July 21, 2025 • 8 mins
Kicking off Inkcarceration Festival weekend for The Kevin Powell Podcast, I’m joined by progressive metalcore newcomers Archon Theory, fresh off their debut performance at Inkcarceration Festival 2025. We get into how the band originally formed through a Berklee College of Music group chat, what it felt like stepping onto one of the biggest stages of their career, and the behind-the-scenes of their newest single “Garrote”
We also chat about how they’ve built a real brotherhood, the importance of community in the scene, and advice for up-and-coming artists trying to break through. It’s a funny, genuine, and motivating conversation with a band just getting started — and definitely worth your time.
🎥 Watch & listen the full interview now and don’t forget to check out their new single “Garrote” wherever you stream music.
We also chat about how they’ve built a real brotherhood, the importance of community in the scene, and advice for up-and-coming artists trying to break through. It’s a funny, genuine, and motivating conversation with a band just getting started — and definitely worth your time.
🎥 Watch & listen the full interview now and don’t forget to check out their new single “Garrote” wherever you stream music.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We're from Boston, Massachusetts.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Where's the really thick accent? Well?
Speaker 3 (00:04):
I was getting a little nervous seeing how big that
stage was.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
It was an insane experience for me.
Speaker 4 (00:10):
It was holy shit, this is actually happening, and I
need to lock in.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
We're truly honestly, I'm so happy to be here.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Ahi.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
This is Costa. Hey, this is Riley. Go check out
Garat on all streaming platforms. And you're listening to the
Kevin Powell podcast.
Speaker 5 (00:29):
Hey, guys, what's going on. It's Kevin Bell here for
the Kevin Belle podcast. Russian the incarceration fes because they
move some stuff around and parking is a lovely time,
just like any other festival. But I'll tell you what
love being an incarceration. Who am I here with today?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
ARCon theory? ARCon theory? Where are you guys from?
Speaker 1 (00:46):
We're from Boston, Massachusetts.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Where's the really thick accent? Well, I prove it.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
We're not actually from Boston.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
We go to posers.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Yeah, we go to school up in Boston. That's how
we all met. Actually, all right, tell me about that. Yeah,
so we go to a music school up in Boston
Berkeley and I first met this guy all the way
down here, Owen. It was like one of those Instagram
accounts where like all the new students kind of meet up,
and you know, we just instantly clicked and I knew
(01:18):
that was my boy.
Speaker 5 (01:20):
Now, there's a lot of bands that came out of Berkeley,
and I've actually talked to a lot of bands from
Berkeley on this podcast. So just continuing that threat. Now,
let me guess that's how you got involved with Incarceration.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Right, yeah, definitely.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
And actually, yeah, this isn't Owen's first rodeo either. He
was actually here last year with Nailed Shut.
Speaker 5 (01:38):
That's where I recognize you from. Okay, yes, all right,
so worlds collide. I talked to Nailed Shut last year,
and I can't remember the year before. But it just
continues going like that. And I don't know if you
guys familiar with David Benita's he attended there for a
little bit too, and I talked to him not too
long ago. Now with who's the all? First time is
(01:58):
this year at Incarceration everybody else? Okay, great, what do
you think you walked in? And then what do you think?
Speaker 3 (02:05):
I was getting a little nervous seeing how big that
stage was it was it was really humbling, but I
mean it was an insane experience.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
The crowd was awesome.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
It was I mean, we're truly, honestly so happy to
be here. It was just fighte altering experience. I don't know,
I shudn't even so.
Speaker 5 (02:23):
I want to go down the line. You walked out
on stage, you felt that. How about the rest of
you guys? What do you feel when you walked out?
Speaker 4 (02:31):
So I was actually the first one out there, and
so for me, it was, holy shit, this is actually happening,
and I need to lock in, and but it was
I got out there, I saw everybody, and then I
saw you guys come out there, and I was like,
we got this shit, let's do it.
Speaker 5 (02:51):
You know what's even funnier is I'm looking over at
the microphone and it's upside down. But it's even funnier
like that. So we're gonna keep it going. It's even funnier.
So all right, so you're the first one out. How
about the rest of you guys? What do you feel
when you went down there?
Speaker 6 (03:04):
I was again super nervous, but then when we did
the first hit, I was like, okay, let me just
walk in and o't think about anything, yeah, and just
go with the music and it was just over.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
That was it?
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (03:19):
I felt good. She was cool.
Speaker 5 (03:21):
That's the way honestly. And so you guys have how
many songs out right now?
