The Journey Behind ‘The Will to Endure’ – JamSphere

Shaped in late 1998, Highroad No. 28 rapidly established itself as a powerhouse within the Australian heavy rock scene. Their first two EPs, ‘Obscure Insanity’ (1999) and ‘Dynamic Introspection’ (2002), showcased a band unafraid to discover the depths of anguish and despair—but all the time infused with a relentless “never-give-in” perspective. From 2003 to 2005, the band delivered a collection of reside performances, culminating within the launch of their debut album, ‘Unsteady and Regular State’, on December 8, 2005. Marking a musical evolution, the album included extra melody, results, and colourful soundscapes whereas balancing moments of gleeful vitality with deeply introspective lyricism. This dynamic shift didn’t diminish the band’s signature resilience—it solely broadened their inventive scope.

With an ever-growing following, Highroad No. 28 solidified their status all through 2006 with relentless touring and promotion throughout Australia and past. The momentum carried into 2007 as they launched into the pre-production course of for his or her second album. By mid-2008, after over a yr of writing and refining, ‘Stumbling to Divinity’ was launched on August 14. A sonic journey by the darkish and lightweight recesses of human expertise, the album embraced emotive melodies, ambient electronica, and highly effective rhythms, as soon as once more reinforcing the theme of endurance towards affliction.

Following the discharge, the band returned to the stage with a string of reside performances earlier than getting into a protracted hibernation interval from 2012 to 2024. Throughout this time, Highroad No. 28 solely sporadically resurfaced, providing glimpses of their artistry by occasional releases of re-worked songs, demos and movie clips.

Now, in 2025, Highroad No. 28 is poised to return stronger than ever. Rehearsing for his or her first reside exhibits in nicely over a decade, the band can be finalizing their long-awaited third album, ‘The Will to Endure’, set for launch in November 2025. As they step again into the highlight, their journey stands as a testomony to resilience, transformation, and a deep ardour for music. James, the bass participant of Highroad No. 28, offers us the within story on their evolution.

Highroad No. 28 shaped in 1998 and rapidly grew to become a pressure within the Australian heavy rock scene. What was the unique imaginative and prescient for the band, and the way has it advanced through the years?

James (Highroad No. 28): Properly, these kinds of questions are higher left for Andrew, who began the band, however he doesn’t wish to do interviews anymore. Nevertheless, I’ll do my finest. Andrew was (and nonetheless is) very passionate, very targeted. He initially needed to base the band abroad. However I don’t know, he did a whole lot of research right here, had a girlfriend right here, has household right here, and so forth., so he stayed right here in Australia. By way of the imaginative and prescient, I’d say it has by no means actually advanced, it’s merely to write down nice music and share it as a lot as attainable.

Your early EPs, Obscure Insanity and Dynamic Introspection, had a robust emphasis on anguish and despair, but with a “never-give-in” perspective. How did these themes form your early id?

James (Highroad No. 28): I didn’t play on these EPs, however I can say indisputably that these themes are nonetheless central to the band, and they’re themes I absolutely assist. This band has an undertone of absolute energy, a refusal to concede defeat.

Unsteady and Regular State marked a shift in the direction of extra melody and colourful soundscapes. What impressed that evolution in your sound?

James (Highroad No. 28): I believe it was only a means of getting older, being extra open to new sounds, making an attempt to translate feelings into music.

Stumbling to Divinity embraced ambient electronica and emotive melodies. How did incorporating these components change the band’s inventive strategy?

James (Highroad No. 28): Properly, that was when Andrew began doing a whole lot of stuff at his personal home. And that modified the inventive strategy a bit. As a substitute of demoing songs on cassette tapes or CDs or no matter, the demos had been all carried out with programming. So, the keys and digital components (loops, synths, pads and so forth.) got here first, then Andrew would play all of the devices, after which give the opposite members (on the time) the ultimate demo. This strategy has just about continued with our upcoming launch, “The Will to Endure”, though there was extra emphasis on time within the rehearsal room.

You had a stable run by the 2000s, however then got here the lengthy hiatus from 2012 to 2024. What led to that break, and what introduced you again collectively?

James (Highroad No. 28): So, through the years Andrew had fairly just a few line-up adjustments. The “Stumbling to Divinity” line-up dissolved, and Andrew was busy with different tasks in his life and was additionally enjoying drums in fairly just a few bands. I joined the band in the course of the hiatus interval and was additionally enjoying in one other band again then. I needed to get issues again on observe with Highroad No. 28 as quickly as attainable as soon as I joined. So, we rehearsed among the older stuff, discovered our drummer, and the remaining is historical past.

