Five For Five with Dwayne Groth of War Bison

War Bison released, probably my favourite album of the year. Top 3 FOR SURE. If you like melodic hardcore with a late 80's/early 90's vibe that sounds fresh, then "Acre" will be right up your alley. Dwayne, their vocalist being the good dude he is took time to go in on five questions. I urge you to check out War Bison here 

And you can even cop the album from me here 

1. Is there a record that changed your life? If so, what is it?

Actually 3 records changed my life, Which were given to me by a cousin of mine when I was around 8 years old.

1. Metallica-Ride the Lightning 

2. AC/DC-Highway to Hell

3. Misfits-Walk Among Us

So as you can imagine it was a whirlwind of change in my life at a very young age, which gave me a taste of hard Rock, Metal & Punk all at once. That only set me out on a path to want to find and listen to more music of them genres.

2. If you were locked in a room fo the rest of your life with endless food, water and a turntable, but only had FIVE records, what are they?

Shit, I have a hard time with questions like this, they are insanely tough to answer haha. 

I guess the best way to answer this is to pick five albums or records I’m really into right now. 

1. Ekulu-Half Alive 7”

Just crazy fast & tight crossover hardcore. It’s only two tracks but I have to listen to it at least twice every time I put it on, it fucking rips! Would love to play with them dudes.

2. Black Pumas-S/T LP

First album by these dudes that’s an ode to early/mid 70’s soul. It’s pretty smooth soul and every track is great.

3. Exumer-Hostile Defiance 

Holy shit, since these guys got back together they’ve been one of my favorite thrash metal bands. I figured it would be hard to follow up “The Raging Tides” because that record is amazing, but they did and it’s just as great.

4. Enforced-At the Walls

Killer crossover from Richmond Virginia, heavy and fast. They don’t get as much love as some of the other bands from Richmond but they should.

5. Jr. Thomas & The Volcanos-Beware

This record came out in 2015, but I just got into it last year and it has stayed in the rotation. Smooth soulful 60’s style ska & rocksteady from Los Angeles. Again, every track on this record are great.

3. Have you got a "White Whale" or is there a particular album you are having a hard time tracking down?

Yeah, of course, won’t there always be? Haha.

Bob Seger’s - Back in 72’

That record was never repressed, and never even put out on cd other than some bootlegs that made it out there. That record has “Rosalie” on it which still surprises me that most people don’t realize that’s originally a Bob Seger song that was made famous by Thin Lizzy. The original version of “Turn the Page” is on there as well which I like more, its kinda loungy, it feels more personal sounding. Even shitty copies of this record go for around $100.

Also, I’ve had a hard time getting my hands on a good copy of Ozzy Osbourne’s-Randy Rhodes live tribute record. Something I’ve seen decent copies of in the past but more recently can’t find.

4. "Acre" is one of my absolute favourite albums this year and there seems to be a few different influences (80's Crossover/NYHC) on it but it stands out as being unique as there is a melody in the aggression and the playing is another level. How hard was it getting that all together to nail the perfect mix?

Thanks man, we appreciate it for sure. 

Yeah, I really don’t think it was that hard honestly, just kinda our style from the get go. Johnny & Beau have been playing music together for almost 20 years! Johnny was bringing in riffs and he and the rest of the guys would mold them into these great songs. They had 5 songs down before I even joined the band. I definitely needed a little push/help to place my lyrics to a few of these songs because some of them were so technical it felt like I was writing to tracks that were meant to be instrumentals haha. We started jelling and having fun, next thing you know we had 9 songs.  Johnny(mainly) & Beau bring in riffs, Beau writes the solos, I write the lyrics and with Gideon & our newly acquired bass player Ben, everyone’s input has made our writing more fun, easier and more thrashy. I’m super stoked on the new songs we’ve been writing!

5. What has the rest of 2019 got in store for yourself / War Bison?

Well personally, I’m going on a long overdue vacation to see some close friends in Copenhagen & Berlin mid September. 

As far as War Bison, we are taking a hiatus to write for the rest of 2019. We are stoked on the direction we’re heading and want to have a new record recorded hopefully early next year. After that, TOUR! Haha.

Thanks again Dan, this has been fun!