Metal Israel’s own Bela Nagy hooked this up…

Oblige is a brutal band from California, signed freshly at Jamey Jasta’s Stillborn Records. Their new album is called “Expectants” and if you like any type of authentic metal music you’ll get what you want. Metal Israel interviewed the frontman Greg Wilburn…

MI: Please introduce the band a bit…

GW: We are Oblige hailing from the Inland Empire (Southern California). We are signed to Jamey Jasta’s (Hatebreed) label Stillborn Records. We just dropped our debut album entitled “EXPECTANTS” and plan on spending all of 2008 on the road.

MI: The new album “Expectants” came out this October. How would you describe this material?

GW: It’s a straight up heavy metal album. No time for clean vocals, no time for clean channels. Plenty of groove. We took everything we ever loved that was heavy and rolled into one monstrous ball called Oblige.

MI: As for the lyrics of the record…what kind of topics can we find and how personal and deep do you express through them?

GW: You will find anything and everything in Oblige lyrics. From political to vengeance. I write about whatever is currently affecting me in my life.

MI: Your music is heavily influenced by death metal, or southern metal, but it’s some extreme mix that gives the Oblige sound. What do you think about that?

GW: The influences range quite far and wide. Everything from Slipknot & Pantera, to Decapitated & Cannibal Corpse, to Soilent Green & Eyehategod. The best way to describe the formula is based in 4 parts. Heavy riffs, punishing drums, solid low end and vicious vocals.

MI: You did a video of “Flesh Peel”. It’s really brutal and on point. Share with us your thoughts about it, the conception, the video shoot etc.

GW: We had an awesome time shooting this video. However it is with our old members, so we haven’t really pushed it too much. We are so used to the music world that it was awesome to see how the film world works. We plan on shooting a new music video in early 2008. Probably for the song “Run And You’ll Only Die Tired” so keep your eyes open for that.

MI: You are on a US tour right now, let us know your experiences thus far, how’s the energy at shows etc.?

GW: As soon we get to the venue, our energy is at a highpoint with full intentions of feeding off everyone’s energy in the room. The more energy from the crowd the better, and so far the energy has been through the roof.

MI: How did you become friends with Jamey Jasta, and how did you become part of the Stillborn Records family?

GW: We had gotten in contact through the internet. Jamey had his eye on the band, so we got him a copy of the item. Next he had got us on a couple of shows with Hatebreed… Jamey saw us live and after that we became part of the Stillborn family and it has been a great relationship since.

MI: You expect a lot from this move. How do you feel? It’s a good chance to take things into a next level?

GW: Of course Jamey knows everyone and we have the confidence to take this band to the top, whereever or whoever it may be with.

MI: Your focus are more the straight metalheads, or you want to introduce your music to the hardcore audiences as well? What’s your direction this
field?

GW: We want to introduce Oblige to anyone that has a passion for heavy music. Whether it is metal, hardcore, or death metal.

MI: Have you ever been or have you played before in Israel?

GW: We have never been there. We would love to someday soon and I’m sure we will.

MI: What’s the ultimate goal and mission of Oblige?

GW: To be the band that always pumps out a heavy fucking album year after year and always keeps the anticipation extremely high.

MI: What are your next future plans?

GW: World domination.

MI: Any last messages/thoughts to the readers?

GW: Thank you all for checking us out. Spread the word.

MI: Oblige, thanks for the interview. Hope y’all enjoyed it.

GW: Thank you for the opportunity and hope you can see us soon.