Brian Fair - Shadows Fall
Shadows Fall are the consummate American Metal Band and we are here to further that knowledge. Retribution is a sickening piece of metal that does not let up from the moment you press play to the last ear splitting note. Brian Fair, the consummate rock vocalist and anti BP warrior, took the time to fill Metal Exiles in on Retribution and their upcoming DVD Madness In Manila.
An interview with Brian Fair of Shadows Fall by Jeffrey Easton
Metal Exiles: The new record is great but do you think Retribution tops Threads Of life?
Brian Fair: For me Retribution is more of a balanced record because it shows all of our influences from everything we listen to. From old school thrash, melodic death metal and old school hardcore. Threads was more focused on a big old school kind of rock sound. This is more balanced but there are moments of each that I appreciate but then the band is always going to appreciate their new record the most. To me it was a natural progression to get to retribution. It took ten plus years of the band to get to that point.
Metal Exiles: You have had moments of melodic metal amongst the other influences in the past so why did you want to do Retribution this way?
Brian: It was where we were at when we started writing. The first song that we wrote was Public Execution and then War. We came out of the gates with a very heavy as that was the vibe we were going for. That was where the record was heading but there are still some melodic moments with Picture Perfect and The Taste Of Fear but the tone was set by the first few songs that we wrote. Jonathan just had some angry riffs in the bag.
Metal Exiles: I like the nice melodic intro that is The Path To Imminent Ruin which of course leads into the barrage. What is your opinion on what it does for an album?
Brian: To me it is the calm before the storm and we have gone two directions in the past. We have gone for the kick to the balls right out of the gate but with other albums it has started in a melodic way with the slow buildup. There are two different vibes and approaches, it is following along with that classic Master Of Puppets model.
Metal Exiles: Lyrically this is a dark album, where do you go mentally to come up with the words for this album?
Brian: it is a little bit of light and dark where as in the past our albums have been mostly positive. This one does have a darker side to it but it is just coming to terms with things in your life. I am reaching my mid 30’s and you are getting to different points in your life and reflecting on things so it for me it was a catharsis of sorts. I am dealing with things but more in a positive way but you have to write down the negativity to get to the positive aspects. Songs like “King Of Nothing” have negative imagery but it is a warning to people to not fall into traps of self destruction which is the same with “My Demise”.
Metal Exiles: Now, this album is available on vinyl but it seems that everybody is into their iPod’s and downloading everything. Why do you think vinyl is making a comeback?
Brian: We make every available on vinyl because Paul and I are big vinyl collectors. I think it is the collectable side of it. Today music is not as hard to find as it was in the past. If you did not have a cool friend or older brother then you just did not find about these underground bands. Now it is easier so to show your support and take it to another level of support and show that you are down you go buy the vinyl. The sound quality is so awesome on vinyl so hopefully people are caring again. Besides, you can steal the CD version from the internet but you can’t download the vinyl.
Metal Exiles: Do you think there is a difference in the sound quality?
Brian: Yes I do and it’s not that its better or worse, it is just a difference. When the needle drags over those grooves it is just a different tonality to it. It is a warmer sound and audio wise it is a personal preference. Soundwise with an mp3 when you dump a file from a CD to an mp3 you lose sound quality so it does not have the same life.
Metal Exiles: Back to Retribution, do you feel that with your next record you will follow a different path?
Brian: We have no idea but we have an idea that we will write a pretty heavy record because some of the preliminary ideas that we have had have been in that direction. Also Matt and Jonathan have been writing some melodic rock stuff separately to get that vibe out with a separately for a side project. I have a feeling that it will be a pretty nasty record but we always plan something then another thing completely different thing comes out.
Metal Exiles: Are there any other demons that you did not get out with this record?
Brian: There are always things that are going to come up in your life that you need to come out. It could be personal or political situations. All you need to do is pick up a newspaper or watch CNN to get enough ammunition to write a metal record. The world is crumbling around us as we speak.
Metal Exiles: What has pissed you off recently?
Brian: Personally it was the oil spill in the Gulf and the way it was handled. Not even that that happened, accidents do happen but the way the laws protected the businesses that get away with doing it and then dumping the costs on the taxpayers. Also you do not know what the long term affects will be on the environment and to think that this can happen in this day and age and people can walk away from it and still have a job.
Metal Exiles: One interesting thing about this album is that you released it on your own imprint but it debuted higher than your last album on Atlantic. How did that happen?
Brian: A little of it is funny math. The last one sold about the same but this one charted higher because nobody buys records anymore so the entire chart is lower. We enjoyed ourselves on Atlantic and learned a lot of good lessons but they did not understand was how to promote a band like us. They tried to fit us into their model of big money on videos and radio and hoping it all works out. We put our resources into peer to peer and touring. With this record we were able to focus the campaign ourselves so it was easy to get to the right people.
Metal Exiles: You have done Century, Atlantic and now your own label. Are you giving yourself a lesson in label politics?
