EMPLOYED TO SERVE gear up for album number three… with a little inspo from Limp Bizkit.
The hardcore firebrands have been channelling PMA and Limp Bizkit for album three. Wait, what?!
After The success of 2017’s monstrous The Warmth Of A Dying Sun, Woking hardcore crew Employed To Serve have been working hard on finding a way to follow it up. It won’t be easy, but we sat down with vocalist Justine Jones and drummer Robbie Back to see how nu metal and their UK peers have inspired them to create one of this year’s most anticipated releases in underground heavy music.
The album’s done! how is it sounding?
robbie: “Write this down now: it’s the heaviest thing that we’ve ever done!”
Justine: “Oh don’t say that! I think we’re very fortunate that we, as a band, have always known what we’ve wanted to do. Stuff does just click into place, and after five years we know how each other works, so we can cut the fat faster. It’s not a continuation, it’s an evolution. We have all realised that we love the feeling of playing those Gojira, Deftones-style grooves live, so we’ve made a point of really leaning in on that this time around. I think this is better than our last album…”
robbie: “And it’s the heaviest thing we’ve ever done! Ha ha! Seriously though, we are all as vigilant as hawks when it comes to our creative process so we were never going to let the standard drop.”
More groove? That’s some departure when you think
back to the spazzy nature of your debut, Greyer Than You Remember…
robbie: “We’re all nu metal kids. That doesn’t come out in the shower, you can’t get rid of it, and why should you? Early Korn, Slipknot that stuff has all played its part. I remember when we were doing the title track of that first album and we put this big groove in there, we thought maybe people would call us sell-outs for it, but it’s what I love to play. So many of my friends talk with such embarrassment about nu metal, and I’m like, ‘Don’t be apologetic! You loved it!’ I mean, I wanted some DJ scratches on the strings in some of it, but the guys wouldn’t have it.”
Justine: “That stuff just feels good.
Fear Factory, Nine Inch Nails, Limp Bizkit… we’re not a nu metal band, but you can’t argue with any of that stuff.”
It’s your third album, which comes with its own set of pressures, too…
Justine: “It really does. You hope that you make something that will be seen as a document for, not to be too morbid, but long after you’ve gone. And the third album for a lot of bands is really the one that cements who and what they are.”
robbie: “Absolutely, we’re amazed that we got to one album, so to make three makes us feel like a proper band. And when you look at some bands’ third records… White Pony, Master Of Puppets… they are often the definitive statement from that band.”
Lyrically, The Warmth Of A Dying Sun was a very frustrated record. What are you addressing this time?
Justine: “Well there is this trend at the moment for glamorising being sad, and we hate that. We’re not a PMA band, but we want people to think that if you work hard you can improve your life.”
robbie: “And there is joy to be had in the world.”
Justine: “The packaging might make it look bleak and abrasive, but our lyrics say, ‘This sucks, but take the positive in every situation.’ Don’t stay still, move forward and learn from each situation.”
British metal is in a really good place. how do you feel about your peers?
Justine: “The UK is a hot bed of talent right now, it’s so cool to have peers that make you strive to be a better band. The first time we saw Conjurer we didn’t want to go on after them. When you read about scenes and how they took off I wonder what it was that made bands all come up together in one place at one certain time, and I think it’s the competition of bands. You don’t want to get left behind; we knew we had to keep up with all our friends on this record.”
Eternal forward motion is out may 10 via spinefarm