Killswitch Engage – Mike D’Antonio
Posted on September 10, 2009 at 6:56 pm by admin
I’m sure a lot of people have that big band in their life that’s important to them in a number of ways. Back in 2003, Killswitch Engage reintroduced me to metal when I downloaded the demo for the song “Life to Lifeless” from their website, and then I saw the video. That became my introduction to the band, and brought me back into metal after being away for so many years, eventually leading me to create Way Too Loud! To this date, Killswitch Engage is also the biggest band we’ve interviewed so far, and they’ve played the biggest venue I’ve ever been to so far, so we’re certainly hitting some milestones!
After the interview I also got to talk about a number of things. It was a conversation rather than an interview, and it’s something that some of the people at the site get to do, which is to connect to the bands they love on a personal level. That’s something money can’t buy.
Special thanks goes out to Joel Stroetzel for helping me get hooked up with In Flames at the show, Dean from Roadrunner Canada, and Noel from Intertia Entertainment for setting up a great show!
Way Too Loud!: Why did you choose to wait 3 years to release your 2nd self-titled album?
Mike D’Antonio: It’s just the way it worked out. We toured so much on the last album, “As Daylight Dies”, the longest we’ve ever toured before, which is 2 1/2 years. We were done in 2 years, which is normally a little bit long for us, and then “Holy Diver” came out in the states as a single, and we thought it was doing so well that we thought we’d be shooting ourselves in the foot if we didn’t keep touring on the record, just because it was doing so well. There was so much promotion for it, so we decided to take advantage of it. We took off about 2 months before we started writing the record, but the record took awhile to make. It was the longest record it’s ever taken to make, which was due to not knowing the time frame and not having a real-time producer, and how long it usually takes them to get situated and start production. We were just working on his time schedule, and he doesn’t have one! (Laughs)
WTL: Why did you choose to make it your second self-titled album? I’m not sure if I’ve heard of many bands doing that.
Mike: Weezer has done it. There’s a few bands here and there. Usually bands who are really dumb do it! (Laughs) Bands who are very lazy do it a lot. We came up with a bunch of titles, or rather I came up with a bunch of titles, and no one could fully agree on it. It’s very much something that everyone needs to agree on, especially something like a title. It was brought up by management, and the majority of everyone wanted to do that – not me! Pretty much everyone else said that’s fine, and now it’s one of the first questions in very interview we do! (Laughs)
WTL: Why did you choose to go with Brendan O’Brien instead of going all with Adam, like you usually do?
Mike: This is our 5th record, and we figured this is the one we could take chances with. We were thinking it’d be cool to have an outside perspective. We’re so closely knit, and us hoarding everything, and not letting anyone into the inner circle that we felt that maybe it was time to let go of that a little bit. Brendan had actually contacted Roadrunner about it, saying he was a big fan of the band and would be interested. Every time we start a new record, Roadrunner always asks us if want to use an outside producer, and we always say “No! Stop asking us!”, but this time we were open to it, and we told them up front we were open to it, and since Brendan had offered, it seemed like a cool fit to try. Why not shoot for the stars? Brendan is definitely a notable producer who’s done a lot of big time stuff. 5th record, take a chance, pay lots of money! (Laughs)
WTL: I know the writing process always involves everybody, and I’m really interested in knowing everyone’s role and what their additions are.
Mike: The band minus Howard gets together. We all write demos individually. I write on “Garage Band” on my Mac, no head or amplifier or pedals needed, just plug start in with a guitar and write. I couldn’t even play guitar, so I sort of had to learn to play power chords. I’d write everything on bass and transpose it to guitar, then figure out some sort of drum beat – I suck at programming drums too! When I get 3 or 4 riffs together, that’s enough to bring it to practice so everyone can listen to it and not think that you’re a total hack. It would be a week on listening to demos, practicing them swapping in different ideas and everyone throwing in their input, then 2 weeks off where we would go back and re-write things or write new stuff and bring that back to practice.
