In a new interview with Metal-Rules.com, guitarist TOBY KNAPP (ONWARD, GODLESS RISING) discusses his sixth full length solo release, Static Warfare (which marks the 20th anniversary of the release of his Shrapnel Records debut, Guitar Distortion), due for release on July 2nd.

Q: Static Warfare is a sort of testament to your own perseverance as a guitarist and a personal victory for yourself after relocating to NY and then reforming and disbanding Onward after the sudden and tragic passing of your former vocalist Michael Grant. That would be a lot for anyone to cope with but you really stayed the course and the end result is Static Warfare an amazing display of wizard like heavy metal ability and prowess and really connects the dots and better ties together your involvement in the many bands and projects throughout the years. For our readers at home, walk us through everything over the last several years since your most recent album, The Campaign, up to the here and now…

A: "2010 looked to be a great year career wise. The Campaign and Godless Rising’s Trumpet Of Triumph were released close together and getting very good response. The idea was to tour with Godless Rising and promote both records throughout 2010. Things just went wrong from the start.

"Jeff Gruslin and I were/are Godless Rising. During the recording we went through a ridiculous amount of flake musicians. No band was materializing and the tour dates were falling apart anyway because no promoters/booking agents could guarantee anything. So there were these albums out with a buzz on them and my hands were tied. Before I knew it I was dabbling in the cover band circuit making $50 for five hours of work, so of course I began drinking my face off.

"I moved to New York just to make a drastic change, hopefully for the better. Music wasn’t really a priority at that point because the buzz on the albums was over. So I studied and worked and after a year decided to create a new Onward as a power trio, no original members. I was working on the music and had secured Rock It Up Records as the label. I falsely assumed Michael Grant was doing just fine and pursuing his career happily and I always believed we would eventually iron out our differences and get the original Onward back in order, time was on our side. So just as fans were noticing a new Onward was activating, Michael passed away.

"Pretty much upon hearing the news of his death I said, 'It’s over', and the guys I was working with agreed. I couldn’t risk tarnishing the way Onward would be remembered out of respect to the original members. So it’s laid to rest in his memory. I did not touch the guitar for another six months or whatever and moved back to Wyoming and began work on Static Warfare just to test my level of endurance and creativity. I wanted to know if I still “had it” or if my music was gone forever. Turns out there was still alot of fire flowing through these veins after all and that is the exciting part.

"The bonus is the label I’m on believed all along and as soon as Mike McDowell of Shredguy Records saw me dust myself off and get back to work, he immediately stepped in and completed the picture. I feel very, very fortunate. 20 years ago I released Guitar Distortion on Shrapnel at age 21, here I am at 41 doing the same thing for Shredguy Records. I feel I’m getting my second wind."

The following nine tracks are set to appear on Static Warfare:

'Static Warfare'

'Weaponology'

'The Impossibility of Reason'

'X Class Flare'

'Plasma Spheroid'

'Not If But When'

'Trashed Radiation Shield'

'The Arrival Of Polaris'

'The Doomsday Clock'

Knapp recently stated the following about the release: "When I began writing the album the idea I had in mind was a totally uplifting melodic guitar instrumental album, something an Eric Johnson fan would like. As I finished I realized it's probably, unintentionally, going to be one of darkest and most abrasive "instrumental" albums out there. What I write just naturally comes out dark, the happy shred 'guitar boy' disappeared long ago".

For more details visit TobyKnappMusic.com.