Wage War have returned with a crushing new song entitled ‘Song Of The Swamp’ and they’re not holding back.

Pulled from their upcoming EP, ‘It Calls Me By Name’, due April 17th via Fearless Records, the track is described by the band themselves as “The tone setter.”

It’s an intriguing turn of events as Wage War has always been able to strike a balance between melody, hooks and brutality. However, in this instance, they are focusing on their home state of Florida, which serves as both the song’s backdrop and its inspiration.

Forged In Florida’s Swamplands

“There’s a dark swarm growing from beyond the trees” is how the song opens. At this point, the environment takes on an antagonistic role, and “It feeds on the spoils, killing more than it eats” seems like nothing more than ruthless survival.

Formed in Ocala in 2010, Wage War have spent the last 16 years defining their musical push and pull, with the push heavily predominating on this song. “It’s a jaw locked fight for your life to the top” conveys a sense of primal hierarchy rather than ambition, and weakness is not rewarded in the swamp.

The chorus expands on this theme with the line “Eyes roll back when the teeth bite down, the beast stays fed, and the weak will drown.” The band’s own descent back into heavier territory is mirrored in the repeated line “deeper and deeper down to the bottom you go.” The alligator’s spoken interlude, “they eat anything they can overpower,” eliminates any romanticism and serves as a reminder that nature is an unrelenting force that doesn’t give a damn or apologize.

Speaking directly about the track and EP, the band stated:

‘It Calls Me By Name’ is about being drawn to your roots. This isn’t a concept EP but is meant to live in its own world. Five tracks shaped by Florida, the swamp, and the relentless aggression of nature. Built heavy, but still driven by the hooks that have defined us. It’s our signature sound amplified and pushed further into metal than we’ve ever taken it.

Wage War – Song Of The Swamp Lyrics In Full

Returning To The Roots

The meaning behind Wage War’s ‘Song Of The Swamp’ isn’t complicated, but it is very effective. This is about a deep sense of origin and instinct, about a band from Florida amplifying their environment into an unrelenting sound.

Wage War are not reinventing themselves or chasing audiences, instead they are remembering who they are and why they started, and in that mire of tension and hostility, they sound more dangerous than they have in years.

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