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| w/BRYAN KLINGER |
| Dawn/The Metal Web!: What is the concept behind your new release FRONT TOWARD ENEMY? Bryan Klinger: There was never an overall concept that we consciously decided to write into the album. The songs basically just came about, sharing certain traits. Like the idea of persistence & perseverance, never giving in, never letting the bastards get you down. That's always been a huge factor with this band, doing what we want to do and not letting outside forces dictate our direction. To us, FRONT TOWARD ENEMY is our war cry, our way of saying we don't take shit. Dawn/The Metal Web!: Who did the band's album design and how did the name FRONT TOWARD ENEMY originate? Bryan Klinger: Our drummer Max's brother Mike Wolff is our graphics guy and has done our last 3 releases. I discovered the title on a picture of a M18A1 Claymore mine, where on the face of the mine, it states in raised letters FRONT TOWARD ENEMY. You see it in just about every Vietnam War movie. (The M18 Claymore, a directional fragmentation mine, is 8 1/2 inches long, 1 3/ 8 inches wide, 3 1/4 inches high, and weighs 3 1/2 pounds. The mine contains 700 steel spheres (10.5 grains) and 11/2 pound layer of composition C-4 explosive and is initiated by a No. 2 electric blasting cap. The M18 command detonated mine may be employed with obstacles or on the approaches, forward edges, flanks and rear edges of protective minefields as close-in protection against a dismounted Infantry attack) Dawn/The Metal Web!: How long did it take to record the album and do you feel this is your best album to date? Bryan Klinger: We started tracking the week of Thanksgiving last year. We had to be out of the studio by mid-December to make room for another band, and then we finished up when we returned to the studio in late January 2002. Our producer Bill Metoyer then got wrangled into the new WASP record, and didn't end up mixing our CD until that was done, which by then was last May. He did end up mixing the disc at Blackie Lawless' studio, which was cool. By far this is our best work to date. From the songwriting to the production to the package, we feel this album best represents THE FALLEN. Dawn/The Metal Web!: Which track off FRONT TOWARD ENEMY do you conceive best expresses THE FALLEN and why? Bryan Klinger: I would say the title track, because it sets the tone for the rest of the album. As I said before, it’s our battle cry at this moment, and a song that really best demonstrates what we're trying to accomplish with this CD. A lot of people over the years have written us off, really given us the piss. This is our response. Dawn/The Metal Web!: The Tracks IN LOATHING, FRONT TOWARD ENEMY and KILLSWITCH are pretty aggressive lyrically with the mention of the enemy, retaliate and so forth. Who or what inspires you and/or the band when writing the material? Bryan Klinger: Anger. Instead of going down to Wal-Mart with a shit load of firearms and venting our anger on innocents, we'll write it down and sing about it. The shit you can't do anything about, but makes you so fucking angry, is the shit that makes great songs. Anger is a valid emotion that most people try to invalidate. That's not healthy. It's normal to get angry. It's not normal to suppress it. Dawn/The Metal Web!: WHAT I HAVE BECOME sounds like someone that rose up from a dark place, conquered and kicked life in the teeth. What’s the story behind that song? Bryan Klinger: It's a reflection, looking back, taking stock of your life and realizing that you've done nothing wrong and that you're actually doing what you want to. There's obstacles along the way, but those help shape who you are. I mean, how can you really know who you are if you've never been tested? Dawn/The Metal Web!: Will there be a tour to follow the release and if so, when? Bryan Klinger: I hope so. There's nothing planned at this moment, but Metal Blade has informed me that they are looking at available options and different packages. Right now we're doing several local shows and waiting for the record to come out and see what happens. Dawn/The Metal Web!: THE FALLEN released several other albums and demos. What ingredient do you think FRONT TOWARD ENEMY has that makes a difference, if any, from past albums? Bryan Klinger: A real producer. Bill Metoyer came in and really let us concentrate on the songs and arrangements, rather than having to also worry about the technical aspects like production and recording. He was all about getting us comfortable in the studio and tracking the best performance possible. We never worried once about the sounds he was capturing, because he's got our respect from his years of expertise. Dawn/The Metal Web!: Are the bands past releases still available for purchase? Bryan Klinger: Through our page at MP3.com, we have 2 discs available,THE TONES IN WHICH WE SPEAK, our 2000 full-length debut, and BLOODLETTING/BLOODWASH, which is the two demos we released before doing the full-length. They're both reasonably priced at the following page. http://www.mp3.com/thefallenusa Dawn/The Metal Web!: "THE FALLEN", how does that name signify the band? Bryan Klinger: THE FALLEN was the result of shortening the original name of the band, which was Crestfallen. Everyone was sick of explaining what Crestfallen meant, giving the dictionary definition, which is dejected, down spirited. I remember Mike calling me one day at the end of 1992 with the suggestion of just making it THE FALLEN, and I thought that was perfect. A little more vague and mysterious than having something that sounds like toothpaste. Dawn/The Metal Web!: THE FALLEN has remained together since its inception in 1992. What key component do you feel keeps this band united? Bryan Klinger: A love for metal and a mutual respect for each other. These guys are the brothers I never had. We all eat, drink, fight, cry and laugh together. We even used to do some of the same girls, but that's another story. The Metal Web!: Well, Bryan thanks for sharing that info . (Laughs) By the way, did all the members attend a College of Music? Bryan Klinger: I'm the only one in the band who didn't attend the Berklee College of Music, where the other three met and formed the band called Crestfallen. That was in Boston back in 1988. They graduated and relocated to California in '92, and that's when I got involved with them, through a mutual friend. Dawn/The Metal Web!: Individually, how long has everyone been playing? Bryan Klinger: Everyone has been playing well over half their lives. I don't have the degree in music like the others, but I've been playing just as long as they have. My