| w/PHIL LABONTE |
| Dawn/The Metal Web!: What has ALL THAT REMAINS been up to since the debut of BEHIND SILENCE and SOLITUDE" released back in March? Phil Labonte: Well, we did a tour in April with The Crown and Darkest Hour, which was fucking awesome for the most part. We did have some issues on tour that we had to straighten out when we got home. We had to ask our guitar player Chris to leave so we were looking for a new guitarist. And around the same time our bass player quit due to financial issues. So we had to find replacements. Now we have Mike Marten on guitar and Josh Ven on bass. We are a much happier band. A great vibe at practice we all hang out now, which we never did before. So all in all it has been an eventful summer for us. Dawn/The Metal Web!: "BEHIND SILENCE and SOLITUDE" is a pretty deep title? Was that the way you were feeling at the time of its release? Phil Labonte: When we recorded the disc in winter/spring of 2000, my father had just passed away from cancer. So it is reflected in a lot of the titles and lyrics. Behind Silence and Solitude fit the way I was feeling at the time. I actually got the inspiration from a book I was reading, Pandora by Ann Rice. It's not a quote, just the inspiration. Dawn/The Metal Web!: Off the album, which track do you think best represents ALL THAT REMAINS as a band? Phil Labonte: I don't know if just one represents us. I think I could narrow it down to three, maybe two. But not just one. One Belief and Follow come closest. But we are far more than the sum of those two parts. Dawn/The Metal Web!: First releases can be tough. Most criticisms usually stem from the band itself (laughs). Is there anything, a track, a cut, a vocal line that you wished you had done differently or are you happy with the outcome of the album? Phil Labonte: Um, I have to say kinda. The vocals I would do differently. I didn't spend much time on it do to family issues that was mentioned before. Other than that just a few small things here and there, but over all I'm very happy with the recording. Zeuss does great work, and I am happy with most all the songs. Dawn/The Metal Web!: I know you write the lyrics but you also write some of the material. What tracks did you contribute to in writing of the material? Phil Labonte: I actually wrote more than half the disc, when it comes to riffs. The only song I didn't write an actual riff in is One Belief. But we all had input on the songs. It's like I would bring in most of the raw material and then we would put it together as a band. Dawn/The Metal Web!: I hate labels on Music, especially Metal. But if you could categorize your music, what would it be? Phil Labonte: I guess it would be Metal core. We have a bit of the western mass metal core sound that people have heard form bands like Shadows Fall, Killswitch Engage, and a slew of others. But we are the most metal of them all I think. More solos, more harmonies, and I think a bit more Euro than other bands from this area. I'm in no way knocking any of the bands mentioned. I tried out for Killswitch and was in Shad so I love both bands. I just think that is the easiest way to describe our stuff. As for our new stuff, who knows. Mike and Josh are both from a heavily core Metal core band and we are more of a unit now than ever. So we will see what happens. Dawn/The Metal Web!: Who did the art layout for the "BEHIND SILENCE and SOLITUDE" cover? Phil Labonte: Jay Hendershaw formerly of Scattered Remnants. Dawn/The Metal Web!: What has the fan reaction been thus far to the new album? Phil Labonte: Over all I can't complain a bit. It has been very good. The summer kinda hurt us due to member problems that kept us off the road. But that stuff is all fixed now. I'm not sure how many units it has moved though. Dawn/The Metal Web!: When touring, where do you find ALL THAT REMAINS has the best response? A majority of bands say playing overseas has an overwhelming response for US bands. Phil Labonte: We had some really killer shows with The Crown and Darkest Hour. Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, and Jacksonville in FL were great shows. So was the one show we played in AZ. And San Francisco was awesome to. It's hard to pick a favorite cause we had such a great time. As for over seas we are hoping to find out next year or in 2004. Dawn/The Metal Web!: Earlier on and before Metal Blade Records, this release was self financed and produced by the band. With all the labels approaching you at that time, what made you decide to release yourselves? Phil Labonte: It was all timing. We were gonna record and put it out ourselves but then one label would say "we want you guys, we just have to get this ok from this guy!" Then two months later they would be like "sorry man we can't sign now" or "the big boss hasn't heard it" or the label went out of business or the timing wasn't right. So it was just a slew of reasons. Dawn/The Metal Web!: In the beginning, ALL THAT REMAINS seemed to have bad luck with some labels. The Bio quotes "several failed scenarios and a bankruptcy". What was going on at that time? Phil Labonte: No bankruptcy, but like I said it was a mess. Until we got hooked up with Prosthetic/Metal Blade. Dawn/The Metal Web!: What made was the key element in your decision to sign and trust in Metal Blade Records? You had to be feeling a little jaded due to the other labels and past experiences. Phil Labonte: Prosthetic had faith in us and were going to make us a top priority. In the metal scene, you have so many bands on so many label's, often they get brushed aside or lost in the roster. Prosthetic still has a small enough roster and yet big backing and distr. to really get our name out there if we tour and put in the effort. So it was a good deal. We did feel kinda jaded but E.J. has been so cool to us, and we feel like he has faith in what we can do. It was just what we wanted, so here we are now. Dawn/The Metal Web!: Metal Blade Records is a great label