Following the release of their new Red Room album, Belfast progressive metal foursome Lock Horns return with their new single and accompanying video, ‘The Origin Of Evil Impulses’.
The band said; “This track is our opus magnum, a seven-minute technical nightmare. It’s the most savage track from Red Room… The best song we’ve ever written.‘The Origin of Evil Impulses’‘ lyrical content is inspired by a short story from Edgar Alan Poe, titled The Imp of the Perverse, and is similar to the other tracks on the album which explores certain human attributes such as lack of self control, self sabotage, and specifically, with this song in particular, self perversion.”
Lock Horns, has emerged from the depths of an intensive creative period with an album that is said to stretch the band’s creative horizon to new levels of intensity and unbridled passion.
Recorded in late 2022, Red Room went through a process of evolution, from as far back as late 2019/early 2020, before the global pandemic forced the world into somewhat of a dystopian nightmare. By the time the world opened up again, Lock Horns found themselves in possession of material that was now three years old, and not a reflection of who they had become in a post covid world.
The introduction of an 8-string guitar had drastically changed the bands creative potential, and a decision was made to wipe their creative slate clean, and embrace the rich vein to which they had stumbled upon. It was at this point, when Red Room was born.
Speaking of the new album, guitarist Afrifa says; “Boundaries were pushed on this album, sonically and physically from a playing perspective. I truly believe this a seven-track album that is most definitely, ‘all killer and no filler’, as well as being full of unique songs that take an unexpected turn at every corner.”
He continued: “From seven-minute chaotic riffs, to three minutes of polyrhythmic nightmares, this album is the brainchild of all four of us, and we’re all immensely proud of what we’ve created.”
Speaking of the album cover artwork he said: “The album’s overall theme is control and the struggle it brings. The control over someone else, yourself or the entire population and or the complete opposite which is no control thus anarchy.”
Commenting on the band’s previous single release, vocalist Alex De Costa said; “‘Skin and Bones’ is about falling into addiction, and self-sabotaging behaviour. The lyrics were written with the covid lockdowns in mind. The overarching themes are a lack of control and overindulgence.”
With regards to the video for that one, guitarist Junior Afrifa commented; “We thought a visualiser would work best to show all the different elements that are in the lyrics. Working with an editor, we sourced around 100 different clips, and together chose the best clips. Visual ideas for this album have been ongoing for a very long time and it is great to finally get it out into the world”.
Available digitally, you can also check out the videos for ‘Skin and Bones’ and earlier single ‘The Golden Mean’ here at RAMzine.
Red Room’ features the tracks: ‘The Origin Of Evil Impulses’, ‘Rust’, ‘Skin And Bones’, ‘Lab Rat’, ‘Impression Of A Dream’, ‘The Golden Mean’ and ‘Expressions Of Madness’.
Red Room’ is the follow-up to 2018’s Molon Labe, and available via The Distortion Project and Code 7 Distribution here.
