New York’s Fight From Within Talk New EP, Rust Fest and More
Fight From Within – Story by Anne Erickson, photo by Joshua Davis Photography
This edition of the Local Music Beat column features an interview with Central New York metal band Fight From Within
Hailing from Central New York, the guys of Fight From Within make a special brand of heavy metal that they’ve coined as “ninja core.” As it turns out, that genre of music, ninja core, started with a meme.
“Our music definitely isn’t the heaviest out there, but we try to make it super energetic,” the band tells Audio Ink Radio. “A lot of our core fanbase, often being personal friends of ours, came up in the hardcore scene, which means our pits tend to get pretty rough. When we were trying to brand ourselves with something recognizable, we decided to lean into that angle.”
Hence, they came up with ninja core. “It’s also kind of a pun with our name,” They added. “Our official fan group on Facebook is called FFW’s Fight Club, so the kind of martial arts and fighting theme has become a part of our brand.”
Fight From Within have a busy year ahead. The band is wrapping up work on a new EP, “Call of the Void.” They’re also slated to perform at Rust Fest at The Sanctuary near Detroit, Michigan, in August. The band’s members checked in with Audio Ink Radio to talk about the new music, their vision for the band and why they’re stoked to play Rust Fest. For more on Rust Fest, go here, and for more on Fight From Within, head here.
Anne Erickson: Tell me about the story of how Fight from Within formed.
Mikey Throwdown: Fight From Within was started by Tykeese Breeland, Dillon Guzzle and myself in November of 2020, during COVID. I auditioned for them by sending them a cover of “The River” by Wage War, we started working that weekend. The name Fight From Within came from personal struggles with mental health and drugs and alcohol. Everyone on this earth is affected by those in some way throughout their lives.
You have a new EP on the way. What can you tell us about the upcoming release?
Mikey: The EP will be titled “Call of the Void,” and the tracks on the EP will be more in line with the direction we are headed now that the lineup is solidified. We think it will be very well received by our community and new listeners. One cool thing we can say is Pablo Viveros of Chelsea Grin will be mixing and mastering it. He’s a legend, and we’re all big fans, so it’s kind of surreal.
Connor MacDougall: The EP will mostly be songs we’ve already played live. Staying on brand with the theme of the band and its origins, the topics deal with our personal struggles with mental health, so there are parts of it that get pretty dark, lyrically. Ultimately, though, while the struggle is a big part of it, what it’s really about is the fight back against what we struggle with. The title track, “Call of the Void,” is where that theme comes to a head, and we say, “no, I’m not going to let my demons get the better of me; I’m going to fight back and I’m going to win.” These songs were all written over the last year or so, and while they were being written, we went through a lot of lineup changes, so this EP is also largely about us as a band finding our collective voice. It’s super exciting, and I think it’s going to be a really big moment for us.
Fred Turner: As of this interview, we mostly have the songs structured that will be on this EP with some last-minute tweaks that inevitably end up happening. This is actually the first time I’ve taken a stab at tracking at home, so it’s going a little slower than everyone expected, but the key to the best produced music is always having the best input possible, so it’s absolutely crucial. As Mike mentioned, once the tracking is complete, we’ll be sending everything off to be mixed and mastered by Pablo. I’m excited for his input and critiques to help really bring the songs and EP as a whole to life.
What was your vision with the new EP? The debut from any band is a big deal, because it really sets the tone for the band for years to come.
Mikey: We all have different styles and unique tastes when it comes to music. I myself am a hardcore guy at heart. There aren’t enough two steps to go around. Jakey is a deathcore/slam caveman kind of guy, and the rest seem to gravitate toward metalcore. We want to utilize all our favorite elements into our music but also show our willingness to experiment early.
