Without a doubt, one of the highlights of Mayhem 2010 here in Atlanta was In This Moment. The band is currently supporting their latest album “A Star-Crossed Wasteland” which has been met with much acclaim from both critics and fans alike. The band had the nearly impossible task of opening the Silver Star Side Stage but did so to a huge, anticipatory crowd. The band delivered an amazing set and while it was definitely a highlight, my other highlight of the day was getting to interview drummer Jeff Fabb and guitarist Blake Bunzel. Together we talked about everything from the new tour and album to which Star Wars movie reigns supreme. The guys were amazing to hang with and talk to and I’m so glad they took the time to do this interview. I hope you enjoy it!
How has it been playing the new material on this tour? Have the songs been well received and how are you guys enjoying them?
Blake: Yeah, this record was definitely made for our live audience. They love to mosh to it and I think the music is pretty easy to grasp. It’s been a really good time playing them live.
Jeff: We have a lot of cool crowd participation, chanting along, fists in there. It’s good and everyone seems to like it. As far as playing it, that’s awesome too because it’s always fun to play new stuff. Now we’re getting to the point where it’s becoming second nature so it’s cool. It’s not like, “Oh shit! What was that one part?” [laughs]
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On A Star-Crossed Wasteland, you seem to have found a happy medium between the old school Metalcore sound you started off with and the more melodic sound of “The Dream.” Was this a natural progression or did you go into the album with this idea already planned?
Jeff: I have a rebuttal on the metal core thing because I don’t believe there’s one Metalcore thing on our new records. It’s more of what I would say is heavy groove. I think if anything we took that metal core and threw it away.
Blake: I think that whatever elements are brought over from our Beautiful Tragedy record and our Dream record we’ve grown from. That is what made this record.
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You were saying that there was no Metalcore on this album but I feel like it is still in that vain in a way. It still has that classic In This Moment sound.
Jeff: On the first record people lumped it into that which is fine because I still like that too. I just think that if anything that is the one thing we took out of it. We took that heaviness and just wanted to groove it like Pantera. Make it heavy but grooving. I think we took that element of it and added the melodic part of it as well.
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I feel like it sounds really natural. So many times I feel like bands try this progression and it sounds contrived where they’re striving to get there but not quite hitting the mark. I feel like from the Beautiful Tragedy to A Star-Crossed Wasteland, it all just came together.
Jeff: Thanks, that’s awesome. It’s good to hear because we feel the same way.
Blake: It’s like the next step after those two records. This feels like the best record we could put forward.
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The best part of this record is that it’s already got me excited for the next one. I’m not even tired of this one but I really am excited to see where you go from this one. It’s been such a great progression to A Star-Crossed Wasteland. You guys are nailing it.
Jeff: [laughs] Thanks man!
Blake: Thanks!
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In addition to making an amazing album, the artwork is equally as amazing. Who did the artwork for this one?
Blake: The artwork was done by Anthony ? over at Century Media. We had given him a vision and a theme of what we wanted to go for with that apocalyptic look.
Jeff: We kind of threw him the ideas and he just sketched it up which was just amazing.
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I’ve heard that the writing process for this album was a really stressful process did it seem to work as much against you as in your favor?
Jeff: Well, we had to make work for us [laughs]. We never really have that much time to do records. We had a bunch of time on our first record because we had our whole In This Moment beginning of our career to write it. I think we were pushed for time a lot but I that that’s what helps us with our creativity. It is what it is at some point.
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And then there’s that sigh of relief when it’s done!
Jeff. Yeah, then there’s “Oh, I could’ve done that!” but that’s the magic of it. Just get it out, get it done and give our fans something new to listen to.
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That whole idea you just mentioned about “Oh yeah, I could’ve done this and that…” You don’t want another Chinese Democracy on your hands.
Jeff and Blake: [Laughs]
Jeff: That’s funny.
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The stress factor of making an album can really break a band sometimes but you guys seemed to really make it work.
Jeff: [Laughs] We work well under pressure.
Blake: Being that it is our third album, you’re right. There was a lot of stress involved but a guy like Kevin Churko (producer) really knows how to bring out whats best in all of us. The place that we record at is just paradise. You got a pool, the strip (Las Vegas) that’s only 10 minutes away, friends around. It’s stressful but it’s a good place to get out all of your thoughts and musical abilities.
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I’m a huge fan of great production and it always bums me out when a great band puts out a terrible sounding record. Do you feel like Kevin Churko has a natural connection with you guys to give you the sound you want?
