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After more than 20 years together, Phoenix’s groove-heavy thrashers Incite have got their sound dialed in, as evidenced by their hyper-aggressive seventh full-length, Savage New Times. This 10-track beast features the vocal bark of one Richie Cavalera (stepson to Max Cavalera), who has graciously taken the time to give us the lowdown on the quartet’s latest for Reigning Phoenix Music, due August 15.
RICHIE CAVALERA: This album is a consolidated release of all the personal things each of us have gone through since our last album! Times were hard, things seemed bleak, and the world was—and still is—a little nuts. We wanted to make an album that anyone who listens to it can connect with in one way or another. Whether through the music or the lyrics, this album helps you release any and all emotions in a positive way. We’re a heavy metal band, and we love taking inspiration from all the metal genres out there and shaping them into our own style. This album is fun, organic, melodic, heavy, and driven by intense energy—it makes you feel a lot.
“Lies”
This song is exactly what the title says: it’s about liars and the new world of accepting lies as truth in every aspect of life today. We’ve all had lies spread about us or read something we believed to be a lie. Lies are everywhere, and they’re getting harder to recognize. Unfortunately, they spread faster than any truth ever will. This track combines hard-hitting lyrics that make you think with music that gets you moving.
“Fuck with Me (I’m Fired Up)”
This is a hype mosh-pit song for anyone who feels trapped or compressed by the modern, crowded world! Life is moving so fast, and I’m asking people to realize they have the power to change their own lives, no matter the societal pressure. You’ve got to stay fired up at all times—you’ve got to feel that energy and not be clueless before it’s too late. What’s really cool is that listeners can interpret this song however they want, and I love that about this track and the record as a whole.
“Just A Rat”
This song is very personal to me. I had a lot of “rats” around me, and I needed to break away from them and the energy they drained from my life. I almost lost everything because of some awful people. It’s crazy the lengths a determined person can go to when they want to destroy you because they don’t get their way. But when you know who you are—and when your closest people know who you are—you have to believe in yourself and see through these types of “rats.”
“Chucked Off”
This song deals with the idea of false victimhood. Everyone wants to play the “poor me” victim card so they don’t look bad for just being a terrible person. They do the same things over and over, get the same results, and always claim others screwed them over, or whatever. They think they deserve something because they’re so controlled by their narcissistic behavior. They suck, and I’m calling them out on this one.
“Doubts and the Fears”
This is my personal favorite on the record. We all battle our own minds—they’re our toughest critics. Any time we try something new, aim to accomplish something, or make a change, our mind is there trying to stop us. It loves to stay comfortable and creates fear around change or moving forward. For me, that’s always been a battle. I wanted this song to be a powerful statement about not letting your mind win—about seeing that once you push through those changes, good things happen. Even if you fail, it’s still an incredible feat to go through with something knowing it could fail, but trying anyway. That’s what life is all about.
“Dolores”
This is definitely the darkest, most melodic song we’ve ever done as a band. The idea came from a recurring dream I had as a child—almost like a haunting nightmare that kept repeating for some time. As I grew older, I revisited it spontaneously. We all have some sort of dream, dark entity, or presence—whatever you want to call it—that’s been in our lives and affected us in some way, and we’re often not sure why or how. It’s a mystery.
“No Mercy, No Forgiveness”
This song is about going through numerous failures, countless challenges, and hearing people tell you over and over that you’re not good enough or it’s not possible. You eventually reach a point where you either quit and walk away, or you decide to become exactly what they said you couldn’t be. You learn from everything you’ve been through and create your own destiny, rather than letting your failures define the outcome.
“Used and Abused”
This track is about the struggle of dealing with abuse of any kind. It happens far too often and is one of the most harmful things we face as people. It’s also extremely hard to find the right help to recognize or move past abuse. I’ve dealt with it, and as a man, it’s one of the hardest things you’ll face. There’s basically no help out there. Luckily, I had incredible friends and family who were there for me. If you need help, please seek it.
“Never Die Once”
This track deals with the desire to sell your soul or your energy in return for everlasting life. I don’t believe in the literal ability to sell your soul—I think it’s a metaphor for giving up compassion and empathy, living only for self-serving goals. The most evil people are the ones who seek this kind of power and control for personal gain.
“Savage New Times”
I wanted this song to be about finding your battle cry! Life is hard, it’s challenging, and it’s messed up in every way—but that’s no reason to give up. I’ve been to the bottom, and I’m so glad I didn’t take my own life. Things can change so fast, and I want everyone to know that. One day can feel like pure pain, and the next day everything can turn around. It’s the most important lesson I’ve learned in my life. Every time you get through a tough moment, you become stronger for whatever comes next.
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