KNIFE THE GLITTERrecently released their first and final self-titled album of Instrumental Progressive Metal, which was eight years in the making. After being blown away by the album, Metal-Temple Editor-In-Chief Dave "That Metal Guy" Campbell chatted with drummer Eli Litwin over email about the band, the album, the long writing process, touring pranks, and the future of Heavy Metal.

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Big welcome from Metal Temple, Eli! The first thing that I wanted to talk about is the process that you went through as a band working on an album that took eight years to complete. What were some of the things that contributed to that passage of time?

Distance and life in general. I live in Philadelphia, Kevin and Ryan, along with Kevin's studio, where we recorded the album, are in Northern New Jersey, an hour 45 minute drive for me. It was getting harder and harder for me to get up there regularly, and I pretty much had to be there for us to make progress. I've been a full-time music teacher for four years now, have a family, and was playing in other Philadelphia-based bands too. Kevin's studio business keeps him very busy, and he also spent the last two years playing in Dillinger Escape Plan. Before that he was guitar teching for them. So he was going all over the world for a while.

Wow yeah you guys are busy! Where do you teach music Eli?

I teach fourth through eighth grade music at a private school in Philadelphia. I also give private lessons on drums, guitar, bass, ukulele, and piano, around the greater Philadelphia area.

Nice--I figured you had to have so real musical training after I heard the album. Speaking about the album...I found the structure to be fascinating and your sense of timing in particular to be just incredible. Such tight unison. Can you tell me how you approached the songwriting on the album? Do you all compose as a group together?

Yeah, the way we always wrote was the three of us in a room together, hashing out ideas, building songs up in a very gradual, collaborative, and democratic process.

Makes sense to me...the three of you sure have some strong chemistry there. "Permanent Baby Snowpants" was probably my favorite song on the album. Was there anything special about that song in particular when you were composing it? It seems to have just a unique sort of sound that is hard for me to put my finger on.

That was the last song we ever wrote. So, nothing in particular about the way it was composed. I just think we were starting to move in a slightly different direction with that song.

I see. It would be really interesting to see where things might have gone from there then for sure, The song titles--very funny. Definitely not your average titles and I think this is reflected in the outstanding music as well. You guys seem like you have fun together as a band...would you say that is true? Is there one comedian in the group in particular?

Absolutely. We are pretty much as far as you can get from taking ourselves too seriously. We are obviously serious about the music that we write, but we are also goofy, corny, weirdos. The funny song titles started when we had vocalists that wrote their lyrics and gave the sins titles. Both of our singers had a similar weirdo sense of humor like the rest of us. Some of the song titles on this album were kept from our second singer who had originally written lyrics for the songs. The others that were written after he left the band obviously needed titles, and we weren't about to start racking our brains trying to come up with meaningful titles to instrumental music. So the first random thing that came to someone's mind just became the title of the song. So, no, not just one comedian. Pretty much all of us. 🙂

That is awesome Eli--I love it. Do you guys prank each other also? Any prank that might have gone too far once?

No, can't think of any pranks we did on each other. Though we did occasionally prank a band we were on tour with. Like taping a big picture of a dick from a gay porn mag on the back of Psyopus's trailer.

HAHA alright! I love road stories--good stuff. Sorry I got off track there a bit. What are you most proud of about the album? Particular songs...special moments or memories?

I am particularly proud of the writing on the song "Highly Electric Squirrel." Both the harmonic shifts in the melodic parts, and the way different sections tie together. For example: a riff towards the end directly quotes the solo in the beginning. I would add, pretty much all of the more melodic parts I think have a very unique sound that sets us apart from other similar bands.

Yeah those connections are just amazing. I like to think of myself as a music snob and Progressive Music is my favorite for sure, but man did the album challenge me in a way that was exciting. Each time I listened I found something else to like and another connection. It's so deep but also very enjoyable to just listen to without trying to analyze, Who are some of your musical influences as a band?

Dillinger Escape Plan was definitely an early influence. Extol is my favorite metal band, and the other guys are fans too. We share a common love for some prog rock. Particularly 80's King Crimson and 70's Yes.

Nice--I never heard of Extol so excited to check them out. Do you guys have any plans to tour? If you could tour with any bands, what would some of those be?

Oh man. They are incredible. Synergy is the album that still blows my mind every time I listen to it, but every one is great. Unfortunately no plans for tour. We haven't played the songs together in six or seven years at this point. The way our lives are and the amount of time required to have the songs in performing shape, it's just not possible anymore. I would have to be selfish and pick Extol as my dream band tour with. I only saw them once, a five song set, before they broke up. Not nearly enough to satisfy.

Gotcha and yeah that is understandable. Extol I will check out for sure! One thing along this line i was curious about was...what kept you motivated to keep going all of this time that the album was in the works?

This band was the primary vehicle for my creative expression for a long time. We put so much time into writing the music, and felt good enough about it to believe that it deserves to be released and experienced by others. As frustrating as it was at times that it was taking so long, I was not going to ever let it go unfinished.

Yeah I can see that. Persistence pays off in the end as you got to release what was surely a labor of love. Where do you see the genre of Metal and Progressive music in particular heading these days?

I kind of see it heading in two opposite directions at the same time. One side of it I feel like has become way too much about flashiness and technicality, and not enough focus on cohesive and memorable songwriting. I also have absolutely zero interest in the whole djent thing. On the other hand, there are tons of progressive/metal bands that I think are doing groundbreaking, incredible things all the time, and pushing the boundaries of the genre. So I just ignore the bands that I don't care for, and stay excited about the ones that continue to be exciting.

Agreed Eli! Fans can purchase your album on Bandcamp, right? Or is there another preferred outlet? Do you have any regrets musically at all, and what advice would you give to new bands trying to make their mark in the industry?

The digital album can be purchased and streamed on Bandcamp. There is a link on that page to buy the vinyl from Husaria Records. No regrets at all! I would challenge a new, young band to try to make music that sounds like nothing they have ever heard before.

Thanks Eli. Love the advice. There are just too many bands trying to capture a sound that is already out there. Definitely not the case with "Knife the Glitter." As I mentioned in my review, it makes me happy and sad...happy to have heard such an outstanding album and sad that this will be the only one from you guys. What are all of your future plans when it comes to music?

My current band, John Frum, is currently rehearsing for two shows we have this month. We are also starting to write for our second album. And I have started working on a second album for my solo project Intensus. Kevin is back to his recording business after two very busy years with Dillinger Escape Plan. Ryan isn't playing much music lately.

Glad to hear you are forging on. I thank you kindly for your time and wish you all the best Eli!

Thank you!

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