Conformity & Compromise

If you mention the word “compromise” to most trenchdwelling rock bands, you’re likely to either get a scowl the likes of which are unrivaled on our planet, or you’ll be beaten with a vintage Gibson Les Paul; either way, it’s best to not do it. That terrible word evokes an image of kids who’d rather sell out than stick firmly to all the ideals with which they decided to pursue music in the first place. However, with the level of multi-tasking currently billowing in the underground circuit of American hardcore/metal, it seems inevitable that to reach a more substantial audience, or simply to escape the ironclad grasp of the “it” genre, some alterations in the subtle processes of making music are bound to be addressed.
From Autumn to Ashes would probably rather not be in that position, but they are. Their brutal amalgamation of melodicism and hardcore secured them a firm spot in this burgeoning genre way back in 2001. In the wake of stereotypes and fashion wars, that particular niche in rock music is dangerously close to becoming parody. But with FATA releasing albums like their latest, Abandon Your Friends, pushing the boundaries with punishing ferocity and subtle urgency, there may be hope after all. Synthesis spoke with drummer/vocalist Fran Mark and vocalist Ben Perri recently to separate fact from fiction in the hardcore world.

What kinds of compromises do you feel you have to make as a band to be able to reach out to more than one kind of audience?
Fran Mark: I think that the biggest compromise, and also the biggest risk you’re taking in order to please multiple audiences is that there’s a better chance you’re just gonna piss off multiple audiences, especially if you’ve already established a fanbase in one or the other. On a smaller, personal, band member to band member level, you have to kind of compromise your personal tastes and desires for what you want to do. I don’t think there’s any band in the world where you’re going to find five guys who see completely eye to eye.
Ben Perri: I don’t feel like there’s any conscious compromise you have to make. I just think that you have to do what you feel is right and you’ll reach the kids you wanna reach. You shouldn’t try to cater to one person at all.

Considering the dynamics between both of your vocal styles and lyrics, are there contradicting subject matters from song to song?
FM: Previously, yes. On the first two albums, [Ben] would pen his lyrics by himself and I would do the same. We would designate a part that deserved aggressive vocals and I’d say “well, you take this,” and we’d put the lyrics together without any regard for if the lyrics coexisted with each other. Sometimes they didn’t, but sometimes there were nice little accidents where we would put my lyrics together not knowing what his were, and it made something more interesting than I would have thought of. On the new record, aside from two songs, I pretty much wrote all the lyrics, so we didn’t have to worry about making them fit together.
BP: Yeah, but they always seem to fit. We were talking about different things probably, but they seem to fit within the context of the song, which can be pretty cool.

How important is it for you guys to break free from the stereotypes of what a melodic hardcore band should be?
FM: It’s pretty important to me because I feel like those stereotypes are formed, and then every young band coming up, that’s what they aspire to be. They conform to the stereotypes, and I’m more like, as soon as the stereotype is formed you better do something to contradict it.
BP: We started out playing this kind of music, doing the heavy thing with a little bit of melody. But over time, our tastes have changed and we’ve gotten better playing together, and I think that the music progresses along with you. We just play what feels right.

What advice would you give to up and coming bands who want to tour and record albums, but feel bogged down by the popularity of the metal/punk/hardcore scene?
FM: It’s almost working in their favor in the sense that they can go out and book their own tour, if you don’t mind doing something that I think is—not that it matters what I think—but doing something that’s beat to death, really. I, personally, have a problem with that and I can’t sleep at night if I’m doing something completely unoriginal. As far as young bands, you really gotta just go out and do it. It’s hard to have blind faith and just get in a van and quit your job, but hopefully you have supportive parents to run home and live with when you’re broke and penniless [laughs]. But if it works out, it’s quite nice.
BP: I would just say to keep your integrity. Don’t compromise your music, just do what you want to do. Work hard and shove your music down people’s throats and don’t take no for an answer. You’re gonna lose a lot of friends along the way, because it’s hard to do what we do and keep everybody happy. But it’s very satisfying. We play music for a living; this is our career and it’s not all parties and girls like everyone thinks it is.

Does it concern you how your audiences perceive your music?
FM: I’m definitely concerned, because I feel like so many bands get successful because they write a catchy style of music, or maybe because they have a major record label pushing them through the roof, and you’ve got this frontman who’s put on this pedestal and millions of kids want to hear what he has to say, and they’re taking it to heart. But it’s some guy who’s not fit for that position. I feel like so many musicians waste the opportunity that they have. If you have the chance to talk to a lot of kids and they’re gonna take seriously what you have to say, you really need to utilize that opportunity while it’s there. Unfortunately, I can’t very often at all put out a completely positive message, because I don’t feel like we live in such a positive world. Now I’m starting to look at that a little differently and can appreciate the smaller things and tolerate the gross things about humanity in general. If anything, on our new record there’s a better message of hope.
BP: I don’t want people to have negative thoughts because of what I do. I’m not about saying “hate your parents” or “break up with your girlfriend.” I try to write about the bad things that have happened to me and explain them in a way so that kids might be able to take something from it and learn from it; learn how to get through it. I’m older than a majority of our fans but if I can help them in any way possible, then I’ve achieved my goal.

Bookmark:

Comments down for maintenance.