The impressive quality and occasional brilliance of FLOTSAM AND JETSAM’s first two and last three albums are beyond dispute; it’s the years in between that have kept this veteran Phoenix thrash band in a challenging position. After being signed by MCA Records for 1990’s When The Storm Comes Down, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM was poised to be hailed as “the next METALLICA.” However, a series of setbacks—including poor label management, unappealing album art, and a musical landscape increasingly dominated by grunge—hampered their progress. By the mid-’90s, the band found themselves sidelined, forced to regroup and rebuild.
Eventually, the band’s long and often tumultuous journey led to a resurgence. The return of co-founding guitarist Michael Gilbert for 2013’s Ugly Noise marked a turning point, but it was the addition of guitarist Steve Conley in 2014 that truly revitalized FLOTSAM AND JETSAM. Their 2016 self-titled album showcased vocalist Erik “A.K.” Knutson in a way that highlighted the band’s potent, melodic thrash sound—qualities that had been missing during some of their leaner years in the late ’90s and 2000s. With their new album, I Am The Weapon, they continue this upward trajectory, prompting BLABBERMOUTH.NET to catch up with Knutson.
Erik: “This lineup has created a really harmonious dynamic. There are no egos, no fighting, and no jealousy. Everyone knows their role, and we collaborate seamlessly. Decisions about touring, song selection, or management come easily because we all agree. It’s made everything much simpler and more enjoyable. I think these albums reflect that energy.”
Erik: “Not necessarily stress, but there were often obstacles. Whether it was one person’s attitude or our collective inclination to live the rock star lifestyle, something always seemed to get in the way. Now, I’m surrounded by veterans who have weathered those storms and emerged stronger. The atmosphere in the band is unlike anything we’ve experienced before.”
Erik: “Everyone has an equal voice in everything we do. We lean on Ken [Mary, drums] for certain decisions, especially business-related ones, given his experience. Mike and I have been in this game for 40 years—we know what doesn’t work. When it comes to what does, we look to Ken for guidance. And Steve Conley is an incredible songwriter. Whenever we need new material, he delivers. Just the other day, we asked him to start working on the next album, and he handed us five amazing tracks the very next day. I was already writing lyrics and melodies within three days. The entire writing process is exciting, and it leads to an abundance of material—we even have ten songs left over after finishing an album. It’s a fantastic place to be creatively.”
