ABOVE THIS FIRE Interview

Above This Fire have released their album 'In Perspective', which showcases the group's intense riffing and powerfully arranged songs with an excellent production. On the day of the record's release, Erin Fox had the opportunity to ask a few questions of ATF bassist Oliver Barrett.

The Gauntlet: There has been an explosion in groups playing metalcore as of late. How do you feel ATF is different than the scores of other metalcore acts out there today?
Oliver Barrett: "Metalcore" is a loose term in today's music. You would think it means a fusing of metal and hardcore, but most of today's metalcore bands are just playing metal or at the gates riffs with breakdowns thrown in. I think we're different because we actually playing metal AND hardcore, so I guess you could say we think we're different because we're a true metalcore band in the purest form.

TG: What are some artists the band looks up to that are of a different style than ATF?
OB: Anthony Hamilton, Talib Kweli, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Aesop Rock, DJ Shadow, RJD2, loads of other stuff. All of us mostly listen to things outside of hardcore and metal, and it's not a dis on that type of music, its just because we all like to think outside of the box.

TG: What types of gear did the band use to make the album? Is it pretty much the same gear that you use on the road?
OB: Yeah it's the exact same gear actually, and if you wanted to know the secrets of our sound we'd have to kill you. However, I will tell you that I (Oliver, the bass player) used a Sansamp on the recording and I use one live so if you're reading this, and you play bass, buy one of those because otherwise, you probably sound like crap.

TG: Do you think that the metalcore scene is burning out too quickly?
OB: To be honest, yes. With all these bands on Ozzfest and MTV2 and things like that I think it'll sour the scene. Don't get me wrong, it's great those bands are getting great exposure and being able to maybe make a living off of what they're doing, and I might like that for myself too, but with the bigger those bands get the shows will change. For example, a number of years ago, I saw Unearth play for 5 bucks at a tiny venue in front of like 10 people. Now you have to pay a high price and see them in front of a packed crowd (which is awesome for them) but now you have big jock dudes and young kids that don't know how to dance and people are getting hurt and people don't understand what's going on. I keep seeing way too many fights at shows now, and it's ridiculous.

TG: Tell us what an average ATF set is like for the concert goer.
OB: It's a fun time, we get people to move up and fill in the front. People sing along, mosh, dive, and have a good time. And of course, we're having a good time playing. We don't stand still, we put tons of energy into our live show because we love playing.

TG: Is being in a band something that you had wanted to do for a long time or is it something that happened out of the blue?
OB: Its something that all of us have wanted for a long time we all started playing in bands when we were really young, and it just kept going from there.

TG: Which song is the band's favorite song to play at this time and why?
OB: That's a hard question to answer, at this particular moment my guess would be "Designing A Requiem" because the record just came out today and that song has been around the internet for free for awhile now so that song will probably have the hugest crowd response until our record has been circulated for some time.

TG: Do you think that music is an important emotional release for you? What types of things could you do instead if you were not a musician?
OB: Personally, I don't really see it as an emotional release, I just like to enjoy myself and have a good time while playing. I guess sometimes if I wasn't too happy, playing would help brighten my mood, but I don't find myself at that point too often.

TG: What is the most difficult aspect of being in the band?
OB: Well right now it's having bad luck with transportation, we've had 3 vans so far and they're all dead, and right now we're in the market for a new one but we're not loaded so its a slim market at the moment. Being away from your friends and your family for extended periods of time can be rough too.

TG: Name 3 bands that have changed the face of music history.
OB: Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones.

TG: What things outside of music influence you as an artist?
OB: I like to think I'm a designer, and I'm an extremely harsh critic when it comes to art and design and I try to bring that mentality into our music. Everyone in the band has something outside of music that they bring to the table and that helps to make our music different.

TG: What is one band that you definitely hate?
OB: Ashlee Simpson and her band. She has no talent and her band sucks. She didn't write any of that dog shit she calls music. It was awesome watching her get booed at that bowl game. I'd rather shove my arm in a blender and chew glass than listen to her. I'd love to have the opportunity to throw a brick at her face.

TG: Describe for our readers the general attitude of the band.
OB: We're a bunch of fun guys. We like eating pizza and making jokes. We're all really easy to get a long with. And we're probably funnier than you, and we can prove it. We also like prank phone calls, I'm a champ with those.

TG: When did you begin playing music?
OB: Although we're all different ages I think its safe to say that we all started playing in early high school.

TG: Rate these Metal legends:
OB: Slayer - 2
Slipknot - WHY ARE THEY ON THIS LIST, WHERE IS IRON MAIDEN?
Judas Priest -3
Black Sabbath -1
Metallica -4

TG: Nice Slipknot answer, I wondered if you would catch that, ha-ha. Rate these HxC Legends:

Murphy's Law -3
Gang Green -5
TG: Hell Yeah!
Cro-Mags -2
Sick Of It All -1
Agnostic Front -4

TG: So are you guys just in this for the chicks or what?
OB: We don't get chicks, we get 7'1, 400 pound dudes named Hoss.

TG: Tell us about your local scene.
OB: It's come a long way in the past couple years. Shows have pretty good turnouts now and there are some pretty good young bands coming up that i can name drop like - falling stars burn bright, salt the wound, and of flesh and blood.

TG: Are there any new bands we should know of?
OB: Tears from the Sky and One Dead Three Wounded, both are awesome and should start getting some heavy recognition soon.

TG: What do you like most about being on Life Sentence Records?
OB: Dan Gump, he's a fun guy.

TG: Metalcore: Passing Trend or Here To Stay?
OB: As far as mainstream goes, it's a passing trend. It'll get bigger than it is now, then slowly die down and the shows will go back to the way they were years ago.

TG: Explain the evolution of the band, tell us about your history, your goals and ambitions.
OB: We've had 6 drummers (Dave being the current and best one, and he's not going anywhere), 3 bass players (me being the current one, and I'm sticking around), and there was a time for about a year or two when there were two vocalists, one left and its been Andy for quite some time now and its turned out to be the best.

We're hoping to get on some good tours and play some awesome shows and hopefully keep this thing going because we think we're on to something.

TG: Name a band that you have always wanted to play live with.
OB: Iron Maiden or Prince, maybe at the same show.

TG: That would be a pretty damn strange show, but at the same time, pretty cool.