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Right now?
Speaker 3 (03:26):
We have a four song EP out and we just
released a single last week called garat So.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Tell me about that. Why is it called that? How
do you pronounce that? Again? And tell me a little
bit about the EP.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Yeah, so it's pronounced garrot. I don't know if you've
ever played like the hit Man video games new or.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Old either or it's been a while.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Yeah, but you know, like like the wire he's got,
like that's that's.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
A gara Oh okay, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
But basically the song is kind of like like about.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Like anxiety and just like that kind of like choking feeling,
you know, like closing in. So that's like kind with
the songs about you the TLDR. But yeah, getting that
together was really sick.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
You know.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
We wanted to get something.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Out before coming to the festival, something fresh, and I'm
really happy with the results. We also have a music
video out and just came out really good.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
I'm really proud of that.
Speaker 5 (04:19):
Was that your first music video, like not as the band,
but just in.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
General first music video ever.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Me personally, it was my first music video.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Isn't that awesome? It is?
Speaker 1 (04:28):
It's pretty sick.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
You watch it back and you're like, fuck.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Yeah, no, it's crazy. And I was pretty nervous doing
it at first because it's like, I mean, you're just
like moving around to know and it's kind of awkward,
but you know, getting more comfortable with it. We got
some really good shots and I'm really proud of what
we got.
Speaker 5 (04:45):
So you guys were the first band of the day, right, Yeah,
So how was it looking out and actually seeing people
here already ready to go and ready to watch you guys?
Speaker 3 (04:56):
It was really awesome. A get a little bit nerve racking.
I remember like seeing like the first people come out.
They were like running across the field. Specifically, I remember
seeing I think like this father and son and there
were those stokes to be there.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
It was so sick, you looked like you wanted to
say something.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
I just seeing people sprint from the gates to the barricade,
like just like that was a reminder for me, like
that people are just so passionate and care about this music,
so much like and that's why we do it, is
like because we love heavy music, and right, that's it.
(05:35):
Just it translates and you can see that firsthand when
you're on stage.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
It's incredible.
Speaker 5 (05:42):
And then you get to play the songs that you
wrote and you're like, oh wait, you guys like our music.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
You're here? Is that cool?
Speaker 5 (05:47):
So you're here at Incarceration Fest this weekend? Are you
here all three days?
Speaker 2 (05:51):
All of you?
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Unfortunately not, we're here for I just.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Saw the depression come down.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
They're like, nah, yeah, Unfortunately, our drummer here is actually
leaving tomorrow. They're actually going to play another festival down
in Texas. So it's real busy deal, real busy weekend
for them. But we're going to be here tomorrow. Unfortunately,
we are leaving Sunday though.
Speaker 5 (06:17):
Okay, so each of you, who are you most excited
to see this weekend?
Speaker 1 (06:22):
I feel like we're all going to say the same band.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
All together now Knocks Lose, No knocks Lose.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
I mean we're really excited.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
But so Alpha Wolf.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
I mean we got to catch like a little bit
of them. They were so sick. I mean, there's just
like so many bands. It's so hard to choose.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
That's the thing you gotta pick and choose.
Speaker 5 (06:42):
And if you're a regular incarceration at tendee, well maybe
your favorite band's playing Saints.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
I was your other favorite band. You have to really
just roll the dice.
Speaker 6 (06:50):
I'm really excited. They're in just a few minutes to
see Drain. Oh yeah, super cool guys. And then tomorrow
I'm really excited to see Dillinger Escape Planner.
Speaker 5 (06:59):
Oh okay, yet, yeah, I'm gonna kill someone to Dillinger.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
It's gonna be sick.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
Yes, ye, all right, So we're gona have a couple
last questions here for you.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
I ask every band this.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
Question, no matter who I'm talking to, rather just starting
out at a best of all online whatever. If you
had to give advice to any band out there wants
to make their way to incarceration, what would it.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Be, Never give up, never surrender?
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Easy enough? How about for you?
Speaker 4 (07:26):
I would say the first step is just start a band.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Like, just start a.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Band, and then from there, have the most faith in yourselves,
send in your band as you can have, and never
look back.
Speaker 6 (07:45):
I think the best thing to do is like start small,
go to local shows, talk to everyone you can make connections.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
You'll meet the right people and just be cool to everyone.
