Incite Impress On New Album "Built to Destroy"

Photo Credit: Jeremy Saffer

On its stunning new album, “Built to Destroy” (out Jan. 25), Incite continue to progress and impress. The heavy metal band led by singer Richie Cavalera delivers its most dynamic effort yet, a full-on aggressive assault that will delight longtime followers and no doubt gain the band new fans.

Statement of intent album opener “Backbone” features sinister riffs, a blistering solo, commanding vocals and inexorable rhythms. The band doesn’t let up; “Built to Destroy” is a solid, invigorating ride from start to finish.

Highlights include the relentless title track, which showcases the buzz saw guitar work of Dru Rome and battering ram rumblings of bassist Christopher “EL” and drummer Lennon Lopez. Cavalera also shines throughout. His tortured, primal, urgent yet refined vocals are the perfect complement to the instrumental heroics. “Ruthless Ways” and “Leech” are particular high points on this end.

“Built to Destroy” also benefits from guest spots by Kirk Windstein (Crowbar) on “Human Cancer” and Chris Barnes (Six Feet Under, ex-Cannibal Corpse) on “Poisoned By Power.”

Incite performs on Friday, Feb. 8, opening for Soulfly at Dingbatz in Clifton.

We recently spoke with Richie Cavalera

Incite’s new album, “Built To Destroy,” will be released on Jan. 25. It sounds like the band’s most cohesive effort yet. What can you tell us about the disc?

I think with it being the third record with the same lineup it feels like we're hitting right where we need to be. It feels like the album Incite has been waiting to make. It represents us the best out of any album. Everything on it is out of this world. We’re stoked to put it out and have it be one of the first metal albums of 2019.

You had the longest preproduction and recording time for this album than on any previous record. What impact did that have on “Built to Destroy”?

It made a world of difference. With music I think the more time you have the better it will be. In the past it’s been, ‘let’s record this thing in 10 days.’ You don't have time to step back and breathe it in and drive around the car and listen to demos. Vocally I didn’t have to rush. I got to sit back and listen and fix things and change things. The whole band did. In the past we’ve brought in parts and pieced them together into songs. On this album we brought in full songs. It’s more professional and more structured.

How would you say you’ve progressed as a vocalist to this point?

I think when you put on the older albums you hear the kid I was. The meat wasn't quite with the potatoes yet. I'm 33 now and my voice is all grown up. The big step has been taking the live vibe that we have and translating it in the studio. We really accomplished that on this record. My pronunciation and growls have gotten better too. There’s a good balance now.

Kirk Windstein (Crowbar) and Chris Barnes (Six Feet Under, ex-Cannibal Corpse) have guest spots on the album. How did that come about?

Kirk and Chris have both taken us out on tours and they’re just legends. We've built a huge bound with them from those tours. It was a no-brainer. They are the greatest guys and they make those songs so brutal.

You put so much energy and aggression into your music. How cathartic an experience is performing live?

It is completely cathartic. I’m dead after a show. If I'm not I don't feel like I've given what I should. I literally have that on my deathbed feeling after a show because I have no more to give. That's the way this band is. It doesn’t matter if we’re feeling sick or no matter how many people we’re playing to. We’re balls-to-the-wall energy.

How important is it for you to represent the Cavalera name, with your step-dad Max Cavalera (Soulfly, ex-Sepultura) being a bona-fide metal legend?

It’s who I am and I’m proud to carry on the family name. But at the same time the name is the last thing I’m worried about. I don’t feel like I’m royalty or deserve anything because of the name, and we’ve come up the hard way. We’ve toured and slept in cars and vans and been starving. No one has given us anything. We’ve got no ego and we’ve paved our own way. I’m very proud of that.