You just put out your album I, Colossus. How has
the response been so far?
The response has been overwhelming. It's still difficult to grip the fact
that so many people are listening to our record and giving such positive
feedback. When we initially came out of the studio, we were very pleased
with it, and it's inspiring that people feel the same.
You recorded the album with Jamie King who has
worked on a lot of great albums. What was it like working with someone so
well known in the metal world?
Well, Jamie has had a reputation for producing amazing recordings for years
now (refer to the nearest album that Mr. King has had his hand in since the
turn of the century for verification if you've been under a rock for the
last 8 years), and needless to say, we were all a little intimidated to be
working with such an aural wizard at first. But, by far the best thing about
Jamie King is that he is purely a joy to work with. He is everything you
would imagine in a seasoned audio-professional, and a super nice guy to
boot. We all worked very well together, and the end result is something we
think we all can be proud of.
How do you guys approach your song writing?
With this album, being a concept album and all, we wanted to convey the plot
to the listener in every way possible. The lyrics and the actual
compositions behind them are strategically placed in order to deliver the
many aspects of the main character's journey through life, and ultimately
death. We attempted to control the flow of the record by utilizing our
instrument's dynamics to set the tone or mood of each part of the story. We
believe that it is this that sets this CD apart from others.
What was it like working with Phil of
Whitechapel on the track The Cleansing Apparatus?
Personally, I've know Phil for the entirety of the 21st century.
We have worked together on projects in the past, and maintain a friendship.
He's an amazing vocalist, and when someone mentioned the possibility of
featuring a guest on "The Cleansing Apparatus", I knew who to call. He was
totally into it from the beginning, but unfortunately, he couldn't make it
to The Basement Studios in Winston-Salem, NC during our time with Jamie. We
ended up cutting a vocal track at my studio, and bouncing it over to Jamie
after we finished our tracks for the album. It came out fantastic, and Phil
definitely is a great addition to the record.
Where does
the name A Different Breed of Killer come from?
A Different Breed of Killer is derived from a motion picture entitled "From
Hell". The phrase is used by Inspector Frederick Abberline, played by Johnny
Depp, to describe a brutal murderer.
You have a few shows scattered throughout the
summer. Any plans for a full US tour?
Nothing I can speak on yet, but definitely keep an eye out. We never stay
home for too long, and we're cooking up something special at the moment.
Unfortunately, I believe that is all I can say right now.
How did you hook up with Rise Records?
Craig (President of Rise Records) actually shot us an email one day saying
that liked the material, and that he was interested in us. It was pretty
great from my point of view, because this happened about 3 days after I
officially dropped my "fill-in" status and joined the band as a permanent
member. Rise is a stellar label with some amazing bands and credibility
behind it, and we're stoked to be a part of the family.
What's the significance behind the title I,
Colossus?
The phrase "I, Colossus" is meant to convey the mind state of the main
character who is essentially a genetically-altered soldier created by the
government (of whichever nation you choose to loathe), and intended for
military dominance over the entire world. The downfall of that plan begins
when a flaw in the process allows the main character to develop free will,
and the ability to choose what he does with this apocalyptic power. I don't
want to ruin the story, so I encourage you to check out the album to find
out more.
If you could play a show with any three
artists, past or present, who would they be?
Personally, I'm a huge fan of technical metal in all forms. A Between the
Buried and Me, Into the Moat,
Sikth, and A Different Breed of Killer show would certainly be
something I could get excited over.
Who did the album artwork for I, Colossus?
Chris Rubey of The Devil Wears Prada actually did our artwork. There were
some things that didn't exactly come out like we had planned (due to
deadlines, miscommunication, etc.), but overall it came out great, and we're
very pleased to have worked with him.
That's all. Any last words for the fans or
readers?
Please check out
www.myspace.com/adifferentbreedofkiller
for updates on us, and be on the lookout for us all over the U.S. a little
later this year with some amazing bands. Our debut album is available in
stores nationwide now, and on
iTunes
and Zune marketplace. Thanks to everyone who has supported us this far, and
continue to do so in the coming future.