© Shadows Fall
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© Shadows Fall
Brian Fair - November 11th 2009 - Cologne (D)
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Shadows Fall released their 6th studio album Retribution in September. With their groove-laden melodic death metal they attract many metal fans, the US boys are one of the leading acts in modern metal. Click here to listen! |
© Claudia Ehrhardt
Matt Bachand - February, 20th 2002 - Essen (D)
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The reason to meet Shadows Fall on the current tour with Kittie was the release of Fear Will Drag You Down, their latest release in Europe. After the Americans opened the show in Essen for Kittie I met guitarist Matt Bachand backstage. But where to start.... I learnt that the band was founded by Matt and Jonathan Donais (guitar) back in 1996 as a death metal band. During the years they changed musically. "Everyone in the band has different influences which we try to involve into what we are doing." Soon they released an album on their own, later they signed with Century Media Records and released Of One Blood in 2000. A lot of touring in the States and Japan followed the release. "We toured with many different bands. With our friends of Hatebreed, with In Flames, a band we like a lot..." A band they got compared with because Shadows Fall combine the Swedish melodic death metal with their influences, a kind of death metal most know from bands like In Flames. "Originally this is coming from the Boston bands of the 70's." A type of music the young fans of this genre don't know. "You might be right...." Matt replied and thought about it for awhile. Back to the main reason of this conversation, the latest release! Deadworld was only released in Japan, now the Century Media debut Of One Blood and the Japanese EP are released as Fear Will Drag You Down in Europe only. "The first track Deadworld is a very old one followed by a new song which will be on the next album. The song is called Stepping Outside The Circle." Both songs are on the Japanese release. "But I have no idea why the track list of Of One Blood got changed... Century Media did it." The track list didn't got really mixed up, just the first track became the last... The CD finished with 3 live tracks which are also on the Japanese EP. A kind of re-release for their trip through Europe, a trip to conquer the European music scene by storm. In the States and Japan the their live show got them the reputation as one of the most powerful live act to see and now it's time for Europe. When Of One Blood was released the timing wasn't right and they couldn't come over to tour. Meanwhile the music scene changed and it seems that this is the time. "I hope that we can come back for festivals this summer..." It would be the next logical step. "In March we will enter the studio again to record our new album which hopefully will be out this summer." But that's not in the hands of Shadows Fall, it's Century Media's business. "We will record again in our hometown at Planet-Z with Zeuss. We know him for years which make it easier. He ain't doing it for the cheque." A quite good reason. "He started with a 4-track one and now he has studio equipment for about 500,000.- US$." Recording in their hometown many bands don't like, coz daily life can't be left behind. "Recording elsewhere is more expensive, costs for hotel, etc. which we can now spend on the production." At the Planet-Z Studio Hatebreed are now recording and it seems that we will hear more productions of Zeuss in future... He definitely did a good job on the Shadows Fall releases. But before the recordings there have to be the songwriting process... "Usually me and Jonathan have the ideas and workout songs, afterwards we meet at the rehearsal room and everyone got involved. Our singer Brian lives about 2 hours from where we live and so we send him tapes and he works out the vocal lines and lyrics." All the touring let the band grow together and make it possible to work that way. Not the easiest way, but for the Massachusetts based quintet it works. Hopefully the sympathetic five-piece can return to the European stages soon. The fans of Kittie might not the best audience for Matt and his mates, but they made new friends out here. "Many fans of Kittie wouldn't buy our album or come to see us, but like what they see." It's not the easiest way, but a challenge and it seems that on most other nights they succeeded.... The audience here ain't easy to convince, a problem many bands faced before. But at a time where Nu Metal got played at TV channels and radio stations there is a chance for them to make it. Bands like Linkin Park, Papa Roach and Limp Bizkit opened the doors and with a little luck others as well as Shadows Fall will follow. They are no clones, they have their own style and even if it's in a different style they work with growls and clean vocals like Linkin Park. But is this the time for Shadows Fall? Only future can tell, but personally I hope that they'll get their chances and I'm pretty sure Matt & co. will use their chances! |
| ©2008-2010 by Claudia Ehrhardt • E-Mail: contact@ice-vajal.com |
