Ryan Encinas (Sworn Vengeance - vocals)
1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2013? (In order 1-5)
- Carcass - Surgical Steel
- Early Graves - We the Guillotine (vinyl re-issue)
- Amon Amarth - Deceiver of the Gods
- Gorguts - Colored Sands
- Doomriders - Grand Blood
2. What band did you discover in 2013 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
Death Ray Vision. I am a huge Overcast fan and we love Shadows Fall (played with them back east a long time ago and have been friends/fans ever since). It's always solid to hear one of Brian's new projects. Plus with people from other bands we love like KSE and Cannae? How can you go wrong with that?!
3. How will you remember 2013? (In terms of music)
I saw a lot of throwback, which was awesome. It is always fun to see newer bands capture some of the classic elements of punk, thrash, hardcore, metal, etc. and then put their own modern spin on it without coming off cheesy or stunted. You just get these awesome hybrid sounds that take the best elements of each genre and combine it into a really great sound. This was just a solid year for heavier music in general.
4. What can we look forward to from you in 2014?
We will be releasing our first album in 10 years through Escapist Records at the beginning of 2014. That should be followed with appearances at festivals, as well as shows in Mexico in early summer and some short runs around the West Coast.
5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2014?
Curious to hear the new Earth Crisis. I am hoping to hear something new from High On Fire this year. Not sure if Anthrax is planning on doing something, but with Joey back in the fold I am hoping they drop a new album in 2014.
6. There is a lot of debate over streaming sites and royalties, namely with Spotify. What is your stance on the economic policies behind the current streaming services? Do you have a preferred one?
The music industry has had significant changes since we first started in 1998. We started right before the appearance of Napster, so we have seen it all when it comes to the advent of digital music and the pros and cons attached. Getting paid allows us to continue doing this, bottom line. It may not be the most punk rock thing to say, but it is a fact. And maybe I am a bit old school, but I just don't hold much weight in garnering pay off of streaming services, it is usually pennies if you're lucky. I'd rather utilize them as a way to introduce our band to potential listeners. If we can convert a streamer into buying and/or downloading one of our albums, buy some merch, come to a show, etc., then I feel we succeeded.
