Manifesting Power: An Exclusive Interview with Armin Kamal of INFRARED on Overcoming Challenges and Thrashing Forward with ‘Manifestation’

Ottawa’s thrash metal stalwarts, INFRARED, have once again left their mark on the metal scene with their latest album, Manifestation, which officially dropped on September 6th. Following a series of delays, the album is now resonating with fans around the globe. With its high-octane energy, signature thrash metal riffs, and poignant lyrics, Manifestation captures the band’s evolution while staying true to their roots. Tracks like “Demon’s Blood” have already made an impact, showcasing INFRARED’s ability to blend aggressive musicianship with themes that touch on personal demons, societal struggles, and the perils of modern technology.

In the aftermath of the album’s release, the band has been receiving glowing reviews and fan support, proving once again why INFRARED remains a force to be reckoned with. Manifestation isn’t just another album for the band—it’s a statement of resilience and creativity, embodying the raw intensity that has defined their career since their formation in the mid-80s. Now that the album is out in the world, we had the chance to sit down with Armin Kamal, the band’s lead vocalist and guitarist, to discuss how the release has been received, the creative process behind it, and what lies ahead for INFRARED.

INFRARED MAG: Thank you for joining us, Armin. Now that Manifestation is out, how has the journey of creating and finally releasing this album been for you and the band?

ARMIN KAMAL: The journey is always fun and creative. We actually finished the album a while back, but there were some delays in releasing it, broken bones, vacations, and other life events, but we got it out the door! And we couldn’t be happier with the final result.

INFRARED MAG: With the album facing several delays before its release, how did these challenges shape the music and the final product?

ARMIN KAMAL: The delays didn’t actually shape the music. The writing was long done before any of the delays hit. The album was actually recorded, mixed, and mastered too. Because we are independent, we just waited until the timing felt right. We don’t have that kind of pressure on us.

INFRARED MAG: Manifestation has been described as having a classic thrash metal sound with a modern twist. Now that it’s out, how do you think fans are reacting to this blend?

ARMIN KAMAL: So far, so good. You see some reviews and you see a lot of comments on social media which has been super positive. Of course, when it comes to the critics, some love it to death and others are middle of the road feeling like they have heard it before. You get the feeling they are battle-fatigued and just listen to too much music. In the end, we write exactly what we want to hear, what we feel is missing in the world. We are definitely in a genre and are not breaking new ground, but we were there at the beginning and part of the scene in the early days, so it’s all genuine. Why would we all of a sudden sound different? We have too much fun writing and performing our favorite type of music.

INFRARED MAG: The album dives into themes like anxiety, inner turmoil, and societal struggles. What do you hope listeners take away from these topics now that they can hear the full record?

ARMIN KAMAL: They are not alone. We all go through this stuff. The longer you are alive the more likely you will hit all of it, anxiety, depression, and conflict whether internal or external. We have already seen people’s interpretation of the songs and their lyrics and it’s so cool to see people making it their own.

INFRARED MAG: “Demon’s Blood” has received significant attention. What was your inspiration for this track, and how has it been received by the listeners?

ARMIN KAMAL: Before we released, we distributed the album to our inner circle, trusted friends, and fans, to get their thoughts on singles. “Demon’s Blood” definitely made the list. We know from what we have heard from others and online that the song is a ripper. Kirk wrote the song riffs and the lyrics for this one, but generally speaking, it delves into substance abuse and how it turns every day into Ground hog day. It takes over.

INFRARED MAG: The album artwork is quite striking. Can you share more about its creation and how it ties into the overall theme of Manifestation?

ARMIN KAMAL: The artwork is AI-based and generated by local talent Joe Lyko of Dark Moon Productions who does all kinds of stuff including producing albums, videos, and artwork. Using AI he came up with a few cool pieces of art and I immediately gravitated towards this one. It’s sterile, yet grungy, creepy, and pops. Loved it. And at the onset of the new album, we said, let’s start with the artwork this time. Which we did. And then the word Manifestation came to mind because we manifested an album from a picture. Before I get too carried away, we did have some riffs and ideas, but the artwork really did drive the video and direction of the album.

