FALLEN MARTYR

PHOTO COURTESY OF FALLEN MARTYR
WEBSITE: www.myspace.com/fallenmartyr
COUNTRY: United States STYLE: Metal / Progressive / Thrash

YOU HAVE A VERY “EPIC” SOUND. HOW DO YOU GUYS NORMALLY APPROACH THE SONG WRITING PROCESS?

GABRIEL: I usually write alone, and Michael will write his songs alone, and we collaborate here and there or add ideas to each others songs, but we usually write separately. Once we finish writing a song, we tab it into a program called Guitar Pro, which then allows us to program drums and that lets us hear what it would sound like...then we add synths and tweak stuff up.

Then we record our own rough demos with the rest of the band....so all our songs get demo'd a lot before the final recording to make sure they are as solid as possible. We record our solos, go over drums with Jake, make sure the bass lines are solid with Doug, and it allows Ryan to write lyrics and vocal patterns without all the extra noise of a live band jamming.

THE BAND HAS VERY SKILLED MUSICIANS. IS IT HARD SOMETIMES TO NOT GET CARRIED AWAY DURING SONG WRITING AND LEAVE SOME “ROOM” ON THE SONGS FOR VOCAL PARTS AS WELL?

We just write the songs....we don’t really think about where the vocals will go...once we figure out where the solos will go we let Ryan figure out what to do with the songs. It might make things tough for him, but I think it helps keep things interesting because we never know what he’s going to do. Most metal "vocalists" would just end up screaming over crazy fast riffing, but Ryan will usually take the opposite approach.

He has the ability to sing cleanly, and was singing before he ever started the more aggressive screaming/growling he does. So its something we can use to expand our music. Plus, in my opinion, most people end of "singing" your lyrics for the most part...not everyone will walk around humming a growl or scream. So we feel like its a channel that really allows us to connect with people. Plus, we have concepts we want people to understand, so singing allows it to be heard a lot more clearly.

THERE ARE A LOT OF SAMPLES IN YOUR SONGS. WHO WRITES AND PERFORMS THOSE PARTS ON THE RECORDINGS AND HOW DO YOU INCORPORATE THOSE SAMPLES INTO YOUR LIVE SHOW?

The synths are actually a backing track, live we use a laptop and we have a rig set up that splits the signal so our drummer can play to a click track and stay on time with the synths, choirs etc and it splits the signal so the PA system only plays the synths with no click track. We write all the synth parts on our laptops, I have an understanding of music theory and can read music and have played other instruments...but...a lot of times music needs to be written not by knowing, but by doing.

It’s all about how the end product sounds ultimately. You don’t have to be a musical virtuoso to write and appealing song. But we have the technology now that you can create music using midi notes, and turn them into symphonies, or choir vocals, electronic sounds all sorts of things. It’s awesome to be able to experiment with sounds and make music just using your computer.

THE BAND RELEASED THE EP “THE SIX ROOTS OF TRUE WILL” A FEW MONTHS BACK, BUT YOU GUYS PROBABLY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON SOME NEW SONGS SINCE THEN. IS THERE A FULL LENGTH ALBUM ON THE WAY ANY TIME SOON?

We currently have 11 new songs in rough demo form, and plan to have a lot more. We are hoping to be able to put a full length out sometime, but we have touring plans that will be taking our focus away from that for a bit. But we will keep writing so we can be as prepared as possible, at this rate we may have over 20 solid songs by spring. And what we have written so far i feel like is very solid...no filler, and will also be a continuing story that picks up at the end of the EP.

THERE IS A GREAT BALANCE BETWEEN THE HEAVY AND MELODIC ELEMENTS OF THE BAND’S SOUND. WITH THE BAND ALREADY PERFORMING MUSIC THAT IS VERY TECHNICAL HOW FAR DO YOU THINK YOU GUYS WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE “FORWARD” MUSICALLY IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

There’s a lot of new things we'd like to try with the band, we just want to write music. Overall we are a metal band but we have many non-metal influences. I guess we will see how things unfold for us sound wise later. Also, we are always constantly practicing, and as we mature with our skill I believe our music naturally will to as well.

WOULD YOU SAY THE BAND HAS A “THEME” THAT RUNS THROUGH ALL OF YOUR SONGS LYRICALLY OR MUSICALLY?

Yes, it does...Ryan will explain his concept and I try to create the right mood for what I think compliments the story. I’d explain it, but we'd like people to get into the lyrics and follow it the way they think it goes.

YOU GUYS HAVE A GREAT SOUND. WHAT GEAR DOES THE BAND CURRENTLY USE AND ARE YOU ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW EQUIPMENT OR TECHNIQUES THAT CAN IMPROVE THE BAND’S SOUND EVEN MORE?

Thanks man! Myself and Mikey use 7 string guitars...I use Schecter and Mikey uses a brand called Agile (underground company; keep your eye out for that). Doug uses a 5 string Warwick bass. But I’m a firm believer that good equipment is only a small part of your sound. Your hands and technique will determine how clean you play and your style. My rig is really expensive, but if I make a mistake it’ll be heard loud and clear. So I think its all a matter of your playing ability. Practicing is in my opinion what gives you a good sound.

TALKING ABOUT SOUND. IF YOU HAD TO COMPARE WHAT THE BAND HAS ACHIEVED IN STUDIO WOULD YOU SAY THE BAND HAS COME PRETTY CLOSE TO ACHIEVING THAT SOUND IN A LIVE ENVIRONMENT?

I would say we do...there have been a few shows where we get rushed to set up and we don’t get sound checked properly and something may not go as we planned...i.e. not being able to have the synth or everyone else properly in the mix etc....but for the most part I think a lot of our sound is pretty spot on. And if something messes up...well it’s a live show, just got to keep playing, headbanging, and having a good time.

I SEE THERE IS ONE GIG A MONTH LISTED ON YOUR MYSAPCE FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS. I GUESS THERE WILL BE MORE ADDED SOON OR ARE YOU GUYS CONCENTRATING ON SONG WRITING FOR NOW?

We have really big tour plans for early next year, so we are focusing on that. We just want to practice as much as we can, and get everything as solid and prepared as possible. We have to sell presale tickets for our shows, and that can be stressful sometimes, so we just want to keep things as comfortable as possible for now.

LOOKING AT THOSE GIGS THAT ARE LISTED ON YOUR MYSPACE, YOU GUYS SEEM TO PERFORM ON THE SAME LINE UP AS MUSICIANS THAT PLAY A WIDE VARIETY OF HEAVY MUSIC. IF YOU LOOK BACK, WHICH ONE OF THOSE BANDS HAS HAD THE BIGGEST “IMPACT” ON YOU?

I couldn’t name one in particular...but we are all fans of progressive, forward moving music(metal and non-metal) and a lot of times its not the sound of the music that impacts us. Just seeing those musicians setting up gear; selling their merch; talking to their fans, or even watching their interviews online etc....that really has an impact on us to really push ahead and one day be able to share our music with as many people as possible.

ANY COMMENTS OR ANYTHING ELSE FANS SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR?

Thanks a lot for reading this and the support! We are working on coming out and meeting all of you soon, keep an eye out for it!