Corey Webb
Apostle Of Solitude
Hi Lior. Things are well enough here. One day at a time, brother.
That is an interesting perspective, and one that I am inclined to agree with. The last year or so was definitely a bit of a "reset", and I think you summed it up perfectly with regard to friendships. Especially for those of us who are not particularly social animals, and who are somewhat loners by design, recent events have highlighted the value of friendships, and the importance of those in our lives whom we hold dear.
I personally thrive on isolation when I can get it, but after a few months I definitely gained a greater appreciation for my family, my friends, and my bandmates, and the role they play in my life. As much as I enjoy my little antisocial bubble, the companionship of those in my circle certainly provided a much needed sense of gravity and a necessary degree of emotional support. I think for a lot of us, if there was anything good that time provided, it was a bit of a reminder with regard to the things that are most important in life. We are fortunate in the sense that we were able to maintain day jobs and keep the wheels from falling off, so things certainly could have been worse.
Well to be honest this band is so much a part of who we are at this point, I don't think that was ever really seriously considered. I can't speak for the others, obviously. I'm sure losing a parent, let alone both parents, is a life event that will change the way you see most everything.
Without getting too personal, I'm sure that sort of life event is a cause for a bit of self-reflection and perhaps maybe even a bit of natural self-doubt during that time. We stood side by side with our brother during that time, though. If it came down to it, any of us would drop this band in a second if that's what was needed. As cliché as it may sound, the four of us are very much family, so the thought of not getting together and making music as we have for many years now isn't something I like to imagine. We do this pretty much solely because we enjoy it, and family is infinitely more important than art, or any band, so we all provided the necessary space and support during that time, and when it felt right to resume rehearsals we did.
Yes, I do believe there's a lot of truth to that. Something like a global pandemic is of course hard on all of us, but especially so for those whose livelihood depends on live events, "in person" gatherings, etc. This band isn't something that pays our bills or puts food on the table, so we are fortunate in that sense. Otherwise though, you are absolutely correct. Without a means to tour and to make money, there were bands who folded during that time. It's difficult enough to get along with 3 or 4 other people in a band setting, to reach agreement on things, to spend extended periods of time in a dirty van together, etc. during normal circumstances. If a band stays together for 10 years under "normal" circumstances, that's quite an achievement in itself. I feel happy that we are able to do this as a creative outlet simply because we choose to.
That title is a bit of a summation of what this music is to us. Darkness, depression, difficult times, etc… sometimes you just have to put your head down, hold on, and wait for it to pass. Because that's really all you can do, isn't it? I think anyone who has experienced depression or dark times will find truth in that notion. Music has played such an important role in our lives, and it's what gets many of us though the blackest of times. Putting on a certain record when you're down is a way to get through it; to either take your mind away from the troubles at hand, or to feel some sense of embrace or stability until the darkness goes.
Your references to fear of the unknown are a good representation of what much of the world felt during the last year or so. Nothing was certain; politics and absurdity took centre stage. Making this record, and channelling this album, helped get us through it; hopefully others will feel a similar connection, and it will serve a similar purpose to others when listening.
These songs were all written with the intent of playing them live at some point. Maybe it's for the best that the album is released during a time when there are still comparatively few live shows? We do hope to return to our typical schedule of occasional US live shows, and 2-3 weeks of touring either in the US or abroad, hopefully in 2022. Until then we will continue to exercise patience, "until the darkness goes".
Absolutely, because there has to be, right? Otherwise, what's the point? We are all just getting through this life, and playing the hand we've been dealt. Everyone of course can identify with feelings of dread and impending doom, but finding a healthy way to get through it is vital. Love, kindness, and empathy are the things that are most important in this life. Be patient. Maybe those are the things behind the dark clouds.
I think the four of us would agree that this album represents a more refined version of the things we feel we are good at, and the elements of this band that we have sharpened over the years. The presentation is intentionally somewhat succinct by our standards, and I think that's where this album really shines. We spent a bit more time on the production end of things, fully aware that a more polished sound might raise a few eyebrows from long-time fans.
I think both these factors contribute positively to the impact and longevity of this album in particular, and hopefully the connection our friends and fans will feel with it. From an artist's perspective, it's difficult not to feel that each new album is the best yet, but we all truly feel that way about this album. The vocal harmonies between Chuck and Steve have really matured, and the relationship between Mike and I have never been better or closer. It feels good to play in a band with 3 other humans who you love. And if some don't dig the slightly more polished sound of this recording, please come to the next live show so we can remind you we still absolutely bring that raw intensity in the live setting. In fact, that's where we really shine.
