AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND AN AI AFFAIR
A discussion with Fairfield thrash band about their new single, and their thoughts on AI images
NPZ #3 — JANUARY 2025 — PAGE 5
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT has quickly become one of my favorite bands to see live in the Bay Area, especially for their moshpits, and the last time I saw them I dislocated my kneecap doing just that. The Fairfield thrash band put out a new single January 2nd, “The Order of Chaos” and I immediately span that shit.
Heavy, screamy, gainy, thrashy, groovy, speedy, energy-y…the song BANGS. As Aggravated Assault put themselves when asked about the song (and coming record 👀): “The whole record lyrically is about genocide, government over reach and crimes against humanity.” Definitely as we have been thrown into some of the most politically intense times for the past year, and only uncertainty ahead, I feel like there’s an opportunity for some of the best fucking music to come out of it, but only if we choose to actually engage with what the fuck is wrong with the world.
However, the cover art stood out to me immediately for many of the wrong reasons, and I confirmed that they had used AI to generate the image. As a hard-stance criticizer of AI especially in image/art generation (I mean, see pg. 3), I was disappointed, straight up. So I discussed with them further to understand why:
NPZ: [Why did you use AI] instead of finding a real artist, even local in the scene? Are there certain challenges that make it hard to find real artists? What would make it easier to find real artists?
AA: I'm not a fan of ai either tbh…If I'm being totally honest the 3 of us are all pretty busy with work and other bands and trying to hunt down artist to get the exact thing we're looking for hasn't been that easy for us. Could be we suck at explaining what we want plainly, could be we're just lazy lol probably both. Once that image was brought to us tho we agreed it was what we imagined the cover should look like. And to add, the music is the only art that drives us we're not really concerned with anything outside of writing and our live performances. If someone doesn't like our music cuz we used generated art work that's unfortunate because you don't need eyes to listen.
NPZ: Thanks for the response, and yeah I figured that a big barrier is like time and finding an artist that will bring the vision to life… I would just add personally that while I agree you don’t need eyes to listen, the artwork is the first thing that prospective listeners will see. So it is still a pretty strong reflection on the music. I totally understand tho it’s a lot to multitask the music and art. would y’all be open to changing the art should you find the right artist?
AA: You're completely right the art is the first thing they'll see and it's a reflection of what the songs are about but I guess it does look lazy once you know it's ai. Between you and I tho you've definitely convinced me to not use it ever again lol I was already kind of against it but got lazy so I appreciate you for that lol
NPZ: I also really appreciate being able to discuss it, and I’d love to support y’all’s music how I can cause I really do like [your] music and shows! definitely feeling better abt the art after we’ve talked :)
AA: We love supporting local and upcoming artists regardless if it's music art film or anything else. And thanks for enjoying the music! Means the world to us
“The album is set to come out early spring so if somebody made artwork that was a similar image then yea we would be open to it.” So to any artists out there who find inspiration from the music and/or the themes about world war, genocide, government overreach, crimes against humanity, etc., go hit up @aggravatedassaultband and LISTEN TO “THE ORDER OF CHAOS” OUT NOW!!!