with great people that "work" for their artists. When signed, how were you approached and is it how you thought it would be? Phil labonte: Yeah they are all great. Everyone at Metal Blade has been great. Kelli and Jen are good people. The deal was really through Dave Ciancio at The Syndicate. He knew me from my time in Shadows Fall. I gave him a three-song demo and he passed it on to E.J. It is kinda how I thought it would be. We know how hard you have to work to get your name out. Especially in the metal world where you don't have commercial radio and MTV pushing you. Dawn/The Metal Web!: Is it true that all the members still work day jobs? Some people and even bands are mislead into thinking that because you have an album and a label that your millionaires overnight. I know the first couple years it can be rough. Can you tell your fans what it has been like for ALL THAT REMAINS thus far? Phil Labonte: Yeah it is really hard. You have to love what you do. You probably won't have healthcare. You certainly won't make any money to save for a few years. You may have to quit your job like I will have to and then work crappy jobs when you are home. But it's the price you have to pay if you want to make this a real full time gig. In April we were gone for a full month and came home totally broke cause our van broke down four or five times. It cost us about $4000 to fix while on tour. We haven't established ourselves yet so we aren't getting paid a shit load of money for shows. That tour ended up breaking just about even. None of us got paid at all. So we were gone from our jobs for a month and had nothing to show for it. But hey, that is how it goes sometimes. Dawn/The Metal Web!: Back in May, Chris Bartlett departed the band. What was the reason for his departure? Phil Labonte: We had some problems on tour. I don't want to get into the details to much, but we decided that it would be better for the band if he wasn't a part of All That Remains. So we asked him to leave. He didn't take it to well, and we aren't on speaking terms anymore. But it is justthe business. Dawn/The Metal Web!: Now that you found a permanent replacement in Mike Marten? What substance do you feel the new guitarist will bring to ALL THAT REMAINS? Phil Labonte: Well we will have a bit more of a Metalcore sound probably. It won't be drastic I don't think, but you will hear a more aggressive ALL THAT REMIANS on our next CD. A few more parts that kids can kill each other to. Dawn/The Metal Web!: ALL THAT REMAINS started as a side project. How does it make you feel to see your project come forth and gain so much success? Phil Labonte: It feels great! I mean, I was asked to leave Shadows Fall. At the time I wasn't happy with the stuff and direction they seemed to be going in. But it still is a blow to your ego. So to have a band that is doing well and to have a record deal, it is vindicating. Dawn/The Metal Web!: At the full launching of ALL THAT REMAINS, did you find yourself often being labeled as "the singer for Shadows Fall" and if so, how did you break that connection? Phil Labonte: It still happens. It isn't a bad thing at all. If the work I did with Shad helps ALL THAT REMAINS then great. Dawn/The Metal Web!: Speaking of Shadows Fall, I read an interview where you were quoted as saying you left Shadows Fall due to "different musical directions". Can you explain a little further because the styles are somewhat similar? Phil Labonte: Yeah the styles are kinda similar. We are all from the same area and have played in bands together and stuff so it is gonna happen. But when you hear The Art of Balance and our new stuff, I think the differences will be more apparent. They are more rock n roll, southern metal, American styled. We are more Euro, and have a more hardcore edge than they do. At least to my ears. Dawn/The Metal Web!: Was it only the musical differences or did you feel at that time that you'd like to give ALL THAT REMAINS 100%, rather than have it remain as a side project? Phil Labonte: Like I said I was asked to leave so it was definitely musical differences. Dawn/The Metal Web!: We had Matt/Shadows Fall featured a couple months back, great guys I may add, and he had wished any former members good luck. Do you agree and do you remain in close contact today? Phil Labonte: Not as much as I would like to. We both have our bands and I still work full time. They are on the road often and we are going to be in the same boat soon. We do hang when we are both around, in fact, Matt and Paul and I were just hanging out last Friday. Our manager Scott (ogre) Lee has a party once a year at The Fat Cat in Springfield. It is a pretty big deal in this area, free beer, naked girls, dunk tank; they give tons of shit away. So we were hanging and drinking there. We are still totally cool with the situation. Dawn/The Metal Web!: For 2003, is the band currently recording any new material and will there be a new album? Phil Labonte: We are going to do pre production in Jan. We are hoping to record next spring to have the disc out late next summer or early next fall. Dawn/The Metal Web!: What can the fans and media expect from ALL THAT REMAINS in this up-coming tour starting in mid. Sept.? Phil Labonte: It isn't gonna happen unfortunately. Something went wrong with Bloodlet and they aren't gonna tour. We have stuff lined up for Nov and Dec. Hopefully we can get some stuff for Oct also. Dawn/The Metal Web!: Speaking of touring, I ask every band this question. Your best tour memory, good or bad and with whom if anyone? The more gossip the better (laughs). Phil Labonte: The Crown in Ft. Lauderdale. Great time, show, great time overall. Dawn/The Metal Web!: Phil, it has definitely been a pleasure. Do you have any final words for THE METAL WEB!? Phil Labonte: Go out and buy Behind Silence and Solitude, and thank you. OFFICIAL SITE "ALL THAT REMAINS": http://www.allthatremains.cc HOME |
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