To capture the heaviness of the subject matter, Conjurer have enlisted a producer who specialises in heavy. While Daithí tracks and records the band here in Northampton, the album will be mixed and mastered by Will Putney (Thy Art Is Murder, Norma Jean, Vein). While a predominantly deathcore/metalcore producer, it was actually Will’s mixing of Conjurer’s St. Vitus show for Kerrang! that convinced them he was the man for the job.
“We’re trying to take that physical, visceral attack that Will’s records have, but meld it with more traditional sounding drums and guitars," Brady says. "It’s something I’ve not heard to the extent that we’d like it. I don’t know what it is about the way that Will works that allows him to get that sound, but he understands what we’re going for. The outcome will either be exactly what we have in our heads or it’s going to be the best possible attempt at getting a traditional sound to be as heavy as we are live.”
With all these moving parts of extra elements and a whole new way of producing, how does this record compare to the debut?
“It’s so hard with a second album – especially following one that’s as well-received as Mire was. I get this with bands, if I love a record, and they bring out another record, they have two options: they can disappoint me by doing something else or they can disappoint me by doing the same thing and it not being as good,” Brady laughs.
“This material is infinitely harder than Mire in terms of technical ability, we’ve really pushed the sounds we can get out of these guitars. There’s little-to-no standard chord changes, it’s all weird shit that I’ve had to specifically learn for these songs. Songwriting has developed in a more progressive way than I was expecting. If people would like us to carry on doing the same thing over and over, they’re going to be severely disappointed.
“It’s a more challenging record in every sense, and I think that people listening will get a lot of out of, it but not as immediately as they did with Mire. People will look back on it as a better record, but I think it will be a step in a process of evolution that will continue for as long as we make records. Some bands take a few albums to find their sound and the canon starts from there. You’re not going to be able to look back on Conjurer like that, every single record is going to take a step in new interesting directions. When we can’t write anything that pushes or challenges, or is interesting and fulfilling, we just won’t and that will be it. If you’re not having fun and can say that what you’re doing is the best version of whatever it is you’re doing, then there’s no point, that’s where bands get jaded and put out the same shit every few years. I hope we can make a career in music while also being fresh and exciting and innovative, but I guess only time will tell.”
Conjurer's as-yet-untitled album will be released in 2021
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