That seemed to work really well. We were going pretty fast, writing 3 or 4 songs a week when we weren’t together, which is really fast for us, which is awesome. I like it that way. It’s not like how I’m used to doing it, because I really like jamming things out, but if you walk into practice with a riff you’re really stoked on and you just play it without having any underlying instruments, band members can take it the wrong way and not understand what you’re going for. Coming in with “I think this is what the drums could sound like, and what the guitars could sound like” gives a better impression of what you’re going for, and it’s pretty easy for people to know right away whether they like it or not.
As far as the lyrics go, they’re the last thing and they take the longest to do. There’s a lot of dwelling on what’s being said and a lot of re-writing that goes on. Most of the lyric writing happens in the studio after everything’s finished.
WTL: Does Howard take care of that, or does anyone have some input?
Mike: Howard takes care of most of that. Adam helps him here and there, and breaks out the thesaurus to try and get him to use some different words to keep from using the same words too many times. I know Brendan had a good hand in it this time around. It definitely shows. I think it’s Howards strongest attempt at lyrics thus far.
WTL: How did you feel about getting #7 on the Billboard top 200?
Mike: It’s pretty cool! It’s great to be noticed like that. Damn you Micheal Jackson for taking the first 5 spots! (Laughs) It might’ve done a little bit better, but holy crap it’s nice to be noticed!
WTL: You’ve got a lot of songs in your discography. Is is getting to the point where some of them fall by the wayside never to be played again?
Mike: They all do. It’s one of those things where we don’t cater to ourselves when we play, we cater to the fans, the people who are paying the money come see us and see certain songs. Mostly video songs and the songs that have been out and about, and the songs that I guess are a bit more mainstream and major ones that kind of rise to the top of every record. Those just seem to be the ones that people know the best, so we play those a lot.
It’s a bummer because there’s a lot of really good ones that we don’t play anymore which eventually we’ll revisit, but then there comes another album of 11 more songs that need your attention. There’s definitely songs that we’ve never played live, that we just did in the studio that I would love to revisit and try to play live, but there’s only so much time in a set, and we don’t want to kill Howards voice, so we can make the next show.
WTL: I’m sure you’ve talked to people who tell you that you’re music has helped them through a rough time. How do you feel about that?
Mike: It’s feels amazing! To be able to help someone out! It actually happens a lot. We’re one of those positive bands that people can latch on to in a time of crisis, and it feels really good. I never thought I’d be in a band like that. I thought I’d be in a band that people break stuff too and mosh around their living room! It’s a pretty cool feeling!
WTL: You and Adam make contributions beyond writing and music because you do the art design and Adam does production.
Mike: He did a lot of it, I’d say he did maybe 3/4’s of the production, or maybe engineering as you would call it by that point. Brendan did the drums in Atlanta, and all guitars and bass were done at home at Zing by Adam, then vocals were done at the same time in Atlanta. I guess it was like a 50/50 split.
WTL: What are the roles the other band members play beyond their instruments?
Mike: Joel takes care of all the excess beer and whiskey, he likes to get rid of those for us. Justin provides all the sports rage that he can, especially when it comes to the Yankees. Howard gets rid of a lot of needless food that might be laying around, and that’s how they contribute! (Laughs)
WTL: Do Joel and Justin do anything outside of the band? I know you’ve got your art design, Adam does production and Howard does management. I know Joel was doing guitar lessons.
Mike: Joel does guitar lessons whenever he can, but we’re touring so much these days that it’s pretty tough for him. Every now and then he’ll pick up a session or two. Howard no longer has the management company. Justin used to play in symphony orchestras though college, but at this point he doesn’t have time to do that. You kind of have to relinquish your spot to other people and then you don’t have a spot anymore, but we love doing stuff like that.
WTL: How did it come about that Howard made his own label? Does he get to spend much time on it?
Mike: Does he? I know he talked about it. I’m not sure.
WTL: It was an imprint through Metal Blade for the new Believer album that came out.
Mike: I knew he was talking about it, I just didn’t know it came to fruition. He has tons of time! He can do anything! Believe me! (Laughs)
WTL: How did he come to decide to wear a suit in a certain photo shoot?
Mike: He wanted to make everyone else feel as awkward as possible I suppose! He’s one of those dudes that likes to look snappy for the women! It was weird, it didn’t look right, but he liked it. Maybe he’s getting free suits on the side! (Laughs)
WTL: How did it feel to get back out on the road with Overcast?