The delays associated with studio dates did play a role in the making of this album. We had to reschedule the tracking dates at the studio several times, and during that time we continued to refine certain aspects of the record, while being cognizant not to go the "Chinese Democracy" route, ha. On one hand, we hated that we needed to push back the recording on multiple occasions. We have a really great relationship with both Cruz Del Sur and Mike Bridavsky at Russian Recording, and take pride in staying true to our word and our commitments.
But on the other hand, in the midst of a global pandemic of course all parties were totally understanding and supportive, and it felt good to have that level of support. Everyone agreed that our personal health (both physical and emotional) and making a good record was of far greater importance than rushing anything. Because we can't afford to waste any time in the studio, we are usually well prepared and the songs are pretty much finished by the time we get to the studio, but especially this time around we were comfortable with the arrangements etc. so we could just enjoy the process of making an album together. For the most part, ha. The vinyl pressing plants were mostly shut down anyway, so we used that time to our advantage.
I would venture to say yes, though melody is always an important consideration for us. That aspect of music is something that each of us appreciates, and something that we pay particular attention to when crafting our sound. We're all old school metal fans, but we're also fans of good songwriting, which of course incorporates a healthy serving of melody on most occasions. I wouldn't say we really made any sort of intentional move to focus more on the melodic aspects this time around; rather, it was just a natural progression of us as a band, and particularly the ideas that were brought to the table as material for the record.
I think our sound is continually evolving, but quite honestly, we seldom pay much regard to reviews or criticism (positive or negative). It's obviously all so subjective, right? If you are shaping your art with regards to what others want, are you really being true to yourself? I realize that may sound a bit pretentious, but we really do sort of maintain our "purity" if you will, by simply making music that we like. The riff writers of the band may give you a different answer, but from my perspective and involvement we just make songs that we are feeling in that moment. We meld them, rehearse them, record them, and then move on to the next thing. If anything, as I mentioned previously, this record was consciously a bit more focused than prior albums.
Lyrics typically come last in our songwriting process. There is typically an idea of which part might be the verse and which part might be the chorus etc., but we do some "pre chorus" type parts that evolve over time, and having more space is sometimes beneficial in that regard. There is often discussion of whether or not vocals should go over a particular part, or whether we should just let the song breathe. From my own perspective, the space between notes is something I have a deep respect for. At the risk of sounding cliché, sometimes it really is what you don't play that speaks the loudest.
We have worked with Mike Bridavsky for so long now (he's recorded and mixed each of our records to date), we really have a close relationship and a real friendship with him. He knows the sound we are looking to achieve, how we work best, and where our strengths and weaknesses are. This relationship and our shared goals play a large role in each of our albums. We typically give Mike some demo recordings ahead of the tracking, and have a bit of dialogue regarding our direction for each record. Recording should be enjoyable, and our time spent at Russian Recording is always akin to being together in our practice space. Mike is family to us.
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The Union" was the first song we wrote for this record, and I believe we first started rehearsing it around the time we recorded "From Gold To Ash", so it was perhaps the most comfortable of the songs on this album for us. We also played it live a couple of times prior to recording, so it really sort of shaped the sound for the rest of the album. Shortly after melding that song, it was decided that this was sort of the direction the new album would take. It felt natural, and we followed that intuition.
Personally speaking, I've listened to the album quite a bit since it's been finished, but as most bands might tell you we've been listening to these songs for like 3 years now, so I don't focus on it very much once it's done. We are all very proud of how this album turned out, but we've been working on 3-4 new songs for the past few months, so our focus does tend to shift pretty soon after the album is recorded.
I have sat and listened to the album from front to back a few times over the past couple months though, and it does provide some inspiration for the next album. Honestly, I'm still just stoked on being fortunate enough to play drums with 3 of the most talented guys who I am also lucky enough to call my friends. I figure someday when it's all said and done, I'll sit back and listen to the albums and reflect a bit more, but until then we'll keep pushing forward.
It felt great, but I'd be lying if I didn't say we didn't approach those shows with a bit of trepidation. The shows we did with The Obsessed and The Skull were all during that couple months period of time when things felt safer than they had before. To be honest, it felt great, but at the same time a little "off". Everything was so uncertain during that time. Like "is this ok?..." The guys in both The Obsessed and The Skull are close friends of ours who we've known and played with for years. Obviously, the tragedies that followed with band members and loved ones of those bands who fell to the virus sort of tainted that whole experience. Our hearts go out to those guys. We love them, and hope nothing but the best for them.
We currently don't have any shows booked, though we are rehearsing both new material and songs from the album. We've rehearsed on the same day, at the same time, for 17 years now. We will likely start the planning for some 2022 performances soon. Thus far though we've just been cautiously optimistic that we can return to that life sooner rather than later.
Thank you, Lior. It is very sincerely appreciated. Peace, Love, and Happiness to you and yours.
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