Resilience and self-awareness tend to go hand-in-hand, especially in recognizing the need to and having the patience to reset.
For the LA-based collective, Volumes, the notion of slowing down in an effort to refocus was a reality they faced head on, despite coming off the professional high of the band's 2021 full length, Happier? The album seemingly bookended a period that saw the band endure very public personnel changes and tragic personal loss - not to mention the prevalent uncertainty that everyone felt during the darkest days of a once-in-a-lifetime global pandemic.
The fruition of Happier?, in and of itself, was a testament to the durability and long game of the band. Apart from the emotional depth and personal gravity that anchored the presentation, the collection of songs themselves suggested that Volumes had achieved a new creative peak all while navigating serious extenuating circumstances.
Expanding on the band's meld of progressive metalcore, bolstered with elements of djent, the modern era of Volumes had come away from an extended period of trauma with arguably their most comprehensive, cohesive record to date - both in style and substance. The songs where convincing, anthemic and dynamic such that it seemed apparent a new iteration of Volumes was taking flight in real time.
Despite riding a swell of momentum however, Volumes would find themselves decelerating coming away from the Happier? cycle. Taking on only handful of shows in the last couple of years and limiting their creative output to their BEND EP and a recorded tribute to Pantera with the band's cover of "RIse" - Volumes seemed to be in a hibernation cycle.
Given the band's arduous path, some time for re-evaluation was at the very least, well-earned. However, maybe for the first time, the unit was finally surveying the damage they had persevered through and finally grasping the kind of toll their inevitable triumph actually took.
Whether they wanted to, or simply had to, Volumes hit a hard reset.
Having the wherewithal to pause and refocus, especially after such a resounding success, is indicative of the band's intent on running a marathon rather than a footrace. Volumes inevitable return underscores their unique endurance - soundtracked with the emphatic return single, "Sidewinder".
The first offering of original music since the Happier? sessions, the entry is a powerful, resurgent track that sources all of the band's signature elements while clearly establishing the foundation of a new era. Having galvanized under different circumstances before, the unit of Michael Barr, Myke Terry, Raad Soudani and Nick Ursich have again asserted a special resolve - this time in having the patience to pause and come out better for it on the other end.
Among the band's most central figures, vocalist Michael Barr and bassist, songwriter Raad Soudani spoke about the current stability of Volumes and how life and art have reached a pivotal intersection. They explain how "Sidewinder" was intended to give fans a sort of sonic gut check all while setting the tone for what's to come.
Then we toured with Dance Gavin Dance, and that was a breath of fresh air because of the high turnout. But by the end of that, we were really clashing with our booking agency and management, and we ended up splitting from them. It felt like we were just running in circles, being told what to do without seeing any real progress. It's draining, and mentally, it’s a lot.
I've been with Volumes since I was a teenager, and while there have been amazing moments, the financial side hasn’t always lined up. Like, I only got $1500 for the whole Dance Gavin Dance tour, and that was a wake-up call. Touring was really affecting my mental health and not financially supporting me.
During the pandemic, I took some time to go back to college, which led me to law school—a dream I put on hold when we started the band.
Without any management or booking agents and with everyone in the band pulling in different directions, everything just kind of stalled. Some wanted to keep touring; others didn’t. But I never stopped working on our music. We owe one more album to our label, and honestly, making music is what keeps me going—it reminds me of why we started all this in the first place. The music always comes first.
So, even though things are up in the air with the band, I’m focusing on what’s next, embracing the doors that my education has opened. It’s a new chapter for me, but I’m excited about what my future holds. At the end of the day, we're dropping a really great album, and that's what matters.
“Broken Wing / No Song to Sing” + “I Watched It Die Right In Front of Me” - those seem like very cryptic messages to post following a long period of inactivity. How are those lyrical excerpts indicative of your time away? Or is that getting too deep?
Barr - Yes, and no, mainly it’s a blanketed statement to describe the current state of the music industry from where it was when I departed up until now.”
Happier? Seemed to be an album. forged out of grief, uncertainty and trauma. The band had endured serious loss plus the collateral damage of the pandemic. How is your creative headspace now versus during the making of your last full length album?
