Hussein says:
Hey Billy, thanks for agreeing to this interview. How's the hammer hanging?
Billy says:
A little to the left as always, ha. No problem brother, glad to do it.
Hussein says:
Tell us about the new album.
Billy says:
It smokes! At least we think so, and hope everyone does. This disk is a bit
different than Parable in that it is a bit less progressive. It still has tons
of changes and our usual weirdness in arrangements and all that, but it flows
better and is more straight ahead feeling. Oddly it is both our heaviest and
our most melodic. The thrash elements have been stepped up, but there is alot
of the dark melancholy to it also. Some very cool vocal harmony stuff, and Troy's
leads are just shredding. Needless to say, as I guess you can tell, we are psyched
about it.
Hussein says:
Have you guys found a record deal yet?
Billy says:
This will be our second album with Raven Flight Records. It is very small but
they give us abit of backing to do more in way of promotion and distribution
than we could without them. Both the label and us hope "Trinity" lands
us on a bigger label. It will be good for them and for us to move up. They are
very supportive and want us to go a long way.
Hussein says:
I was listening to a couple of tracks on the new album earlier, and I noticed
alot of the darker/more melancholic elements you were talking about earlier.
Did you and Troy have anything in mind when writing it?
Billy says:
Somewhat, myself, Troy and Tim all decided we wanted this album to be heavier
and more flowing. Parable was great, but for that album we really did alot of
very usual progressive stuff and alot of elements that aimed at atmosphere.
With Trinity we wanted to retain the complexity and make the songs very movement
oriented, but we wanted the feel to be easier to follow, more following. Other
than that we just kinda write what comes to us, we don't really try to design
a sound or anything. If you over think it and try to predict it, or you listen
to much to what other feel you 'need' you lose what you essentially are. So
we write first to please ourselves, and secondly to please our fans, past that
we don't care a great deal what others say.
Hussein says:
I personally like the sound alot, were there any particular influences you'd
sight for this one?
Billy says:
Not really. Like I said we just write what comes to us. There is usually a theme
throughout since the songs were written around the same time, so you are in
a similar mindset for most of them. However, we are conscious of wanting to
vary the songs and not give people the same track 10 times. Our influences are
pretty ingrained by now and I guess you can hear alot of them bleed through.
Fortunately, we have such different influences and allow each of us to bring
in their own style and influences that it allows for the closest thing to originality
a band can get anymore. Blending styles like power, progressive, thrash and
traditional metal isn't something we aim to do, it's just that we have all those
influences in us and more that it just comes out that way. We are fans of music
of course and listen to alot of bands that I'm sure inspire us. But we don't
consciously take in elements of anyone inparticular.
Hussein says:
Do you turn it all the way up to 11?
Billy says:
No we just made 10 a lot louder.
Hussein says:
Mine goes up to 11.
Billy says:
Figures, must be one of those Middle-Eastern things.
Hussein says:
Dreams for Progpower?
Billy says:
Progpower?
Hussein says:
http://www.progpowerusa.com/
Billy says:
Ah, yes, and since that Festival is kind of in our back yard it would be awesome
to play it. We have a ton of respect for what Glenn and Deron have done with
it. For my money it is the best festival in the US.
Hussein says:
Do you think there alot of opportunities out there for metal bands, especially
in your neck of the woods, that are making a particular brand of music such
as power metal or melodic thrash that isn't considered the way it used to be?
Billy says:
It is getting better. With things like Progpower Festival that you mention,
and more and more tours coming here things are slowly improving. People tend
to get fed up with what is being force fed to them by MTV and radio. Metal has
always been the outlet for the disenfranchised (check my spelling on that one)
With metal-core and hardcore moving to the mainstream it opens the door for
styles like ours to take the spots on indepentent metal labels. But true metal
has never gone away and I don't think it will. Musicianship that is somewhat
complex and lyrics that are about more than 'oh, I love you baby' or 'life sucks,
I want to die" will always have an audience of more artistic minded people.
Metal should be underground to me, when radio and MTV gets ahold on it, it almost
always gets watered down. Personally, I don't want Britney Spears and Slipknot
fans listening to our music, ha.
Hussein says:
But, I love you, baby.
