After turning back the clock in 2018 to celebrate the 15th anniversary of their Jamey Jasta-produced debut, “As Real As It Gets,” the Queens, New York-based SWORN ENEMY resets their sights on the present day with their punishing new album 'Gamechanger'.
Due April 5 via M-Theory Audio, the album – produced by Robb Flynn of Machine Head, and engineered, mixed and mastered by Zack Ohren (Suffocation, Fallujah, Warbringer) – features 11 tracks that expertly fuse metal, thrash and New York hardcore. For proof, look no further than the venomous new song “Prepare For Payback,” which is now available on all streaming platforms.
A lyric video for the song 'Prepare For Payback' can be seen below:
Says vocalist Sal Lococo, “'Prepare for Payback' just had that old SWORN ENEMY feel to it. It was very angry and hard as fuck, and definitely could've been the opening track on 'As Real As It Gets.'
The track listing for “Gamechanger” – the cover art for which can be seen above – is as follows:
Intro
Prepare For Payback
Seeds of Hate
Coming Undone
Justify
DOA
Fragments of a Broken Life
The Fall of Modern Man
Selling A Dream
The Consequence
Integrity Defines Strength
Vocalist and founding member Sal Lococo says the new album – nearly five years in the making – will be worth the wait.
“The new album is savage as fuck,” he says. “Now it’s time to get back out on the road and show everyone how fucking great this new shit is!”
SWORN ENEMY was first signed by Hatebreed frontman Jamey Jasta, who released the group's first two EPs on his Stillborn Recordings label in 2001 and 2002.
He also produced the band's full-length debut, “As Real As It Gets,” memorably praised by Lambgoat as “music that inspires you to want to beat the living piss out of the next unsuspecting person who walks in the room.”
The album was released by Elektra Records in 2003, a year that saw the band deliver memorable performances on tour with Ozzfest.
In the 15 years since, SWORN ENEMY released four additional albums of punishing metallic hardcore and toured with a number of notable acts, including Anthrax, Mastodon, Fear Factory, Sepultura, Suicide Silence, Dying Fetus, Earth Crisis, Madball, Biohazard and Hatebreed.
The band expects to spend much of 2019 touring in support of “Gamechanger”; stay tuned for additional details in the coming weeks.
ONLINE
LINEUP
Sal Lococo – vocals
Matt Garzilli – guitar
Mike Pucciarelli – bass
Jeff Cummings – guitar
Taykwuan Jackson – drums
BIOGRAPHY
Sworn Enemy, fronted by Sal LoCoco, established itself in 2000 with the release of "Negative Outlook" on Jamey Jasta's Stillborn Records. The record was a mix of old school hardcore punk and new school breakdowns, and quickly gained the band attention in the underground scene.
2002 marked their next release, "Integrity Defines Strength", which contained 3 new songs and a live set from the legendary New York venue, CBGB.
In 2003 a release deal with Elektra Records was signed with the result being the break through record "As Real As It Gets". The band changed their style as the CD featured a large thrash metal influence, as well as abrasive, near-black metal vocals. The new style and worldwide distribution led to the spawning of two videos for the songs "As Real As it Gets" and "Sworn Enemy." The band earned their place on major tours with Sepultura, Anthrax, Soulfly, Biohazard, Fear factory, Six feet under, Hatebreed and many others around the globe including a stint on Ozzfest in 2003.
In early 2005, the LP "The Beginning Of The End" was released on Abacus Records, (Century Media) The new record expanded on the thrash influenced direction the band had been moving toward. During this period the band toured alongside As Blood Runs Black, Too Pure to Die, Suicide Silence and appeared on the highly anticipated Earth Crisis reunion tour. This record also saw the release of two videos in the forms of "Scared of the Unknown" and "All I have."
2008 marked the band releasing new music once again with the disc entitled "Maniacal." The disc featured some of the fastest & heaviest material to date. Tracks "Ignorance" and "Destroyer" quickly became staples of the bands live set. March 29, 2008 saw the release of the video "A place of Solace." (Dir. David Brodsky and edited by Allison Woest)
In 2009, "Total World Domination" was released through Century Media Records. The record was produced by Tim Lambesis from As I Lay Dying. The concept was to fuse the bands previous records into a sound that is way faster, more aggressive and harder than ever.
During the summer of 2010 the band embarked on a headlining tour across Europe along with support slots at multiple festivals. This would be the first Sworn Enemy tour with current drummer Danny Lamagna. Later that autumn, the band with addition of guitar player Jeff Cummings toured the east coast of the United States for what was the last leg of the "Total World Domination Tour."
During the next few years the band saw some lineup changes. In May of 2014 the band regrouped with new members and released "Living On Borrowed Time" on Rock Ridge records. They followed the album with several tours including tours in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Sworn Enemy is still touring in support of "Living On Borrowed Time."
DISCOGRAPHY
As Real as It Gets - 2003
The Beginning of the End - 2006
Maniacal - 2007
Total World Domination - 2009
Living on Borrowed Time - 2014
Gamechanger - 2019