Band Of The Week #247 - The Word Alive
This week’s Band of the Week is The Word Alive - who has just released their new album ‘Hard Reset via Thriller Records.
The release sees the band once again continue to push the boundaries of the rock genre by blending it with their own mix of metal and electronica. After quietly generating nearly 1 billion streams, playing sold out shows on a consistent basis, and attracting a diehard audience, they level up once more on their seventh full-length offering and 2023 debut for Thriller Records.
They took a moment to talk to us about how the album came together.
Hey there The Word Alive - how are you? So your album is out now - how does it feel to have it out there in the world?
Well the album isn’t out for a few more weeks but the anticipation is killing me! I really hope fans will love it from start to finish!
It is called ‘Hard Reset’ - what is the meaning behind that?
This chapter of our lives and the chapter of the band felt like a hard reset, so it fit the mood of the record completely.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the creative process you are happy to share with us?
We wrote and recorded this album in multiple studios throughout Phoenix and Los Angeles, some with Matt Good in Phoenix and the rest with Erik Ron and Hiram Hernandez in LA. It was amazing getting to be creative wherever the days or weeks took us, I think it helps add to the flavor of the record.
What are the key themes and influences on the album?
A lot of letting go, a lot of self-reflection and a lot of desperation. The world isn’t in the best place right now and I think we feel that heavily.
If the album could be the soundtrack to any film - which one would it be and why?
Hopefully the next John Wick movie! It’s got it all just like those movies.
Do you have a favorite lyric on the album - if so, which one and why?
A couple come to mind; “everything you need comes from within” from Hate Me and “you’re at war with yourself, I’m at war with you” from War With You. I think they both relate to me personally now more than when I wrote them.
Now the album is out there - what next?
Once the album is out, the fans get to decide where we go, I hope it’s a special album cycle for our band.
