INTERVIEW: Matt Greiner of August Burns Red

Genre: Alternative / Hardcore / Metal

Location: Lancaster, Pennsylvania, US

Label: Solid State

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(Interview questions answered by Matt Greiner)

 I know there is a really good story behind naming your band. Can you tell me a little bit about that in your own words?

Sure. my Jon Hershey (ABR's first vocalist) was dating a girl named August in highschool.  He broke up with her after a nasty fight and in retaliation, she burnt his doghouse to the ground... with his dog Redd in the house.  The next day the newspaper headlines read, "August Burns Redd." When we started the band we had no idea what to call our band and Jon mentioned the traumatic story and we ended up going with the newspaper headline (sans the second 'd.')

How is Leveler going to be different than the previous albums?

Leveler is similar to Constellations in progressive melody, similar to Messengers in raw heaviness, and similar to Thrill Seeker in technicality.  In my opinion, it's stranger, heavier, faster, slower, and just different than anything we've ever done.

What are some of your favorite bands?

I enjoy Between The Buried And Me, Mumford and Sons, Jonsi, Sigur Ros, Fleet Foxes, Hillsong United, SisterBrother.

Were you in any other bands before August Burns Red?

I played in a punk band called 'Second Hand' for a few weeks before deciding that it wasn't for me.

What has been the most interesting tour so far?

I would have to say our tour in Australia on the 'No Sleep Till...' tour was our most interesting persay.  We played alongside NOFX, Megadeath, and the Descendants. 

What is your favorite song to play live?

Meddler.

What bands have inspired Leveler?

I think moreso than bands, Leveler is inspired by living life on tour away from home as musicians and friends.  We are obviously influenced by Between The Buried And Me but perhaps less noticeably inspired by bands like Beirut and Muse.

How do you feel about playing on the main stage at Warped Tour this year? You must be pretty excited! 

I am super excited for Warped Tour.  We played 2 weeks of the tour a few years ago and I really enjoyed the experience.  The lineup is killer this year and it's great to be a part of such a well organized event.

How was the Canadian Tour? 

Canada is always kind to us:) We drove a huge vehicle that looked like a hybrid semi-truck and army vehicle and so that was interesting.  I ended up driving the bus and trailer into a mud pit and having to hitchike to get help as we didn't have cellphone service (in Saskatoon). That is a tour we will never forget! 

Any closing words?

Thanks for the interview! Pick up Leveler on June 21. Thanks!

Members:

Jake Luhrs - Vocals

JB Brubaker - Guitar

Dustin Davidson - Bass

Brent Rambler - G

Matt Greiner - Drums

The Escape Artist

Favorite lyrics of the week.

Open your closed mind. (Open your closed mind.)
Close your open mouth.
You're pushing more than you're pulling.
Every word that you say passes through my...
Open your closed mind.
Close your open mouth.
You're pushing more than you're pulling.
Every word that you say passes through my.. ears.. before it even escapes your lips.
No one learns from someone they hate.
Your mouth is like a grenade.
No one learns from someone they hate.
Your mouth is like a grenade, blowing everyone away...
Oh...
How many have you pushed away, and how many have you saved?
How many have you pushed away, and how many have you saved?
Pick and choose based on a face, but it's all in the heart.
Pick and choose based on a face, but it's all in the heart that carries weight.
Don't judge until you've taken it all in, 'cause in the end you'll pray to stay above the flames..
Open your closed mind and close your open mouth.
You're pushing more, you're pushing more than you are pulling.
Every word that you say passes through my ears before it even escapes, before it even escapes...
Open your closed mind (Open your closed mind) and close your open mouth.
You're pushing more, you're pushing more than you are pulling...
Open your closed mind and close your open mouth.
You're pushing more, you're pushing more than you are pulling.
Open your closed mind and close your open mouth.
You're pushing more, you're pushing more than you are pulling.
Open your closed mind and close your open mouth.
You're pushing more, you're pushing more than you are pulling

♥Abigaile

@musicandmoshing

Don't Fail Me Darko

So I thought it's probably time to post my Top Ten Favorite Bands.

Buuuut, don't worry, I shall post my Top Ten Non-Metal bands on Wednesday.

Just to be fair.

1. August Burns Red

Great guys, with amazing talent.

Sometimes I don't think people realize how great they are.

The love needs to spread people!

2. MyChildren MyBride

Seeing them live will change your life.

Seriously.

3. The Devil Wears Prada

This band has never let me down.

Mike Hranica is my hero.

I want to marry him. (:

Haha, I'm completely serious!

Probably at the top of my wish list of bands

that I want to see live.

4. The Crimson Armada

This band is so under-rated its ridiculous.

Again, the love people, start spreadin'!

5. Here Comes The Kraken

I just recently found this band.

But they're so amazing, that they have made it to my

top ten.

Probably the fastest double-bass I have ever

heard in The Legend Of The Rent Is Way Hardcore.

6. Norma Jean

Bless The Martyr Kiss The Child album.

Nuff' said.

7. A Day To Remember

I love them.

Those are the only words I can use

to describe them.

8. Agraceful

First band I've listened to, where

the clean vocalist has an amazing voice,

without sounding like a chick.

(Skylit Drive, blessthefall.

I mean, I love em, but c'mon.

They sound like fags sometimes.)

9. Impending Doom

How could they NOT be on this list?

10. Chiodos

First band that has changed their lead singer

and still have impressed me.

Please comment, Tweet or email me with your Top Ten!
I wanna know!

♥ABIGAILE

@musicandmoshing

musicandmoshing@gmail.com



Where The Wild Things Are.

I haven't always loved metal. Honestly, two years ago, I was a huge Jonas Brothers fan. My room was covered in posters of Joe, and I actually saw them live. Twice.