INFRARED MAG: The song “Parasite Patrol” warns about the dangers of AI. With the album now available, why did you feel it was important to include this topic in your music?

ARMIN KAMAL: Everyone is talking about the dangers of AI. So why not explore that topic? Right now A.I. is sophisticated plagiarism. I don’t think we are in the danger zone just yet, but it would not be a stretch to think some of the old Sci-Fi movies were onto something. Look how much has come true based on movies. Will A.I. be malicious and want to kill us for being bad or immoral? I doubt it, but if we were in the way, like a bee nest or something, they might just remove that segment of us. And it would be very efficient at doing it.

INFRARED MAG: With tracks like “Temple of Sin” and “Manifest Nation,” there seems to be a focus on confronting both inner and societal demons. How do you feel listeners are connecting with these messages?

ARMIN KAMAL: I know people are really resonating with those songs. Temple of Sin is just pure inner struggle, maybe with dark thoughts, violent thoughts, and thoughts implanted by others that want to control you. It’s nothing new to the human condition. Manifest Nation I am sure many people can connect with as they find themselves getting lost in technology, excuses to not improve their lives, etc. We can all be better and do better, but first, you have to recognize where you are and that’s what these songs describe.

INFRARED MAG: You’ve been part of the thrash metal scene since the 80s. How do you see Manifestation contributing to the evolution of the genre?

ARMIN KAMAL: I am not sure evolution is the word. Again, we are staying true to the genre, but we are injecting melody here and there and death here and there. At the end of the day, we just care about writing good songs. We feel we have done that here by crafting these to-the-point songs, yet they still feel like they take you on a journey. We are adapting to the ever-shortening attention spans. Ha ha.

INFRARED MAG: The album features instrumental tracks like “Cataclysm” and “The Manifest.” What role do these pieces play in the album’s narrative?

ARMIN KAMAL: “Cataclysm” is this eerie and powerful intro that just gets you moving. It emulates a great and violent shift which sets the tone for the album. “The Manifest” is the calm before the storm of a life interrupted, in this case by distraction including technology. I wanted to have the chorus melody at a slower tempo so it could sit in the listeners head making it easier to sin along when Manifest Nation kicks in. Plus, it’s fun to experiment with sounds, vibes, and ambient feels.

INFRARED MAG: How does Manifestation differ from your previous works, such as From the Black Swamp and No Peace?

ARMIN KAMAL: No Peace was all 80 written music. It won’t get more pure than that from us. Black Swamp was us hitting our stride and finding our voice today in the 20-somethings. We could write these more epic songs but in a more condensed format. We had so much music there and loved all the songs, but COVID saw us adding more and more to the point where we might have made an album longer than most people can handle in a sitting. But from a music standpoint, I think Manifestation is a continuation of us with our more mature voice. We just challenged ourselves to keep the album under 45 minutes and keep the songs fat-free.

INFRARED MAG: Now that the album is out, how are you planning to bring Manifestation to the live stage?

ARMIN KAMAL: This is always the sad part for us. We are independent, so we just do our best to conquer our own backyards. We play Ontario and Quebec, from Toronto to Quebec City. Because of work and logistics, we really haven’t gone beyond those borders. Not because we don’t want to, but because it is financially prohibitive. When you have acts like Anthrax and the likes canceling tours because it is too expensive, well…. If some promoter can make it feasible, we would hop to it.

INFRARED MAG: You’ve shared the stage with many legendary bands over the years. How have these experiences influenced your music and live performances today?

