Overcoming Adversity With GREG McMANUS From NAUGRIM

Interview by Kris Peters
Since bursting onto the local metal scene in 2021 with their debut
track Forever Know My Name, Blue Mountains based metalcore outfit
Naugrim have wasted little in asserting their music, already
sharing the stage with international acts such as Unearth and
Darkest Hour as well as making a name for themselves at local
festivals Canberra Metal fest, Winter Magic Revival Festival and
Borderline Destruction.
Rather than sitting back and enjoying the fruits of their labours,
Naugrim are plunging even further into the metal landscape with the
release of their debut EP Adversity which will be unleashed on
November 10.
To find out just where Naugrim has come from and how far they are
destined to go, HEAVY sat down with frontman Greg McManus for a
chat.
"A little bit anxious I suppose," he admitted when we asked how he
was feeling on the eve of the EP release. "There's a bit of the
unknown. We've only been around a year and this is our first major
release. We've played some pretty cool shows, but this is our first
real test of the waters. A bit nervous."
McManus has worked in the music industry for a long time, but even
with his and the rest of the band's wealth of industry experience
the creative cycle of releasing your first body of work still takes
a toll mentally and emotionally.
"It's funny, and I'm sure you're the same," he replied. "You see a
lot of stuff, and you see a lot of different music and bands and
things, and the one thing personally I have been trying to
concentrate on is not letting that influence anything if that makes
sense. Just trying to make sure that we're doing our own thing, and
we're happy with it. So much stuff is popular, or you can see what
is hitting really well, but it's still trying to do your own
thing."
In the full interview, Greg talks more about the musical side of
Adversity, runs us through each of the five tracks individually and
gives some insight into what they are about, the lyrical content
and what message he wants it to leave, the stunning cover artwork
and what it represents, future gigs and more.