Into Oblivion

This is an interview I did with Bjorn from Rise and Fall last year for the 3rd issue of Give Blood Zine. All you need to know really is that Rise and fall are from Belgium, they have a very 'clevo' vibe and they will probably rip your face off. Their last album is called 'Into Oblivion', it's mixed by Kurt Ballou, tuff as etc. Plz do yourself a favour and pick it up. BEST BAND IN HARDCORE.

They also just posted a vid about their new album on their myspace, my net is capped so I can't watch it, but no doubt it's worth your time, watch it here.

Firstly Bjorn, what's going on with Rise and Fall lately? You guys recently completed another tour of the US, how did that go? Who did you play with on the tour?
Well we've been pretty busy the last few months, we pretty much toured all summer. We first did a 6 week tour with Converge and Animosity all over Europe. Six weeks on a bus, seeing the best live band out there every night. It was pretty mindblowing. After that we had 4 days off and then we head to the States to do another full US tour with Have Heart. Death Before Dishonor, Sinking Ships, Meltdown and Trash Talk all joined us for a bunch of shows along the way too. The US treated us real well again, the highlights of the tour were definitely both fests we played over there: Sound & Fury in Cali and This Is Hardcore in Philly. So right now we are playing a few shows here and there and we are trying to come up with riffs, ideas and manuscripts for the new album that we are currently writing.

You also recently toured the UK with the Hope Conspiracy, what was that like? Any good stories from that tour?
The UK trip with Hope Con was last January, so it's been a while but it was definitely a great time. We only knew a few of the Hope Con dudes before that tour and not all that well so I was relieved to find out they are all awesome, down to earth dudes. The shows were mostly good, with the stand out show being London. Good stories? Well, everyone getting all excited about hitting some strip joint in Scotland, looking for the damn place for hours and getting there just as they closed doors was pretty funny. There were a lot of beards on that tour too. And I got nicknamed Bjorn The Cannibal on that trip, for reasons unknown to me.

I understand that Rise and Fall began as a side project of your old band the Deal, can you tell me a bit about the Deal? I've never heard them before, what did they sound like? How long was the band around for? Etc.
The Deal was a more traditional sounding straight edge band that Vince, Cedric and me were in at some point. The band was around from late 2000 until late 2003. We did a few smaller tours and put out a few records on labels like Sober Mind and Reflections. Nothing worth getting too excited about honestly.

What were your goals when you started Rise and Fall? What bands did you want Rise and Fall to sound like?
We wanted to do a band that was heavy and in your face, with a bunch of friends... Just to record a demo and play a few shows. I also wanted the band to sound like Integrity meets Madball, and nothing else. Look how all that turned out...

Was Rise and Fall planned to always be a side project? What events led to Rise and Fall becoming the serious band you are today?
Yeah at first it was definitely a project just for the fun of it. When the band caught on and our other bands broke up or dwindled down we were like “fuck it, let's do this for real now”. I don't remember one specific reason, but it just felt right and logical at the time.

Rise and Fall have had a lot of opportunities in your short life, you're signed to established US and European labels alongside a lot of other amazing bands, you've toured the US and you've been able to record an album with Converge's Kurt Ballou, why do you think you've been so lucky? How did you hook up with Deathwish and Reflections to release ‘Into Oblivion’?
We have definitely been lucky and we owe the people we've worked with a lot, but on the other hand we did bust our balls and work hard for the band as well. Everything just grew gradually. After the demo, Join The Teamplayer was hooked on us and wanted to do our CD. They did and they happened to be the same people that run Avocado Booking so we got hooked up with a few good tours, next to the early tours I booked myself. Later on that record also got a US release on SA Mob which was cool. From there on we just kept
playing, working and writing. Played a bunch of shows with Converge. Talked to Jake. Deathwish seemed interested. When they heard the finished recordings for ‘Into Oblivion’ I guess they decided they wanted to work with us. We arranged everything and paid for everything concerning that record ourselves which was kind of a risk. Worked out a deal with Reflections and Deathwish. Reflections had wanted to work with us for a while, plus we’ve known them for years. Everything just kinda worked itself out and snowballed. Once Deathwish put the record out, touring the US was the next logical step. It's been a manic ride but it's been awesome.

