OF VIRTUE – AN IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW WITH THE BAND
Of Virtue is a Michigan-based hard square. They have just released their new full length titled Omen via Arising Empire Records to rave reviews. AMP introduced Of Virtue in 2019 when they dropped their latest record, What defines you (see related below). Their sound is intense and ruthless. Every note they play cranks with kinetic vigor. All the tracks on the new record demand attention. The guitars attack with sonic precision. The vocals soar to explosive heights. With Omen, Of Virtue have created an acoustic masterpiece with a barrage of melodic intensity.
Of Virtue is Tyler Ennis (Vocals). Damon Tate (vocals/guitar), Mike Valadez (guitar) and Ryan Trinh (drums). The band has toured extensively and their music has resonated in over 30 countries with multiple Billboard chart hits and massive radio airplay. Of Virtue it's the real deal. They are ready to conquer the world. There is no refuge from their masterful turmoil and infectious rhythms.
Of Virtue was kind enough to take time out of their busy schedule to give AMP this in-depth interview.
AMP: We last featured the band in 2019 when your third album was released, What defines you. You feel that your new record Omen is it an evolution in style from your previous material?
VIRTUE: Absolutely! With our last record, we were still experimenting with a lot of sounds and really discovering what we were capable of. We had the opportunity to tour between recordings, so it was great to see what was fun to play for us and what connected with the audience we were reaching. Since most of this record was made because of COVID, we all took every idea we had and again, pushed ourselves to create and find our most authentic voice. The depth of emotion that was tapped into would not have been possible if we tried to make the same album twice!
AMP: Is there a specific track? Omen which do you think will turn people's heads?
OF VIRTUE: Oh man! There are quite a few….. “Sinner” has always been a bit of an oddity, but the versatility and craftsmanship of this song really sets it apart from anything else we've made. Another one that might surprise people would be “Floating” featuring Rory Rodriguez from Dayseeker. This is our version of a ballad and is one of the most emotional tracks on the record.
AMP: What are some of the social themes you've incorporated into your lyrics?
OF VIRTUE: Addiction, mental health, and some of the stigma surrounding both are themes that resonate a lot on this record. We all still deal with them today and it was a priority for us to shine a light on our struggles to let people (including ourselves) know that you don't have to be alone in this struggle. For so long, many of these stories have been bottled up and we may never have seen the light of day if we had listened to all the negativity and those nasty voices telling you that you are not good enough.
AMP: How would you describe your sound?
OF VIRTUE: Heavy but with a healthy amount of soul. We all have different backgrounds and love so many different styles that for us we wanted to showcase them all. Huge riffs, monster choruses, epic singalongs… anyone of any age can find something to sink their teeth into when it comes to our sound.
AMP: What do you want your fans to take away from your music?
OF VIRTUE: That the 4 of us have given everything we have to this life and this passion. The words we sing, the songs we play are our souls and without it, I'm not sure where any of us would be. Since the beginning of this band, our mission has been to be a light in a world that can be so dark for many of us. Our favorite artists did this for us growing up and now, it is our responsibility to give back and do the same. You never know who's listening or who you might inspire next, as long as you're open, honest and true to your beliefs.
AMP: If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
OF VIRTUE: Chester Bennington from Linkin Park. He was the first person I heard and felt “heard” me and the connection with those first 2 LPs is unbreakable.
AMP: Is there a live venue that you really enjoy playing?
OF VIRTUE: There are few. We just played Grewal Hall in our newest city and this place has such a bright future. Backstage in Munich, Germany has also always been a favorite of ours! There is something in the water in Germany because there has never been a bad show there!
AMP: In that same vein, what's your favorite song to play live?
VIRTUE: One of my personal favorites to play live is “Cold Blooded”. This one has such a haunting and hypnotic vibe – I feel like whenever we play it, I'm in a trance! The riffs are thick and the chorus is so catchy. It was great to see people singing with us about him on our last few tours.
AMP: Michigan seems to be a hotbed for extremely good metal. Just look at yourself and Heart Of Jordan. Is there something in the water?
OF VIRTUE: It's cold most of the time so there's not much else to do when the weather turns (so we sit inside and do sick riffs!) Honestly, I think Michigan might be slightly underrated when it comes to the bands and artists we have to offer heavy music, but as it happens, keep that chip on our shoulder and keep showing the world what they're made of.
AMP: What's next for Of Virtue?
OF VIRTUE: We have a few tours – Europe, Asia and some stateside stuff we're working on as well. In between all of that, we might squeeze in some time to write our next record. Keep your eyes and ears peeled!
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