Fred: For me, I always strive to have each song stand out individually from the others while still bringing a common theme across all the songs to make sense as a whole. As for the vibe of the EP, there is some pretty dark content in here. A lot of it is rooted in anger, anxiety and depression, and I’ll go further on Connor’s point and say that the instrumentals should help to complete the story where words cannot. Blending together our various styles and likes has brought out some interesting combinations of songs so far. People get bored so quickly nowadays, so I think it’s absolutely necessary for anyone to put as much thought as possible into the content that they’re creating. You can’t stand out if you’re doing the same song in the same way as 35 other bands. The other important piece for me is, given my other band crosses multiple similar genres with the primary element landing in metalcore, I am trying to make sure this doesn’t sound like an A Greater Danger album. That’s easier said than done, but I think this EP will stand on its own with the Fight From Within sound being obvious.
What are you most excited about when it comes to getting the new music out here?
Mikey: Personally, I am a social media analytic buff, so I love watching our growth. You should be proud of what you’re working on. I also know the more music we put out there, means the more people learn the lyrics, which also means more people to come grab the mic!
Connor: The most exciting thing for me personally, since I only joined the band last November, is that this will be the first thing I’ve put out with them, or with any project, for that matter. This EP is my introduction to the scene as a recording artist, so there’s kind of this pressure to make it as awesome as it can be. At the same time, though, it’s my first material I’ve written that’s being published, so there’s almost a safety net in that it’s still very much a learning experience for me. That said, these guys are all incredibly talented musicians, and that has definitely helped me push to make something really great. I think people are really going to enjoy it.
Fred: It’s always about trying to connect with and hopefully help more people through music. That’s the main reason I do this- the hope that someone out there is going to listen to one of the songs I’ve helped create and it either gets them through a rough time or excites them to go crush it in whatever their passions are. Music is ultimately always about forming connections with like-minded people, and that’s what has always excited me from the time I started writing.
Fight From Within is playing metal music festival Rust Fest at The Sanctuary near Detroit this August. What are you most looking forward to when it comes to playing the show?
Mikey: Honestly, meeting new people and showing people what we’ve got. We have a lot of energy, and we come ready to try and hype up the party. Also, we get to play with My Own Will again, and they are some of the best guys we’ve had a chance to share the stage with.
Connor: I’ve only been in the band for about seven months as of this interview, and I only played my first show a few weeks ago, so I’m just looking forward to playing more shows. For Rust Fest in particular, that’s probably going to be the biggest crowd I will have played for, so that’s exciting for me. I’m also looking forward to seeing new places and meeting people.
Fred: Same as everyone else- getting out there and meeting new people and sharing the stage with others who are passionate about their craft.
You’re from Central New York. How would you describe the metal music scene in the New York State area?
Collective answer: We feel like the heavy music scene, as a whole, is on the rise in New York. There are a lot of new and existing artists that are ready to work together and leave some of the old mentalities and methods for growing a band and their respective scene behind. We see a bright future for Central New York and the surrounding areas, and we’re happy to be a part of the its growth.
What are some of your favorite venues to play in across the U.S.?
Mikey: We have only played five total, but I have always wanted to play The Masquerade in Atlanta and Chain Reaction in Anaheim.
Fred: I’d say any of the iconic stages and venues like The Palladium in Massachusetts or the Troubadour in L.A., just to name a couple. The history at those kinds of places makes you feel things you can’t really explain when you’re in them.
When it comes to local music, what are some metal bands you think should be on people’s radar?
Collective answer: Locally, you need to hear Destroy//Create, Deadbeat and A Greater Danger, the latter of which is our guitarist Fred’s other band, so we’re biased. Also An Easy Death, Red Letter, Perspectives, Make It Stop and Next Attempt. In the surrounding areas, check out The Fallen Prodigy, Oakheart, Somewhere To Call Home, Inertia, Downswing, Desolate, Speaking In Tongues and Adhara. Regionally, check out Until The Dead Walk, Soulthief, My Own Will, Autumn Lies Buried, Alukah, RVNT and Head Hunter.
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