Shadows Fall Interview

Interview by: Bob M
Big Wheel Music Scene Reporter

When did the band form? and how long have you had your current lineup?
Brian:  The band formed in 1996, it was Matt and Jon writing songs together, then I joined in 1999 Then Jason the current drummer joined 3 years after that and he is still the new guy 8 years later.

What are your musical influences?
Brian: They range from common ground old school metal like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Ozzy, Thrash Metal, Metallica, Anthrax, Testament, Melodic Death Metal, Individually we are the most SCHIZOPHRENIC music fans ever.

What would be one of your most memorable shows?
Brian: The Beast Festival in Japan as it was panteras last show ever, and I’ll always hold that dear to my heart.

Do you like small venues or the big arenas?
Brian: I love them both for different reasons. We are used to playing small clubs we grew up in a D.I.Y. Hardcore Metal scene, where we would play peoples basements, VFW halls, I love the energy of no barricades and stage diving. But when your in an arena with 20 to 30,000 people you can’t compare that energy to anything. But you feel seperated from the them as well, because your about 100 yards away from the audience. I love them both we would just be playing the local bar if we weren’t doing this, we just love to play live.

What is the difference between playing cities like Atlanta and Baltimore, compared to the cities in Montana, and some of the really small towns?
Brian: When you play a smaller market like Fargofor the first time there were a few thousand kids and we were amazed that there were that many kids, and we hadn’t done a show in about 1 1/2 years so they really appreciate it so much more. When you play New York there is like a show every night in the city, so there is probably 10 shows the night that you are playing, so they are more spoiled by the amount of shows they get. So when you play the smaller towns the kids go crazy and are happy they have something to do you can feel that in the room it’s like their big weekend.

How was it playing Ozzfest?
Brian:  Ozfest was amazing!! We were lucky enough to do the 2nd stage in 2003 and the main stage in 2005. We got to see the whole world of it. In 2005 we shared the stage with Iron Maiden, and Black Sabbath 2 of the greatest bands of all time. It dosen’t get any cooler than that. It was a turning point for us as a band. Touring Ozzfest in 2003 got us in front of so many new people and kicked us up another notch. We appreciated that they had faith to put a kind of unknown band on the tour and let us grow from it.

What music do you listen to while on the road?
Brian: In the back lounge of the tour bus is a no distortion rule. After the show it’s a chill spot where people listen to mellow music, some Reggae, I listen to alot of Greatful Dead. Up front is more of the party vibe, like Ratt, Dokken, AC/DC. We have 2 worlds pick your poison. After an 8 hour metal show your ears are pretty beat up, you have to pick and choose your battles.

I see you have a headlining tour of Canada coming up?
Brian: Yeah it’s our first ever full Canadian tour. We’ve played Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, but we’ve never done the whole country hitting the small cities. We have a real eccelctic line up, 2 Canadian bands will be joining us, Bison BC, who are like Stoner Metal, a slower kind of grungy stuffand a newer band Baptised in Bloodand GoatWhore will be joining us for a little bit as well. We are really excited to see what the smaller Metal scene is like up there in the little towns, it’s going to be cold but it’s going to be very cool.

How is your new CD Retribution doing?
Brian: The CD is doing great. We are excited about our business situation. We teamed up with Warner Music and did a distribution deal with their independent label group, so we actually own the album and can make all the everyday decisions but we have the power of a major label to get us into retail and getting us into stores, it’s kind of the best of both worlds. At a time when when record sales are hurting so bad the industry is kind of struggling we had to come up with a new motto this was a way that not only gave the band power but you also knew that all your hard work was giving you something as opposed to giving a Porsche to some dude in an office that you’ve never met. My favorite song on the c.d. has to be the opening track "MY DEMISE" because it’s like a 6 1/2 minute epic that shows you everything that is going to happen on the record, it’s like a blue print for the whole album.

What is it about metal music today versus metal music of the 80’s that you think people dig the most?
Brian: In the 80’s it had more of a poppy, clammy sound to it which was fun and now  the musicianship level is so huge and there is so many different stylesit’s not stuck in little boxes, people are mixing all kinds of influences and pushing the genre. We’ve been influenced by 80’s metal, we cover Bark At The Moon by OZZY, and have been known to play LIVE WIRE by MOTLEY CRUE because that fun vibe is something that may be missing from modern metal. We like the party vibe and honestly we like to party, but we take what we do seriously, but you have to have a good time.

With all the interviews you’ve done is there something that you want people to know but for some reasonit never gets included in what gets published?
Brian: We just like people to spread the word about our band. We’ve been lucky that people have really supported us like the press and radio for years and years. I like to think it is all the hard work we put in that they can see that and appreciate that. I’ve written reviews for magazines and interviewed bands, I’ve seen both sides of it, I’ve worked as a publicist for a little while doing the promotion side and I really appreciate all the hard work that goes into it, and we are very happy to get interviewed anytime.

Well Brian I want to thank you for your time and good luck on your upcoming headlining tour of Canada, and continued success.
Brian:  Your welcome

Band Website: www.shadowsfall.com