What was it like recording ‘Into Oblivion’ with Kurt Ballou? Were you amazed by how it turned out? It sounds fucking massive.
Thank you for the kind words. Thing is, we actually recorded ‘Into Oblivion’ in Belgium at the CCR Studios. The mix of the record however was done by Kurt at God City and he definitely did an awesome job. He totally nailed the sound that we had envisioned. When we first heard the finished mix we were all baffled. I had a hard time believing that was us. We are planning on recording our next album in God City though, I can't wait to see what that’s going to be like.

How do you think it compared to recording ‘Hellmouth’ a couple of years earlier? Which one was a better experience?
Both recording sessions were cool experiences, but I think we were a little more focused when we recorded ‘Into Oblivion’. We were also a little older and more experienced. We knew what we were going for. Looking back on ‘Hellmouth’ I think it still is a decent record with some good songs, but the overall sound is a little lacking and flat.


On your new 7”, you cover the Alice in Chains song ‘Them Bones’, a bit of a weird cover choice for a hardcore band. Why did you choose to do an Alice in Chains cover and why did you choose the song that you did?
One thing about Rise And Fall is that we all have very different tastes in music and when we discuss cover songs it takes us forever to finally agree on something. For this 7” we were stuck as well and couldn't find a band or song we all agreed on. We wanted something surprising, something people wouldn’t really expect from us. So one night while we were in the van listening to Alice In Chains everyone was singing along, and we were like... Fuck. Why don't we just cover this? So we did. We picked ‘Them Bones’ because it’s one of the heavier songs and one of our favourites as well. Not to say the other songs aren't heavy though.


You also re-recorded the song ‘Bottomfeeder’ off your first album for the new 7”, why did you choose to do that?
Since the 7” is a Deathwish exclusive and will mainly be sold in the States we figured it made sense to re-record that song. A lot of people in the States are not familiar with the ‘Hellmouth’ tracks and ‘Bottom Feeder’ is the one song off that album that we always play live, so that's why.

Rise and Fall recorded a cover of Integrity’s ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ for an Integrity tribute compilation that came out earlier this year, why did you choose the song you did? Are there any other songs you'd have liked to have done?
Again, we wanted to do a song that wouldn't be too obvious or easy yet one that we loved. I feel like the songs Integ recorded with that drummer (the two on that split with MayDay and ‘Eighteen Wheels’) are some of their best ones so that's why we picked that song. Plus it's hard as fuck. Other songs we considered were ‘Tempest’, ‘Jagged Visions Of My True Destiny’ and ‘Eighteen Wheels’. ‘Jagged Visions’ is probably my favourite Integ track these days.

What's your favourite Integrity album? What do you think of the material Dwid released under the Integrity name after Aaron Melnick left in the late 90’s?
The ‘To Die For’ record on Deathwish is decent. Most of the other post-Melnick stuff isn't really my thing. I guess those records shouldn't have been Integrity records. My favourite album is ‘Those Who Fear Tomorrow’ for sure. Everytime I listen to it I get the chills. So sick. It’s unreal when you think of when that record came out... The impact must’ve been immense.


Your lyrics are fairly dark and angry, what influences you with the lyrics you write?
Life and everything that comes with it. My lyrics basically tell the story of me trying to deal with this world that I don't always seem to understand very well. In return, it doesn't seem to understand me either.

Now more specifically, pick your favourite Rise and Fall song lyrically and tell us what it's about…
One of my favourites would have to be ‘Live In Sin’. It deals with how throughout my life as I got older, I started to realise that I was not like most people I knew. Even though I was never anti-social or a straight up weirdo, I just never felt at home or at ease anywhere. As much as I tried to fit in and do what was expected from me, it never seemed to really work out. So ‘Live In Sin’ deals with breaking out and living the life that's right for you, no matter what the cost.