ARMIN KAMAL: We kind of have always done our own live style, but you do pick up cool things like song transitions etc. I never had to much trouble bantering with the crowd, but we would rather play more and talk less. The bands we have played with are all so awesome. Great people, from Canadian royalty Sacrifice, Razor, Anvil and Exciter to other legends like Flotsam and Jetsam, Raven, and the list goes on. It blows our mind sometimes to think we have played with these people, all of which couldn’t be nicer.

INFRARED MAG: Can you share some insights into the recording process for Manifestation? How did it differ from your previous studio experiences?

ARMIN KAMAL: I wouldn’t say it differed that much aside from starting with the artwork. I have produced, mixed and mastered the last 3 releases and mixed the one before that. So we are kind of in a groove now where technology is not in the way, and we can just record and be creative. And we have always recorded at my studio, that part has remained consistent. In 2016 we had enlisted mixing duties from Metropolitan Studios and Jason Jaknunas. He mixed the first two albums and Noah Mintz mastered them. For Back to the Warehouse, I picked up mixing duties and Jason mastered that one. Once I gained more confidence, I did all the duties. Plus, it saves a lot of money.

INFRARED MAG: How has your songwriting process evolved, especially with this new album?

ARMIN KAMAL: Again, I think it is just being more concise and incorporating more little elements here and there to mix it up a bit.

INFRARED MAG: Tracks like “Reforma” and “Then the Earth Goes Black” showcase a balance between melody and aggression. How do you achieve this in your songwriting?

ARMIN KAMAL: I have always loved a catchy melody but also pure aggression in the music. I think this ying and yang in a song works well. Sometimes you just want a barn burner from start to finish, but you will get listeners who may not dig the genre thoroughly, but hear Reforma and go, “Catchy!”

INFRARED MAG: Since the album’s release, what has the fan reaction been like, and how important is that feedback for you?

ARMIN KAMAL: The reaction has been very good. It’s always nice when people want to go on this ride with you. Make no mistake, we write for us, what we like, but when it resonates with others, icing man, icing!

INFRARED MAG: What challenges and rewards have you experienced with self-releasing Manifestation?

ARMIN KAMAL: Self-inflicted timelines right towards the end tend to put a little pressure on. The second you involve PR companies, in this case, the awesome Jon Asher of Asher Media, then you feel a sense of, shit, I have to get this done now, it’s real. And because we do our own videos, it’s just another layer of work along with all the social media updates, interviews, etc. It’s all fun, it’s all creative, but it can get overwhelming at times. But when it is out and things settle, we can focus on rehearsing for gigs and then go and share the songs live with people, bliss.

INFRARED MAG: Finally, what’s next for Infrared now that Manifestation has been released? Can fans expect tours or new projects on the horizon?

ARMIN KAMAL: We are always writing. We may move to a singles-release model moving forward. We have a pretty big catalog to play from now, but the bug to write new music is always there. Now that the album is out, we are headed to Montreal on Sept 17th to play a fest there and then in October (the 19th), we will play in Orleans Ontario where it all began back in 1985. We will play songs from every release in an intimate setting. It will be a blast.

I wanted to say thank you for this interview opportunity and your thoughtful questions. It is much appreciated.

With the release of Manifestation, INFRARED continues to cement their legacy in the world of thrash metal. The album has been met with strong acclaim from both critics and fans alike, with its blend of melodic aggression and socially charged themes striking a chord with listeners. Tracks like “Demon’s Blood” and “Manifest Nation” have already become fan favorites, proving that the band’s ability to connect with their audience remains as potent as ever. As noted in our review, Manifestation is “a high-energy, riff-heavy thrash album that shows INFRARED still has plenty to offer the metal world.”

Looking forward, the band is gearing up to bring these powerful new tracks to the live stage, where their music truly comes to life. With shows planned and more music in the pipeline, INFRARED is showing no signs of slowing down. Their commitment to thrash metal is unwavering, and with Manifestation, they have once again proven that they are a band that can evolve without losing sight of the roots that made them a metal mainstay. For both longtime fans and newcomers, the journey with INFRARED is far from over.