Self-described as “redneck aggression, washed down with whiskey,” War Eagle Rising aren’t holding back when it comes to representing Alberta metal to the metallist. The quartet is quickly becoming the ambassadors of our provincial music scene, and have been making a strong name for themselves since releasing their debut album, The New Order, this past May.

Comprised of vocalist Ian Dillon, guitarist Daniel Muise, drummer Dallas Lobb and bassist Brett Winnichuk, and fueled with “raw energy and strong emotion,” the band has no qualms about who they are, or what they want out of their music.

Recently sitting down with a couple of the boys on a hot summer day, as they pound back a few Lucky Lagers, they discussed metal, their Alberta pride and musical success. It is clear that War Eagle Rising will be flying high in Alberta metal for many years to come.

Although War Eagle Rising is firmly rooted in the city of Calgary, their roots are even more Albertan than that.

“We’ve been playing together for something like 10 years, the three of us,” Dillon revealed, noting that Winnichuk is the newest member of the band.

“Not as War Eagle Rising,” Muise added, “but it has been the same group of people.”

“We were in a high school band together called No Pride,” Dillon continued, “in a small town (in central Alberta called) Innisfail.”

“A little redneck town,” Muise said.

There’s nothing quite like growing up in a small town to inspire creativity, and “the Alberta redneck thing and the sort of Southern metal… it’s a big influence for us,” Dillon nodded.

“Pantera is an obvious one,” Muise offered. “Crowbar, not the Canadian Crowbar, the New Orleans Crowbar.”

“And Black Label Society,” Dillon added to the list.

Citing “the riffs, grooves,” and overall “good drinking music” vibe of those band’s anthems as the main draw, the musicians have more difficulty when it comes to reflecting on their own sound.

“Just thrash, and that kind of groove,” Muise suggested.

“It’s pretty hard to describe your own sound,” Dillon interjects, “it’s just a sound.

“We just make the music we want to hear, you know?”

When it comes to how that translates into their live shows, Dillon isn’t quite as lot for words.

“Party!” he exclaimed. “Between the four of us there is probably, like, a flat of beer drank (at every show). Venues like us because we sell a lot of booze.

“It’s definitely a part of the partying and a lifestyle. You’re out and it’s Friday night. Why else are you out but to have a good time?”

But they don’t just save the celebrating for Friday nights; the band is proud to hail from Alberta, and look forward to the future of metal in the province.

“I am proud of it! You got mountains on one side, prairies on the other,” Muise said.

“It’s where we come from. It’s where we were raised,” Dillon

(The metal scene) is good. It’s not great, but it’s not bad,” Muise said.

Dillon sees it as “growing. It’s very diverse,” he said, and mentioned Bloated Pig, Exit Strategy and Meggido as local favourites. “But at the same time, I think it’s very segregated.”

Still, they both consider it a great community for what they’re trying to do in Calgary right now, which is grow as musicians, and just build their brand. But that doesn’t mean they plan on staying still. In fact, the band is actively touring around Alberta, spreading their songs and pushing The New Order, which was produced by Dillon and recorded at MCC Recording Studio in Calgary over the course of 2009. They’ve also got a North American tour in the works for 2011, which they hope to launch into in the spring after a jaunt through Western Canada.

As if that weren’t enough, War Eagle Rising is already planning the follow up to The New Order.

“Yeah,” confirmed Dillon. “We’re starting in November or December on our next release.”

“It’s going to be much more aggressive,” grinned Muise. “Just beer drinking, good time, heavy metal!”

You can catch War Eagle Rising at Dicken’s Pub in Calgary, Alta. on July 9 with Bloated Pig. Visit the Alberta Bullet for more show details.