Interview: Take Offense

Photo By Becky DiGiglio

With their upcoming album “T.O.tality” on the horizon, Take Offense has been making waves in the scene, and we’re thrilled to have Greg Cerwonka and Anthony Herrera here to give us a sneak peek into their creative process.

Their latest single “Greetings From Below” has been garnering attention for its raw energy and relentless aggression, setting the stage for what promises to be a powerful album release. We’ll be delving into the recording process behind “T.O.tality,” exploring their approach to songwriting, and gaining insight into their collaboration with Nick Jett of Terror, who’s been instrumental in shaping their sound.

T.O.tality has been described as having a sense of modernity while nodding to the band’s roots. Can you elaborate on the creative process behind incorporating modern elements while paying homage to the band’s musical heritage?

Greg: With the band having its main influences rooted in music from the past (80s/early 90s), the sense of modernity naturally comes with us growing up in a later time period. The way we approach writing and recording is going to be different from a band from the mid 80s for example. That being said, all these influences are hardwired into our DNA because we’re such huge fans, and very deep listeners. So with a strong knowledge of the roots, you’re free to run with the ball how you like. Also just trying new things, like experimenting with a drum beat you’ve never used before, or using an interesting chord shape. Combining that with a rooted bass can produce some interesting results. It’s like the blues scale for guitar. It’s been around forever, but how you put it together is your own “signature” which makes a familiar sound, sound fresh again.

The album pays tribute to Californian bands like Excel and Suicidal Tendencies, incorporating skate aesthetics. How did the influence of these bands and the guitar gods from the Sunset Strip shape the tone and attitude of T.O.tality?

Greg: Discovering the Venice bands at a young age left a huge impression on us due to the way they combined everything we like. The speed and aggression of early hardcore punk, mixed with heavy metal guitar heroics was everything I liked in one package. It’s hard to put to words, but it’s just a very Southern California sound. The band has also musically matured over the years when it comes to playing ability and technique. That allows us to be able to pull off such sounds from that era, but put our own twist to it.

The opening track and lead single “Greetings From Below” touches on Mexica beliefs of the underworld. Could you delve into how these beliefs influenced the lyrical content and overall theme of the song?

Anthony: In Mexica culture, when it comes to our underworlds, it’s believed that these are places that we go to when we die. It’s also believed we go there while we’re sleeping, in our dreams & nightmares. Our underworlds also relate to our waking state, in the form of obstacles or difficulties we face in our everyday life. In christianity, they say that hell is a place that you’re damned to if you don’t make the right choices in life, or whatever they talk about. Truth is, one can experience hell in real time, while we’re living & breathing. Although the main theme of the song has to do with things of this mature, it’s also about underground music & being from the southernmost part of California.

The recording of T.O.tality faced scheduling conflicts and pandemic-related complications. How did these challenges impact the creative process, and how did you overcome them to deliver the album?

Greg: After surviving 2020 (which was difficult for a lot of bands), we went through some significant changes. The band was signed to Pure Noise Records, but was dropped during that time. We also brought in two new additions to the band (Mitch Reitman on drums, and Ricky Garcia on rhythm guitar). After our manager Mike Messina secured us a deal with MNRK Heavy, it felt like getting a 2nd chance to create again. So the approach was to “crank it to 11” and write the best, fastest, heaviest, musical, and aggressive record we’ve ever done. Zero limitations. Just full throttle, and that’s what you hear in T.O.tality immediately. 

Working with Nick Jett again for tracking, along with Matt Hyde for mixing and Nick Townsend for mastering, how did these collaborations contribute to shaping the sonic identity of T.O.tality?

Greg: Nick Jett in a lot of ways has been a mentor to this band. We have a deep trust with him, which is very important in the studio. He’s a total wizard in the engineering and producing department. We had so much of the material demo’d before hand, he really helped with steering in it a productive direction. Matt Hyde is just a total legend. All you need to do is just look at his resume. The way he mixed this record is 2nd to none IMO. There’s a lot going on with this album in terms of dynamics. He was able to have everything shine through with crystal clear quality, but have a massive heavy sound as well. You only get that with one of the best behind the board. Nick Townsend was the absolute icing on the cake. He’s already made quite a name for himself and it will continue to grow. I can listen to this record on any type of speaker and be happy due to how hard it slams. He also cut the lacquers for the vinly in house. The test presses sounded incredible. All you audiophiles will be very happy haha.

Anthony mentioned that T.O.tality explores themes like existentialism, politics, soldiering forward, etc. How did personal experiences influence the lyrical content of the album?

Anthony: The things that I write about are direct links to that which I’ve experienced or am experiencing in that moment of writing. It’s not even really an influence on the lyrical content, it IS the lyrical content itself. Therefore they’re very personal. This album touches on topics like; emotional turmoil, human domestication, personal hell, my ancestors, the subconscious/unconscious mind, prayer, etc. There’s even a song on here about being vulnerable for even putting out the type of lyrical content that I do & feeling a type of way because these are my very real experiences.

