This song was conceived at a time when we were playing every single gig we could find. It was the end of summer 2013 and we just wanted to really get going and grow our presence in the South Florida scene. It was hot, muggy, and raining all the time and we were schlepping all our gear to our shows.

We had ourselves a gig. It was one of those things when someone asked us if we would be down to play this 2 day festival at Churchill's in Miami. Churchill's is a famous dive bar and has been there since 1979. It's pretty much Miami's CBGB's. The place itself is not that bad but you wouldn't want to take your mom there to use the toilet.

We get there and we know how it goes. At Churchill's, it's every man/woman/band & beer for themselves, but this night was really one that stood out for all the wrong reasons. The "promoter" and "sound engineer" were nowhere to be seen and all the other annoying bad things that could possibly happen with the other bands did happen. Finally our slot time comes and the band before us just kept on playing like they were headlining Glastonbury. Finally I had had it and I went looking for this "Promoter". I found her at the back bar, drunk and babbling nonsense. After seeing this and being there all night we decided to leave. We never played, we wasted our time, and I left that place boiling with indignation.

The following morning I was still very upset from the disrespect experienced and I had to let it out somehow. I grabbed my acoustic bass, sat down on the couch and uttered the opening melody for "Cry Of War". By noon I had recorded the whole initial idea of the song with vocals, some basic drum loops, and some guitar.

"Cry of War" is a song about going after what you believe in with all your strength and pursuing your dreams no matter what obstacles present themselves. The song is written in first person singular during the first verse and it changes to first person plural during the second verse because I'm referring to all of us in the band and including you, the listener, as part of this battle to succeed in our mission (and/or whatever your dreams in life are).

It also touches on what rock n roll is to me - A giant horse made out of electricity riding on a cloud of smoke. This is also my allegory for THE VON on stage. We give it our all and love doing so. "Cry of War" is the fastest song on the upcoming album and one that definitely transmits the energy I felt the morning after that bad night.

Don't let them put you down, conquer what you're after with a loud Cry of War!