ANUBIS is a band from Los Angeles, California, United States. It was formed in 2018 and a year later it released its debut: Ashes (2019).
The band presents a very interesting sound that combines thrash and power metal in a very natural and fluid way.
Last july the group released their second self-titled EP where they confirm their intention to combine two genres in a very positive way.
We contacted Devin Reiche, bassist, vocalist and main composer of ANUBIS, to tell us about this project and what is new to come.
He announces a new EP for this year; ensures that it is the best material they have made so far.
Find ANUBIS in:
ANUBIS: “whenever I’ve tried doing power metal projects I’d get criticized for being too thrash-influenced”
- I actually recorded almost all the music we have right now on my laptop!
- We’re finishing up our third EP. It’s gonna be called “Hurricane of Hate”
- Bands like ours are more poised to succeed independently than ever before
HeavyRiff (HR): How the band was born; who founded it?
Devin Reiche (DR): I started it about two years ago. I had been touring for a while with my other band HATCHET, and just decided to do something with some of the more melodic songs I’d been writing for a while after meeting a few guys with similar influences at one of our shows.
HR: Where did you record the two EP’s, they have a very good sound!
DR: Thank you dude! I actually recorded almost all the music we have right now on my laptop!
We’ve had it mixed and mastered by various professional engineers, but as for the actual recording, it’s pretty much all home recorded except for the drums.
HR: We find it very interesting that many underground bands in your country have achieved very powerful albums with great sound.
You guys are a great example. How hard is it to find a proper studio and how hard is to afford it?
DR: Not hard at all actually. Through social media there are more opportunities to find the right mixing engineers than ever.
Not to mention that with better recording software available to pretty much anyone who wants it, there are more people doing music engineering than ever before.
So no, it’s not hard at all, you’ve just gotta search around online.
HR: How did you come to achieve your own sound and style?
DR: Basically whenever I’ve tried doing power metal projects I’d get criticized for being too thrash-influenced.
And whenever I’ve done thrash metal projects, I’ve felt like my own creative ideas would be too melodic to sound right.
So for this project I just do what comes the most naturally and let the results speak for themselves.
HR: Your music seems to be like a mix of power and thrash, is that what you’re aiming for?
DR: Yes, exactly. To me, metal can sound neutered without a lot of aggression, but can also sound somewhat bland without melody and emotion.
I think on some level, most metalheads want some sort of blending of the two approaches, and I feel like with this project we’ve reach a balance that feels right.
HR: Do you have any more songs that didn’t make it to both EP’s?
DR: I literally have dozens of songs written (laughs)! Our new guitar player Justin has a bunch of stuff as well, so there’s definitely no shortage of material.
We hope to get it out on a more regular basis in the future.
HR: Are there any physical copies from your EP’s or right now are only digital?
DR: There’s a few physical copies, and we’re are also talks about getting wider distribution for the two existing EPs and the upcoming EP.
Right now the easiest way to hear our shit is online, but that’s likely gonna change shortly.
HR: Have you already had the chance to play live; how has been the feedback?
DR: Yeah, we played over 30 shows in our first year before Coronavirus hit.
The feedback has definitely been good, although it can depend on who was in the lineup at the time.
for example, the time we did a mini-tour that our then guitar player bailed on a week and a half earlier could have gone better.
But mostly I’m really happy with the reception we’ve gotten.
HR: Who made the Anubis EP cover? Is the same who made the Ashes EP? It’s awesome!
DR: His name is Toha Mashudi, and he’s on Instagram as @ahot.74. He also does a lot of Exmortus’s t-shirt designs.
He’s a phenomenal artist and everyone ought to go check out his work.
HR: Are you composing new songs or what is the band doing right now?
DR: We’re finishing up our third EP. It’s gonna be called “Hurricane of Hate”, and it should be done by the fall.
I can say pretty confidently that this is gonna be the best material we’ve done yet, and I really want people to hear it.
HR: Are you looking for some label to release a future full-lenght album or you will stay as an indie band?
DR: If the right deal came along I’d absolutely be open to signing to a label.
I do feel though that bands like ours are more poised to succeed independently than ever before, so if one doesn’t come along it doesn’t deter us in any way.
I’m perfectly happy releasing three songs at a time over Spotify and YouTube every couple of months as long as there are people wanting to hear it.
An online presence is way more important than physical media these days.
A label would have to be able to accommodate the sheer volume of new music we’re hoping to be producing in the future.
HR: Thanks a lot for your time! Do you have any final comment for all the readers who are just about to know your music?
DR: Keep discovering and listening to new bands and fresh blood, because that’s the only way we’re going to keep rock and metal alive!