Boston power trio, The Under released their second self-titled EP this June. Singer and guitarist Dan Costa talked with Progarchy about the band’s music, influences, inspiration.

Describe the music of The Under.

I think I would say it’s a metal band with no agenda. We don’t try to conform to a specific style, nor do we set out to incorporate anything particular into our writing. It’s three guys with a healthy music catalog who set out to do some heavy, expressive stuff.

Tell me about the complexities of creating your recently released self-titled EP? 

A lot of the songs were written in the jam space over the last few years, so the arrangements you hear is what we went into the studio with. The recording process itself was not very complex, but writing the songs certainly took some time.

How long did it take you to complete the work on “The Under” EP? 

It took the better part of a year because not long after we started recording we had to recruit a new bassist and we had yet to lay down the bass. Our drummer Randy knocked his parts out in a day and over the next month or so I went back and did the guitars and leads. Then Ben finally joined and over the next few weeks he would learn a tune and then we’d go into the studio to lay down the bass tracks. During that time I was recording the vocals on my own so that I’d have the time to capture the performances I want.

How come there are two releases under the name “The Under”? 

Because the first EP was our recording debut, we thought it was appropriate to self-title it. However, I had my eye on using the artwork that we settled on for the second EP, which came from an old flier. We just thought “why add anything to something that already jumps out at you?”. So we just left it as it was.

What can you tell me about the new songs comparing with 2009′s album “Mercurial”? 

Ultimately, I think all those songs could co-exist on the same recording. Because it often feels like our songs write themselves, you get a similar amount of variation on both discs. I do think the newer songs have a bit more of a bite and a crunch to them that might be lacking on Mercurial. But aside from the fact that we recorded and mastered them in two different locations, the songs all kin to each other.

Give me a snapshot of the topics you explore on the new songs. 

The songs tend to have a philosophical, existentialist slant to them. I think a common theme is the individual versus different types of mechanisms, such as society or time for example. Some tunes express an attitude of triumph while others touch on the despair and anxiety certain institutions can bring.

How would you describe your music to someone who didn’t hear you before? 

I’d probably ask them what they enjoyed listening to and go from there. If I had to do a quick pitch, I’d say we’re a loud, heavy band with a lot of melodic and rhythmic peaks and valleys.

Which bands  influence your work? 

I think as a band we channel a lot classic Rush, Sabbath and Zeppelin but with a strong injection of thrash, punk, jazz, hardcore and indie/experimental rock. ELP, Slayer, Black Flag, Don Caballero, Genesis, Iron Maiden, DRI, Metallica, Carcass, Jeff Buckley can make their influences heard in our music.

Where do you draw inspiration from? 

I think I speak for the other guys in that music has long been a reflex, something you have to do to process the things that go on in the world and in your life. So overall, we’re always inspired to play and write. But for me I would say reading a good book or going to an art museum can certainly get the creativity flowing in new ways.

Name five albums that had huge impact on the musical direction of The Under.

I’m the only one picking these 5 but I’m going to say:

Kill Em All-Metallica

Hemispheres-Rush

Led Zeppelin-Physical Graffiti

Black Sabbath-Black Sabbath

Piece of Mind-Iron Maiden

Where do you see The Under in the future?

We just hope to be writing, recording and playing live as we have been doing. We’re a bit past the whole big rock star thing and more focused on music as art and expression. Trying to write and play a little better than we did yesterday is a very satisfactory goal at the moment.

The Under’s new self-titled EP is available from Bandcamp. Follow the band on Facebook.