One of the more interesting groups to come out of the
diverse Melbourne metal scene is progressive/industrial/technical metal
outfit Synthetic Breed.
Although drawing together influences such as Meshuggah,
Strapping Young Lad, Mnemic and Fear Factory, the five piece act (who
comprise of vocalist Callan Hughes, lead/rhythm guitarist/keyboardist/backing
vocalist Vincent Zylstra, rhythm guitarist Darcy Mildren, bassist/backing
vocalist Jonas Bahlo and drummer Daniel Luttick) have managed to inject
new life into the genre, particularly on their recently released debut
full-length effort 'Catatonic'.
After a somewhat grueling trek back home to Melbourne
after performing in Sydney the night before, I caught up with a surprisingly
chirpy Luttick to discuss the progression the band have made from their
independently released 2005 EP 'Fractured', the group's tentative plans
to return to European shores and work on a follow-up release. But in
order to get the full story, I allowed Luttick to detail the story on
just how Synthetic Breed ended up on one of Australia's growing metal
labels Faultline Records.
"I think that most of the people that had heard 'Fractured'
were somewhat impressed. The EP itself was getting very positive reviews
here in Australia, and particularly overseas, where it had been reviewed
in a couple of metal magazines in Germany to coincide with our tour
there in 2006. I guess at that point, a lot of people were just starting
to hear the name, without necessarily knowing the band or the music.
I know that D.W. Norton (ex-Superheist/Walk The Earth/renowned producer)
at Faultline Records had heard 'Fractured' and was impressed by it.
But having said that, he also wanted to see what else we could come
up with. And I think that was the kind of general consensus from various
industry people. The feeling was that 'Fractured' was a good stepping
stone, but they wanted to see if we could live up to those expectations
by delivering either another feature EP or a full-length album. So once
we had finished recording the album, we put together an album sampler
of what we thought were the four most featured tracks from the album,
and just sent it to everybody. You name a label, and we most likely
sent an album package to them. We did get a lot of knock backs, but
we also got a lot of positive feedback and interest too. There wasn't
a single label that said that they didn't like what they heard and didn't
want to work with us. It was more the case of great product, but just
not the right time for them. It's the age old story I suppose. But them
Norton heard it, and remembering us from when we sent him 'Fractured',
enquired about getting his hands on the full album. He immediately wanted
to get onboard with us and see what we could come up with. That was
late last year, around late November/early December. And within a couple
of months, he released 'Catatonic'."
But while Synthetic Breed have now signed to Faultline
Records (who also house Daysend, Head Inc, Still Life Projector, Antonamasia,
Exit Wounds and Noir Macabre), everything about the making of 'Catatonic'
was very much independent.
"Throughout 2006 and 2007, we were doing a lot of
live shows and getting a really good reputation as a really good live
band. And given that 'Fractured' came out in 2005, we thought that we
really have to do this album now, and there's no point waiting for anybody
to provide us with the opportunity to do so. We really had to create
that opportunity ourselves. So through somewhat of a lack of resources
from the industry itself, we just took it upon ourselves to make something
for ourselves, and recorded the entire album ourselves in Zylstra's
home studio. He already had quite an in-depth knowledge of the recording
process, so he recorded all the instruments in his home studio and produced
the album as well. As far as I am concerned, he did a world class job
on the album as well. And that's a non biased opinion I might add too!
(Laughs) He recorded all the instruments in his home studio, and he
mixed it in with collaboration with the other guys as well. Through
our management in Japan, we then approached Tue Madsen in Denmark (Europe)
about actually mastering the album. He heard some of the early demos
for the album, and as it got further and further along during the mixdown
process, he agreed to do it. So we sent the tracks off to him, and we
got this amazing product back from him. Although all this happened a
year ago, and the album was only released here in February, I still
think that the album sounds amazing, and we're all very happy with the
progress we've made over 'Fractured'."
Given that the band signed to Faultline Records in late
2007, they certainly didn't waste time getting the album out and onto
the shelves within a mere three months.
"That's right. I can't speak too much on Faultline
Records' behalf, but I know they had a summer catalogue coming out early
this year, and they were keen to include our album. From the moment
Norton heard it, he wanted to get it out as soon as possible as part
of Faultline Records' new summer catalogue for 2008. I also know that
once he heard our album had been completed for the better half of a
year, they didn't want to sit on it too long. And so far it's been great.
The advertising has been seen in all the magazines, and a lot of positive
feedback has been coming back about the album. We couldn't be happier
about it all really."
In a lot of ways, 'Catatonic' is a huge step up from 'Fractured'.
But if there are two major differences, it's in the production, and
most importantly, in the band's greater emphasis on exploring the melodic
aspect of the band's sound.
"That's very true, and I think that melodic aspect
of our music on this album is something that we've received a lot of
feedback about. That was also some of the more constructive feedback
from both non-industry and industry people we received about 'Fractured'.
I think that a lot people commented how a lot of music from the time
leading up to 'Fractured' didn't contain enough melody for people to
relate to. And not that we're trying to be a sell-out band or anything,
but including catchier melodies and riffs to hear and be drawn into
from our music was something we seriously looked at. So we went through
the whole process of really examining our music and what we were doing
with it, not only musically, but vocally as well. As you've hear on
'Catatonic', there's a lot of the vocals throughout the choruses and
various other sections of the album are actually quite melodic. At times,
there are moments where three way harmonies are worked into the songs.
