California Thrashers Warbringer Choose to ‘Remain Violent’ in New Music Video
It's been nearly 10 years since Warbringer debuted with World Without End and the thrash revivalists have been on a remarkable run since. The California act is set to release their fifth album, Woe to the Vanquished, and have just released a music video for the mid-tempo neck-wrecker "Remain Violent."
The video takes on the themes of civil unrest and police brutality, as evident by the opening clip showing protestors clashing with authorities. Footage like this continues throughout the music video, panning back and forth between shots of the band in a dimly lit warehouse, performing for a small crowd who insatiably mosh to the pit-hungry riffing of "Remain Violent."
Lyrically, the song opposes authoritarian figures, opening up with the lines "Get on the ground, put your hands where I can see / Lying face down against the concrete / I am the predator, you are the prey / You will respect my authority." Rallying against this, frontman John Kevill snarls, "That's what they want for you to say to remain silent / You have the right to remain — to remain violent!"
Commenting on the song, Kevill stated, "'Remain Violent' is a headbanging stomper of a track anchored around a really killer riff. It is probably the most immediate and instantly memorable song off Woe to the Vanquished and sure to become a live favorite. The song deals with the increasingly militaristic behavior of the police in recent times and the chorus line is a play on 'You have the right to remain silent.' Crank it up and bang your f--king head! Remain violent!"
Woe to the Vanquished was produced and mixed by Mike Plottnikoff (Fear Factory, In Flames), mastered by Howie Weinberg (Slayer, Pantera) with cover art from Andreas Marschall (Sodom, Blind Guardian, Obituary). The album will be out March 31 through Napalm Records. Fans can pre-order the album at the label's webstore with a variety of format options and bundle packages to choose from.
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