Brian: That is the thing, we self released our first record, went to an indy, a major label and now we are doing a distribution deal where we own the record. We took the good and bad of all of those to form into our own business model. It is completely band controlled because when you sign to a label it is a loan as they own the rights the recording. You pay everything back and get a tiny percentage later on. This way we are at the top so we control everything, publishing included and do not waste money. It makes us work harder as it is going back into our pocket and it makes us work smarter because if you make a mistake it is your own fault and if you waste money it is your own money. I think it is the wave of the future because as the business adapts to new things the bands just need to be more proactive and do things themselves.
Metal Exiles: Do you think that will be the norm in the future as more labels close or downsize?
Brian: I think bands are going to find a team to promote it and build it around that and they should. It will be harder for new bands to do that as they do not have the legacy to do that but at least a band like us have been around long enough to have made the right contacts to do it. Unfortunately bands these days are signing 360 deals where they are giving away a portion of everything (meaning money from cd sales, merch and touring) including their unborn kids probably. The industry is changing drastically and it will take a real band movement to take back control and now is the opportunity.
Metal Exiles: You have a DVD coming out called Madness In Manila. Tell us about it.
Brian: It will be multiple cameras, straight to pro tools audio and of course explosions and fire. Now they did not practice any of it so we had no idea when things were going to blow up, it kept you on your toes. We are going to include some bonus stuff like the festival we did in Korea as well as a TV show we did there as well as some other random stuff.
Metal Exiles: Many bands are starting to go to different parts of the Pacific Rim. Why are bands starting to flock there where as they did not before?
Brian: This promoter is really stepping up there and making it a place that bands want to go to. We were one of the first bands to do it and we loved it so much we told everybody. He threw in all of the trimmings to make it worthwhile but we enjoyed it. The shows are amazing, the fans are incredible and it is one the places that I did not think metal would ever take me.
Metal Exiles: You guys did the amazing Rockstar Mayhem tour. Now, do you get more out of doing the festival shows like this or your own thing?
Brian: This kind of festival is a blast because with all of the bands, it is just a rolling party but with a packed club, you know everybody is there to see you. It is a completely different vibe because that is what we grew up doing but being in a show like this with all of your friends and about 10,000 plus people is amazing. With these opportunities, we try to let everybody know what you are about and try to convert them to your music. With the headliner show, you are already preaching to the converted, they are already there to see you, they will just know if you were good or bad that night.
Metal Exiles: Last words for your fans?
Brian: The DVD is coming out soon and we will be touring until the end of the year.
Shadows Fall came out of a mixed scene of bands only to rise to the top and stay there. If you have yet to be converted to their way of metal, you are truly left out.
Official Shadows Fall Site
BUY RETRIBUTION!
BUY MADNESS IN MANILA!
An interview with Brian Fair of Shadows Fall by Jeffrey Easton
Metal Exiles: The new record is great but do you think Retribution tops Threads Of life?
Brian Fair: For me Retribution is more of a balanced record because it shows all of our influences from everything we listen to. From old school thrash, melodic death metal and old school hardcore. Threads was more focused on a big old school kind of rock sound. This is more balanced but there are moments of each that I appreciate but then the band is always going to appreciate their new record the most. To me it was a natural progression to get to retribution. It took ten plus years of the band to get to that point.
Metal Exiles: You have had moments of melodic metal amongst the other influences in the past so why did you want to do Retribution this way?
Brian: It was where we were at when we started writing. The first song that we wrote was Public Execution and then War. We came out of the gates with a very heavy as that was the vibe we were going for. That was where the record was heading but there are still some melodic moments with Picture Perfect and The Taste Of Fear but the tone was set by the first few songs that we wrote. Jonathan just had some angry riffs in the bag.
Metal Exiles: I like the nice melodic intro that is The Path To Imminent Ruin which of course leads into the barrage. What is your opinion on what it does for an album?
Brian: To me it is the calm before the storm and we have gone two directions in the past. We have gone for the kick to the balls right out of the gate but with other albums it has started in a melodic way with the slow buildup. There are two different vibes and approaches, it is following along with that classic Master Of Puppets model.
Metal Exiles: Lyrically this is a dark album, where do you go mentally to come up with the words for this album?
Brian: it is a little bit of light and dark where as in the past our albums have been mostly positive. This one does have a darker side to it but it is just coming to terms with things in your life. I am reaching my mid 30’s and you are getting to different points in your life and reflecting on things so it for me it was a catharsis of sorts. I am dealing with things but more in a positive way but you have to write down the negativity to get to the positive aspects. Songs like “King Of Nothing” have negative imagery but it is a warning to people to not fall into traps of self destruction which is the same with “My Demise”.
Metal Exiles: Now, this album is available on vinyl but it seems that everybody is into their iPod’s and downloading everything. Why do you think vinyl is making a comeback?
Brian: We make every available on vinyl because Paul and I are big vinyl collectors. I think it is the collectable side of it. Today music is not as hard to find as it was in the past. If you did not have a cool friend or older brother then you just did not find about these underground bands. Now it is easier so to show your support and take it to another level of support and show that you are down you go buy the vinyl. The sound quality is so awesome on vinyl so hopefully people are caring again. Besides, you can steal the CD version from the internet but you can’t download the vinyl.
