Celebrating the release of their latest album, "The Serpent’s Cycle," Hyperia's frontman discusses the creative challenges, personal themes, and the band's evolution in this interview. From intense thrash metal to Hybeeria Lager, Deathbringer Hot Sauce, and a visually striking album cover, they share insights into their unique journey. The upcoming live show promises high energy, surprises, and a charitable twist. With positive reviews and future plans for extensive touring, Hyperia aims to establish their distinct sound across the global metal scene.
1. Congratulations
on the release of your latest album, "The Serpent’s Cycle"! Can you
tell us about the creative process and inspiration behind the album, especially
considering it's a departure from your previous concept albums?
Thank you!
This album was a little different than our first 2 albums for a few reasons.
One major thing was that we parted ways with our old Guitarist and Bassist just
a couple of months leading up to the album recording, which meant I had to
record all of the guitar parts, along with the fact we didn't get to jam and
work on the songs collectively leading up to the recording. I don't think this
affected me too much, considering I was always the primary songwriter, but I
think it definitely gave a different vibe to the album which I'm not upset
about. Lyrically, Marlee (vocals) got quite a bit more personal on this album
regarding issues she has been through or just a general venting about personal
and societal issues.
2. The
album boasts a diverse range of lyrical themes, including the human condition,
philosophy, psychology, and partying. How did these topics come together, and
what message do you hope listeners take away from the album as a whole?
These
themes have been fairly present in our music since the beginning, however, this
time around I feel that the perspective of the lyrics is more personal - rather
than being through the eyes of another person in a story (which we've done a
fair amount of in the first 2 records). I think there's a general growing
feeling of annoyance in the general public that has come to light over the past
few years regarding many aspects of society and we feel it as well. The party
vibe has always been there too, and I think we agree that as serious as we are
as a band, we still like to have fun and want people to see that side of the
band as well.
3. Hyperia
has collaborated with Main Street Brewing Co. for the "Hybeeria Ouroboros
Lager," which will be exclusively available at your upcoming shows. How
did this collaboration come about, and how would you describe the beer's taste
and its connection to your music?
We actually
had a Hybeeria before back in 2019 with another brewery in our old city of
Calgary, and it's something that we've wanted to do again since then. The
branding of our own beer ties closely with the band's image and it's overall
just a cool thing to have. We reached out to a few breweries in our city and
Main Street Brewing Co. had the most appealing offer - as well as great beer to
boot. The beer is a really smooth and easy drinking Lager, something we wanted
to make sure was easily slammable before running into the mosh pit.
4. In
addition to the beer, your drummer Aaron Bell has co-created "Deathbringer
Hot Sauce." Can you share the story behind the hot sauce, its unique
ingredients, and how it reflects the band's personality?
Aaron and
his friend have been into growing hot peppers as a hobby for a few years now,
but this year between the 2 of them they grew some massive amount of pepper
plants and decided to officially turn it into a business. Deathbringer Hot
Sauce is an insanely hot but also very tasty Tropical Hot Sauce that is made
from Carolina Reapers, Ghost Peppers, Trinidad Scorpion Peppers, Local Honey,
and some tropical fruit. Everything except the tropical fruit is organic and
locally grown and sourced.
5. "The
Serpent’s Cycle" features intense thrash metal with melodic vocals and
intricate guitar work. How did the band evolve stylistically for this album,
and what challenges and rewards did you encounter during the recording process?
I think our
sound has had a natural progression throughout the years. We have all grown
immensely as writers and musicians and I think that is pretty obvious when
looking back at our older releases. I wouldn't say any of these changes have
been conscious, as I always write whatever feels natural and comes to me in the
moment while trying not to put too much thought into it. The recording process
went quite smoothly, every member was at the top of their game and
well-rehearsed which made the sessions run smoothly. I can't say there were
really any challenges, aside from the usual tricky parts that just took a few
more takes to nail down.
6. You
mentioned that this album pushed you to your limits. Can you share a specific
moment during the recording where you felt challenged but ultimately satisfied
with the outcome?
I think
just the technicality of each instrument was pushed much further than our
previous albums. I've heard from almost every drummer we've had in the band how
difficult the drum parts are and the amount of double-kick drums and speed
required to play the songs. I watched this album frustrate some of the best
musicians I've ever played with, but I also watched them overcome it and
perform some insanely impressive parts.
7. The
album cover art was done by Caitlin Delaplace. How does the artwork align with
the themes of the album, and what was the collaboration process like between
the band and the artist?
Caitlin is
one of the band's closest friends, so working with her was incredibly easy and
straightforward. We basically gave her our ideas and drafted a terribly drawn
idea of what we wanted, and then she took that and made it a million times
better. We wanted there to be a serious vibe to the artwork, and we wanted it
to be yellow. It has a kind of apocalyptic feel and a sense of abandonment and
emptiness and overall it's my favourite artwork we've had as a band.
8. Your
upcoming album launch show in Vancouver on December 15th is eagerly
anticipated. What can fans expect from the live performance, and are there any
surprises or special elements you've prepared for the audience?
We will be
playing all new songs for this album aside from 2 songs from our previous
album,. Fans can expect a typical high-energy and thrashy show from a brand-new
lineup of top-tier musicians. We've been putting tons of work into our
rehearsals and I couldn't be happier with the results. As far as surprises, the
main ones were the new Hybeeria, Deathbringer Hot Sauce, as well as a couple of
other fun ideas that we will be revealing at the show. There will also be a
50/50 raffle for the BC SPCA.
9. Hyperia
has received positive reviews from various sources, including Decibel Magazine,
Power Play Magazine, and more. How does it feel to see such positive feedback,
and how do you think "The Serpent’s Cycle" distinguishes itself in
the thrash metal scene?
It feels
great, getting recognition for something you've put so much effort into is
definitely a good feeling. I think the album has been distinguished by all the
reviews for the exact reasons we were hoping - melodic harmonies mixed with
aggressive thrash and dynamic vocals. It's something we take pride in and feel
we have developed an interesting sound for the band that we only plan to
establish and continue down the road.
10. Looking
ahead, what are the band's goals and aspirations for the future? Any upcoming
tours, collaborations, or projects that fans can look forward to in the coming
year?
We have
lots of cool announcements coming soon regarding some awesome shows, tours, and
festivals. We plan to hit up as much of Europe and North America (and beyond)
as we can in 2024 and want to play as many shows as possible in support of the
new record!
The Serpent's Cycle | Hyperia (bandcamp.com)
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