From the southernmost point of SoCal, neighboring the Mexico border, come thrash metal band Take Offense with a brand-new record. The album, titled T.O.tality, is set to be released on March 10 following their single “Greetings From Below.”
Take Offense have been stoking flames throughout the Cali hardcore scene for well over a decade. T.O.tality will mark a new chapter for the band as it is being debuted under their new label MNRK Heavy out of New York. The new album solidifies the band’s honed style and distinct sound which incorporates the hard-driving ethos of thrash, the finesse of speed metal, and the sneering tenacity of hardcore.
At the core of their music is an ability to tell the audience a story about their culture and lived experience through lyrical expression, such as with “Greetings From Below.” Frontman and vocalist Anthony Herrera explains how the song touches on Mexica beliefs of the underworld.
“It’s believed these are places we go to when we die, but also when we go to sleep, in our dreams and nightmares. Our underworlds also correlate to our waking state as well, and we usually experience them in the form of troubles or obstacles we face in our everyday life,” he says.
The band also nod to a lot of their own musical heroes as having a big influence on T.O.tality, groups like Excel and Suicidal Tendences. All five of the band’s members including Herrera, Greg Cerwonka, Randy Noyes, Mitch Reitman, Rick Garcia, and their sound engineer, Nick Townsend, have worked exceedingly hard over the past three years in order to see this project to completion.
“We’re incredibly proud of the record and feel like it really represents who we are and where we’re from. But it was really a strenuous one to make and at points it felt like we might not get it done,” admits guitarist Greg Cerwonka.
To kick off the release of the album, Take Offense are headlining a show in Los Angeles on March 10 at The Fonda Theatre. You can also catch them at Brick By Brick in San Diego on March 12.
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