Speaker 5 (07:59):
Park or yes, all right, any final awards you guys
want to say to fans.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Stream Garat on all streaming platforms, check out the music
video on YouTube, and you can check us out on
social media at ARCon Theory.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Easy enough, arc on Theory, appreciate. Oh wait, we got
one more. Look out for a new shit soon, look
out for a new shit. It will be good, all right.
Speaker 5 (08:23):
So that's arc on Theory Incarceration Fest kicking it off.
It's gonna be a busy weekend, but I'm happy to
be here. Happy you guys are part of it. Thanks again,
arc on Theory. We'll talk in here a little bit
off air.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Check you next time.
We're from Boston, Massachusetts.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Where's the really thick accent? Well?
Speaker 3 (00:04):
I was getting a little nervous seeing how big that
stage was.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
It was an insane experience for me.
Speaker 4 (00:10):
It was holy shit, this is actually happening, and I
need to lock in.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
We're truly honestly, I'm so happy to be here.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Ahi.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
This is Costa. Hey, this is Riley. Go check out
Garat on all streaming platforms. And you're listening to the
Kevin Powell podcast.
Speaker 5 (00:29):
Hey, guys, what's going on. It's Kevin Bell here for
the Kevin Belle podcast. Russian the incarceration fes because they
move some stuff around and parking is a lovely time,
just like any other festival. But I'll tell you what
love being an incarceration. Who am I here with today?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
ARCon theory? ARCon theory? Where are you guys from?
Speaker 1 (00:46):
We're from Boston, Massachusetts.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Where's the really thick accent? Well, I prove it.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
We're not actually from Boston.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
We go to posers.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Yeah, we go to school up in Boston. That's how
we all met. Actually, all right, tell me about that. Yeah,
so we go to a music school up in Boston
Berkeley and I first met this guy all the way
down here, Owen. It was like one of those Instagram
accounts where like all the new students kind of meet up,
and you know, we just instantly clicked and I knew
(01:18):
that was my boy.
Speaker 5 (01:20):
Now, there's a lot of bands that came out of Berkeley,
and I've actually talked to a lot of bands from
Berkeley on this podcast. So just continuing that threat. Now,
let me guess that's how you got involved with Incarceration.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Right, yeah, definitely.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
And actually, yeah, this isn't Owen's first rodeo either. He
was actually here last year with Nailed Shut.
Speaker 5 (01:38):
That's where I recognize you from. Okay, yes, all right,
so worlds collide. I talked to Nailed Shut last year,
and I can't remember the year before. But it just
continues going like that. And I don't know if you
guys familiar with David Benita's he attended there for a
little bit too, and I talked to him not too
long ago. Now with who's the all? First time is
(01:58):
this year at Incarceration everybody else? Okay, great, what do
you think you walked in? And then what do you think?
Speaker 3 (02:05):
I was getting a little nervous seeing how big that
stage was it was it was really humbling, but I
mean it was an insane experience.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
The crowd was awesome.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
It was I mean, we're truly, honestly so happy to
be here. It was just fighte altering experience. I don't know,
I shudn't even so.
Speaker 5 (02:23):
I want to go down the line. You walked out
on stage, you felt that. How about the rest of
you guys? What do you feel when you walked out?
Speaker 4 (02:31):
So I was actually the first one out there, and
so for me, it was, holy shit, this is actually happening,
and I need to lock in, and but it was
I got out there, I saw everybody, and then I
saw you guys come out there, and I was like,
we got this shit, let's do it.
Speaker 5 (02:51):
You know what's even funnier is I'm looking over at
the microphone and it's upside down. But it's even funnier
like that. So we're gonna keep it going. It's even funnier.
So all right, so you're the first one out. How
about the rest of you guys? What do you feel
when you went down there?
Speaker 6 (03:04):
I was again super nervous, but then when we did
the first hit, I was like, okay, let me just
walk in and o't think about anything, yeah, and just
go with the music and it was just over.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
That was it?
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (03:19):
I felt good. She was cool.
Speaker 5 (03:21):
That's the way honestly. And so you guys have how
many songs out right now?
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Right now?
Speaker 3 (03:26):
We have a four song EP out and we just
released a single last week called garat So.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Tell me about that. Why is it called that? How
do you pronounce that? Again? And tell me a little
bit about the EP.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Yeah, so it's pronounced garrot. I don't know if you've
ever played like the hit Man video games new or.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Old either or it's been a while.
