The Journey Behind ‘The Will to Endure’ – JamSphere

February 17, 2025

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Fashioned in late 1998, Highroad No. 28 shortly established itself as a powerhouse within the Australian heavy rock scene. Their first two EPs, ‘Obscure Insanity’ (1999) and ‘Dynamic Introspection’ (2002), showcased a band unafraid to discover the depths of anguish and despair—but at all times infused with a relentless “never-give-in” perspective. From 2003 to 2005, the band delivered a sequence of reside performances, culminating within the launch of their debut album, ‘Unsteady and Regular State’, on December 8, 2005. Marking a musical evolution, the album integrated extra melody, results, and colourful soundscapes whereas balancing moments of gleeful power with deeply introspective lyricism. This dynamic shift didn’t diminish the band’s signature resilience—it solely broadened their inventive scope.

With an ever-growing following, Highroad No. 28 solidified their status all through 2006 with relentless touring and promotion throughout Australia and past. The momentum carried into 2007 as they launched into the pre-production course of for his or her second album. By mid-2008, after over a 12 months of writing and refining, ‘Stumbling to Divinity’ was launched on August 14. A sonic journey via the darkish and lightweight recesses of human expertise, the album embraced emotive melodies, ambient electronica, and highly effective rhythms, as soon as once more reinforcing the theme of endurance towards affliction.

Following the discharge, the band returned to the stage with a string of reside performances earlier than getting into a protracted hibernation interval from 2012 to 2024. Throughout this time, Highroad No. 28 solely sporadically resurfaced, providing glimpses of their artistry via occasional releases of re-worked songs, demos and movie clips.

Now, in 2025, Highroad No. 28 is poised to return stronger than ever. Rehearsing for his or her first reside reveals in effectively over a decade, the band can be finalizing their long-awaited third album, ‘The Will to Endure’, set for launch in November 2025. As they step again into the highlight, their journey stands as a testomony to resilience, transformation, and a deep ardour for music. James, the bass participant of Highroad No. 28, provides us the within story on their evolution.

Highroad No. 28 shaped in 1998 and shortly grew to become a power within the Australian heavy rock scene. What was the unique imaginative and prescient for the band, and the way has it developed over time?

James (Highroad No. 28): Nicely, these kinds of questions are higher left for Andrew, who began the band, however he doesn’t need to do interviews anymore. Nonetheless, I’ll do my finest. Andrew was (and nonetheless is) very passionate, very centered. He initially wished to base the band abroad. However I don’t know, he did plenty of research right here, had a girlfriend right here, has household right here, and so forth., so he stayed right here in Australia. When it comes to the imaginative and prescient, I’d say it has by no means actually developed, it’s merely to jot down nice music and share it as a lot as attainable.

Your early EPs, Obscure Insanity and Dynamic Introspection, had a powerful emphasis on anguish and despair, but with a “never-give-in” perspective. How did these themes form your early identification?

James (Highroad No. 28): I didn’t play on these EPs, however I can say for sure that these themes are nonetheless central to the band, and they’re themes I absolutely assist. This band has an undertone of absolute power, a refusal to concede defeat.

Unsteady and Regular State marked a shift in the direction of extra melody and colourful soundscapes. What impressed that evolution in your sound?

James (Highroad No. 28): I believe it was only a technique of getting older, being extra open to new sounds, attempting to translate feelings into music.

Stumbling to Divinity embraced ambient electronica and emotive melodies. How did incorporating these parts change the band’s inventive strategy?

James (Highroad No. 28): Nicely, that was when Andrew began doing plenty of stuff at his personal home. And that modified the inventive strategy a bit. As an alternative of demoing songs on cassette tapes or CDs or no matter, the demos had been all executed with programming. So, the keys and digital parts (loops, synths, pads and so forth.) got here first, then Andrew would play all of the devices, after which give the opposite members (on the time) the ultimate demo. This strategy has just about continued with our upcoming launch, “The Will to Endure”, though there was extra emphasis on time within the rehearsal room.

You had a strong run via the 2000s, however then got here the lengthy hiatus from 2012 to 2024. What led to that break, and what introduced you again collectively?

James (Highroad No. 28): So, over time Andrew had fairly just a few line-up modifications. The “Stumbling to Divinity” line-up dissolved, and Andrew was busy with different tasks in his life and was additionally taking part in drums in fairly just a few bands. I joined the band through the hiatus interval and was additionally taking part in in one other band again then. I wished to get issues again on observe with Highroad No. 28 as quickly as attainable as soon as I joined. So, we rehearsed among the older stuff, discovered our drummer, and the remaining is historical past.