Now, let me tell you a story...This is going to sound really cliche, but my metal obsession all started with a boy. Lets call him... Ned. Yes Ned.
*Ahwww*
No.
I'm gonna stop you right there. Before your heart skips a couple of beats, and you get that fluttery faint feeling that I'm about to tell a romantic story of some sort.
No, this dude was a jerk.
But of course I couldn't see that, I was a oblivious, naive, 14 year old Jonas Brothers fan.
When I think back, I wonder, why the heck did I fall for him??
I was so stupid.
But that's what crushes are for, right?
Falling for someone, and then later in life thinking, that was so pointless.
Why was I such an idiot? 
So, when he started talking to me, he said that he liked metal.
I wanted to impress this guy, I really really did.
So when I got home, I decided to look up some bands.
I kept the volume super low though, because I didn't want my family to catch me listening to metal.
So with my ear pressed up against the speaker for my computer, I listened to bands like, UnderOath, The Devil Wears Prada, and Haste The Day.
The crazy thing was, I didn't hate it. I actually really liked it.
I found myself drumming on the desk along to the songs.
So I wrote down the songs I liked, memorized the band names, and their most popular songs, and the next time I saw Ned, we talked metal.
And I loved it.
Something in me changed.
So when I got home, I listened to a band he told me to check out, Norma Jean. I listened to them, and I absolutely loved it. I listened to their CD Bless The Martyr Kiss The Child over and over and over. Until I could sing along with it somewhat. Then I decided to listen to the Jonas Brothers, I think maybe I missed them alittle bit.
But when I listened to it, I didn't like it so much.
I felt like their was something missing from their music.
And it wasn't the screaming.
It was missing the wholeness, and poetic lyrics of metal.
The lovely sounds all the instruments make when they play all heavy,
the feeling you get when a you hear a great breakdown.
It was all missing.
When I thought about it, metal lyrics actually mean something, (most of the time) The Jonas Brothers were singing about a girl that broke their heart or something.
Norma Jean was singing about how "Christ is not a fashion fleeting away..."
And I loved that.
So I turned around, and started tearing down all my posters of Joe.
The next day, I started listening to metal in front of my family.
They were shocked.
I think my dad had a party in his head or something, because he started burning me CD's of a Christian metal band from the late 80's, Believer.
And telling me about bands like Living Sacrifice and the Deftones.
I fell in love with metal.
Ned on the other hand, not so much.
I started to realize that he wasn't what I was looking for at all.
Thank God.


So here are some songs that started me out. (:

Trilogy Of Knowledge: Movement I, The Lie by Believer

The Perfect Night by Haste The Day

The Seventh Trumpet by August Burns Red

Dogs Can Grow Beards All Over by The Devil Wears Prada

Organized Beyond Recognition by Norma Jean

(Norma Jean seriously has some of the best lyrics I've ever heard)

Thanks!!

♥ABIGAILE

http://twitter.com/#!/musicandmoshing

Follow me on Twitter! ^

Big Wiggly Style

Okay, the other day I did a post for the indie lovers out there, and so now, its time for me to get back on track. Today, I'm not going to be showing y'all anything new, or any weird German bands that nobody has heard of. Nahhh, I'll show you guys just some of my favorites.

Hook, Line and Sinner by Texas In July
Also, check out Dressed For War.


The Seventh Trumpet by August Burns Red (its from their live CD Home, but it sounds better than when its from Trill Seeker)


Um, so yeah. This is another August Burns Red song, Back Burner. They are just so amazing I thought I'd put two of their songs on this post. :D
(Btw, they are even more amazing live!)


Revelations by The Crimson Armada
Also, check out A Filthy Addiction


Fractured Frames Scattered Flesh by Oceano (I'll be seeing them next month!)



What I hope you got out of this post, is an August Burns Red addiction. :D And if your already addicted to them, please, spread the love. People need to know about ABR. 

LOVE, Abigaile. ♥

The Beauty Of Falling

This is my very first post on my lovely Blogger. So if it sucks, bear with me. It shall get better, I promise! 

So before you get all excited about a new blog, and start "Tweeting" about it to all your little blogger friends, I must warn you, this blog is about music. Hah, your probably thinking, "MUSIC?! Yes! My dreams have come true! Somebody finally understands my obsession with... 30 Seconds To Mars!"

Um. No.

Sorry, but no 30 Seconds To Mars here. No, what I'm going talk about is, metal music. :D

*Readers universe shatters* 

Ah, the beauty of metal. 

But before I continue, I must be clear. Your not going to find any scene kid metal on here, *cough*Bring Me The Horizon*cough*, you will find pure amazingness. (No eyeliner involved.) 


But so I don't completely ruin every one's dreams, I will also be doing book reviews every once in a while. Ahw, how 'bout that?

Here are some pretty sick tunes.  

Fear Of Failure by Feed Her To The Sharks 
Australian metalcore band, not signed yet. >.< Just found out about them, but from what I hear, I liiiiike. Also, check out their song, Misery.

Don't Fail Me Darko by Here Comes The Kraken.
Mexican deathcore band, kinda sounds like Suicide Silence. Flippin' amazing drummer! Also check out they're song, The Legend Of The Rent is Way Hardcore  (Fastest double kick I've ever heard at 3:35)




These Countless Sleepless Nights by Blind Witness.
Also check out they're song, Bleeding Blades.






 Hard To Lift by A Portrait of Disaster.
Also check out they're song, Wax On Wax Off.



And lastly, one of my favorite bands ever. From Lancaster, PA.  
Meddler by August Burns Red. 
Also check out they're song, An American Dream.



Thank-You so much for checking out my blog!






LOVE, Abigaile