The latest album from veteran Phoenix thrashers Incite is Savage New Times. We caught up with frontman Richie Cavalera, who fills us in on a new member, the album, tour plans and more.
Chad Bowar: How did guitarist Layne Richardson come to join the band?
Richie Cavalera: Layne was recommended to us by our booking agent. They grew up together, and we were in a rough spot with a tour coming up and needing a shredder. So we checked him out, and we were instantly impressed. He flew out from Canada down to Arizona for some rehearsals and, you know, to feel out the vibe — and it was perfect. He literally was the guitar player this band has searched for since day one. He’s dedicated, humble, hard-working, fun, and has incredible skills and vast musical knowledge. We truly found our dude.
Was there anything unique about the songwriting process for Savage New Times compared to your previous albums?
Yeah, this record was a more in-person writing process rather than through email and Dropbox and stuff like that, so it was much more organic and fun, and more ideas were able to bounce around. Lennon (Lopez, drums) and Layne were together in Texas for about two months and wrote all the music to get it to a solid demo stage. From there, I could do my lyrics and work with the song structure a bit, and El got to add his bass ideas. I think some of the prior albums had a shit process in terms of writing them compared to this record or Wake Up Dead, so I feel we were able to make this album more in the true Incite style we created in Up in Hell, Wake Up Dead, and now Savage New Times.
What will be your strongest memory of the recording of the album?
I think what was the coolest part to me was how and where we recorded this record compared to ones in the past. All the previous records were done in beautiful, sunny California — it’s a really happy, chill environment. But with Savage New Times, we recorded in New Jersey. We did it in the dead of winter, and our hotel was in the total slums. We really were able to do nothing other than focus on this album and the music-making process. That memory sticks out the most — it was like gunshots outside our hotel, ants infiltrating our room, snow and freezing weather every day. It was really a gnarly experience, but a killer one for writing a killer album.
You worked with producer Steve Evetts again. What works so well with your partnership?
Yeah, we absolutely love Steve Evetts. He’s become like a fifth member of this band. He just understands who we are. He understands what we’re looking for in our music. He’s the type of person that will push you so hard to your breaking point, but when you see the results, you hug him, and you share that happiness together of accomplishing something you didn’t think you could. I think that’s what brings the best out of us with him. And he works with so many different genres of music that when he’s bringing ideas to us, it’s from a broader view than just this little narrow spectrum. It allows us to be the band we want and to push boundaries of genres like we do. So I couldn’t imagine us really working with anybody else.
What inspired your lyrics this time around?
This was an incredibly personal record on the lyrical side. I really had a lot of personal battles that I went through from writing the last album Wake Up Dead to writing Savage New Times, and this was really the perfect release I needed at the time. I felt like all the things I wanted to say out loud — I was finally able to say them with this record, and I didn’t hold back. I think the topics I speak of on this album, so many people can relate to. We all have issues with liars or rats, or we all have these moments where we feel like it’s our time to become what we were meant to — and this album really makes the listener think about their own personal experiences with each song. I’m hella proud of it.
How has your sound evolved from Wake Up Dead?
I think it’s a perfect progression. It’s the perfect follow-up. I think when you remove Oppression and Built to Destroy from our catalog and you look at Up in Hell, Wake Up Dead, and now Savage New Times, you see the true progression of the band and how it was supposed to go. Those two albums in between had a different feel, as the former guitar player held the writing process hostage. Not to take away from those records — they have killer things to them — but they were very out of nowhere in terms of our growth and natural progress. I think it’s clear if you listen to them. Now we’re doing what we were meant to do and meant to be as a metal band — and doing it our way.
You’re part of the Summer Slaughter tour. What are the pros and cons of playing festival-type tours with this many bands?
Obviously, it’s an honor to be on something like this. It’s one of the biggest tours we’ve ever done and something we strived for as a band to achieve. But yes, having so many bands on a bill can be a little hard. I think having to go on early is an unfortunate thing, but it’s also motivation for us to kick more ass, push harder, and make the bands that follow us not have an easy night. But also, to get the crowd fired up for the rest of the bands is cool too. This is where you start to be that band that’s main support or headlining one of these days. It’s been really cool, and all the bands have been killer. The crowds have been massive, and we’re just having a great time. Nothing but massive respect to Jamey and all the Hatebreed guys for giving us this shot.
What other tour plans do you have for 2025?
Hell yes. Following the Summer Slaughter tour, we jump on a tour in September/October in America with Six Feet Under and Exhorder, which is going to be totally kick-ass. We are really good friends and have a killer vibe with the Six Feet Under guys, and Chris Barnes did guest vocals on one of our songs in the past. This tour, from the get-go, is going to have just an incredible atmosphere, and the shows are gonna be nuts. Six Feet Under hasn’t played America too much in the past 15 years, so I expect this to be a real rager. After that, off to Europe and more touring. It’s going to be wild with the buzz this record is making.
Where haven’t you played live that you’d still like to get to?
Actually, after all these years, there are still quite a few places we’re dying to go. One of the main ones would probably be Japan. We obviously need to hit some of the big European festivals like Wacken, Hellfest, Graspop, and many others. So there’s still a lot of motivation and drive for us to accomplish things we haven’t yet. We’re looking forward to doing those real soon — that’s for damn sure.
How was the video shoot for “Just A Rat”?
That was such a cool process. Working with someone as artistic and incredible as Jim Louvau was something really special. He had great ideas and implemented them perfectly. I think the video really displays the band and our personal energy, our personal vibe, rather than like this bullshit story, you know? That was something really cool that this video created. And Jim is so good with colors and camera tricks and editing and lighting — it just makes any video he does really special.
Do you enjoy filming videos, or are they a necessary evil as part of the promotion process?
No, I definitely like them. I’ve always had fun making them. I think we’re just getting better at it the more we do it. When you’re starting a band, you don’t understand how many things you have to be good at. You think it’s just playing music, but then yeah — you have to make videos, do photo shoots, all this other stuff. It’s just part of it, and another fun process of giving the music and lyrics a visual interpretation. I think people can vibe off this video with the song that accompanies it.
What’s one thing you do better than anyone else you know?
That’s a great question, actually. I would say kicking ass in a high-pressure situation. I’m really good at figuring out a solution to a problem, no matter what it is. We could be broken down in the middle of nowhere, and I’ll find a tow truck, I’ll find a shop, I’ll find all that shit — and we’ll still make the show. I just love that moment that arises when it feels so hopeless, but you’re like, “No, hell no, we got this shit.” I’d say I do that better than anybody else I know.
What’s the best thing you binge-watched lately?
I recently binged the series You, which was absolutely insane. It had incredible plot twists, fucked up deaths, and crazy, crazy good acting. I really enjoyed it and definitely recommend it.
What’s currently in your musical heavy rotation?
To be honest, right now it’s not a lot of heavy stuff. I’m currently in kind of a chill mode. I’ve been listening to a lot of Stick Figure, Rebelution, Deftones, Crosses, and a lot of late-’90s alternative. It’s been a weird kind of nostalgic chill vibe for me over the last two months. With all this touring and stuff coming up, my metal cup is currently filled (laughs).
Anything else you’d like to mention or promote?
Yeah — everyone please go check out our new songs. We dropped four new singles and a fifth is on the way. We have our brand-new album Savage New Times dropping August 15. Go get your pre-orders in, check us out on the Summer Slaughter tour, check us out later in the year with Six Feet Under — spread the goddamn word and get fired up. Thanks again for taking the time. Be well and much appreciated.
(interview published August 14, 2025)
Watch Incite – “Just A Rat” Video