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Yeah, but you know, like like the wire he's got,
like that's that's.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
A gara Oh okay, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
But basically the song is kind of like like about.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Like anxiety and just like that kind of like choking feeling,
you know, like closing in. So that's like kind with
the songs about you the TLDR. But yeah, getting that
together was really sick.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
You know.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
We wanted to get something.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Out before coming to the festival, something fresh, and I'm
really happy with the results. We also have a music
video out and just came out really good.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
I'm really proud of that.
Speaker 5 (04:19):
Was that your first music video, like not as the band,
but just in.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
General first music video ever.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Me personally, it was my first music video.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Isn't that awesome? It is?
Speaker 1 (04:28):
It's pretty sick.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
You watch it back and you're like, fuck.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Yeah, no, it's crazy. And I was pretty nervous doing
it at first because it's like, I mean, you're just
like moving around to know and it's kind of awkward,
but you know, getting more comfortable with it. We got
some really good shots and I'm really proud of what
we got.
Speaker 5 (04:45):
So you guys were the first band of the day, right, Yeah,
So how was it looking out and actually seeing people
here already ready to go and ready to watch you guys?
Speaker 3 (04:56):
It was really awesome. A get a little bit nerve racking.
I remember like seeing like the first people come out.
They were like running across the field. Specifically, I remember
seeing I think like this father and son and there
were those stokes to be there.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
It was so sick, you looked like you wanted to
say something.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
I just seeing people sprint from the gates to the barricade,
like just like that was a reminder for me, like
that people are just so passionate and care about this music,
so much like and that's why we do it, is
like because we love heavy music, and right, that's it.
(05:35):
Just it translates and you can see that firsthand when
you're on stage.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
It's incredible.
Speaker 5 (05:42):
And then you get to play the songs that you
wrote and you're like, oh wait, you guys like our music.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
You're here? Is that cool?
Speaker 5 (05:47):
So you're here at Incarceration Fest this weekend? Are you
here all three days?
Speaker 2 (05:51):
All of you?
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Unfortunately not, we're here for I just.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Saw the depression come down.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
They're like, nah, yeah, Unfortunately, our drummer here is actually
leaving tomorrow. They're actually going to play another festival down
in Texas. So it's real busy deal, real busy weekend
for them. But we're going to be here tomorrow. Unfortunately,
we are leaving Sunday though.
Speaker 5 (06:17):
Okay, so each of you, who are you most excited
to see this weekend?
Speaker 1 (06:22):
I feel like we're all going to say the same band.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
All together now Knocks Lose, No knocks Lose.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
I mean we're really excited.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
But so Alpha Wolf.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
I mean we got to catch like a little bit
of them. They were so sick. I mean, there's just
like so many bands. It's so hard to choose.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
That's the thing you gotta pick and choose.
Speaker 5 (06:42):
And if you're a regular incarceration at tendee, well maybe
your favorite band's playing Saints.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
I was your other favorite band. You have to really
just roll the dice.
Speaker 6 (06:50):
I'm really excited. They're in just a few minutes to
see Drain. Oh yeah, super cool guys. And then tomorrow
I'm really excited to see Dillinger Escape Planner.
Speaker 5 (06:59):
Oh okay, yet, yeah, I'm gonna kill someone to Dillinger.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
It's gonna be sick.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
Yes, ye, all right, So we're gona have a couple
last questions here for you.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
I ask every band this.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
Question, no matter who I'm talking to, rather just starting
out at a best of all online whatever. If you
had to give advice to any band out there wants
to make their way to incarceration, what would it.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
Be, Never give up, never surrender?
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Easy enough? How about for you?
Speaker 4 (07:26):
I would say the first step is just start a band.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Like, just start a.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Band, and then from there, have the most faith in yourselves,
send in your band as you can have, and never
look back.
Speaker 6 (07:45):
I think the best thing to do is like start small,
go to local shows, talk to everyone you can make connections.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
You'll meet the right people and just be cool to everyone.
Speaker 5 (07:59):
Park or yes, all right, any final awards you guys
want to say to fans.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Stream Garat on all streaming platforms, check out the music
video on YouTube, and you can check us out on
social media at ARCon Theory.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Easy enough, arc on Theory, appreciate. Oh wait, we got
one more. Look out for a new shit soon, look
out for a new shit. It will be good, all right.
Speaker 5 (08:23):
So that's arc on Theory Incarceration Fest kicking it off.
It's gonna be a busy weekend, but I'm happy to
be here. Happy you guys are part of it. Thanks again,
arc on Theory. We'll talk in here a little bit
off air.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Check you next time.
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