interview with Infrared
Canada's Infrared, hailing from Ottawa, is proud to present their latest album, Manifestation. The beginnings of the crushers of classic thrash metal date back to 1985. So, it's a damn good album. Well, also because I'm a thrash metal lover.
Alan – Well done band. Well done.
Armin – Thanks! Always great to hear a true thrasher liking the album.
Alan - I'm not sure if our readers know you. So can you introduce yourself a bit, who are you?
Armin – My name is Armin Kamal and I am one of two guitarists in infrared as well as the lead singer.
Alan – Infrared, a bit of history. You stated the creation in 1985. Then there was a long pause from 1991 until 2014. Can you tell us a little about it?
Armin – Kirk and I both started playing guitar in 1985. After learning a few covers, it was clear that originals is where it was at for us. Kirk came up with a cool mid tempo riff that was heavy and we wrote our first song together based on that riff. The song was called No Peace. But we were just two guys and needed to round out the band. One night we were out partying and met this cool French Canadian dude called Al. We hit it off right away and when we found out he played drums, we asked him that night to join our band. He said yes. Then we recruited Shawn Thompson from our high school for bass duties. After that, we wrote approx. 6 or so songs, recorded a 5-song demo and started playing shows. We had a blast. Then there were some lineup changes and the vide of the band was not what it started out as, which was 4 friends making music. So it fizzled out. We always remained friends and then after about 27 years, another band we used to play live with, reunited and asked if we would play with them. We said sure, and here we are 10+ years later with several albums under our belt, fans around the globe and having played with all these big bands. Crazy!
Alan – In this year 2024, you released your 4 series album called Manifestation. I suppose the name is ambiguous right?
Armin – Not really. We started with the artwork for this album and said let an album manifest from this picture. And so it was.
Alan - Rumor has it that on Manifestation you spent the most time. Is that so?
Armin – No, that would have been From the Black Swamp. That album was kind of ready to go, and then COVID screwed it all up. We then revisited some songs, wrote new ones. It was a longer process. For manifestation, we actually wrote the album fairly quickly. We had a creative streak. But we sat on the album for a long time just waiting to release it at the right time.
Alan - Could you give us an overview of the work on this album,
Armin – This album covers various themes, but all based on the human condition. There are themes of inner turmoil and addiction, vindictiveness and retribution, coming apart at the seams, the treat of technology and the threat of war, which is always looming.
Alan – So how long did it take you to record the album? Where did you shoot, where did you mix? And did anyone help you with your work?
Armin – Recording the album took about half a year I suppose. We always record, mix and master at my studio which we call Inframental Studios. Videos we also shoot ourselves and have the help of Troy Smith, our road manager, and I edit them. We try to keep everything in house to keep the costs down and the music flowing. This way, the band is self sustating.
Alan – The album contains 12 songs. Could you describe them to us both musically and what the songs are about? Feelings
Cataclysm – An ominous shift in our world, universe, humanity.
Temple of Sin – Inner turmoil.
Nikko – Flying monkeys in the pop psychology sense where people are used to hurt other people at the bidding of a toxic and vindictive person.
Demon's Blood – Addiction struggles.
Pressure Syndrome – Based on the movie Falling Down where society has caused a man to unravel and turn to violence.
The Manifest – Atmospheric intro to Manaifest Nation.
Manifest Nation – A society that has lost itself. They try to manifest a better future but have become so distracted with technology, short attention spans, that creativity, relationships and just humanity for one another has suffered.
Concuss – This is a metal anthem and a middle finger to those that try to oppress.
Reforma – This is about a planet that is under stress, but will eventually reform one way or the other.
My Dreams Are Real – Based on Bram Stocker’s Dracula.
Parasite Patrol – AI taking over.
Then the Earth Goes Black – Nuclear War.
Alan – I assume you will also present Manifestation at the concert. Where will you be?
Armin – We have already played some of these songs live and they have gone over well. In fact, we had a bigger sold out show in Infrared’s birth place of Orleans Ontario. What a fun night. For now, we are keeping sharp and rehearsed as we plan for some more shows in the new year.
Alan – What about playing outside of Canada? USA, South America, Europe?
Armin – We would love to, but money is always the issue. The US is expensive and time consuming as you need visas. Other locations require airfare, so if there are promotors that want to bring us out and cover these expenses, we will be there.
Alan – During your existence, have you ever been to Europe, especially the Czech Republic or Slovakia? After all, our zine is mainly for Czechs and Slovaks.
Armin – We have not been there as a band, but some of us have definitely travelled to Europe. We would love to play there.
Alan - Question outside the group. Do you know any bands from the Czech Republic or Slovakia – Hypnos, Krabathor, Debustrol?
Armin – Unfortunately no, but we will check these names out. There is som much good music out there, you really need to hear recommendations from others.
Alan – For relief. Did you have any funny moments while recording the album? Or some jokes at concerts?
Armin – We always have fun when recording, but it is a serious matter for us. We get down to business to make sure we are capturing and writing the best possible thing we can. As for live shows, one night in Qubec city, a guy showed up to our show carrying a large aloe vera plant. We asked, “What is this for?” He said that he promised his friend’s girlfriend he would take care of the plant and would not let it out his sight. All night he fed it beer! By the end of the night, the plant looked dead!
Alan – Thanks for the interview, and thanks for being such a good band, I love your work. Thanks, Jon Asher for introducing me to you. And if all goes well, we'll see you somewhere in the summer at a festival.
Armin – We would love that and thank you for the interview.
