Ingested: From The Ashes
The world of death metal is in a really healthy and exciting era. There are young bands coming up from all different corners of the world and due to modern technology, their reach has never been greater. INGESTED are one of the bands that paved the way in the infancy of the internet era, through Myspace and the like the band burst onto the scene and carved out their niche of brutal, yet infectious metal and throughout the past fifteen-plus years have cemented themselves as legends of the underground scene.
The band are currently sitting on one of the most exciting and crushingly heavy releases of 2022 with Ashes Lie Still. An album that shows the band at their most primal in years, whilst allowing themselves to be more emotionally open and vulnerable than ever. We caught up with vocalist/lyricist Jason Evans to discuss this incarnation of the beloved Mancunian metal machine. Since the departure of longtime guitarist-come-bassist Sam Yates the boys have operated as a three-piece. A twist of fate that has actually proven to be somewhat of a bittersweet actuality.
“We have never been a band to have member changes, we’ve had people leave but we’re not a band to substitute people,” explains Evans. “It is shit, because it’s like losing a brother as we were all founding members, but it has certainly streamlined us.” Sean Hynes [guitarist] has always written 90% of the band’s material, with Evans being the main lyricist so most fans will most probably not notice any major changes to the band’s overall sound, other than a more refined and concentrated effort with all three members pulling in the same direction.
As previously mentioned, the lyrics on this album are the most reflective and personal that Evans has penned to date. With the tragic loss of his father, the vocalist took an inwards look and found catharsis through his craft. “These lyrics are dark, and can come across as hopeless, but scratch a little beneath the surface and there is something that people can relate to,” he explains. “If anyone can listen to our lyrics and feel like they are not alone and hopeless and take some strength from it then that is worth more than selling a million records to us.”
Having signed for Metal Blade Records, the band are now firing on all cylinders, with the kind of backing that they have always deserved. “They have been so good to work with. They’re independent so they have that hands on touch and what is nice is, they’re always there for whatever we need.” The ethos of the label is something that fits so well with everything INGESTED stands for as a band. Hard graft, honesty and the kind of honesty that can be so lacking in modern music. Despite always being successful, the band have been signed up for two of the biggest tours of their career over the next few months. Firstly, they hit the road with LORNA SHORE and ABORTED to decimate across the North of America. Followed quickly by a European run with death metal overlords CANNIBAL CORPSE and DARK FUNERAL in the spring and if that isn’t a schedule to impress, we are not sure what is. “There has never been a better time to be making metal music. Most of these bands haven’t come out of nowhere, they have been working hard for many years,” shares Evans. “And you know what? Some may have come out of nowhere. That happens, but you know what? High tides raise all ships and we’re happy to ride the wave.”
From their humble beginnings in the North West of England, to rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest and brightest names in metal. The band has managed to bring in some pretty impressive guests on Ashes Lie Still. From Julia Frau on the album’s eponymous opener through to ABORTED’s own Sven de Caluwé to TRIVIUM frontman Matt Heafy. The pull of the band even surprised Evans himself as he concedes. “We had spoken before via social media and he had mentioned that he liked the band, so when we came to record the video for Dead Seraphic Forms with everyone reacting to the video, he mentioned that if we ever wanted a guest spot on an album he’d be down, and we chose to shoot our shot.” This is yet another example of the humble nature of the band. Completely unwilling to acknowledge just how much clout there is to the INGESTED name, despite the fact that many of their counterparts look at them with respect and adoration.
To say that INGESTED have paid their dues is a colossal understatement. The band have worked harder than most and have earned every single plaudit and achievement they have accrued in the distinguished career. The future looks bright for the band and with this new album in the chamber and ready to go they are looking stronger than ever. The comradery in the INGESTED camp is as strong as ever, the creative stride that they find themselves in shows no signs of slowing and with the future has never looked brighter.
Ashes Lie Still is out now via Metal Blade Records.
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