New York metal-hardcore group Sworn Enemy have been playing together since 1997, where they first launched under their previous name Mindset. Since then, they have been a staple for every hardcore music fan. Forté chat to vocalist Sal Lococo ahead of the bands very first time on Australian soil.
Hey guys, thanks for taking the time to chat with Forte Magazine, how are you and what are you up to at the moment?
Doing pretty good so can’t really complain at the moment. Right now I’m at work trying to make a dollar!
We saw you just released an instrumental of some new music on Facebook, how does the creation process work for all of you/how do you approach it?
We try to get some ideas down before we get to the studio, then we go through our ideas and just go with it. If it starts to flow nicely, we keep it going until we get a brain freeze.
There’s been line-up changes over the years for the band, yet you’ve managed to keep relatively true to the Sworn Enemy sound. Have there been any noticeable changes you’ve picked up with different members?
There really hasn’t been any noticeable changes with all the people that have come and gone in this band. I get lucky and always find members with the same attitude and musical taste.
Your last album made a bit of a return to the old-school sound, is this next album going to follow suit do you think?
It might, but then again that was the first record for each of the guys in the band now. We are way more comfortable with each other and each other’s style of writing, so who knows what this next one will sound like.
You guys have been around since ’97, how have you seen the hardcore/metal music scene change over the years?
Oh Jesus! The fashion has definitely changed tremendously over the years and I’m not saying that’s for the better! But it seems to have somewhat come back to normalcy. I guess you can say there are more genres of this heavy underground music nowadays.
Next month will see you guys touring in Australia playing shows in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Geelong for the very first time. How are you feeling about getting out on the road and what are you looking forward to most?
I’ve been waiting for this for a very long time and it finally has happened. I can cross it off my bucket list. I look forward to just playing new places and seeing the beautiful countryside. I’ve heard many great things about Australia.
What are your thoughts on the hardcore/metal scene in Australia?
I’m really not too familiar with the scene in Australia. Beside Crowned Kings, I don’t know too many bands. Peter and Chris are trying to fill me in on the bands from Australia so I can learn them.
Do you have any plans for sightseeing/activities while you’re in Australia?
Yes of course! I plan to see as much as I can considering I’ve never been there and I wanna see it all.
Thanks again for the chat, any last words of wisdom you’d like to share with our readers?
Get off your asses for the five days we are playing in Australia ’cause we may never come back and you’ll have missed your chance to see us play!
When & Where: The Barwon Club, Geelong – November 17 & The Bendigo Hotel, Melbourne – November 18