Even in the course of the hiatus, you sometimes launched re-worked songs, demos, and movie clips. Was {that a} approach of holding the band’s spirit alive?

James (Highroad No. 28): Completely. That was actually necessary. Though the band wasn’t absolutely lively, the spirit of the band needed to be stored alive, and the followers wanted one thing to attach with.

Now that Highroad No. 28 is again in motion, how does it really feel to be rehearsing once more after such a protracted break?

James (Highroad No. 28): It feels fucking superior, man. There’s a lot vitality, and all of the songs sound nice. I’ve put my very own spin on the bass strains, and I really feel they actually intensify the music. We’re being very anal about every little thing, ensuring each tune sounds good.

The title The Will to Endure suggests themes of perseverance. What impressed this title, and the way does it replicate the band’s journey?

James (Highroad No. 28): Once more, that’s Andrew’s concept, he made the title nicely over a decade in the past and was desiring to convey the album out years in the past, however life acquired in the best way. However I’m completely on board together with his title and lyrics, man. “Struggling is clearly common; we will thus all relate to it. Some individuals actually endure greater than others, some much less so. However can we endure it? Can we push by? That’s the check of character, man.”

Are you able to give us an summary of the album? What number of tracks will it have, and what can followers count on by way of sound?

James (Highroad No. 28): It’ll be fucking superior. We’ve 12 tracks in the intervening time however will probably be almost certainly including 3 extra. I wrote 2 tracks for the album. Some tracks are re-worked variations of tracks from the older albums. The sound is absolutely numerous, every little thing is in it- heaviness, melody, electronica, large melodic pulls. The manufacturing goes to be over-the-top.

How would you evaluate the brand new album to your previous releases? Are there any main stylistic adjustments or new influences at play?

James (Highroad No. 28): There are stylistic adjustments, however you’ll hear them whenever you hear them. All I can say is the manufacturing on “The Will to Endure” goes to outclass all the opposite releases.

What was the songwriting course of like for The Will to Endure? Did the lengthy hiatus affect the way you approached scripting this time round?

James (Highroad No. 28): No. It was fairly much like “Stumbling for Divinity”. Andrew demoed every little thing at residence, however as soon as he gave it to me and the drummer, all of us formed the songs collectively within the studio. We labored out the dynamics, modified up some sections, and made certain every little thing had the suitable vitality. With my two songs, there have been no residence demos as such—we constructed them from the bottom up within the rehearsal studio, actually pushing one another creatively.

Have been there any specific lyrical themes or ideas that emerged whereas creating the album?

James (Highroad No. 28): I didn’t write the lyrics, Andrew did. Generally they’re about his standout experiences from 2009-2024, typically they’re extra normal. All of them, nonetheless, have that Highroad No. 28 taste of resilience and energy.

What was probably the most difficult a part of making this album, and what was probably the most rewarding?

James (Highroad No. 28): Essentially the most difficult was ready on the demos, Essentially the most rewarding was the rehearsing.

Highroad No. 28 has all the time blended heavy rock with electronica. Does The Will to Endure proceed in that vein, or does it discover new territory?

James (Highroad No. 28): That’s not true. The primary two EPs had virtually no digital components. The electronica facet of issues began with “Unsteady and Regular State” and have become distinguished in “Stumbling to Divinity”. “The Will to Endure” continues with electronica, however the instrumentation is extra distinguished.

Who had been the first songwriters for this album, and did you have got any exterior collaborations?

James (Highroad No. 28): Andrew wrote virtually all of the music and lyrics. However all of us had a hand in shaping the ultimate sound. I wrote the music for 2 tracks, and as a band, we refined every little thing, adjusting bass strains, tweaking drum components, and ensuring every tune had the suitable really feel. It was a collaborative effort.

Past the music, are there any distinctive visible or conceptual components tied to this album, corresponding to album paintings or accompanying movie clips?

James (Highroad No. 28): There will probably be. Keep tuned!

Lastly, as you put together in your first reside exhibits in over a decade, how does it really feel understanding that you just’ll quickly be sharing The Will to Endure together with your viewers?

James (Highroad No. 28): It feels phenomenal. For me, enjoying reside is what it’s all about, the place you’ll be able to actually share vitality. I’ve all the time beloved enjoying reside. “The Will to Endure” goes to kill, man!