In this interview, I sat down with the thrash band Spectra to dive deep into their unique take on the genre. With an approach that blends classic thrash elements with modern influences, their music stands out as a refreshing twist on familiar sounds. From the development of their riffs to their creative freedom, Spectra sheds light on what makes their journey in the metal world so distinctive.
Serial Metalbums: Spectra is a relatively new band in the heavy metal scene. Could you introduce the band to our readers and tell us how it all began back in 2020? Starting a band during the global pandemic must have presented unique challenges. How did this impact Spectra’s formation and early development?
William (vocals / guitar): First of all, thank you for giving us the opportunity to take part in this interview. SPECTRA is a five-piece heavy metal band based in Marseille, France. The journey began with Ilyas, our other guitarist and me. We’ve known each other since childhood, started playing music together early on and officially formed the band while we were in high school.
Starting a band during the global pandemic was a unique challenge, to say the least. At the time, we had almost no experience playing together as a group, and some of the members had only recently joined, so establishing cohesion was tough. During the lockdowns, we adapted as best we could, experimenting with live streams where we played covers and shared snippets of our original material. While it wasn’t ideal, it kept the spark alive.
Once restrictions were lifted, we hit the ground running. We secured a rehearsal space and dedicated one day a week to honing our sound, improving as a unit, and finalizing our original songs. Over the years, the lineup evolved, with each change helping us grow into the band we are today. By the end of 2023, SPECTRA had solidified into its strongest form yet, ready to make its mark on the metal scene.
Serial Metalbums: Your self-titled debut album Spectra was released in 2023. What was the creative vision behind this album, and how did it come together? Could you share the inspiration behind some of the standout tracks on the album? Are there any specific themes or stories you wanted to explore?
Ilyas (guitar / backing vocals): We wanted the songs on our first album to be packed with energy. This was largely due to our inspiration from Thrash Metal bands like Megadeth and Metallica. You can clearly see this reflected in the high BPMs, which are a defining characteristic. Our primary goal was to focus on riffs rather than creating an atmosphere, just catchy, impactful riffs. The excitement of those initial compositions set the direction for the project: badass material with strong transitions and additional guitar harmonies. Harmonies were a key part of our vision for this album and remain essential for our future projects. We incorporated them into the guitar arrangements in 7 of the 9 songs on the album, and we’re now using them in new ways, including on keyboards and vocals in our latest singles.
When it came to the lyrics and the concept of the project, we decided to tell a dystopian story. The atmosphere of the album is captured through the lyrics, the cover art, and the song titles: “Ascent,” “Blackout,” “Desperation,” “Dictatorship,” and so on. Each title represents a step in the dystopian world we describe. This atmosphere was created as a reflection of the reality we faced when we began writing the album in 2019. At the time, we were living through a global pandemic, and as members of a generation born into the looming threat of climate change, these environmental influences naturally shaped the dystopian concept.
For example, in “Sickness,” we’re not just addressing the pandemic but also drawing parallels with the Earth and how it suffers under the weight of human damage. We incorporated these real-world elements alongside classic dystopian themes: the man of providence, totalitarian regimes, and the main factions (rebels, tyrants, etc.). This narrative was inspired by the dystopian literature we’ve read, such as 1984 and Animal Farm by George Orwell, and The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells, which had a personal influence on me.
Serial Metalbums: As the debut album for a band Can you share with us the recording process? Did you work with a specific producer or studio to achieve the sound you envisioned?
Sagamore (keyboardist / backing vocals / producer / sound engineer): The debut album didn't have a lot of crazy gear involved. I wasn't completely a part of the band at the time but I would say the recording process was almost what one would call "bedroom producer" style: William recorded the guitar tracks and programmed the drum midi tracks at home on GarageBand, then he just sent the latter to me so I could give them my thing and mixing experience in terms of virtual drums. As for the vocal recording, it was done with more or less the most minimal setup imaginable: my Audio Technica AT2020 plugged into my Scarlett 4i4, with the cheapest pop filter on a mic stand in my room and absolutely no acoustic treatment whatsoever. Then the vocals were mixed entirely in the box with FL Studio and whatever was available to me. After that was done, I just sent the mixed drum and vocal tracks to William who put them together and levelled them with the guitar and bass tracks, on GarageBand again. I could have tried to do something more with them, but there was something about those GarageBand guitar cabs that felt very 80s and shockingly appropriate...
Serial Metalbums: As a heavy metal band, who are your biggest influences, both from the classic era of metal and the contemporary scene? Are there any non-metal genres or artists that have influenced your songwriting or approach to music?
Thomas (drums): I’ve been mostly influenced by bands from the classic era of metal, such as the Big Four, but also members of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (Iron Maiden, Saxon, Black Sabbath with Dio, Def Leppard). A few years back, I wasn’t such a big fan of the contemporary scene, but friends of mine introduced me to some very good recordings from different metal subgenres. I’m also a huge fan of progressive rock, actually, it is my favourite music style. Jazz, funk, and electro are in my heart too. I’m a music lover before being a drum lover.
