I Prevail hit the ground running in a marathon of success and recognition, one which they are winning at an exponential rate. Currently wrapping up the North American stretch of their Lifelines tour, I Prevail have already proven themselves to be relentless, talented and true – the success of this tour a testament to their incredible music. “We sold out 95% of the [North American shows],” says lead guitarist Steve Menoian. “Only a couple didn’t sell out so far, but we’ve had amazing turn outs, great crowds, great support bands. We’ve played a bunch of new songs off the new album and it’s been a blast.”
And Australia is next. “We had a lot of really great support coming out of Australia,” says Menoian, “We’ve been so sure of our line from day one, we’re super pumped to be able to try to get over there, try to return the favour [of support], perform and have some fun.”
Indeed, for a country they’ve never been to, I Prevail have broken in to mainstream metal here with unequivocal success. Their first full album Lifelines debuted at number eight on the ARIA charts in its first week and stayed in the top 20 for consecutive weeks.
On top of this, every single on the album has been at the top of the iTunes metal and overall charts for the months leading up to the album’s release. Amazingly, Lifelines is still the number one album in the metal charts five months later and all three singles remain in the metal top ten. It goes without saying that if you haven’t done so already, these boys are certainly worth a listen. “It’s definitely surreal,” Menoian says of their frenzied reception in Australia. “As an artist all you can do is make the music you’re going to put out and make it as well as you can, you just have to put it out to the world and hope for the best.
“It speaks to the support of the heavy music and rock music scene in Australia, that to support a band like us,with some of the other great bands on the heavier side of things that have come out of Australia, like Parkway Drive, Amity Affliction, there’s obviously a great market there.
“We’re lucky to have the fans we have, especially in Australia, and we’re ready to go give it everything we’ve got on stage – we’re just happy to have the fan base to get over there and perform.”
With the upcoming Australian tour being the first opportunity for Aussie fans to experience Lifelines live on stage, it’s interesting to learn that I Prevail are one of few bands in the genre who actually had an intended purpose when they set out to write the album.
“We had a pretty specific vision in mind – I don’t know if we could have perfectly articulated it verbally but we could see it or hear it in our heads, and it was a matter of getting it out,” Menoian says.
“We had an EP [Heart Vs. Mind], it was the first thing we put out that definitely laid the groundwork for what the sound would be in terms of mixing heavy elements with big choruses and ballads.
“We set up the sound well for what we wanted to be on the EP and our goal for the album was to better execute every aspect and keep all the different sonic influences we had, but make them better, more mature, more meaningful. Especially lyrically, because we had a lot to say after what we went through. We’re proud of it and we’re fortunate to have had it reach as many people as it has so far and we think it’s only the beginning.”
By Anna Rose