Mike: It was super fun! It was great to revisit it. It was awesome to play an hang with old friends. It was sort of a family reunion type of thing. The first time we went out, we took another band we used to play with a lot called Dissolve from Poughkeepsie, and it’s great to see those guys again. It doesn’t look like they’ve aged! Everyone kind of stayed the same. It’s really cool. The ethics are still there. everyone just wants to have a fun time and hang out. It was really enjoyable, and I hope we get to do it again soon, but it’s one of those things where I’m pretty busy and Brian [Fair, Shadows Fall vocalist] is pretty busy, and everyone else is pretty busy in various bands. We need a couple of months to set up time to re-practice those songs and get ‘em down. Recording the album [“Reborn to Kill Again”] was a super-fun thing too. Adam produced it, and it came out on Metal Blade a year ago, and Adam was a big fan of Overcast, so it was cool to get his perspective take on certain songs. It was a van tour though. Can’t afford the buses with them!
WTL: Why do you think you’ve ended up with so many love songs?
Mike: Just Howards vocals I guess. Sort of writing what you know. He’s got a lot of love in his life! (Laughs) As long as it’s from the heart it’s fine with us.
WTL: I’ve heard that Corey Unger (Blood has Been Shed) has been struck by lightning twice, and I was wondering if that was true or a joke.
Mike: (Laughs) It’s so true! I heard 3 times! I could be wrong, but I heard the 3rd time he was in his house, or maybe his house was hit. Yes! He has been struck several times and from what I hear that he’s writing, the stuff is off the friggin’ charts! Off-the-wall, so weird and crazy that it’s almost unbelievable that it’s almost music. I think he’s currently recording.
WTL: How do you feel about the bands that take influence from you, or some of the bands that have copied you?
Mike: I don’t listen to any of ‘em. It’s definitely a sincere form of flattery, but it tends to hurt if there’s a genre for this style of music. I just tend to call it metal, but it tends to have 30 or 40 different names depending on who you ask. The only way to really make something your own or to take it to the next level or to transcend your influences and get beyond that is to add to it. Add another influence, make it your own. Toss something completely different into the mix that people don’t expect. Copying can be cool, but it’s a sure-fire way of killing a genre if there’s too many bands that sound exactly the same.
WTL: I’ve seen this before in other interviews that bothered me that ask about Howard being black. His reaction to that is usually like “Why are you asking me this?” like it’s not an issue. How do you feel about that?
Mike: It’s a strange thing because it’s asked more often than you’d think. It’s asked more often in Europe, maybe it’s still a strange thing over there? In Poland it was a major issue, and in Germany it can come up a lot. I don’t get it. People need to get over that. It’s a weird thing. Does it bother me? I don’t know. It’s ignorance I suppose. It shouldn’t be made into a big deal. The guys got pipes, so he’s the best man for the job!
WTL: I’m sure there’s been discussions drinking beer around a table about what costumes Adam will wear next.
Mike: I try not to think about it. I just want him to go off and do whatever. There’s been talks of points of no return, of places he shouldn’t venture off into, but we’ve ironed all that out. It’s all about having fun and having a good time, coming up with new things and not doing the same boring stuff over and over again. He’s entertaining and fun! We just wind him up and let him go! (Laughs) He’s our own private fun box!
WTL: How did you feel about Kerry Kings comment about how Adam acts on stage?
Mike: I heard a little too much about it. We just did the [Rockstar Energy] Mayhem tour, and it was uncomfortable. They don’t get it, and probably never will that you can actually be in a metal band and have fun, and smile. You can do things differently than other metal bands have ever done. We just like to have a good time. We’re just a party band, and I think that comes from punk rock roots where anything goes. A lot of the old guys think it has to be straightforward or nothing, and that’s their loss I guess.
WTL: I know some of the members prefer playing to smaller venues with no barriers. Do you think you’ll be able to get to those small venues more often?
Mike: Those are the funnest ones! We played a 200 capacity club in Camden, UK, and it was off the charts. It was so crazy. Howard actually invited everyone on stage at the end. Needless to say they started stealing our cymbals and stuff, so we had to kick ‘em off!