Jeff: On this new record the drums were not doctored. It was raw and that’s how I wanted it to be. I want a kid to be able to envision a drummer in a room playing this stuff. The more we got to work with him it’s like we both worked with each. I think he captured us the most on this record as far as “our” sound. Everyone always says we sound better live which I don’t mind [laughs] but I’d rather have that than “Man, you guys really don’t pull that shit off! [laughs] I think the more we work with Kevin, the more he’s getting to know us. He’s just amazing.
Blake: On The Dream there’s a lot of stuff that’s actually going on in the background that adds to the actual sound of each song. On this one we wanted to make it a heavier one so being that we wanted to make it more raw and more live we had to take away a lot of that extra stuff and just make it sound that much bigger. That’s what Kevin is really good at. Once you take away all that stuff in the background, this is who we really are and it’s going to be easier to put this out live. This is the five piece that we are.
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Ok, so time for a big question. Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi. Which one reigns supreme?
Blake and Jeff: [laughs]
Jeff: This is all you dude.
Blake: You know, I’m going to have to go with Return of the Jedi which I really enjoyed because you know what? Luke Skywalker is not as nerdy as he was in the first movie. [laughs] He’s like whining in the first movie. The second movie, it’s really good and epic but I mean, the third one, I just love. It’s just a great movie!
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You are the only one that’s been able to back that statement up so far.
Blake: [laughs] On the bus, Chris is a really huge Star Wars fan as well and we are always quoting Luke’s comments. Like when someone’s being a bitch and saying, “Aww, I wanna go Toshi and pick up some power converters!” or “Where can he beeeee?” [laughs]
Jeff: I like Space Balls [laughs]
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Tell me two artists/bands would we be surprised to hear you were fans of?
Blake: I know that I can be embarrassed to admit that I have Nick Lache on my iPod right now. [laughs] I think these days I just listen to everything.
Jeff: I love Skid Row and Wu Tang Clan. [laughs]
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Most bands have a pre-show ritual to get pumped up for the show. What do you do to get you ready to take it to that next level?
Jeff: We do a chant together and we do the hand stack and we just say “Serenity Courage Wisdom” and we go “ah oooooo” [howls like a wolf] [laughs].
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Have you folks been checking out the other bands here at Mayhem and if so, who has been melting your faces live?
Blake: Everyone on this tour is so freaking amazing. Everybody is doing such a great job on this tour. There’s not one band that really stands out any more or less. They’re all awesome.
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How exciting is this? Hollywood called and they want to make a movie about In This Moment. Who would play you two on the big screen?
Jeff: Who would play me? [Looks at Blake] I know who would play you!
Blake: [laughs] I think I know who would play me!
Jeff: [laughs] You pick out who would play me and I’ll pick who would play you.
Blake: If he ever got into acting, Sebastian Bach [would play Jeff] [laughs].
Jeff: Blake? Geddy Lee [we all laugh].
Blake: Yeah. Whatever, whatever alright! [laughs] Alright that would be cool. I would totally be down with that.
Jeff: You said Sebastian Bach would play me. Have you seen what that guy looks like now? [laughs]
Blake: I was actually thinking about “older” Sebastian Bach but yes! New Sebastian Bach? That’s good. [laughs]
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One last question for you and we’ll be done! Do you guys have any tour plans set for after Mayhem? Please say headlining tour.
Jeff: I’m sure there’s a headliner in there but we don’t really know yet. We have some things in the works so we’re just waiting. We’re definitely going to be touring since our record just came out.
Blake: We’re doing 7 dates worth of shows that we’re headlining but unfortunately we’re not coming through Atlanta.
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You guys are awesome. Thank you so much for taking the time to hang out with me!
Jeff and Blake: Yeah! Thank you! WOOOOOO! [laughs]
CHECK OUT THE REST OF MY MAYHEM EXPERIENCE:
Mayhem In Atlanta Pt. I: An Introduction To Mayhem
Mayhem In Atlanta Pt. II: In This Moment Takes Us To A Star-Crossed Wasteland
Mayhem In Atlanta Pt. III: 3 Inches of Blood Lead Us To Thy Doom
Mayhem In Atlanta Pt. IV: Five Finger Death Punch Teach Us The Way of the Fist
Mayhem In Atlanta Pt. V: Blowin’ Wind With Jeff Fabb and Blake Bunzel of In This Moment
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