Metal Exiles: Do you think there is a difference in the sound quality?
Brian: Yes I do and it’s not that its better or worse, it is just a difference. When the needle drags over those grooves it is just a different tonality to it. It is a warmer sound and audio wise it is a personal preference. Soundwise with an mp3 when you dump a file from a CD to an mp3 you lose sound quality so it does not have the same life.
Metal Exiles: Back to Retribution, do you feel that with your next record you will follow a different path?
Brian: We have no idea but we have an idea that we will write a pretty heavy record because some of the preliminary ideas that we have had have been in that direction. Also Matt and Jonathan have been writing some melodic rock stuff separately to get that vibe out with a separately for a side project. I have a feeling that it will be a pretty nasty record but we always plan something then another thing completely different thing comes out.
Metal Exiles: Are there any other demons that you did not get out with this record?
Brian: There are always things that are going to come up in your life that you need to come out. It could be personal or political situations. All you need to do is pick up a newspaper or watch CNN to get enough ammunition to write a metal record. The world is crumbling around us as we speak.
Metal Exiles: What has pissed you off recently?
Brian: Personally it was the oil spill in the Gulf and the way it was handled. Not even that that happened, accidents do happen but the way the laws protected the businesses that get away with doing it and then dumping the costs on the taxpayers. Also you do not know what the long term affects will be on the environment and to think that this can happen in this day and age and people can walk away from it and still have a job.
Metal Exiles: One interesting thing about this album is that you released it on your own imprint but it debuted higher than your last album on Atlantic. How did that happen?
Brian: A little of it is funny math. The last one sold about the same but this one charted higher because nobody buys records anymore so the entire chart is lower. We enjoyed ourselves on Atlantic and learned a lot of good lessons but they did not understand was how to promote a band like us. They tried to fit us into their model of big money on videos and radio and hoping it all works out. We put our resources into peer to peer and touring. With this record we were able to focus the campaign ourselves so it was easy to get to the right people.
Metal Exiles: You have done Century, Atlantic and now your own label. Are you giving yourself a lesson in label politics?
Brian: That is the thing, we self released our first record, went to an indy, a major label and now we are doing a distribution deal where we own the record. We took the good and bad of all of those to form into our own business model. It is completely band controlled because when you sign to a label it is a loan as they own the rights the recording. You pay everything back and get a tiny percentage later on. This way we are at the top so we control everything, publishing included and do not waste money. It makes us work harder as it is going back into our pocket and it makes us work smarter because if you make a mistake it is your own fault and if you waste money it is your own money. I think it is the wave of the future because as the business adapts to new things the bands just need to be more proactive and do things themselves.
Metal Exiles: Do you think that will be the norm in the future as more labels close or downsize?
Brian: I think bands are going to find a team to promote it and build it around that and they should. It will be harder for new bands to do that as they do not have the legacy to do that but at least a band like us have been around long enough to have made the right contacts to do it. Unfortunately bands these days are signing 360 deals where they are giving away a portion of everything (meaning money from cd sales, merch and touring) including their unborn kids probably. The industry is changing drastically and it will take a real band movement to take back control and now is the opportunity.
Metal Exiles: You have a DVD coming out called Madness In Manila. Tell us about it.
Brian: It will be multiple cameras, straight to pro tools audio and of course explosions and fire. Now they did not practice any of it so we had no idea when things were going to blow up, it kept you on your toes. We are going to include some bonus stuff like the festival we did in Korea as well as a TV show we did there as well as some other random stuff.
Metal Exiles: Many bands are starting to go to different parts of the Pacific Rim. Why are bands starting to flock there where as they did not before?
Brian: This promoter is really stepping up there and making it a place that bands want to go to. We were one of the first bands to do it and we loved it so much we told everybody. He threw in all of the trimmings to make it worthwhile but we enjoyed it. The shows are amazing, the fans are incredible and it is one the places that I did not think metal would ever take me.
Metal Exiles: You guys did the amazing Rockstar Mayhem tour. Now, do you get more out of doing the festival shows like this or your own thing?
Brian: This kind of festival is a blast because with all of the bands, it is just a rolling party but with a packed club, you know everybody is there to see you. It is a completely different vibe because that is what we grew up doing but being in a show like this with all of your friends and about 10,000 plus people is amazing. With these opportunities, we try to let everybody know what you are about and try to convert them to your music. With the headliner show, you are already preaching to the converted, they are already there to see you, they will just know if you were good or bad that night.
Metal Exiles: Last words for your fans?
Brian: The DVD is coming out soon and we will be touring until the end of the year.
Shadows Fall came out of a mixed scene of bands only to rise to the top and stay there. If you have yet to be converted to their way of metal, you are truly left out.
Official Shadows Fall Site
BUY RETRIBUTION!
BUY MADNESS IN MANILA!
