In this power-defined era in which we are living; post-9/11, war-riddled, politically corrupt and truth-devoid, reality is skewed to the point of dissolution. It is up to the work of the artist to convey the perspective of the layman, and Virginia’s Adversary speak the truth clearly: something is not right with our world.
Driven by groove-laden riffs and the scathing words of a true cynic, Adversary have shed the albatross of their contemporaries and moved beyond the much beloved (and much abused) “Gothenburg sound” to find a metallic voice that is patently American. With a sense of drive and melodic-prowess to spare, the bands’ feet are still firmly planted in the house that their domestic forefathers built. Using this homebred sensibility, the band creates a crushing, dramatic atmosphere to match their politically- and socially-charged lyrics that produces an end result that catches you as much in the gut as it does in the mind.
All childhood friends, the members of Adversary have played together in different permutations for nearly a decade and have developed a tightness and intuition usually seen only in bands with twice their experience. Lead by long-time guitar duo Brad Ryder and Kenny Harrison, their writing oscillates between fevered speed and bone crushing, Southern-tinged swagger. Drummer Justin Green and bassist Daniel Tidwell add weight to the mix, imbuing groove through muscular thump. A rhythm section that puts determined heaviness before pointless bombast, they retain a musicality rarely seen from today’s homogenized blast-fiends. Philosophy student and band thinking-man William Clapp completes the unit, delivering vocals charged with both modern metal’s furious aggression and rock’s hook-driven soul. Composed of words contemptuous of the path of modern man, he has created a veritable hymnal for the disillusioned.
In late 2007, the band was ready to record their debut album. Entitled “Singularity”, the record features ten tracks and cover art by Niklas Sundin, guitarist of the legendary Dark Tranquility. Produced by Kevin Gutierrez (Project: Failing Flesh) and Ben McCall at the much-revered Assembly Line Studios, “Singularity” is written as a manifesto to the metal community: stand and take notice, Adversary is here to stay.
Since the summer of 2006, Adversary have taken the stage with the mighty Soilwork, as well as Mnemic, up-and-coming metal gods Threat Signal, God Forbid, Goatwhore, and fellow Virginian thrashers Arsis. With stoic determination and heaviness to spare, Adversary are poised to deliver a wake-up call to the all but slumbering American metal scene.
