Chicago Post Black Metal outfit Chrome Waves are set to release their new album entitled Earth Will Shed Its Skin on April 28th. Chrome Waves guitarist Jeff Wilson took the time to talk with Metal Express Radio about the upcoming album, the members’ previous projects, plans for a next record, and more. Check out the chat below!
Metal Express Radio: Chrome Waves fifth studio album entitled Earth Will Shed Its Skin is set to be released on April 28th, what can you tell fans about the upcoming release?
Wilson: It’s really only album 4 to me. The first one back in 2012 was around 30 minutes, so I’d say that’s more of an EP. Technicalities aside, it’s kind of a throw back to the band’s first couple releases as compared to the last two albums. We’ve kind of embraced the heavier roots this time around, but we’ve expanded on previous dynamics and instrumental experimentation with saxophone, trumpet, lap steel, acoustic guitar etc.
MER: How was the writing and recording process?
Wilson: Pretty typical for us for the most part. 90% of the writing was finished in late 2021, so we’ve been waiting around a lot longer for the pressing plants, but business as usual otherwise. Composition and the majority of the tracking was done in my studio. We finished up drums, mix and master again at Postal Recording.
MER: You’ve released two singles from the upcoming album, what kind of feedback have you been able to receive so far?
Wilson: To be honest, I don’t really read the comments anymore. Thanks to cess pools like Twitter, nearly every human on the planet has a public, “respected” opinion at this point, so I’m not really looking for that kind of feedback. We’re just trying to make good records, if people like them, great. If not, we’ll still be writing and recording regardless.
MER: What do you see as plans for you and the band in 2023?
Wilson: We’ve got a couple rereleases for the remainder of the year and contemplating a handful of shows and/or putting out some leftover singles in the fall. I’m planning a drastic change in sound for the next record, so we’re mostly thinking about 2024 at this point.
MER: Who do you hope to tour with that you that you haven’t yet and why?
Wilson: I don’t plan on touring at all. I’ve done enough of that for the last 20 years and it has never changed the profile of any band I was in other than Nachtmystium. If we were approached with a good support offer though, preferably outside of the US, it would be entertained, but I have no interest in road dogging it, or headlining for peanuts. We all are fortunate to make decent money at home. The times of that kind of hard work paying off are long gone.
MER: How would you describe the similarities and differences of Chrome Waves previous projects such as Abigail Williams, Novembers Doom and Nachmystium to Chrome Waves?
Wilson: I guess stylistically it’s there, but that’s just obvious. I don’t really see any similarities other than myself being in 2/3 of the aforementioned bands. The influences would still be apart of this one either way, whether I played any part in those projects or not. The main difference would probably be that this band isn’t completely dysfunctional… Not to sound arrogant or solely responsible for any of that music, because that would be far from the truth, but I’m the only one still consistently focused on putting out new music, so I’m not that interested in comparing our band to those sort of “legacy” projects.
MER: Since Chrome Waves formation in 2010, what are some of the changes you have noticed within the band?
Wilson: Mostly just band members.
MER: What have been some of your favorite memories throughout your career in music?
Wilson: My career…? This entire scene has been practically nothing but something I regret taking part in; full of bitterness, backstabbing and disappointment until reforming this project.
MER: Out of Chrome Waves five albums, what is one you would suggest to a new fan and why?
Wilson: Although the last album was my personal favorite thus far, the new record is probably the best representation of our discography as a whole.
MER: What are your hopes for Chrome Waves future?
Wilson: Only to continue releasing the same quality material as we’ve done up to this interview.
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