Since their inception in 2012, German new age thrashers Warfield have been snapping necks and taking names, echoing the legacy of their scene’s forefathers Kreator, Sodom, and Destruction. Growing quickly through the underground, the band went on a series of prestigious performances alongside both recognized and rising bands, such as Evil Invaders, Tankard, and Bay Area thrash legends Exodus. Now, with their blistering new album, With the Old Breed, set for release on April 4, 2025 via Napalm Records, Warfield is poised for a ferocious onslaught of thrash excellence, and none are safe.
INFLUENCES
Johannes Clemens (vocals, bass): Power Trip – “Hornet’s Nest”
A band that influenced me, especially on our new album, is Power Trip from Dallas, Texas. Their sound is extremely powerful and energizing, which gives you a strong feeling while listening to it. Also, I’m a huge fan of Riley Gale’s (R.I.P.) vocals, and it certainly inspired my performance on some of the new tracks. “Hornet’s Nest” for me is a perfect thrash song. It builds up quickly and then hits you with mighty riffing and furious lyrics. Awesome!
Dominik Marx (drums): Toxic Holocaust – “Nuke the Cross”
One of the first bands I discovered as a growing teenager, alongside all the well-known thrash legends, was Toxic Holocaust. I listened to the An Overdose of Death… album every day immediately after school. It includes everything you need in thrash metal. We also covered “Nuke the Cross” hundreds of times in the rehearsal room. Through this, I developed a good feeling for when it makes sense to change a drum part in our own songs or to slow things down without losing the song’s energy. Furthermore, the music works well without tons of solos, and you don’t get the feeling that something is missing, which makes it comparable to our own style as well.
Matthias Clemens (guitar): Kreator – “Demon Prince”
As one of my first encounters with the thrash metal genre and a balm for the soul of my 15-year-old self, who was struggling with feelings of frustration and anger, Kreator allowed me to channel my aggression and provided a brief escape from the struggles of daily life. While I could name any number of their classics, the album that defined that era for me was Hordes of Chaos. In particular, the deep cut “Demon Prince”—an absolute banger and the perfect album closer—left a lasting impression. Looking back, it’s undeniable that their razor-sharp riffing style has had a profound influence on the kind of guitar work I’m drawn to today.
ESSENTIALS
“Barrage Fire”
A good song to start with when listening to Warfield is “Barrage Fire.” This was the first music video we ever made back in the day, and the studio version on our first album adds more aggression and brutality to it. With many different tempos, grooves, and old-school thrash parts, we often choose to open our live shows with this track. We like the energy it creates and are convinced it is a good pick when getting to know our band.
“Lament of the White Realm”
This song is carried by dashing riffs and our typical thrash beat on the drums. Nevertheless, there are many varied and melodic sections in the chorus, middle part, and also towards the end of the song, which reveal a conscious variance in our sound. The lyrical theme follows a haunting journey to the icy front lines of the Alpine battlegrounds during the First World War and also reflects our narrative approach very aptly.
“Appetitive Aggression”
“Appetitive Aggression” is a song that effectively conveys the expression of our anger and energy musically. This track offers a chilling look into the human psyche during the chaos of battle. From the perspective of the protagonist, we see how all societal norms and moral boundaries are stripped away, allowing primal instincts to dominate. Leading to a harrowing realization for the protagonist, he has never experienced something more authentic. It becomes a disturbing descent into the darker corners of the animalistic human soul, where inner transgression takes hold.
