Offensive, the American thrash from the United States just released a new album called Awenasa on October first. Offensive’s second studio album, Awenasa, includes 10 songs featuring Leon Sohail and Steven Shreve from the original lineup, and many guest musicians including Ashley Maccabee, Danielle Yarbrough, Blake Shannon, Eric Van Valkenburgh, Rachel Kolster, Alexia DelGuidice, Photi Mavroulis, Roy Z (Bruce Dickinson, Halford, Iced Earth, Malmsteen), Matias Kupiainen of Stratovarius, Tim “Ripper” Owens (Judas Priest, Iced Earth, KK’s Priest), Michael Gilbert (Flotsam and Jetsam), David Ellefson Jr. (Megadeth, Lucid), Blaze Bayley (Iron Maiden), Nick Courtney of Vicious Rumors, Luke Appleton (Iced Earth, Blaze Bayley), Cody Green, and George Call (Cloven Hoof).
The most popular song on the album so far (based on the number of worldwide streams from Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, and CDBaby) is the song, At the Gates, formerly released as a single under the working title, Furari .. De Ecclesia. Offensive is touring regionally in 2021 performing mostly songs from their first album, Inhabitants of Purgatory (2019), alongside classic covers from Metallica, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Misfits, etc.
Offensive was formed in 2015 by the guitarist, Leon Sohail in Essex, Maryland, United States. Musically, Awenasa sounds more melodic than the previous releases. Lyrically, Sohail has taken a more modern approach to his songs on the new album, but the elevated and figurative language of the songs – that gives the band its uniquely dark ambiance in contrast with their energetic and lively performances on stage – connects the band to its roots.
