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New Q&A with Hour of 13 frontman Phil Swanson on new album ‘333’ - more info at http://bit.ly/JCcQjf
Q&A with Hour of 13 frontman Phil Swanson on new album ‘333’
Hour of 13 vocalist Phil Swanson has taken some time to talk to Earache about the band’s new album, 333, which is due to be released on May 28th in Europe and July 30th in North America.
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EARACHE: The past year or two in the Hour of 13 camp could be described as a little tumultuous; do you feel that an equilibrium has been restored with the recording of this album?
PHIL: Not really on any different level than in the past. I think Chad and I have a very professional relationship and we understand the importance of that above anything else that’s happened or is happening for that matter. We both are very different people and acknowledge that. We get along extremely well, but live hundreds of miles apart and come from very different places aesthetically, but have a very common ground when it comes to music as both artists and fans. I think that is our chemistry, that yin and yang of interconnecting contrary force. Something that was present from the get-go, but also poses many obstacles.
EARACHE: Were there any notable differences between the way you approached the recording of this album, compared to ‘The Ritualist’?
PHIL: For me, recording wise, none whatsoever - I wrote and recorded my parts in the exact same manner. The only difference being the lyrical subject matter has a slightly more mature subject matter, “slightly” being the key word, as this is heavy metal after all. But the vocal arrangements and melodies came from the same place as both previous records.
EARACHE: The album is just about to be released to the general public, but how do you guys feel about the album now that you’ve been living with it for the past few months?
PHIL: I actually feel much better about it now than when first hearing the finished mixes, as I have finally been able to listen with clean ears and an open mind, not looking for things I’d like to change or add. Now I hear it as a finished and complete record, and I am very proud of it and feel it’s our best yet.
EARACHE: How important is imagery or having a “message” in your songs, versus balls-to-the-wall heavy metal?
PHIL: Well, this is not thrash, so it’s a very specific genre we are in and as from the beginning there was a clear conceptual idea in place, to drift from something so prominent would take away its allure from both us and the listeners.
EARACHE: Do you have a stand-out track on the album that you feel sums up Hour of 13 perfectly?
PHIL: ‘Lucky Bones’, but I don’t think it sums up Hour of 13 perfectly, I think it more stands for what we have become and where we are going in the future.
EARACHE: Do you have any ambitions or wishes for Hour of 13 (or are you happy to go along with whatever journey comes your way)?
PHIL: It’s so tough nowadays to have ambition or expectation. You just have to go with what comes; let the music guide you. Be patient and avoid the hype ‘cause it will only blind you and bring you down. If it’s gonna happen, it’s not because of something you did or didn’t do, it’s because someone knew someone or it’s just too good to ignore. And if you don’t know someone, there’s no right path or direction to go - the listeners will choose your path. So I lay back and just let things take their course. Keep writing, trying to make a better song or record than the last to prove to myself I can, and if people appreciate it enough to bring it to others’ attention then that’s their doing, not mine.
