With one album, three singles, and a MuchMusic award under their belts, Abandon All Ships are redefining their sound with their new album, said lead singer Angelo Aita.
The Toronto-based electro-hardcore band gave their fans a taste of their upcoming record Infamous during a 10-song set at Maverick’s bar Dec. 16.
During the set, Aita pumped up the crowd by jumping on stage and screaming, “Make some noise,” as fans pumped their fists in the air to the beat of the music. The crowd pushed, slammed and danced together to the mix of hardcore and trance music.
Abandon All Ships will be embarking on a cross-Canada tour with the release of the album in the spring and Aita said he guarantees the new music will entertain old and new fans alike.
“[Infamous] is more hiphop influenced in the sense that the lyrics are more direct. People will understand what we’re talking about in this record,” he said.
Since releasing their first album, Geeving, in 2010, Abandon All Ships have been faced with changes to the band’s lineup. However, Aita said the member changes will not be affecting the music on their upcoming album Infamous. What will show through this album is the band’s growth as people and musicians over the last year and a half, he said.
“We wrote [Geeving] when we were so young. Our influences have dramatically changed,” Aita said. “If you put one of the new songs against one of our old songs, a lot of fans will say it sounds like Abandon All Ships, but I’m talking from a writing perspective, this album is much more mature.”
The band is also taking on a different writing and recording process for the new album. The band now works with the producer a lot more at his house and can take things slow — writing a bit, taking a break, having a cigarette, Aita said.
“The good times we’re having is bleeding into this record. It’s perfect,” he said.
Ever since the band’s appearance on MuchMusic’s show disBAND in 2009, Abandon All Ships said they’ve been described as rude and arrogant.
When asked about the criticism the band has faced, Aita responded by quoting Kurt Cobain: “I’d rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I’m not,” he said.
