Reverend Raff had a chat with Dave Lupton from Flaming Wrekage about their new album and future plans of the band.
Metal-Roos: What is the overarching theme behind this new album?
Dave Lupton: Terra Inferna tackles themes of loss, anguish and holding onto hope. It’s about going through the pits of despair, but knowing that ultimately you can come out the other side wiser, more grateful and ultimately a better person.
Metal-Roos: As a band, Flaming Wrekage has been around for well over a decade now. How do you feel the metal scene has changed in Australia since the early years of the band? Do you feel this has changed your approach to making music, and if so, how?
Dave Lupton:We’re very fortunate to be part of a great scene at the moment. It spans across so many sub-genres of metal, and makes for some awesome mixed bill shows. Being able to play with good mates that we’ve met along the way is a real privilege. Getting the opportunity to play with bands across a wide spectrum of metal has definitely played its part in our writing as time has gone on. It’s really inspiring to see so many killer bands smashing it at the moment.
Metal-Roos: What can you tell us about the development of this album? How long did that process take and did it differ from previous albums?
Dave Lupton: The writing process for Terra Inferna started in covid, which played a significant part in the development of the themes within it. We demoed these songs several times, before we got to the studio. Pre-production was where we got all the structures nailed down, giving us more time to experiment in the studio. Overall it was a more collaborative approach to writing and nothing was off the table.
Metal-Roos: Having had a listen through the album, I’m struck at how much it has to offer for everyone. There’s elements from across the metal spectrum, and a sound that manages to sound both classic AND modern all at once. Was it an intentional choice to embrace such varied styles, or did everything just come together naturally that way?
Dave Lupton: I think it evolved naturally as it developed. It’s an album that will reward you the more you go back to it. We aimed to go for a bigger, more dynamic approach while still retaining our signature sound. There’s different instrumentation and more touches of light and shade throughout. We come from such varied backgrounds musically, so those different elements you mentioned come together to create something unique sounding.
Metal-Roos: For anyone who has somehow managed to miss Flaming Wreckage thus far, how would you describe what the band brings to the table?
Dave Lupton: Like I just mentioned, there’s lots of different influences that converge into a well balanced blend of metal. I don’t want to pigeon-hole the band into one genre, because we’re so much more than a dimensional metal band. You’ll get a real sense of this in the live environment, where we try to take the punters on a journey from start to finish. The albums are a good intro to Flaming Wrekage, but live is where we thrive!
Metal-Roos: With the album now in the bag and unleashed upon the world, what’s next for Flaming Wrekage? Any other goals for 2024 and looking forward to 2025?
Dave Lupton: We have two huge shows off the back of the release:
– Sat May 25 – The Workers Club, Melbourne
– Sat June 8 – The Lansdowne, Sydney
We also have a busy back half of the year in the works, with a European tour coming together as we speak. Can’t wait to get out there and take Terra Inferna to the stage!
