Melodic death metallers Hallows Die have been hard at work writing and recording their next album due out soon. They have been around for a while and have done what any other band would do, write, record, release music, play shows, go on tours, and continue to do this never ending cycle time and time again. Frontman vocalist, guitarist, and keyboardist Ryan Bovaird discusses the new album and future show plans.
1. Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in Hallows Die, and how long the band has been together.
Ryan: Well, I'm Ryan. I play guitar, do vocals as well as handle the management and booking.
2. Tell us the brief history of your band.
Ryan: Well, we started around 2006-2007, nothing really materialized until this incarnation though. We didn't start touring until 2010, but since we picked up a bit of momentum we've been cross country a bunch of times as well as having the privilege to share the stage with some of metal's biggest acts. Needless to say it's been a pretty wild ride but we're still surviving.
3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there?Are there any local bands you could recommend?
Ryan: We're from all around the Toronto area, 3 of us from Mississauga side and 1 from Scarborough. Toronto's pretty good so far as a scene goes. All the bands here are more or less buds with one another and there's always music going on somewhere. Which is a blessing and a curse as sometimes it tends to make for a bit of a crowd divide on any given night.
4. What type of band are you?
Ryan: One of those starving ones. Music wise we fluctuate, we try to switch up our styles (almost on a song to song basis) just so we don't get bored and repetitive. Check out the new album when it drops. You can tell me what we play because I'm still not completely sure.
5. Why did you want to name the band Hallows Die? What does it symbolize and represent for the band?
Ryan: That was a long time ago, it's a bit of a tongue in cheek stab at a bunch of different religions and belief systems similar ideas about an after life. Whether it be music, lyrics or general opinions we try as much as we can to find loopholes.
6. Who are your musical and non-musical influences?
Ryan: Music wise we are pretty much fans of anything that has soul in it, not just the James Brown type, but if you can tell in general the person behind the music is totally engaged with it. I personally would still enjoy watching some dude or chick play the same 3 chords over again and believe in themselves than watch someone shred for an just because they can. On the flip side (to save my skin here), I've also seen a whole lot of shredders who are totally engaged in it, in spirit as well as performance, and again, that performer in that moment is somewhat hypnotic. Non musical, hard to say. Again seeing anyone who's truly engaged in their life, whether it be personal goals, or a struggle, etc. Everybody's got a different story and different path, I think there's something genuinely influential about that thought.
7. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)
Ryan: Our songs in the past (as well as the upcoming album) cover a wide variety of topics. We've always been very critical about the treatment of others (whether it be in general, as a group, religion, or social class) so that theme tends to be pretty prevalent in our writings. However more recently we've tried to put a twist on it and instead of writing 3rd person critical lyrics we've turned them into, I guess short stories. Which in turn has led to us now doing a full concept album.
8. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)
Ryan: We do, and the process is painful. Generally there's a lot of time in-between, weren't (and probably never will be) one of those groups that can stand in a room and write an album. It generally starts out with a couple of ideas that we'll craft into a few basic ideas, none of which necessarily have anything to do with one another. Then from there we'll break a whole new set of ideas, revisit the first set and pick and choose. Repeat process, lose hair and sanity. There's definitely a lot of building, ripping that up into pieces and rebuilding. It 100 percent falls under the "two steps forward, one step back" category.
9. Have any new music coming out?
Ryan: Album number two. It's done and we're sitting on it for now. 11 songs, pretty bold step in a few new directions for us. But we're excited to see what people say, the live response has been pretty positive so we're pretty stoked.
10. What are your dreams and goals?
Ryan: Besides the stock: win the lottery and retire on the yacht? It's hard to say because our goals change on a regular basis. What is important one day isn't necessarily what becomes important a little down the road. They all go toward the same end, making music and performing. But it would be nice to have to worry a little less about the normal aspects of life, day jobs, rent etc. I can almost guarantee every musician out there is thinking "take a number" at that last comment.
11. What should labels/zines/promoters know about your band? Why should they be interested in it?
Ryan: Well, we've built a pretty solid resume in recent years, including self booked tours (many lasting upwards of a month and a half) as well as appearing with some of metals more renowned acts. Looking back and seeing the events as well as tours keep getting bigger (with even better plans in the future) is somewhat proof we're heading in the right direction.
12. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
Ryan: YouTube, iTunes, Facebook, reverberation, last.fm, sound cloud, the usual suspects. We've got a lot more to release once we go full out with album 2.
Ryan: Bigger tours, evolving as a musical entity, more albums, generally learning how to be more effective people when it comes to music/ the music industry. From there I guess time will tell.
14. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?
Ryan: Their connection to it. how did it impact them, why it impacted them, how it might have changed or modified their behavior in that moment in time. I have a very involved response when it comes to music that moves me so I'd hope we have that ability to install that feeling in someone else.
15. Any final words of wisdom?
Ryan: "Life is a Journey not a destination." I wish I could take credit for that but sadly I cannot. Enjoy it while it lasts.
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