On EP392 of And Now The Band, Tom talks with Arms about their upcoming fourth official release, I Wish You Were Down Here With Me, arriving December 4th.
The band takes Tom inside the writing, recording, production and release of the new album, explaining how Arms has evolved from Paul's early solo recordings into a more technical and ambitious full-band project. The writing process began with Michael and Paul, eventually bringing in session drummer Emmett Siglia for the recording before Nick joined the band as their new drummer.
The album represents another step forward for Arms while maintaining the band's commitment to challenging, guitar-driven music.
A major part of the conversation focuses on the physical release of I Wish You Were Down Here With Me. Arms is working with Pirate Press for the vinyl pressing, with pre-orders available at ArmsBlackout.com and shipping planned for early December.
Tom and the band discuss the current challenges of vinyl production, including pressing delays that can stretch from five to seven months or longer. Arms initially ordered 300 records for pre-orders and will determine whether to increase the pressing based on demand and upcoming touring plans. The first pressing will be all black vinyl, with the possibility of special colored editions in the future.
The band also talks about their current live set, which runs approximately 25–27 minutes across five songs, including time for interaction with the crowd. Arms wants to expand its touring, with potential plans for the West Coast and Europe, while dealing with the financial realities of transporting a band across the country or overseas.
Technology and gear are also part of the discussion, including how modern pedalboards and mobile recording equipment have made it easier for musicians to travel lighter without sacrificing sound quality.
Tom and the band talk about favorite venues, including St. Vitus, as well as the importance of venues that genuinely take care of touring bands. They also discuss the realities of operating music venues in New York, including rising rent and regulatory challenges.
The conversation gets into some unexpected musical recommendations, with the band members trading artists and albums including Miles Davis, Boris, Circa Survive, Every Time I Die, Shai Hulud, Hopesfall, Oranssi Pazuzu, and Pallbearer.
One of the deeper conversations revolves around authenticity in recorded and live music. Tom and Paul discuss how click tracks, editing and modern production techniques can sometimes change the relationship between an album and the band's actual live performance. They explore the growing interest in rawer, more genuine forms of music and media, where mistakes and human imperfections aren't necessarily something that needs to be hidden.
Michael also talks about “placebo fuck,” one of his favorite songs from the album, particularly because the technical guitar work became a personal challenge during the writing process.
The discussion eventually turns toward playing in Kentucky, with Tom offering to connect Arms with Metal Monday at Mag Bar, potentially opening another door for the band to bring their music to Louisville.
From vinyl production and touring to guitar-driven songwriting, live performance, music discovery and the continuing push toward more authentic recordings, EP392 is a deep look at where Arms is headed next.
🎙️ And Now The Band — EP392
🎵 Arms — I Wish You Were Down Here With Me
📅 Album Release: December 4
💿 Vinyl Pre-Orders: ArmsBlackout.com
⚡ Progressive / Technical / Heavy Music
#Arms #IWishYouWereDownHereWithMe #AndNowTheBand #ArmsBlackout #HeavyMusic #Metal #TechnicalMetal #ProgressiveMetal #UndergroundMusic #VinylRecords #VinylRelease #IndependentMusic #NYCMetal #StVitus #MetalMonday #MagBar #LouisvilleMusic #EveryTimeIDie #Boris #DoomMetal #MusicPodcast #MetalPodcast
