Arrows

Description

Their first album in five years, everyones favorite beer-crushing, zombie-killing, air-guitar-contest-judging metal heroes Red Fang are back in action, doing what they do best! This record feels more like Murder The Mountains to me than any record weve done before or since, bassist/vocalist Aaron Beam ventures. It doesnt sound like that record, but Murder the Mountains was us doing whatever the fuck we wanted, and thats what this is, too. Arrows was recorded at Halfling Studios in the bands hometown of Portland, OR, with longtime collaborator Chris Funk, producer of Murder The Mountains and 2013s Whales and Leeches. Chris is a major influencer as far as the weird ambient stuff in between the songs and the creepy incidental noises within the songs, guitarist Bryan Giles points out. I think he definitely creates an added layer of atmosphere that we wouldnt have otherwise.

Arrows is also a proper title track, which is new territory for the band. This is the first time weve named an album after a song thats actually on the album, Beam explains. We have other albums that are named after songs of ours that are not on those albums. So this time were really fucking with you because we didnt fuck with you. Similarly, fans might not believe what the song Arrows is partially about. If youre confused by some of the lyrics to the song, that makes sense, Beam explains. But it makes reference to meditation. I started meditating six years ago, but I can only do it when Im not feeling too anxious. So, when I dont need it, thats when I can do it.

Elsewhere, Fonzi Scheme was named after legendary Happy Days cool guy Arthur Fonzarelli if only because its in the key of his famous catchphrase, Aaay. Funk came up with the idea of bringing in string players from the Portland Cello Project to class up the track. Meanwhile, the opening riff of closer Funeral Coach was written 11 years ago. But it took until recently for the song to blossom into its full double-entendre glory. I was driving around and I saw a hearse that said funeral coach services on the back, Beam notes. So the first thing that popped into my head was a dude with a headset and a clipboard going, Alright, dudes more tears! Five minutes in is when the tears are critical, or no ones gonna believe that anyone cares that this person died.