Hi! How have you been? Welcome back to Iron Backstage 😉
I'm doing very well, thank you.
Can you tell us more about your forthcoming new album Cognitive Extinction?
We’re incredibly stoked with the final result. This album really marks a turning point for us because it’s basically a whole new band. We’ve had some major lineup changes: Thomas joined us on drums in 2023, and Mathieu took over vocals in 2025, right in the middle of the recording process! Both of them brought a massive boost to our sound and musical direction. The recording took about a year, and there was a lot of shifting behind the scenes—including myself moving over to bass. That’s why we’re proud of this record; it feels raw, direct, and uncompromising.
Did any particular event inspire you to write this album? Where did you find the inspiration for the songs and lyrics?
There wasn’t one single 'lightbulb moment,' but rather a buildup of everything we see and feel in our daily lives. We draw our inspiration from the world around us, the raw reality of human experience and the emotions that come with it. We make a point of staying away from politics or religion. For us, it’s not about preaching or taking sides, it’s about capturing the chaos and the grit of the real world. We want the lyrics to reflect that same 'raw and direct' energy you hear in the music.
Are there any plans to release a new music video for one of the tracks?
We actually just dropped a brand new video for 'Neurocide.' But we’re definitely not stopping there. We have two more videos already in the works, planned for release right after the album hits. And looking ahead, there will definitely be more coming your way in 2027.
Can you describe the recording and writing process for the album?
The songwriting usually starts with Vincent (guitars) and myself; we lay down the initial demos and structures. Once the skeleton of the song is there, Thomas steps in to write and refine his drum parts. After that, Mathieu and I sit down together to work on the lyrics and the vocal arrangements to make sure they hit as hard as the music. For the recording itself, we wanted a massive foundation, so we tracked the drums at Nostromo Studio under the direction of Kevin Paradis. As for the rest, we kept it more personal, we recorded the guitars and bass at Vincent’s home studio and did the vocals at our own studio in our rehearsal space. It gave us the perfect balance between professional polish and the raw, DIY energy we wanted for this album.
What was it like working with Gruesome Records, and how did that relationship develop?
I actually stumbled upon Gruesome Records by chance. I was originally looking for a cassette of the first Hideous Divinity demo on their site. I immediately loved the vibe of the label. They have a killer roster of solid bands and a 100% underground spirit driven by true passion. I reached out to them via email, we traded a few messages, and the connection was instant. We were on the same page from the start, so we reached an agreement pretty quickly. It feels great to work with people who genuinely live and breathe this music.
To what extent did each musician influence the album?
Everyone added their own signature touch this time. That’s the biggest shift from our previous recordings. Vincent got much more involved in the process, contributing more to the riffs and structures with me. Thomas brought in ideas that were way more direct, groovier, and more brutal on the drums. And Mathieu was really the missing piece we were looking for. His voice and those specific vocal placements really lifted the songs to a new level. It’s a true collective effort.
Are there any plans to go on tour?
We definitely have plans in the works, though we have to keep things under wraps for now. What I can tell you is that we’re aiming for and should be heading back to Asia in 2027 for a major event. We’re really looking forward to getting back out there and bringing this new material to the stage. Stay tuned, because there’s a lot more to come
What else is happening in the world of Warside?
Right now, our main focus is the album release and gearing up for a few festivals. We’re already filling up the calendar for 2027, and honestly, the creative spark is so strong that we already have plenty of material ready for the next record.
That said, we’re going to take our time to tour properly and live these songs on stage before heading back into the studio. We’ve missed the energy of the crowd, and we’re really looking forward to hitting the road again with this new lineup. The machine is back in motion.