Marianas Trench, known for their signature pop rock sound, incredible live shows and concept albums that blend theatrics with cohesive storytelling, have captivated audiences with their narrative-driven music for 25 years. With albums like Ever After, which tells a continuous story of a fictionalized Josh Ramsay in the fantasy kingdom of Toyland, and Astoria, inspired by 1980s fantasy and adventure films such as The Goonies, the Vancouver natives have consistently pushed the boundaries of their genre. Their most recent project, Phantoms, was released in 2019 and features a ghostly sonic essence, and explored themes of being haunted by past love. As the band now prepares for their first U.S. tour and album release since Phantoms, fans eagerly anticipate what new stories and sounds the group will unveil next.
“A lot has changed since the last time we’ve been out on the road,” lead guitarist Matt Webb says. “We have a whole new record, which is exciting!” Joining in on the excitement, bassist Mike Ayley adds, “It’s kind of miraculous to not have new music out in five years and still have a rabid fan base. I’m excited to get back on tour. We all have children now, but as soon as you get back on that tour bus and get the crew and the band back together, it’s going to be exciting.”
Their upcoming album, Haven, scheduled for release Aug. 30, promises a richer and more complex sound with already releasing three tracks from the album, “Lightning and Thunder,” “I’m Not Getting Better” and “A Normal Life.” — “Some of the big differences are there’s lots of guitar and orchestral sounds which really gives it a cinematic kind of feel,” Ayley says. He hints at a strong thematic element incorporated into the new album drawing inspiration from Joseph Campbell’s book, “The Hero with a Thousand Faces,” and says that the album will “capture those essences” while still being a largely autobiographical account of lead singer Josh Ramsay’s story.
“I think Josh’s attention to detail has somehow reached a new level. It’s a very rich, thick listening experience,” Ayley says. “It’s really cool when you’re listening to those songs. It gives you like this wave of nostalgia on top of that new feeling.” The album promises plenty of hidden musical gems for fans eager to sift through the layers of storytelling and sound.”There’s a lot of easter eggs, throwbacks to old songs, and melodies that come and go between albums,” Webb says. “It’s a little bit of a treasure hunt.”
The band is excited to get back on the road and connect with audiences with their new music. “I feel like the United States is a market that’s constantly growing for us,” Webb says with enthusiasm. Ayley chimes in echoing this sentiment, “The first two albums we did almost zero focus on the United States. On the third album, we really started touring the U.S. hard, more than Canada, and have sort of stayed that course for the last few albums. The tours are getting stronger and stronger.”
Balancing a rich discography with new material can be challenging when deciding what to select for a tour setlist. “There are 10 or 15 songs that have to be on our setlist. You need a little bit from everything,” Ayley says. “There are songs that you have to play because the fans want to hear them and they’re an important part of who we are.”
The band will be giving away a guitar at each show after their performance. “You get the played guitar, go backstage, meet us, we sign it for you and take a picture. If I got to do that with AC/DC or something, that’s a priceless experience,” Ayley says of the groups motivation to offer an experience like this for fans.
As the band gears up for tour and release of their album, Marianas Trench is aiming to deliver an unforgettable experience, blending nostalgia with innovation and reaffirming their place as one of the most dynamic bands in the pop rock genre. “I can’t wait for everybody to hear the album because it’s gonna blow your minds,” Webb says. “It’s the best album we’ve ever done.”
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