Angel Ibarra

Tweet

by Deb Rao
Staff Writer

Aiden is an American post-hardcore band from Seattle, Wash. that formed in the spring of 2003. They took their name from the character in the movie The Ring. The current members are WiL Francis (vocals, guitar, piano, lyrics), Jake Davison (drums), Nick Wiggins (bass), and Angel Ibarra (lead guitar).

Aiden has just released Knives on Victory Records on May 12 and are getting ready to embark on the Warped Tour on June 26. Knives brings Aiden back to their punk rock roots. Do you remember when you were younger and listened to Sid Vicious or Lords Of The New Church? The message the punk rockers were trying to convey was always dark and dangerous but the relentless energy of music portrayed was invigorating. Although, you may not agree with some of the controversial topics in Knives, the music is very good and you have to give the band credit for staying true to their punk roots and writing an album for what they believe in.

Lead guitarist Angel Ibarra of Aiden has checked in with Hardrock Haven to discuss the unveiling of Knives.

HRH: Angel, Aiden’s latest release Knives came out on May 12. Tell us about the writing process for this album.

ANGEL: The writing process was kind of all done on tour and sound check. It was kind of natural.

HRH: How would you describe the sound of Knives versus your previous releases?

ANGEL: Compared to the other albums, it is more aggressive and more brutal. It is a punk record and a pissed off record.

HRH: Aiden will be heading out on the Warped Tour beginning June 26. Tell us what the fans can expect to see on this tour?

ANGEL: We did it once in 2006 and we are doing it again this year. It is going to be an awesome tour. It is kind of like punk rock summer school. You go out and hang with other bands and there is barbecues and music going on all day. It is pretty rad and the best tour out there.

HRH: Aiden hails from Seattle. How is the music scene out there these days? Are there a lot of new bands coming up? I know back in the day, Seattle was responsible for the grunge scene. Is it more hardcore now, would you say?

ANGEL: I kind of don’t know. There are a lot of Indie bands in Seattle. So it is kind of Indie, there is an underground hard-core scene there. It is kind of metalish. There are a lot of bands coming up.

HRH: What is the new single going to be off of Knives?

ANGEL: It is called “Scavengers Of the Damned.” It is already on our Myspace. We made a video for it, and that should be out today. So keep your eyes open for it. The video was shot with this guy called Chad Michael Ward. He directed and did photos with Marilyn Manson. It is a really creepy, kind of bizarre video. It is kind of like this real creepy dinner type thing that turns into crazy party. You got to see it.

Angel Ibarra Track By track Knives:

l. ‘ Killing Machine” – Wil writes all the lyrics and stuff. But I think of from my interpretation it is about his ex-girlfriend. I am not positive. It is the heaviest song on the record. It is energetic.

2. “Let the Right One In” – Is actually about Wil’s current girlfriend. He wrote it about her and it is the only love song on the record. Musically, I think it is one of my favorites because it has got a lot of cool guitar parts and catchy chorus. I think a lot of girls will like that song.

3. “Scavengers of the Damned” – I think that might be the catchiest song on the record. I don’t actually know what that is about. It is fun to play. It is a straight up rock song.

4. “Elizabeth” – It is another heavy song, and it is about a Bulgarian Countess. Her name is Elizabeth Bathory. In the 1600s, she use to kill young girls and bath in their blood because she thought it would keep her youthful.

5. “Crusifiction” – Yes, with the emphasis on fiction. “Crusifiction” is actually if you listen to it is a song about religion. A lot of people are probably going to start listening to Aiden because of that clip. We did what we wanted to do, and we had a message and we put it out.

6. “The Asylum” – It is kind of a song about telling the world that talks shit, Fuck you we don’t care. We are going to do what we are going to do. Then if you don’t like it, then fuck you.

7. “Portrait” – Is a poem type of reading that Wil wrote about his friend who was a girl that was raped. So I guess that is her account through Wil’s words of what happened. The girl reading it is our friend Ryan from a band here.

8. “Excommunicate” – That song is about a Preacher Catholic Priest raping little boys. It is another kind of controversial song. It is one of my favorite songs on the record. Rock and Roll has been safe for too long. We wanted to write some songs that were going to piss people off and fuckin’ bring the danger back what Rock and Roll is missing. We have a song about Wil’s girlfriend, but every song is kind of like a knife.

9. “King on Holiday” – This is my favorite song on the record. It is actually a song about Elvis Presley. It is a song about his death and good-bye letter to the world. I like it because it is short and really catchy and awesome guitar solo. It is just like a real punk rock song.

10. “Black Market Hell” – That song is closure because it has that epic solo at the end. It starts off heavy and then it gets all pretty and epic with the guitars and singing. Musically it is a very epic song.