The title “T.O.tality” seems to hold a deeper meaning. Could you share the significance behind the title and how it encapsulates the essence of the album?

Anthony: Totality is a word that jumped out at me as I was reading a book titled “The Toltec Art of Life & Death” by author Don Miguel Ruiz. This author is well known for a book called “The Four Agreements.” Anyway, in the moment while I was reading I immediately began to think of the next TO album. I started to imagine the spelling, T.O.tality. That was the spark that began with fire.

This band has been through many trials, gone through many peaks & valleys. We started back in 2005 & we’ve given our life to this. I wanted us to create something that really captured our entire body of work in an album. We’re still doing what we set out to do when we first started, without any intentions of stopping anytime soon. T.O.tality is about giving it your all, no matter what. Going through many changes & persevering, by any means necessary.  

Can you shed light on the decision-making process behind the tracklist and how each song contributes to the overall narrative of the album?

Anthony: The tracklist was decided after countless & I mean countless times of listening. I made several different lists, as did other members. It was a very methodical process for sure. Like putting a puzzle together. I would say side A has a lot more attack to it & side B, maybe a bit more reflectiveness to it. 

As far as the narrative contribution from each song goes, they each hold a unique & clear message that captures the essence of why TO even exists in the first place. We exist to connect with like minded individuals that believe in personal & collective freedom, from a world that intends to control/manipulate us. It is an album of being yourself & the power of complete self expression.

Having Matt Hyde, known for working with bands like Slayer and Deftones, handle the mixing is noteworthy. How did his expertise impact the final sound of T.O.tality, and what did he bring to the table during the mixing process?

Greg: Matt Hyde is such a treasure trove of knowledge and skill. He immediately understood what kind of record this band sent over. We wanted to avoid this current era of drum samples, and over usage of plug-ins that has plagued modern recordings. He was able to take all the great natural tones and sounds Nick and the band dialed in, and then take it to the next level. You can listen to any recordings he’s done and immediately hear how powerful and clear his signature is. It’s a complete honor to have him mix this record.

T.O.tality is said to nod to the band’s home in Southern California. In what specific ways does the album reflect the atmosphere and culture of the region?

Anthony: A lot of that I would say has to do with the artwork & imagery we put out there. It has a connection to the chicano side of southern california. Musically we incorporate a high energy, very fast paced style of playing which is a very california thing as well.

Anthony also mentioned references to Mexica beliefs in certain tracks. How did these historical and cultural references shape the overall narrative, and what message or emotion were you trying to convey through them?

Anthony: With my family being from Mexico, more specifically Sonora & Jalisco, the Mexica culture is something that is close to home for me. Although, the term Mexica has a more specific meaning, in modern times its become more of a umbrella term adressing the indigenous/originally peoples of mexico, pre spanish conquest. My family is a product of this history. It is my heritage. This life chose me & I’ve made it my responsability to honor that through this art form as well as my everyday life. It may not always be so “on the nose” but I’ve still weaved it in there if enough attention is paid. I aimed to convey my honest emotions & was left with a wide range. From confidence to dismay, frustration to excitement & then to deep refectiveness.

How has the ability to express yourself evolved over the years, and how does T.O.tality represent the best version of Take Offense?

Greg: I think that comes with learning, trying new things, practicing new techniques, and being the best version of yourself at that time. All of those things will naturally reflect in your playing and your writing. We’re all a little older now so there comes a confidence with that. Especially in a scene where fads and trends come and go every 6 months or so. If you remain true to what you want to do, that always cuts through no matter what. This absolutely applies to T.O.tality.

Greg, you played in the live lineup of Turnstile during the recording period. How did this additional layer of involvement impact the band’s dynamics, and did it bring any unexpected influences to the creative process?

Greg: That involvement only affected the timeline in which the album would be completed. It didn’t influence the record in any musical aspect at all. That was a very busy touring schedule. When I would get home, I’d record whatever I could in the time off between tours with them. In a way, that allowed us to sit on it more and really listen to it. So if there were things we wanted to redo, or try another take to produce the best result possible, we would.  

Despite the challenges faced during the making of T.O.tality, Greg mentioned being incredibly proud of the record. What specific aspects of the album are you most proud of, and what does this release signify in the trajectory of Take Offense’s musical journey?

Greg: It’s the total best representation of the band’s musical abilities, lyrical themes, and sonic quality to date. That’s no easy feat to accomplish. For a more specific aspect, as a guitar player this is me pushing myself to the absolute limits of my abilities. You can’t really predict the future, or trajectory of something. It lands how it lands. In our hearts, we really don’t care about that stuff because our heart is filled with the creation of the art itself. 

Source: thoughtswordsaction.com