William (vocals / guitar): I’ve been listening to a lot of progressive music lately, with bands like Dream Theater, Symphony X, Plini, Angra and Devin Townsend. They really influence my guitar playing and song composition. But I also think our band has a vintage vibe, like bands such as Van Halen, Rainbow, and Boston. Recently, I got into Sleep Token, and their mix of non-metal sounds changed how I approach vocals and harmonies, making them feel like the core of the song.
Mathieu (bass): My influences mainly come from metal and metalcore, with bands like Metallica, Architects, and Periphery, Gojira, Dream Theater, Plini and Pantera shaping my sound. However, I also draw a lot from funk, jazz, and even classical music on the double bass. I’m deeply inspired by artists like Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten, but I also admire lesser-known artists such as Kinga Glyck, who have had a significant impact on me as well.
Ilyas (guitar / backing vocals): When I started learning the guitar, I was mainly listening to 80’s and 90’s bands like AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, and Pantera, which had a lasting influence on my playing style. However, over the last two years, my influences have shifted with new discoveries such as Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Gojira, Sleep Token, and Extreme. In other genres of music, I often listen to what I would define as Progressive Rock, including Toto, Supertramp, The Beatles, Deep Purple, and, above all, Queen, Radiohead, and Pink Floyd. That is a pretty good summary of what shapes my musical taste.
Sagamore (keyboardist backing vocals / producer / sound engineer): In the classic scene, my main influences are mostly late 70s to 80s Ozzy Osbourne and AOR acts like Journey or Def Leppard (think Rocky IV type music). As for the contemporary scene, I'm a huge fan of the blackgaze movement and bands like Alcest or Deafheaven who revolutionized the boundaries of what I could consider metal. As for non-metal, for Spectra I'm particularly inspired by late 90s Backstreet Boys vocal arrangements, but Max Martin (who wrote those) started out in a glam metal band so I guess this all goes full circle.
Serial Metalbums: Have you found support from the local metal community or shared the stage with other notable French bands? How has this shaped your journey as a band? And what do you think about the current French heavy metal scene?
Mathieu (bass): Yes, we have found support from the local metal community, which has been important in our journey as a band. Sharing the stage with other notable French bands has been a transformative experience, as it allowed us to learn, grow, and feel part of a larger movement. Collaborating and performing alongside such talented artists has strengthened our presence and motivated us to push our creative limits.
Regarding the current French heavy metal scene, it’s thriving with incredible diversity and a sense of resilience. Despite challenges, the community remains united and passionate, with both emerging and established bands contributing to an ever-growing ecosystem of festivals and events. We’re proud to be part of this dynamic scene and excited about its future.
Serial Metalbums: Are you working on new material? Can fans expect a follow-up album or EP in the near future? Do you aim to expand your reach internationally or explore new directions in your music?
Spectra: Our debut album feels a bit distant from where we are now, we barely play any of those tracks live anymore. We’re definitely more aligned with the new material we’re working on, and we’re excited to share it with our fans. We’ve already released "Lost" at the end of 2023, and we just dropped a new single, "8th Wonder." This time around, we had the privilege of recording proper drums at Studio du Poisson Barbu in Paris, with Suzie Lopez Uroz handling the sound engineering. The rest of the instruments were recorded in our home studio, using tools like Helix and mixed/mastered by our keyboardist, Sagamore.
With "8th Wonder," we feel like we’ve truly found our sound: crazy vocal harmonies, fun riffs, and a blend of electronic elements like the keyboard and vocoder that give us a unique edge. We’re definitely exploring new territories and pushing boundaries. Fans can expect more material this year in this same style, but also even heavier at times as we continue to evolve. We plan to release more singles, each with added context like the intro "The Gateway" that sets the stage for "8th Wonder," and eventually compile them into a larger project, such as an EP or album. We’re focused on creating the best music we can, and if it resonates with people, that’s great, if not, we’re still proud of what we’ve put out. We’re confident in our sound and excited to see where it takes us, internationally and beyond.
Serial Metalbums: Live performances are an essential part of heavy metal. How would you describe the energy and experience of a Spectra concert? Do you have any memorable live show experiences since the release of Spectra? Have you toured outside of France or have plans to do so?
Thomas (drums): In our case, live performances are essential to the band’s life, as we rarely get to see each other all together and mostly hold meetings on WhatsApp. That’s why being on stage feels so special, there’s a kind of magic in the air (though it also depends on whether the sound tech did a good job with the monitors.
At our level, the atmosphere is a 50/50 exchange between the audience and us, and sometimes the crowd goes crazy for our music, which gives us energy in return, a virtuous cycle. I'm sure the other members would agree with me: the strongest moment we experienced live was at La Maison Hantée in summer 2024. We played our single Lost in an extended version, adding distorted guitars and an improvised section at the end.
I remember playing, focused on the drums and the performance, and just hearing the crowd screaming again and again, it was insane. A week after the show, I saw a video of that moment and realized just how much we and the audience had connected. Yes, we were lucky to have a video of this moment, which is available on our YouTube channel. Huge thanks to our mothers, who filmed it!
We would really love to play abroad, bringing this kind of energy to new audiences and sharing unique experiences across different countries.