 bst interviews letter kills. by rob tatum Recently, bst had the chance to interview Kyle Duckworth, the bassist of Letter Kills, during the band's stop in Denver as part of this year's Warped Tour. We spent some time asking Kyle about the band's new album, The Bridge, as well as hitting other topics such as touring, Island Records, and mp3's. The following is a recap of the interview. If you are interested in learning more about and listening to Letter Kills, visit the band's official website, and Island Records. This interview took place on July 18th, 2004 at Invesco Field in Denver, CO. bst: Your new album, The Bridge, hits stores next week, what do have to say to someone who is thinking about picking it up? Kyle: We feel that the album offers a little something for everyone. Our goal with the album was to breakdown barriers and touch base with numerous genres. That was a big part of the reason behind the album’s title.  bst: You guys hail from Southern California, do you find it difficult to stand out from the stereotypes that are given to bands from that area?Kyle: We’ve heard just about everything, but we really try to distance ourselves from that. It takes away from the scene and it really has little effect on the band. bst: I know that you guys toured pretty relentlessly last year before the album was recorded. How did the break from touring effect the recording of the album? Kyle: It was the best thing for us as a band. The touring allowed us to build chemistry and helped make the songs tighter. We were stubborn kids and we wanted to record right away, but after all that has happened we’re really glad we waited. bst: Speaking of tours, how was this year’s Warped Tour been so far? Anything out of the ordinary? Kyle: Nothing too bad. We had a lot of lightning in Salt Lake City, but nothing compared to the rain that hit last year in St. Louis during Warped. bst: Do you think the diversity of the bands on big tours like Warped Tour helps the music community or do you think it drives some fans away with such short sets and so many bands?  Kyle: The tour is great for up and coming bands. It’s a great way to get your name out there and introduce people to your music. As for the established bands, it’s a different story. They are better suited for headlining shows in clubs, not cramming a few songs into a half an hour set. bst: How has working with Island been? Kyle: Island has been great. They treat us really well. We made the right choice. bst: How do you feel about internet music sites/zines? Do you feel that mp3’s are an asset to up-and-coming bands? Kyle: The music sites and online zines are great for the music community because they help bands build a fan base. Instead of dumping all their money into tours, bands can establish a following by posting some songs for download. Obviously stealing music is bad, but I’m all for bands having the opportunity to expose themselves if they want to. bst: Thanks for taking time to speak with us. |
Sunday, July 18, 2004
Interview: Letter Kills
Saturday, July 17, 2004
Review: Unearth - The Oncoming Storm
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By far one of the most anticipated releases of the year, Unearth’s The Oncoming Storm is the band’s debut on Metal Blade. The band had a tough act to follow, as the band’s previous release, The Stings of Conscience, propelled the band to forefront in the metalcore scene. The transition to Metal Blade did little to compromise the band’s sound or direction as the album crushes any doubts. The Oncoming Storm is leaps and bounds ahead of any metal or hardcore release of the year thus far. From the blistering intro in “The Great Dividers” to the last breakdown in “False Idols,” the album is a roller coaster of metal riffs, breakdowns, and powerful masterpieces. I’m sure that many fans would have liked this album to have been released much sooner, but after one listen, it’s easy to see the time spent on this album was well worth it. The tight knit songs contain everything you’ve come to expect from Unearth, but with much more purpose. The album flows much better than The Stings of Conscience and the songs sound much more complete. Trevor’s powerful voice bellows angry lyrics and enhances the songs with authority. The lyrics are very refined and remind the listener that Unearth isn’t about love songs. Of course the lyrics are not the first indication of Unearth’s power, as the music explodes in chaotic barrages. Breakdowns are plentiful, as are the metal riffs Although this album is not really anything new for Unearth, it is so far ahead of the other bands in the genre, you can’t help but want more. There’s some melody here and there, but it really goes unnoticed in the swing of things. The only parts of the album that I didn’t like are the mellow “Aries” that seems out of place and the fact you can't hear the cymbals very well in any song. Otherwise as an Unearth fan, I couldn’t be happier. The re-recorded version of Endless is excellent. Even the cheesy call out of breakdown in "This Lying World” couldn’t sway this listener. The best band in metalcore had only gotten better. |