That's kind of part of what we were going for. I mean, Hughes is not
the only vocalist in the band. Anyone that has seen us live will know
that also Zylstra and Bahlo do back up vocals as well. So when it came
to do this album and having all these melodic ideas for the vocal parts,
it really came down to those guys to step up and really put that element
of the vocals lines together into the songs themselves. Hughes was still
going to be there doing all his deeper growls and his various screams
as well! It boggles my mind how his vocals can stand it all. We just
came off two straight days of shows, and I haven't even been singing
and my throat is gone sore already! (Laughs) So how he does it, I just
don't know. I guess it's a trade secret. But he also does a lot of the
melodic vocal lines on the album as well. So really, it's a combination
of everything. In a sense, that's what really makes up 'Catatonic'.
It's very much a layered album, with lots of guitar tracks, bass tracks,
samples, synthesizers and vocal tracks. It sounds like a very thick
and full sounding album, with a lot of that coming from the vocals.
There are also some small little things that you may not hear noticeably
as you would the big melodies of the songs. Those aspects of the music
and vocals came from the feedback we were getting from the industry.
They suggested that perhaps we needed to bring that out more, without
making it sound like we're a sell out pop band or anything like that.
Besides that, we just wanted to make it sound more appealing to people
to relate to."
And it's that subtle sense of melody on 'Catatonic' that
makes all the difference, with the bludgeoning aspect of the bands sound
still out in full force, but the melodic aspects making it all the more
digestible.
"We made sure that on 'Catatonic' that we weren't
continuously bludgeoning people for four and a half minutes of a five
minute song. We didn't want to offer up people a continual thump, thump,
thump, and inevitably giving people a headache. It gives people a break
from that side of the music, because there's still plenty of that stuff
on there. Also I think 'Catatonic' is an album people can sing along
with as well. People hear those melodies, and then they get familiar
with those melodies. So that way, when they see us live, they know what's
coming up. I also think it allows the audience to get a little more
involved with the music."
Aside from the eleven tracks on the album, Synthetic Breed
has also offered up a bonus track on 'Negative Articulation'. Surprisingly
enough, it also offers up a glimpse as to what to expect from the band
in the future.
"Basically, 'Catatonic' as you may or may not already
know, had previously been released in Japan. So once we were picked
up by Faultline Records, we kind of thought that we would give the Australian
audience something that makes the album exclusive in a sense. It was
something to give back to Australian audiences, especially given that
this is where we're from. So since we were asked to add a bonus track,
we thought we would add something that we had been working on in recent
times. We've been playing 'Negative Articulation' live recently too.
The response it's been getting is very positive. It is quite different
sounding from the album, but the band is constantly progressing and
evolving, so obviously our sound will change too. Hopefully this track
shows a level of development and us getting better at what we do. That's
just one track that we've actually completed. The rest of the new material
we've been working on is a little different from 'Catatonic'. But having
said that, we haven't forgotten who we are, but I do think these new
songs do shows that we're evolving in a very positive way. We're maturing,
even thought we're all professional musicians. And I guess that's what
the aim of the game is. But nonetheless, you can be rest assured that
our music is certainly not going to get any softer! (Laughs)"
But as far as a release for this new material, Synthetic
Breed is somewhat undecided about how soon something new will be released.
Needless to say, it's what happens in the coming months that will no
doubt determine the future.
"In terms of those finer details, we haven't even
thought that much about it. We're definitely thinking that sometime
this year, we'll start preparing for a new album, with perhaps even
having something recorded by Christmas time. These are all sort of ideas
that we've thrown out there, but nothing is confirmed at this stage.
I mean who knows? 'Catatonic' could get distribution throughout all
of the bigger European countries tomorrow, and we may find ourselves
being invited to play over there from June right through to September.
If that were to happen, we wouldn't have the time to focus on a new
album. With the way things are going, we're definitely hoping to at
least have a new album in the beginning stages by the end of this year,
or early next year. And it's all about keeping the momentum up. 'Catatonic'
is out there now, but we don't want to be one of those bands that releases
one album, and rests on the laurels of it. We want to keep the momentum
going, keep people interested in the band and release as much music
as possible. So we want to keep things going on a regular basis of releasing
an album, followed by touring, and then starting work on our next album.
That's the sort of cycle that we have to live by, especially being a
part of the metal scene. We don't have that usual support of the music
industry. So at this stage, all I'll say is that we'll see what happens
in the next few months."
But while future recording plans still remain somewhat
in the air, touring is very much something the band plan to do as much
as possible in the meantime.
"There are no plans for overseas shows at the moment.
Or at least nothing is set in concrete. It's really difficult to be
out there playing if there's no album out there. I mean what's the point
playing to people if they can't pick up your album after having promoted
it live? So in terms of the whole international scene, we're really
just working on distribution for the album overseas. We have a couple
of things in the pipeline. But it's a little too early to announce anything
at the moment, because they're not a hundred percent confirmed. We basically
don't want to go shooting our mouths off. But we're hoping that the
album will be released overseas soon in some parts of the world other
than Japan. Then hopefully, we'll be out there taking it to the world
and playing overseas. Through our website and MySpace, there are clearly
plenty of people out there liking what they hear from this band. So
we're going off that, and hoping to get the album released over overseas
as soon as we can is a major priority. But until then, Australian audiences
can expect to see quite a bit of us in the meantime."
I would like to thank Daniel Luttick for his generous
time, and D.W. Norton at Faultline Records for making the interview
possible.
For more information on Synthetic Breed, check out - http://www.syntheticbreed.com
© Justin Donnelly - justindonnelly@ozemail.com.au