Billy says:
Yeah, you keep saying that, but I've yet to receive my flowers or candy
Hussein says:
For your information, Slipknot are a group of great musicians. All 9 of them.
Hussein says:
They wear masks because they are cool.
Billy says:
ok, I probably alienated a few with that comment
Hussein says:
I was kidding.
Billy says:
There is still hope for you I guess
Hussein says:
I like the fact that you aren't afraid to lay the lines for what's unacceptable
for fans to appreciate, and you are right, it takes a certain appreciation to
understand lyrics of a complex nature, which is what would separate A Lower
Deep from say..Something Corporate.
Billy says:
I suppose. As you know, but others probably don't, we are a bunch of nerds who
would rather read a book than about anything. I have degrees in Philosophy and
Literature, and alot of what I write comes from that. Metal heads get a bad
rap for being dumb and only into drugs and lyrics about Satan and killing stuff.
And perhaps some fit that bill, but in my experience, the metal fans I talk
to are the most intelligent of popular music fans. Find a metal fan that doesn't
have deep opinions on religion or politics. We aren't preachy but we do like
to find topic that make us think and offer the fan something maybe just a bit
different.
Hussein says:
I think the perfect example is Death. Scream Bloody Gore is worlds away from
Symbolic in terms of lyrical content as well as how Chuck writes the music.
I suppose it not only showcases growth, but musical integrity as well.
Billy says:
I agree. We were are just beginning to form our philosophies and looking out
at the world alot of us do feel it is a messed up place and attack everything
with venom. But hopefully are we grow we learn how self-defeating that is. We
can still view the world as that same messed up place but we start to find ways
that individually we can rise above it, and hopefully find others that same
our personal visions. Maybe it's a faith in something bigger than ourselves,
or perhaps a faith in ourselves alone, but eventually I think everyone has to
find a way of digesting reality in a way that allows for personal purpose and
growth. Our lyrics are certainly not cheery, but there is an underlying hope
there, that though the world is often less than a desirable place, we are ultimately
the masters of our fate. Ok, so that out of hand in a hurry. Never ask a philosophy
major a question like that, they bore you to tears.
Hussein says:
Haha, I liked that, actually. What's been on your playlist recently?
Billy says:
Nevermore "This Godless Endeavor" gets alot of play, Morgana Lefay
"Grand Materia", Kamelot "Black Halo", and I'm looking forward
to the new Opeth alot. Other than that I listen to alot of classical stuff.
Hussein says:
The new Opeth got leaked already. I was listening to it a few times.
Billy says:
Really, I know you are one of those music privates that kept us poor musicians
starving.
Hussein says:
With a philosophy degree, you should be doing some work, hippy.
Billy says:
With Philosophy? They told me when I got my degree the most important thing
to know with a Philosophy degree was how to say "would you like fries with
that?"
Hussein says:
Do you question the existence of fries?
Billy says:
No, I am only reference to an Other. Once the fries are in my hand then my mouth,
my sense of touch and taste is defined by its presence, allowing the 'reality'
of my presence.
Hussein says:
Is the value meal actually a value meal? Or is it your perception of it being
a value meal that makes it a value meal?
Billy says:
How can something be both new AND improved?
Billy says:
Are your readers going to appreciate this?
Billy says:
Both of them?
Hussein says:
I think so, yes. I like adding the extra stuff in there.
Billy says:
True, I would too.
Hussein says:
How long did it take for you guys to record the entire album?
Billy says:
We took our time. That is the luxury of recording everything yourself. It took
about 5 months to both write the material and record it. Tim has come a long
way as a producer. I really believe this album stands up against all but the
most pricy studios. We aren't to Andy Sneap terriory yet, but it is huge and
clear. Kudos to Tim.
Hussein says:
Have you been to any good concerts lately?
Billy says:
We went to Gigantour last week. It was painful to sit through some of the bands,
but Nevermore was very good, shame their set was so short. Fear Factory was
good. Megadeth was very tight and sounding great. But Dream Theater stole the
show. They were freaking amazing. My first time to catch them live. We felt
ripped that Symphony X didn't make it to Atlanta, really wanted to see them.
Hussein says:
Have you heard the new Dream Theater?