background in music has been gigging in bands since I was 16. I've taken a few lessons throughout the years, but I really found my musical voice by playing in bands. The rest of the guys are all phenomenal musicians, each with a degree from Berklee and Mike & Mark have each been teaching guitar for about 10 years. Dawn/The Metal Web!: For the Bass players, what's your preference in equipment and why? Bryan Klinger: BC Rich Guitars! There is no other guitar that better exemplifies metal, plus, we have an endorsement with them. As for bass gear, for about 10 years I played strictly Trace/Elliot, until recently I've been experimenting with Ampeg. Dawn/The Metal Web!: Musically, what contributes to your style of playing and how would you classify THE FALLEN? Bryan Klinger: For me personally, it goes back to when I was a teenager and the Big Four ruled metal: Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax & Megadeth. To this day, I try to revert to the attitude that those bands emitted back in the day, and use some of that to build on what we're trying to do. I like to think that THE FALLEN is continuing that proud tradition of uncompromising metal, making music for music's sake and not just the sake of driving a Ferrari. Dawn/The Metal Web!: A couple years back, THE FALLEN won a Metal Search contest sponsored by Metal Blade and MP3.com. With thousands of bands on MP3.com, how did you manage to break through and get your material heard and win? Bryan Klinger: We just signed up for the contest, and the rest is history. At the time, it seemed such a shot in the dark, but there was nothing else going on at the time for us. We were recognized in the underground, we had gotten good press and had played across the country, but we were and still are a small fish in a rather large pond. I think it ultimately came down to the material we had and the fact that we did seem to be trying to forge our own sound. Dawn/The Metal Web!: In regards to the Metal Search contest, you were quoted "we never expected to win". Why? Your band was just as good as any other band in the finals and I don't believe it was "luck" that you won. Yes, I'm very opinionated. (laughs) Bryan Klinger: Throughout the years, we've always sent out our demos to record labels, Metal Blade included, and always got the same reply. You know those form letters from labels that say "nice try, but try again"? Well, we got a bunch, and at least 2 or 3 from Metal Blade over the years. I still have them. The ironic thing is, prior to registering for the Metal Search contest, we had sent Metal Blade a package with our full-length debut, in hopes that they would want to release it. It couldn't have been more than a week after registering THE FALLEN for the contest, that we received another rejection letter from Metal Blade. Not surprised, I filed it with the others and wrote off our chances in that contest. Then another week went by and I got an e-mail from Metal Blade that said if we were THE FALLEN from Southern California, we were still in the running for the contest. I thought that was odd, considering that they had just rejected the same album we had up on MP3.com. Even when we made it into the finals, when the voting began, we thought it impossible that we would win, just based on the previous rejections from Metal Blade. Dawn/The Metal Web!: What advice could you give that would help another band to excel to the status that you've achieved? Bryan Klinger: Persistence. If you think you got the goods and you believe in yourself, don't listen to anybody but yourself and if you get knocked down, get back up, brush yourself off and knock that fucker down. Persistence will lead to perseverance. To quote Lemmy from the classic documentary The Metal Years, “Run it up the flagpole and see who salutes it”. Dawn/The Metal Web!: THE FALLEN has been quoted as saying you were "never a band to base their existence on a record deal"; do you still feel that way after being signed? Bryan Klinger: If Metal Blade drops us tomorrow, we'll still be a band and we'll still continue to make music. We recognize the fact that we've been given an opportunity to take our music to the next level, and that's what we intend to do. But we also realize that there are no guarantees in this industry, and so we're trying to enjoy it and make the most of it before someone realizes we don't belong at this party and throws our ass out! Dawn/The Metal Web!: How has it been for the band since signing with Metal Blade Records? Bryan Klinger: We actually signed the contract in April of 2001, but we didn't get into the studio until the following November. Once we started recording with Bill, we started to realize we had label support and a team behind us, which was rather comforting. From doing everything ourselves, to then having a Producer, a Publicist, Product Managers and a label rep, its a different ballgame. We're not the type to take anything for granted, so we really appreciate the support that Metal Blade has given us. Dawn/The Metal Web!: How many albums are you contracted for or are the final results due on the outcome of the debut release FRONT TOWARD ENEMY? Bryan Klinger: We signed a 3 album deal with Metal Blade, and they have the option as to whether they want to release the next 2 or not. I suppose the final results will be determined on how "FRONT TOWARD ENEMY" does. We're already starting to write for the next one, and Metal Blade has the option for it, so we'll have to wait and see what transpires. Dawn/The Metal Web!: As I stated earlier, I'm very opinionated. And in my opinion, this album is great and should do extremely well in the industry. How are the fans and media reacting thus far to THE FALLEN? Bryan Klinger: At this point, it's still too early to tell, but we have received several great reviews for the new album, and as far as our longtime fans are concerned, they think its our best yet. It was supposed to come out last Tuesday, Sep. 10th. It got delayed until next week, Sep. 17th, because Metal Blade reported that the distributor got more orders than they had anticipated, and thus delayed it a week to fill all the. orders Dawn/The Metal Web!: Well, I’ve heard and loved the album. There’s not a doubt in my mind that it will go over huge. With that said and always a pleasure, do you have any final words for The Metal Web!? Bryan Klinger: Thanks for the interview and the support! Cool website & cool chick! Next time we're in Jersey, I'll buy you a beer. Dawn/The Metal Web!: I’ll take you up on that beer and thanks again! OFFICIAL SITE "THE FALLEN": The band has since broke-up HOME |
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