Heavy psychedelic rock giants Elder are set to release their seventh studio album entitled Through Zero on May 22nd. Elder’s vocalist/guitarist Nick DiSalvo spoke with Metal Express Radio about the upcoming album, touring with Tool, Elder’s longevity, and more. Check out the chat below!
Metal Express Radio: Elder are set to release their seventh studio album entitled Through Zero on May 22nd, what can you tell fans about the upcoming release?
DiSalvo: Through Zero is the culmination of 20 years of playing music together and refining our version of heavy progressive rock. Every Elder record is a bit different, and this is no exception.
MER: How was the writing and recording process, being your seventh album?
DiSalvo: We’re always writing music and collecting ideas, so when it was time to get to songwriting in Ernst, I chose the most promising ideas and set to work. We always work on many songs at the same time, building them slowly to a logical conclusion. Recording happened in spurts between and around tours, with time in between to refresh our mindset and return to studio with fresh ears. This alone gave us a new energy while recording.
MER: How would you compare Through Zero to Elder’s previous albums?
DiSalvo: More focused, purposeful, tight. A return to the heavier riffing of earlier records with the electronic elements of newer.
MER: You’ll be touring throughout Europe from June to August, which includes some major festivals such as Download, and Brutal Assault, what are your expectations on Elder’s touring schedule?
DiSalvo: It’s exciting to play new material live for the first time, and doing that at larger festivals is a bit daunting. That being said, we’re confident that the new record will be a killer live and can’t wait to perform.
MER: What do you see as plans for yourself and Elder after the European tour?
DiSalvo: More tours, more music. The cycle continues ad infinitum…
MER: Is there anyone you hope to tour with and why?
DiSalvo: I’d love to go back out supporting Tool. That was a dream come true and probably the most fun tour we’ve done! Being invited by legends and getting to see how their world operates was fascinating, let alone playing on some seriously iconic stages.
MER: Is there anywhere you hope to play live that you haven’t and why?
DiSalvo: I’d love to play in South America, Asia, or generally anywhere that we haven’t made it yet. Our whole career has been mostly focused on North America and Europe, which offers a lot, but after many years on this tour circuit I do wonder what other experiences await us on other continents.
MER: Out of Elder’s seven albums, what is one you would recommend to a new fan and why?
DiSalvo: Impossible to say. Every one is different, most listeners who approaches the band end up bonding with the record they hear first.
MER: Elder has been a band for over twenty years, what has been the key to the band’s longevity?
DiSalvo: That is a damn good question and I’m not sure about the answer. We are good friends, passionate about making music, and have always been honest with ourselves and the music we make. That’s led to many years of slow but steady growth, which has always been encouraging. Taking care of yourself mentally and physically is perhaps the hardest part, but we’re aware of it and that can’t be overstated in keeping a band on the rails for so long. We’ll see if we can keep it up!
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