Small shows are great because you can feed off the energy and everyone is right there in front of you. Those are some of our best shows. Playing to a lot of kids is always cool too because you’re bound to come up with new fans here and there. If it’s a festival of 40,000 or 80,000, you don’t feel that intimacy or that show of mutual gratitude in a tiny place where everyone would go off and go berserk. If being on stage is a high, that is the highest you can get I think.
We’ve done a ton of B and C markets, in the states anyways. I would say here to since Calgary and Edmonton aren’t the most major. Usually when most people come up here they do Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver and that’s it, but I love the middle part of Canada, it’s awesome, and it’s a beautiful country! Head smashed in buffalo jump, those areas.
We’ve only done headlining tours in B and C markets unfortunately. I don’t know why, but we plan on doing some major market tours soon. The thing about stuff like that is that they usually don’t have showers, and living a bit dirtier than usual, but better shows. As far as the clubs go, there’s some pretty nasty, dirty, weird stuff. Spending 2 or 3 nights in small places can extend the tour a lot longer, as we like to just get in and get out and then go home so we can hang out with our wives and whatnot. It’s all about how much time it’ll take to venture across the country sometimes.
WTL: Where in the world would you like to play?
Mike: I’m excited about China if that would ever happen. That would be amazing. Japan is my all-time favourite, and China I’m sure would be pretty close to that. I’ve always been intrigued with Oriental stuff, and I was a martial arts guy when I was younger. It brings back a lot of childhood memories when I go to Japan. I love their toys, I love their culture. Everyone’s so nice and proper. The one thing I’ve heard about China is that the government is so heavy-handed that you can’t even go on the internet without them knowing what you’re doing. I’d still like to experience it. I think it’d be really fun.
WTL: Joel has mentioned Morbid Angel, Behemoth, and Napalm Death, and you’ve mentioned Integrity and Neurosis. Can we ever expect you tour with those kinds of bands?
Mike: If it was up to me man, we’d be playing with all those types of bands, but unfortunately I’m just one little cog in the wheel, and like you’ve mentioned before, a lot hinges on “can we sell out this place”? “Can we make it look nice and neat”? “Can we get a lot of people in there to see us”? Some of these bands, it’s a slap in the face to throw them on first. They’ve been around forever, but unfortunately they don’t draw so well. The best spot for them would be first or second on a 4 or 5 band bill, and it’s almost embarrassing to say we’ll give them nothing to come and play with us. I wish it was a bit different, but it’s all politics. Some of the bands that we have taken on tour like that, one of them is He is Legend. They’re an amazing band, and they have one of my favourite new records, “It Hates You”. Let’s see who else… shit! Maybe that’s it! I wish though. I’d love to take out Madball and Agnostic Front. Bands like Shadows Fall have done stuff like that and done really well. Hatebreed has done it a bunch, and they tend to have 7 or 8 band bills that sort of make up for that. It’s a bummer, and I love Neurosis! You’re right!
WTL: Who would you like to tour with if you had no rules?
Mike: Crowbar, Eyehategod, Metallica, Neurosis would be great. I’d love to tour with He is Legend again, that’s for damn sure.
WTL: Since bands always get asked about their band name, have you ever lied about your band name or what it means?
Mike: I’ve lied about it when doing something like walking down the street, and someone will ask [in a southern accent] “Are you in a band? What’s the name of yo band?” and I’ll just make up whatever.
WTL: This is a question where Adam would go to town, isn’t it?
Mike: Yeah, it’s his thing! But as far as making up different things for Killswitch Engage, not really. In my minds eye, Killswitch Engage harkens back to my childhood in shop class. There were printing presses and stuff like that in high school. There was a big red button by the door, and that button would turn everything off and shut it down, being the “killswitch” as it were. If a finger got stuck in a press or if something went majorly wrong, you would punch that button to shut something off and save whoever was in peril. That’s what I think of when I think of that, hitting a button, shutting everything down and starting fresh, which was the original idea of the band. Stopping all of our old bands and starting fresh and different and new.
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September 14th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
[...] to Way Too Loud!, KSE bassist/resident graphic artist/all around chill dude Mike D’Antonio had this to say [...]