Soudani - The journey from our last album, 'Happier?', which was really born out of a tough time full of grief and uncertainty, to now has been transformative. I'm stepping into co-producing our next album with a lot more confidence. This is the second album I will be co-producing. I've learned a ton from watching Daniel, Diego, and our good friend Max Schad, who produced Happier? work their magic since 2009, and now I'm applying those lessons myself.
We're actually teaming up again with Daniel Braunstein, who co-founded Volumes and was a huge reason I joined the band back when it was just a recording project. I've known Daniel since junior high, and he's always been a massive influence on me musically. He set the standards high early on, and having him leave in 2011 was a tough hit for us creatively. So, having him back as the main producer for this new album feels like a full circle moment—it’s rejuvenating.
Being in the studio with Daniel, it feels like we're truly making Volumes music again. It’s mostly been him and me laying down the tracks, though Michael and Daniel did collaborate on a track that I didn't really participate much in. It's important to give other members space to influence and create the music they hear in their mind. Michael’s lyrics and songwriting are crucial; he shapes so much of our sound, and it’s key to what makes our music uniquely Volumes.
It's also been great to work without the constraints of COVID-19. No more social distancing in the studio has meant we could just focus on the music. It’s been more fluid, more connected—it feels good to be creating like this again.
Upon confirming new music was in the works, you mentioned that this new era of Volumes surpasses VIA as the best effort from Volumes yet. Do you feel like this is the start of Volumes 2.0?
Soudani - It’s a bit early to label it as Volumes 2.0 because, honestly, the future of the band is a bit uncertain right now. We're at a crossroads, especially with the pause in touring and various internal dynamics at play. However, when it comes to the music we’re creating, I do feel like we’re entering a new era that might just be our best yet.
VIA really set the stage for us. Back then, we were all about this intense focus on heavy grooves and non-stop riffs—it was our thing. But it's been 15 years, and we've grown a lot since then. Our latest album reflects that growth. It's richer, has more variety, and it's full of real songs that I think people will really connect with. These are tracks that you'll want to sing along to and that bring out all kinds of emotions.
We even threw in a song that's a bit of a throwback to the VIA days, just packed with riffs and that heavy sound. But generally, our most popular songs these days are the ones where we mix melody and groove in a fresh, modern way. So, while I'm not exactly sure where Volumes is headed next, I'm really excited about how our sound has evolved and where it's going with this new album.
Myke Terry was recently announced as the new vocalist for Fire From the Gods. How does that impact the plan moving forward, if at all?
Soudani - Myke joining Fire From the Gods doesn’t really change much for us. Like I mentioned earlier, we're at a crossroads right now as a band. Myke did what he felt was best for his career—he found a place where he can keep touring and meet his needs, and I completely support him in that decision. We all have to find our paths, and I wish him the best with his new band.
What’s the significance in resurfacing with the song called Sidewinder? Does that reference the snake and what kind of symbolism is there in that statement?
Barr - I am not going to lie. Usually how I write Volumes lyrics is I attach to a lyrical concept and pretty much bound myself to it. Sidewinder sounded and fit great to me and then share subjectivity unfolded.
Aside from the track featuring no clean vocals, there seems to be a heightened sense of aggression in the song. Is that hostility something the audience should be picking up on?
Barr - 100%. This is about music, politics, personal life, the world as know we know it, unraveling. The long period of silence from Volumes rendered us to put out a topical heavier song as a heartwarming, negative welcome back.
What was the determining factor in opting to make "Sidewinder" the first song back? What do you hope fans takeaway from the track going into the next era of Volumes?
Soudani - We just wanted to kick things off with a bang—'Sidewinder' is that heavy, hard-hitting track that gets everyone pumped. Our fans really dig the intense grooves and the high-energy vibe we bring. Starting with something this bold is our way of setting the tone. It covers all the bases of what our fans love about us, and then, it sets up the stage to ease into the more expansive sounds we're exploring in the new era. We hope it gets everyone excited for what's coming next!
-----
Sidewinder is now available via Fearless Records - HERE
