With contorted fingers and decibels cranked, Fresno’s own thrash metal prodigies WAR SCREAM have been earning their stripes in the city’s metal scene.
Performing Friday, Jan. 31, at Strummers Bar and Grill, the band will be hyping up the release of their brand new EP titled “Breaking Point,” debuting three new songs, “Insomnia,” “Split Brain,” and “Wasted Time.”
Sharing the stage will be local scene colleagues Kutie, Exvamon, Jnx and Permutations at the second Monsters of Metal release party. Lead Bryan Woolrich and drummer Isaac Serrano, both Fresno State students this semester, shred stress away through the speed of their bands’ sound that matches the roar of a V8 engine with a pinned gas pedal.
The band’s original songs point to the group’s commitment in producing intense, ear-shattering riffs that invoke thoughts of bands like Slayer and Metallica, especially on the new EP.
Recording D.I.Y and with other bands in house studios, WAR SCREAM is immensely courted to their music. They’ve even filmed a documentary that showcases some of the creation process, at times debating each other’s product.
“We just are very passionate about what we do,” Serrano said.
He reassured that these creative differences stem from nothing more than just passion for their craft and the will to get better. Too often bands will fall victim to the murmurs of the masses and produce something unnatural to themselves. For WAR SCREAM, the camaraderie is forefront in their mind.
“Not everything is going to work out and we gotta do our best to understand one another…we gotta agree on something to make sure we put out the best product that we all love,” Woolrich said.
The band got a majority of their start playing covers of the thrash metal greats like Metallica. Soon branching out into their own unique sound.
“That was the start…throw in as many covers as possible to get a public eye,” said Woolrich. “Now we are slowly transitioning to all original material”.
With a multitude of material in the works, the band teased a brand new debut of an unreleased song. They also alluded to the possibility of a full length album.
“We can’t wait to play this one… this one was barely finished,” said Serrano.
WAR SCREAM has been to shows at Strummers and Great Rooms here in Fresno with hopes to be put on the ticket of more festivals. They mentioned their interests in returning to Tower District’s PorchFest in April as well as Fresno State’s own Vintage Days here on campus.
“It’s a big ‘maybe’ but we’ve submitted an application but we will see what the process is like,” said Woolrich.
The band mentioned their desire to travel outside of Fresno and experience some other scenes. In April they are slated to play a show at the Whiskey Go Go in west Hollywood with the world’s only all female Iron Maiden tribute band, The Iron Maidens.
“Expect more development…if you go to two shows, you will see something different from the first,” said Serrano.
Tickets for the show can be found online. The concert will be held at Strummers Bar and Grill in Fresno, CA.