Interview Phil LaBonte All That Remains

Prong ALL THAT REMAINS Oasis 160 05/09/04 Interviewer: Sharita Lumpkin Photos: Erika Kristen Watt

Lineup: Phil LaBonte - Vocals Oli Herbert - Guitar Mike Martin - Guitar Matt Deis - Bass Mike Bartlett - Drums

Sharita (FourteenG):  This is Sharita and I am interviewing Phil from All That Remains

I just want to ask you a couple of basic questions first, what were your influences when you were growing up?

Phil: I just started Iron Maiden, Metallica and heavier stuff like that.

Sharita: Ok Great. Do you think that All That Remains has the potential to be successful?

Phil: I think certain bands have the potential to get widespread, It's very difficult, I mean Killswitch has it, Shadows Fall has it, Hatebreed is actually already big. I think there are certain bands that are rock pioneers and have a fresh outlook on it, Lamb Of God you know. I think there are bands that will try to do it, same style, mediocre, probably end up being like thrash was in the 80's, they coupled it with one real big dog that will stand the test of time and a few more that will just go along with it.

Sharita: I read in your press release that you guys do the music for yourselves, why and how has that worked out so far?

Phil: The reason why we said we don't write stuff for other people is because first of all it's hit or miss, there's a lot of things that need to be quantified, there's a lot of things that make a band that you really can't put a finger on. There are bands out there selling  tons of records, that you don't hear a lot about,  don't get coverage on MTV but their still selling 60-70,000 records 'cause I think As I Lay Dying was one of them, sold 70,000 records and you never hear about  them in magazines and stuff. Then there's other bands that you see all over the place and they are not moving the kind of numbers that you'd expect considering all the press coverage they have. So, it's important to please yourself first, doing what you want to do, doing music for yourself  than at the very least at the end of the day if you only sold a thousand records you could say I did it on my terms, people could say I didn't like that or you're a failure but no one could ever take away the fact that you do what you wanted to do.

Sharita: What is the term "metalcore" mean?

Phil: I mean basically metalcore is a trendy tem for metal.  There's some stomping stuff, something that the kids can dance to.  I mean we have to great guitarists in the band that are degreed so it's really  not anything it's just a new word for metal. Some people say we're metalcore, Shadows Fall is metalcore, Killswitch is metalcore and even some say they are not metalcore, they're just metal. Some people say  Hatebreed is hardcore. I mean it really boils down to how you dress these days, how tight your jeans are and what shirt you're wearing.

Sharita: Tell me a little about how ATR came about.

Phil: I started ATR because I wanted to play guitar, I played guitar in a band before, I sang for SF for about a year and a half, had an amp, and I wanted to do a side project.  At the time Brian had become available because Overcast had broken up.  So they asked me to leave because they got another frontmen.

Sharita: Oh so it wasn't like a bad thing?

Phil: No there is no bad blood. Me, Matt and John hung out at the New England Metalfest .

Sharita: By the way, how  was the Metalfest?

Phil: It was really, really cool. I mean it was about 3,000 people there each day so it was a lot of fun.

Sharita: How did the word get around about ATR?

Phil: I think right know it's been word of mouth and our label Prosthetic. Good reviews and word of mouth has really worked for us. (As well as) a two week stint on the east coast, some in secondary markets and this tour. On this one Prong's crowd  really isn't our crowd so we hope to turn some people on to our stuff, convert them to this style of music.

Sharita: What's it like working with Adam of KSE?

Phil: It's really cool because me and  Adam have known each other for years and years and I filled in on guitar in his previous band aftershock, and he's really cool. I trust him with our stuff. He knows the sound of music inside and out and getting the best performance out of you and if it's not good enough he will let you know  and not be condescending, it's always light-hearted. I mean he's just real easy to work with and a really fun dude.

Erika: How's your writing process?

Phil: I mean This Darkened Heart, I would come to practice with three or four riffs that were really good. (talking about Oli) He teaches, he knows music backwards and forwards. If someone brings a good riff or part he elaborates on it and really makes it great. I mean our  bass player Matt Deis has an associates in music. So I mean we have very  skilled musicians in this band. It's really cool to work with people who know their stuff 'cause I'm a music moron. I mean, I can figure out what note I'm playing if you give me a few seconds. So we put two or three riffs together and flush it out. I think the next record, we've got some stuff we're working on, Oli's got some stuff too. (This time) it will be more of a band effort.

Sharita: Any bands you' like to tour with?

Phil: I mean what it basically boils down to we want to hang out with our friends. We want to go out with Killswitch, SF, and Unearth,  there's talk about stuff but it's all just talk. This would work because  they are the biggest bands in the genre, we basically play the same style,  all from the same area.

Sharita: Are there plans for ATR to tour Europe or any place overseas in the near future?

Phil: Were hoping to go in the fall or next spring. I just talked to Adam who just got back from Japan, he says they're playing the (ATR) disc over there. So hopefully the kids will pick it up.

Sharita: So how has Prosthetic been treating you guys?

Phil: They been really good to us I mean EJ and Dan they've pretty much come through for us, got us in all the metal  magazines, the video will air on Headbangers Ball this coming weekend they are really  holding their end of the deal.

Sharita: How has the tour been so far?

Phil: We just played the other night in Denver, St. Louis last night the response was kind of lukewarm. We missed the show in Omaha due to a trailer issue. It still looks like it's going to be cool. It's always good to play to people who aren't familiar with your stuff and come up to you and say they like it. It holds a little more weight because  they're not into our style of metal and you can turn them on to the stuff your doing. It will be a good time.

I would to thank Phil and the guys for allowing me to interview them. It was very enjoyable and I wish them much success.

Click here new interview with Phil

here for Part II of my interview w/Phil
& here for live pix of tonight's show