As someone who has toured through both the European and American hardcore scenes over the last few years, what do you think of the worldwide state of hardcore at the moment? What are the good and bad parts of hardcore in 2007?
I think hardcore worldwide is doing quite well right now. For myself, I know there’s a whole bunch of bands out there right now that I love and that inspire me, both in the States and in Europe. Some of the worst things about hardcore these days are the lack of real guts and originality. I would love to see some more bands and people in general think outside the box and do some things they truly believe in. We need more creativity and real passion. Too many kids and bands seem to be happy to go with the flow and do
Whatever’s considered “cool” at the time. Another thing that bothers me is how the internet has made people so complacent, lazy and jaded at times. It’s like everyone already knows, has seen or has heard everything. At least that is what they think. But then again, at the same time I see a lot of bands that are genuinely doing their own thing and following their hearts without feeling too good for hardcore if you know what I mean. Some of the bands that I'm really into these days, bands that really matter because of what they do and how they do it are: Blacklisted, Union Town, Converge, Fucked Up, Shipwreck, Cold World, Justice, Ringworm, Bitter End, World Collapse, Terror, 108, Rhythm To The Madness and Vogue.

How does the hardcore scene in the US compare to Europe? Who's got the better bands? Haha Do you feel that European bands get a fair go in the country that is pretty much the mecca of hardcore?
Both scenes are not THAT different from each other I'd say. Shows are a little different in the States, a little more “freestyle” and kids seem to be a bit younger too. Kids also seem to more eager to go off over there too, while European crowds generally are a little more reserved. Bands play shorter sets there too which is cool. In Europe you'll always get fed and set up with a place to stay, in the States that rarely happens. As for European bands getting a fair chance in the US, I think that has definitely changed for the better in the last couple of years. With the quality of European hardcore that vastly improved and more US labels working with European bands, US kids get exposed to or hear more about European bands. Once you make it over there and gig around the country, kids will check you out whether you're from Tulsa, Oklahoma or Ghent, Belgium.


What is hardcore like in Belgium at the moment? Any Belgian bands that kids should be checking out?
Justice is still doing real well and working hard as always. They just did a Euro tour with Blacklisted and will be recording a new EP at the end of the year. Rhythm To The Madness just recorded their EP and believe me when I tell you that it sounds pretty fucking mindblowing. Vogue just put out a 7" full of raging Negative Approach styled hardcore. Losing Streak is good too. Reproach is still trashing all over the place and will do a split 7" with Gehenna sometime next year. True Colors is an energetic and outspoken straight edge band, their ‘Focus On The Light’ album is highly recommended. There could be more but this is what comes to mind right now. Belgium's good. Lots of shows, lots of bands, lots of quality dudes.

What do you know about hardcore over in Australia? Is there much talk of Australian bands in Europe?
I don't know enough about hardcore in Australia to be honest. We've played with Parkway Drive a bunch of times and they are really blowing up over here. Like... they're huge. Best dudes as well. I heard the latest No Apologies album and dug what I heard. I know Miles Away 'cause they're on Bridge Nine. I’ve seen Carpathian but don't remember much. I want to hear that band 50 Lions 'cause I hear they’re really good. Some of these bands definitely are talked about over here and I’m sure if they made it over here and toured that they would do well.

Lastly, what can we expect from Rise and Fall next year? When can we expect a few Rise and Fall album? I'd love to see you guys come to Australia, but that seems like nothing more than a dream at the moment :(
We would love to tour Australia 'cause everyone that’s been over there has told us it is an awesome place to tour. When the new record is out we want to make that happen and have someone release it over there as well. We’re working on that. We plan on recording the new album in November and having it out in the Spring of '08. Fingers crossed.

That’s all from me dude, any final comments for the land down under?
Mind over matter. Thank you for this interview.