Billy says:
Yeah, it took a few listens for me to get into. I still think Scenes from a
Memory and 6 Degrees are their best, with Images and Words and Awake a close
second.
Hussein says:
I like 'These Walls'. It's a sweet song. Petrucci really toned down on the wankery.
Billy says:
All those guys are amazing musicians. I had thought Lebrie was the weak link,
but he was a monster live.
Hussein says:
They are, yep. How's the feedback been so far on the new
album? Have you sent out any promos, etc.?
Billy says:
Not yet. The disk is off at the manufacturer. The sample we have up of Gods
and Monsters has gotten very good response though. Hopefully, once all you media
types get it (and love it) we will hear alot more. Our fans that have heard
it say it is our best material by far, and the few press people we let hear
it have all be blown away. So we feel very good about what this album can do.
But we'll see.
Hussein says:
Tentatively speaking, have you picked a release date?
Billy says:
Yes, it will be out on Sept 3, 2005. We are distributing through our site mostly
because we have priced it so low and we're doing free shipping worldwide, we
will barely break even on it. But so long as the label gets their slice they
are fine with what we do. We are much more concerned at this point with as many
people as possible hearing the album that with trying to make any money. But
wanting to keep the price low hurts us getting more distribution, of course
they want their share. We will probably do several more online distributers
and some regional stores, but for the most part we want to do it ourselves to
minize cost to the fans, especially the ones out of the US. Shipping is ridiculous.
Hussein says:
Alot of distros in the States are becoming more and more localized and are trying
to cater to a wider audience by handling the finances personally, it's a good
sign I suppose.
Billy says:
Yeah, places like Omega by the End Records are good. People just don't want
to pay 15 bucks for a CD then 6 for shipping.
Hussein says:
If you pee on an electric fence, do you think you'd die?
Billy says:
No but you'll never be satisfied with your right hand again
Hussein says:
That's what I thought, I had been meaning to get it checked out and all.
Billy says:
Tell me how that turns out.
Hussein says:
Will do. Do you think that European metal bands have it
easier than you guys?
Billy says:
Yes and no. They certainly have more venues and media outlets than we do, but
they also have a ton more competition. There aren't that many good melodic metal
bands in the States. Everyone here is more into the more extreme styles. But
getting attention from here is harder too. Without the venues to play in, the
fans that like the style have no where to see you and therefore maybe totally
oblivious to the fact you even exist. So many times I talk to people that loved
metal bands that are still around but get no air play, and they are like 'really,
they are still around'? So it's a perception problem as well as an exposure
problem.
Hussein says:
In terms of newer bands, do you think that Europe has a better variety of good
bands seeing as how in North America there tends to be no shortage death and
black metal clones running around?
Billy says:
Depends on your taste I suppose. There don't seem to be many really good more
melodic metal bands here, by that I mainly mean melodic vocals. Here you get
bashed if you don't scream and grunt. So the European melodic bands I think
have a wider audience. There is little to no chance many radio stations will
play our style except for the very few independent stations scattered about.
And forget T.V., it ain't happening. Maybe the very occasional Nevermore or
something, but in the main not.
Hussein says:
Some European bands manage to blend both sides together pretty well. Amon Amarth,
for example.
Billy says:
Yeah, Into Eternity is another. And there are alot that have married the melodic
musically with the heavy vocals and that seems to be gaining acceptance. But
if you even remotely have vocals like Queensryche, Iron Madien or the like,
you are fighting an up hill battle with the US media and with the majority of
the fans here. For us though, we feel the heavy vocals can only express very
limited emotional range. Mainly aggression, which granted alot of metal fans
want exclusively. But for us we want to have a wider range of emotions, from
anger to sadness to joy, etc. and we feel only melodic vocals can give you that
wide range.
Hussein says:
Thanks alot for the interview, Billy boy. As always, it's been a pleasure.
Billy says:
Same here my brother. Hope your readers enjoy the discussion, I know I have.
Hussein says:
I think they will.
Hussein says:
Family Guy vs. South Park
Billy says:
Family Guy hands down
Hussein says:
This hurts your musical integrity.
Hussein says:
South Park owns you.
Billy says:
Ha, no way
Hussein says:
Way, asshole!
Copyright © by Raging Metal - Celebrating 40 Years of Metal! All Right Reserved.
·