on The Human Connection, after their heavier, darker beginnings on their first EP and debut album in 2008, Avalon. Mitchell sites another band, also based in Perth, as part of the inspiration for this stylistic shift.
“We have moved into more of a rock vibe,” says Mitchell. “When you have bands like Karnivool in town, who have really pushed the envelope where they create pretty crushingly heavy moments, from a band that you wouldn’t necessarily call a metal band. They set the bar for us. We’re not necessarily trying to re-create that sort of thing, but do our own take on that.
“That’s how it came out, some really heavy moments with some not so heavy moments, which creates a good dynamic.”
While there’s nothing set in stone at this stage, the band have ambitions to get overseas again, hopefully by the end of this year. “The bank account certainly says otherwise,” he chuckles. “But we’ll definitely be trying to get our arses over there. We haven’t been overseas since 2009. We’d love to do Progpower; we’ll do anything we can get.”
The band kick off their national tour on March 20 with a hometown album launch, then the tour brings them to Melbourne with an appearance at the prestigious festival Rock the Bay at The Espy. Mitchell is looking forward to the tour as an opportunity to introduce their brand of rock and metal to fresh eyes and ears.
“It’s been six months or so since we’ve been over, it’s always good to get out and about and play some gigs to less familiar people,” he enthuses. “We always try to incorporate those types of shows into our tours. It’s a good way to get out there and try and get some new fans.
“Hopefully they don’t hate us,” he laughs.
BY ROD WHITFIELD
