Wage War's STIGMA is a genre-defying masterpiece that blends the band's signature metallic intensity with gritty industrial influences and electronic textures which have drawn fans to them for the past 15 years.
Since forming in 2010, Wage War have propelled heavy music into uncharted realms with each stride. Hailing from Ocala, Florida, the quintet - Briton Bond (lead vocals), Cody Quistad (rhythm guitar, clean vocals), Seth Blake (lead guitar), Chris Gaylord (bass), and Stephen Kluesener (drums) - blend punishing metallic force with indelible melodies that define their sound. Their latest album, STIGMA, marks a watershed moment as they infuse their signature style with gritty industrial textures and electronic nuances, pushing boundaries both sonically and lyrically.
"We aimed to create something authentic and boundary-breaking," reflects Quistad. "STIGMA transcends genre labels, delivering a statement that's uniquely ours. It's about freedom and pushing forward."
This evolution didn't happen overnight. Over nearly a decade, Wage War have unleashed a series of acclaimed albums such as Blueprints (2015), Deadweight (2017), Pressure (2019), and Manic (2021) - earning accolades from SPIN, Modern Drummer, KERRANG!, and beyond. Their digital tracks including "Stitch" and "Circle The Drain" have amassed hundreds of millions of streams, cementing their impact.
For STIGMA, produced with Drew Fulk (Disturbed, Motionless In White), Wage War drew inspiration from industrial pioneers like Rammstein, Static-X, and Powerman 5000, and melded it with their own ferocity. Movie nights in the studio watching classics like The Matrix and Blade helped set the tone, influencing the album's atmosphere and sound.
"We wanted to envision what those '90s industrial bands would sound like today," explains Bond. "It felt natural to incorporate synths and heavier riffs."
Lead single "Magnetic" exemplifies this synthesis: ethereal guitars blend with raw emotion, culminating in an anthemic chorus that lingers. Tracks like "Nail5" and "Happy Hunting" push further, merging danceable beats with relentless energy and introspective lyricism. Reflecting on the album's depth, Quistad shares, "'Blur' and 'Is This How It Ends' delve into personal introspection and emotional upheaval, showcasing different facets of our journey."
Ultimately, STIGMA embodies Wage War's full potential. "Every song on the record taps into a different emotion," concludes Quistad. "It's a journey where listeners can find solace, energy, and reflection. We poured everything into this, and we hope it resonates."