Interviews: Infrared

We have had the opportunity to interview the Thrash Metal band Infrared from Canada. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

Infrared falls under the spectrum of light humans can’t see. So, it is partially the band’s idea that we shine a light on the unseen or make connections for people to see how they might be exploited or manipulated. The name was chosen from a lyric in Megadeth’s Killing is My Business song.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

It was the pure energy and release of playing this aggressive style of music that attracted us to the genre. All your aggression, anger, and anxiety can be released through fast-paced songs, lyrics that let you express yourself, and a fan base that gets into it like no other genre.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Kirk and I knew each other before we started playing in a band together. He was actually my brother’s friend, but we quickly found out we both had this love of music. I consider him one of my mentors that got me into playing in the first place along with another amazing friend, Colin Mackenzie. Al came along shortly after Kirk and I started writing music. We just met at a party one night and hit it off. He is one of the funniest and most sincere people I know. We then found Shawn Thompson at high school who would fill the bass player shoes. Also an awesome dude. When the band broke up in the late 80s and then regrouped in 2014, Shawn was long gone and lived in Miami. So we recruited another friend, Mike Forbes to tackle the bass. In short, what makes this band work is that we are friends before bandmates. There is healthy respect there for each other.

4. Each band member favourite band?

Kirk and I were heavily influenced by early Scorpions, Judas Priest, Rush, Black Sabbath, and Iron Maiden. Then came the new wave of British metal in the form of Venom and Canada’s Exciter which seemed to be a precursor to what would heavily influence us in the form of thrash metal from the big 4 and other thrash era biggies like Testament, Exodus, Death Angel, and so on. And of course, there are the other big Canadian influences from Razor and Sacrifice.

Mike’s earliest influences started with Rush and Triumph. His first introduction to metal would have been Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. It’s funny because he always wanted to be a guitar player, never realizing how much the bass had influenced him. Once he started playing bass, he realized how much attention he had been paying to the bass without realizing it. Being so interested in the guitar, he had wondered why he liked The Who so much since they weren’t really known for their guitar playing. It makes complete sense to him now as it was the playing of John Entwistle that had mesmerized him and still does to this day. The man was beyond amazing! Al was into Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Van Halen.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

For us, it is what we know, have experienced, or see in the news or online. There is no shortage of topics and it is whatever is closest to us at the time. Write what you know and it will be authentic.

6. Where was your last gig?

Haha. It has been so long, it is hard to remember! It may have been Montreal, Quebec, or Sudbury, Ontario.

7. Where would you like to act?

We would like to play anywhere metalheads want to see us. Logistics can be difficult sometimes, but if the gig is right, we make every effort to make it happen. We would love to get over to Europe and down to South America when things turn more normal again. Of course, the US would be nice, but their visa laws and requirements are so expensive and time-consuming, it is really not attractive for original artists, which is a shame because there are such awesome people there that we would like to play for and meet.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

We have already played with so many of our heroes that we sometimes can’t believe it even happened. Venom Inc, Sacrifice, Razor, Udo, Anvil, Flotsam & Jetsam, DBC, etc. Of course, playing in front of any of the bigger metal bands of our genre would be awesome and in larger venues.

9. Whom not?

We are not picky, but it is always nice to stay in the metal genre. The variety is good though.

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

I personally had it once where my leg would not stop shaking for the first song. Once I got through that, no problem. But usually, I am so focused on the task, I don’t really think about being watched or judged. I think about, what’s the next word, chord, solo! Focus! I know Kirk struggled with it for a while, but he seems to be much better now. Al is so fucking crazy, I don’t think he ever gets nervous! And Mike just seems to be at home on the stage.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

For me personally, even though I love the metal genre, there are bands from many genres, mainly rock, that inspire me. Their influences may not be directly felt in our music, but their musicianship and what they accomplished are so astonishing that you can’t help but be inspired. The Beatles, Muse, AC/DC, Queen, etc. They have this ability to transcend.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

That depends on what stage of life and what band I was in. Sex off the stage? Does that count? Water my Alo vera plant with beer? I think that counts as one of the odder ones.

13. What do you think of your fans?

Love them! Period. We meet so many cool people. It feels more like a family get-together when we play a lot of the time. We don’t see it as we are the band and they are the crowd. We see it as we bring the music and they bring the energy that fuels the music. We understand the symbiotic nature of what we do.

14. What do you think of our site?

What else can we say but great! 😊 It is clean, well laid out and promotes metal. How can you not like it?

15. Something to add?

The band is extremely proud of our latest release, From the Black Swamp. We think it is our best songwriting and production to date and can’t wait for people to hear it.