Well, it must be said that Infest is fully prepared to attack the underground masses! Now that their new album is out, you better watch out because the new songs are going to hit you harder than ever! My questions were answered by Vandal (vocals/guitar), so get ready for some verbal retaliation!!!
Hail to thee Vandal! Infest's seventh album, "Ambassadors of Aggression", was released on September 26, 2025. The sound is much more refined, although this time I feel that the thrash metal elements, guitar melodies, and solos in general stand out more than before. What do you think about that? Oh, and what feedback have you gotten from fans and the media so far?
Hails! This album is the sound of a blade finally tempered after years in the fire. We didn't "refine" ourselves, we weaponized ourselves. The thrash elements hit harder because this time we carved the riffs like wounds, not decorations. The melodies, the solos... they're not there to shine, they're there to cut.
The feedback has been insane. Fans said they felt the punches in their chest, not just their ears. Media called it our most complete assault yet. When people tell us the album feels like a riot wrapped in steel, that's when I know the message landed.
I noticed that the successful formula of your previous album, "Psychosis", has been retained in its entirety on the new album. I mean the studios where you recorded the material, Dan Swanö's final touches in terms of mastering, and of course Roberto Toderico's incredibly well-done cover art. Was this a completely natural decision on your part, or was it more a case of "don't change what works"?
It was absolutely natural. When you find a forge that can handle the heat you bring, you don't walk away from it. Citadela and Vortex understand our chaos. Swanö elevates the destruction without polishing the violence out of it. Toderico paints what we scream.
It wasn't "don't change what works", it was "these are the allies you go to war with".
And when you go into battle, you don't switch your armor. You reinforce it.
Talking about Citadela and Vortex studios. How long did it take to complete the recordings for "Ambassadors of Aggression"? Did the recordings go smoothly throughout the entire session? What was the atmosphere and workflow like under the supervision of Luka Matkovic and Rodoljub Raickovic?
It took months of carving, breaking, rebuilding, and refining. Not because anything went wrong, because we demanded everything be right. Luka and Rodoljub run their studios like disciplined fortresses. They know when to push, when to step back, and when to let the storm loose.
The atmosphere was intense, focused, but never suffocating. Every session felt like forging a weapon you plan to use the next morning. Every take felt like loading a bullet with your own hands. That kind of environment creates albums that survive time.
The music sometimes takes on a military character, which I think is largely related to the lyrics. What is your opinion on this? What themes does the new lyrics touch on, and how do they relate to the cover art?
The military energy comes from living in lands where peace is a temporary rumor. The Balkans taught us that every day is a frontline, against corruption, against decay, against indifference. The lyrics reflect that. They speak about the invisible wars we fight: the ones against systems, lies, and our own shadows.
The themes range from societal collapse to personal resurrection. From anger to unity. From despair to defiance.
Toderico's art ties it all into one vision, faceless power, silent suffering, and the rise of the ones who refuse to kneel. It's not fantasy. It's a documentary of our reality.
You've made a few official videos, but the video for the song "Are You with Me" is simply spectacular. Could you tell our readers how this idea came about, how long it took to realize, and, of course, what message it conveys to us?
"Are You with Me" is our anthem of unity, the war cry of the metal legion. The idea was simple: make a video that celebrates everyone who ever stood by us. Not a vanity project, more like a gathering of the tribe.
It took months to complete, because we wanted musicians and fans from all over Europe, Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Belgium, England, and legends from Exodus, Asphyx, Desaster, Benediction... the real warriors.
The message was and is: We are one family. One voice. One fire. Metal doesn't divide, it unites the broken, the bold, and the brave.
There is a new guitarist in the band, known as Cosmogen. What should we know about him? Did he play a major role in writing the new songs, or did he only join the band during the studio work?
Cosmogen is pure aggression wrapped in discipline. A man possessed by riffs, with fire in his bones and loyalty in his heart. He joined us when most of the material was already forged, but he breathed new life into it, power, precision, madness on stage.
He didn't replace Tyrant, nobody ever will, but he carries the torch with honor. And on stage, he's a lightning strike waiting to hit something explosive.
On December 6, 2025, there will be a release party for "Ambassadors of Aggression" in Belgrade. What songs are you preparing for this event? By the way, are you planning an extensive European tour to promote the new album in 2026?
December 6th won't be a concert, it'll be a battlefield. We're performing the entire new album, front to back, because every song was written to be unleashed live. And of course, we'll resurrect the old war classics "Onward to Destroy", "Deathrash Sodomy", "Slavery to No One", the whole arsenal.
As for 2026, yes. Europe will burn. Festivals, clubs, wherever the stage can hold us. Metal lives only when shared face-to-face. And we're ready to take the message everywhere the road leads.
We will have more announcements soon, about it all.
Tell us a little about the tools of your trade. What guitars, amplifiers, cabinets and strings do you use during Infest's live performances?
We use tools made for war, not decoration.
Guitars: Music Art custom beasts guitars.
Amps: Mesa, Engl, Peavey.
Cabs: 4x12s built to withstand earthquakes and 2x12 mesa cabinets.
Pedals: Maxon overdrive for that blood-soaked crunch and many more for Cosmogen.
Strings: Heavy gauge only, anything lighter snaps under our picking hand.
But again, the real tone isn't bought. It's bled. It comes from attitude, scars, and intent.
What kind of music are you listening to these days? Are there any new bands that still surprise you? If so, please list them here!
I always go back to the giants like Slayer, Exodus, Asphyx, Immolation, Bolt Thrower, Dismember, Sinister. That's the foundation. But I never stop searching for new fire.
Bands that caught my ear recently: Traitor, Deathchain, Harakiri for the Sky, Dust Bolt, Helldrifter, Mortal Strike.
These bands carry the spark, raw, passionate, unfiltered. Exactly what metal needs to survive.
Well, it's time to wrap up the interview. Please send your final death/thrash inspired thoughts to our readers.
Stay loud. Stay fearless. Stay what you are and try to grow into a better you, only stronger.
The world is full of walls, metal is the hammer that breaks them.
Raise your fist, sharpen your spirit, and never bow to anything that tries to silence you.
