Review Fix chats with The Charm The Fury bassist Lucas Arnoldussen who discusses the band’s new album, “Shade of my Former Self.†Arnoldussen also discusses the thoughts of a possible North American tour as well as his favorite songs on the album.
Review Fix: What do you think the band has learned during the recording of the new album?
Lucas Arnoldussen: I think we learned a couple of more or less important lessons during the recording. For instance, if you think a recording will take a day, take two days. If you think the record will be done in 2 months, take 4. Everything takes longer than you want it to. That can be frustrating at times, but it’s something you’ll learn to deal with eventually. We’ve also learned a great deal about each other. We haven’t been around for that long, and this was the first time we worked together so intensely. We’ve seen some new positive characteristics from each other, and also some negative ones. Which is, in the end, also a positive thing.
Review Fix: What separates you from the myriad of other metalcore bands out there?
Arnoldussen: The first unique thing is kind of obvious: we have a female singer. There’s lots of female singers in metal, but not so much in metalcore. But apart from that, I think have our focus on songwriting. We don’t use breakdowns or blast beats because we want to see mosh or circle pits, but because it actually compliments the song. Of course it’s nice if the audience reacts to that, but that’s not our main goal. Also, we think dynamics are often overlooked. A heavy part kicks in so much harder after a nice and mellow electronic part. Some bands just put breakdown after breakdown. It loses its impact and gets boring after a while.
Review Fix: There are rumors about a North American tour being in the works. Is that a possibility?
Arnoldussen: Well, you said it. It’s ‘being in the works.’ There’s nothing set yet, but we’re definitely planning to come over in 2014.
Review Fix: What song on this album do you feel best captures your sound?
Arnoldussen: I think that would be ‘Virtue of Leadership’, a song that actually comes of our EP ‘The Social Meltdown.’ We liked that song so much. We used it as a ‘blueprint’ for the album. In the end, the record turned out very differently and I think that every song has something unique to it. But to me, ‘Virtue’ is a song that contains every aspect of TCTF.
Review Fix: “In the Wake of Pride” is an interesting track. How was it written, what was the creative process behind it?
Arnoldussen: Mathijs Tieken, our drummer and main songwriter, also composed this track. He’s not just a metal guy; he’s also really into classical music, electronic music and soundscape stuff. You can definitely hear that on ‘In the Wake of Pride’. We wanted a track that would give the listener a break, some rest. With that in mind, Mathijs started fumbling around on his keyboard and came up with this.
Review Fix: How would you “sell” the album to someone who has never listened to you guys before?
Arnoldussen: If you like metal music and you aren’t afraid of a breakdown, a catchy chorus or a screaming lady, you should undoubtedly consider buying “A Shade Of My Former Self.”
Review Fix: Are there any bands you think you’d like to be compared to one day? Why?
Arnoldussen: We’ve been compared to lots of bands: August Burns Red, Architects, Every Time I Die, Underoath. Bands we think it’s an honor to be compared to. I don’t think we have some kind of comparison ideal. In my opinion, the biggest compliment would be that a new band would compare themselves to us. If we can be an inspiration to someone, somehow, that would be awesome.
Review Fix: How do you want this album to be remembered?
Arnoldussen: As the groundbreaking, ear shattering debut album of The Charm The Fury. The album that changed everything: the way we listen to music, the way we play our instruments and the way we look at the world. But if that somehow doesn’t happen: if some people are still listening to this record 10 years from now, I’m a happy boy.
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