Even through the hiatus, you often launched re-worked songs, demos, and movie clips. Was {that a} means of holding the band’s spirit alive?

James (Highroad No. 28): Completely. That was actually essential. Regardless that the band wasn’t absolutely energetic, the spirit of the band needed to be saved alive, and the followers wanted one thing to attach with.

Now that Highroad No. 28 is again in motion, how does it really feel to be rehearsing once more after such an extended break?

James (Highroad No. 28): It feels fucking superior, man. There may be a lot power, and all of the songs sound nice. I’ve put my very own spin on the bass traces, and I really feel they actually intensify the music. We’re being very anal about every part, ensuring each track sounds good.

The title The Will to Endure suggests themes of perseverance. What impressed this title, and the way does it replicate the band’s journey?

James (Highroad No. 28): Once more, that’s Andrew’s concept, he made the title effectively over a decade in the past and was aspiring to carry the album out years in the past, however life received in the best way. However I’m completely on board together with his title and lyrics, man. “Struggling is clearly common; we will thus all relate to it. Some individuals definitely undergo greater than others, some much less so. However can we endure it? Can we push via? That’s the take a look at of character, man.”

Are you able to give us an outline of the album? What number of tracks will it have, and what can followers count on when it comes to sound?

James (Highroad No. 28): It’s going to be fucking superior. We’ve got 12 tracks in the meanwhile however shall be most definitely including 3 extra. I wrote 2 tracks for the album. Some tracks are re-worked variations of tracks from the older albums. The sound is admittedly numerous, every part is in it- heaviness, melody, electronica, huge melodic pulls. The manufacturing goes to be over-the-top.

How would you examine the brand new album to your previous releases? Are there any main stylistic modifications or new influences at play?

James (Highroad No. 28): There are stylistic modifications, however you’ll hear them if you hear them. All I can say is the manufacturing on “The Will to Endure” goes to outclass all the opposite releases.

What was the songwriting course of like for The Will to Endure? Did the lengthy hiatus affect the way you approached scripting this time round?

James (Highroad No. 28): No. It was fairly just like “Stumbling for Divinity”. Andrew demoed every part at house, however as soon as he gave it to me and the drummer, all of us formed the songs collectively within the studio. We labored out the dynamics, modified up some sections, and made certain every part had the suitable power. With my two songs, there have been no house demos as such—we constructed them from the bottom up within the rehearsal studio, actually pushing one another creatively.

Have been there any specific lyrical themes or ideas that emerged whereas creating the album?

James (Highroad No. 28): I didn’t write the lyrics, Andrew did. Typically they’re about his standout experiences from 2009-2024, generally they’re extra normal. All of them, nonetheless, have that Highroad No. 28 taste of resilience and power.

What was essentially the most difficult a part of making this album, and what was essentially the most rewarding?

James (Highroad No. 28): Essentially the most difficult was ready on the demos, Essentially the most rewarding was the rehearsing.

Highroad No. 28 has at all times blended heavy rock with electronica. Does The Will to Endure proceed in that vein, or does it discover new territory?

James (Highroad No. 28): That’s not true. The primary two EPs had virtually no digital parts. The electronica facet of issues began with “Unsteady and Regular State” and have become outstanding in “Stumbling to Divinity”. “The Will to Endure” continues with electronica, however the instrumentation is extra outstanding.

Who had been the first songwriters for this album, and did you might have any outdoors collaborations?

James (Highroad No. 28): Andrew wrote virtually all of the music and lyrics. However all of us had a hand in shaping the ultimate sound. I wrote the music for 2 tracks, and as a band, we refined every part, adjusting bass traces, tweaking drum components, and ensuring every track had the suitable really feel. It was a collaborative effort.

Past the music, are there any distinctive visible or conceptual parts tied to this album, akin to album paintings or accompanying movie clips?

James (Highroad No. 28): There shall be. Keep tuned!

Lastly, as you put together on your first reside reveals in over a decade, how does it really feel understanding that you simply’ll quickly be sharing The Will to Endure together with your viewers?

James (Highroad No. 28): It feels phenomenal. For me, taking part in reside is what it’s all about, the place you may actually share power. I’ve at all times beloved taking part in reside. “The Will to Endure” goes to kill, man!