00:00Hello. Hey, how's it going? Somebody's coming on. What's up, Matt? How are you? Good. You? I'm fantastic. Where are you Zooming me from? This is Des Moines, Iowa.
00:14Okay, so you're making your way through west because you are going to be down the street or down the 15 freeway here in about two weeks from me. Yeah. California. Yeah. So I might be sending some people to come see you.
00:27So awesome. Yeah. Since you're not making it to Vegas. Sorry, but what's the hell? I don't know why. Yeah. We have to talk to your routing agents or whoever does that business. Yeah, exactly. So let's talk, man. Alien Nation, your eighth album. I remember the first one. I remember when you were brand new, although it was a lot of work to get to brand new. The title Alien Nation, a nod to one X. Is that right?
00:54Well, yeah. Like, you know, throughout all the albums, you know, we write songs about, you know, going through feeling alone or like, you know, secluded depression. You know, so we felt that Alien Nation would be a good title for this one.
01:13And I noticed with the songs like Mayday, but really Apologies in particular, which is such a great song. A different vibe.
01:24Yeah.
01:24You had fun with this one.
01:26Yeah, exactly. Yeah. We, you know, we like to think out of the box and try new things. And I feel like the whole record is pretty diverse between the songs. So yeah, it's good to switch things up and do some a little different.
01:42Well, with Apologies, though, what I like about it, what I find interesting about it is, and I mean this in the most respectful way, the very beginning of it kind of reminds me of like a boy band song, like a NSYNC or something, like the first five seconds.
01:57And then I'm like, whoa, like, this is Three Days Grace. And then it moves into this really punchy, fun rock pop song. But the lyrics are deep as shit, man. Like, whoa, don't jump, bro. Like, who's not okay?
02:15Yeah, exactly. You know, it, the, the, you know, the melodies might be seem a little poppy, but we're talking about the lyrics are very dark. Yeah, it's a great song, man. It's a great song. With Adam's return, your, your, your idea?
02:34Yeah, like we've been, we were shooting it around a lot. And, you know, like, I talked to my brother in around the pandemic time, and, you know, thought it might be a cool idea.
02:46Cool idea at that time, and then started making it a reality around, you know, 2023, we, we wanted to actually go, go ahead and do it. And then 2024, we started writing.
03:02Yeah, because you guys were doing some shows together off and on and feeling that vibe.
03:06Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, you know, it's, it's been really fun to, to have him up there. And, you know, I watched these guys practice in the show.
03:16In my basement, when I was a kid, I watched them go from hay wagons to arenas. So it's really cool to have him back. And it's been fun. The fans are loving it. And it's a lot of fun on stage, too.
03:30I think it's a great story, because you, it was your idea. You're the singer. And you were generous and open enough to bring back the original singer, but it's out of friendship and love and family, right?
03:44Yeah, for sure. You know, like, we wanted to make it, you know, the best three days grace possible for fans. And first and foremost, I've always been a fan of this band. So yeah, when the idea came about, it was like a no brainer.
04:00Yeah, and it sounds like a no brainer, too. But I mean, one of the main things is when Adam left, it seemed rocky, at least publicly. But family and friendship kept this thing right on the track, even, even when he was gone, right?
04:15Yeah, you know, like, we, we, I had a tour coming up, well, they had a tour coming up in eight weeks. And so I started practicing and jumped in there. And yeah, I went for 11, 12 years. Yeah, it's been a lot of fun. And, you know, you know, sometimes people need to step away from things to get, you know, what, what matters straight.
04:44And, you know, yeah, I feel like he did for sure.
04:47We all evolved, hopefully.
04:49Yes.
04:50As we become older adults.
04:53Yes, we do.
04:54Grow up.
04:55Oh, yeah.
04:56As we become older adults.
04:58Rock, paper, scissors, a big part of the recording process?
05:03At the start, yeah, at the start, we just do that and to figure out who was going to sing the next part.
05:11And then, yeah, we left a few, few songs into in Howard Benson's hands. We had actually three producers on this album. So we left it up to Howard for, for a few of the songs. But like, yeah, like Mayday, we're just doing rock, paper, scissors.
05:28That's awesome. And I, it feels like that everything just sort of melded together naturally and organically. That's what it did. And that's what's really making it work. You know, like, it doesn't feel forced at all. And it feels very natural to where, you know, this is where we're all supposed to be right now.
05:49On the road with Breaking Benjamin. I mean, you guys, you've been with each other a long time over the years, right? I mean, this is like a tour partner.
05:59Yeah, I think they did a tour with them back in 2008-ish. And yeah, we did one in 2018 with them. Yeah, they're great dudes. And we love their music. Their music's great. And it's just a very good fit for us.
06:17What do you listen to while you're on the road?
06:24Before shows, we listen to all sorts of like heavy music, System of the Down, Electric Cowboy. Yeah, we listen to a ton of heavy music. But like, in the morning, I listen to like Enya.
06:39Yeah?
06:40Yeah.
06:41Just to get the day in a peaceful woo!
06:44Exactly. Like, in the morning, yeah, that's what I always put on is Enya songs, because it's just so, like, relaxing. But then before shows, yeah, definitely some heavy stuff.
06:55You got to get in the mood.
06:57Yeah.
06:57Yeah, I hear that. Well, I love it, Matt. I really appreciate your time coming through and having a chat with me. The new album, Alien Nation, obviously is out, came out. What's the next single?
07:09Um, we're thinking probably Kill Me Fast.
07:15Kill Me Fast. Look at you guys. I love it. You're getting some demons out.
07:21Oh, yeah.
07:21Yeah. Good. Matt, thank you so much for your time. We really appreciate you.
07:26The rest of the tour, the rest of the album cycle. And, yeah, see you hopefully in Vegas soon.
07:33Hell yeah. Thank you.
07:35Bye, love.
07:35Take care.
07:36You too, babe. Bye.
07:37Bye.
07:37Bye.
07:37Bye.
Comments