Shadows Fall’s Brian Fair Provides New Music Update

After over a decade, Shadows Fall have returned with new music in 2025 and singer Brian Honest appeared on Full Metallic Jackie’s weekend present to share an replace on their progress and the way it’s been to be again within the inventive house after this time away.

“There wasn’t an agenda, there wasn’t stress. We have these wonderful concepts, we have these nice riffs. Let’s have a look at if we will make them into songs. Everybody was bringing so many nice concepts to the desk,” recalled Honest concerning the moments that their jam classes become one thing extra.

Talking concerning the new music, Honest informed Jackie, “We discover the older we get, it looks as if the heavier and angrier the music is. And I do not know if that is as a result of we even have actual life issues with mortgages and taxes and issues like that, as opposed once we had been only a bunch of dudes touring round like pirates on a tour bus. However no matter it’s, there’s an edge to those new songs.”

Inside the dialogue, Honest offers a correct replace on how issues are evolving towards a full studio album and gives his hope for after they is perhaps completed and able to flip it round for followers to take a look at.

The singer additionally spoke with Jackie about what his life outdoors of Shadows Fall has been like in the course of the break, what it was about steel and this life that introduced him again into the fold and the challenges of writing the not too long ago launch tune, “Souls Devoured.”

The vocalist additionally shares how the music business has modified within the band’s decade-plus away and the way he feels concerning the present state of steel and the teams which can be rising which have caught his ears.

Try extra of the chat beneath.

It is Full Metallic Jackie. Tremendous excited to welcome again the one and solely Brian Honest of Shadows Fall. Shadows Fall again, releasing new music, and I feel we’re all excited to have the ability to say these phrases out loud once more.

It is one thing I did not know if it could truly be uttered. As soon as we acquired rolling, we wished to, however we did not know what the truth was. And right here we’re, two new songs already out, an entire bunch extra within the works. Practice is again on the tracks, and the rock and roll trainwreck continues.

It is one factor to revisit previous materials within the reside setting, however clearly fairly one other to attempt to decide up creatively once more together with your band after such a very long time off. Take me inside these first classes. How quickly earlier than any fears had been calmed and who took the lead in getting issues rolling once more?

Once we first began jamming only for the reside reveals, it felt simply good to be taking part in in a room collectively once more. After which the concepts began getting talked about, or we’re gonna try to do some new stuff.

Actually, Jon [Donais] was sitting on a pile of riffs and simply had a vault of concepts. So as soon as he type of began exhibiting some stuff, there was that nervousness of, like, is it gonna sound like Shadows Fall? Is it gonna be our id of who we’re and what we had been doing again then? And immediately, the primary spherical of stuff he confirmed us, not solely had been all of us tremendous stoked on the concepts, it seemed like Shads. We’re like, “Alright, the mojo’s nonetheless there.”

The primary tunes got here collectively actually rapidly, and that vitality actually type of impressed us to actually give attention to that as an entire factor as an alternative of simply perhaps we’ll write a tune right here or there. We’re like, “Oh man, we have an album in us.” We positively acquired it and the juices had been flowing.

And I feel that point away is what actually made it that rather more enjoyable to return again to when there wasn’t an agenda, there wasn’t stress. We have these wonderful concepts, we have these nice riffs. Let’s have a look at if we will make them into songs. Everybody was bringing so many nice concepts to the desk.

The opposite factor is these guys, they’ve saved their chops up taking part in. Jon’s been taking part in within the Massive 4 with Anthrax. Jason [Bittner] was with Flotsam [and Jetsam] after which Overkill and doing all types of stuff, and now with Class 7. So these dudes have been in that headspace and had been already able to go. However as soon as the concepts began flowing along with the 5 of us, it simply clicked instantly, man. And I feel it is a few of our strongest materials.

The opposite factor that is humorous, we discover the older we get, it looks as if the heavier and angrier the music is. And I do not know if that is as a result of we even have actual life issues with mortgages and taxes and issues like that, as opposed once we had been only a bunch of dudes touring round like pirates on a tour bus. However no matter it’s, there’s an edge to those new songs.

Shadows Fall, “Souls Devoured”

Brian, they are saying you’ve your complete life to put in writing your first document. Clearly issues get tougher after that, when the machine kicks in. However this being a reunion document after such a interval away in all probability allowed you to do that by yourself phrases. What did it imply to you to expertise some life and are available again to this in much less of a stress cooker setting?

I feel that was an enormous a part of it. If you’re engaged on these early songs within the early days, you possibly can refine them and work on them again and again till you are completely glad. We’re again in that scenario once more, which is sweet.

Working with Monarch as a label has been nice too, as a result of they wished us to make the most effective songs we might with no very restrictive or imposing schedule, as a result of in addition they knew we’re attempting match it in between issues. Everybody’s acquired actual life stuff. So we had been capable of actually let these develop in a manner that we had been one hundred pc pleased with earlier than we hit the studio.

We’re nonetheless doing it in that manner the place the preliminary concepts would get recorded. We would cross them round, get everybody on board, after which I might demo vocals, ship them to the blokes, and as soon as we had been glad, we might get it with [producer] Zeuss and we might bang that out. And we’re nonetheless doing that. New concepts are popping up continuously that we’re ready so as to add into the combo, versus having a deadline already set the place we’re like, “Oh, we acquired to only give attention to what we’ve.”

We are able to actually decide and select not solely the most effective materials, however probably the most developed and actually let it type of discover a lifetime of its personal, versus having that core “launch a document, tour, launch a document” schedule that may actually have an effect on the standard of a few of that stuff or the joy behind it.

So, yeah, we’re not solely tremendous psyched, however we have additionally acquired the power to actually give this every thing that we need to.

Brian, you’ve got talked about “Soul Devoured,” one of many new songs, permitting you to train your inventive muscle a bit extra. Writing about an apocalyptic scenario with the world crumbling round you. Totally different songs present totally different challenges. How pleasant is it so that you can write one thing that means that you can create your personal image versus one thing extra private the place the music is all laid out?

It was plenty of enjoyable, truly. I’ve tended to put in writing from a reasonably private and philosophical type of vibe lots. Granted, I’ve dipped my toes into different type of types right here and there, however this tune had such a grimness and darkness to it that I instantly was picturing these demons and the earth splitting and all this stuff taking place.

So I simply imagined a personality who was attempting to outlive this case and realizing as an alternative of attempting to flee from it, they needed to battle fireplace with fireplace. And all of the voices of their head and all of the darkish ideas that you simply try to suppress all through your complete life, they’re like, this is perhaps my solely escape route. I’ve acquired to provide in to the darkish facet and let the demons out. So the voices in your head that you’ve got tried to quiet, perhaps it is time to time to pay attention.

Sadly, on the apocalyptic facet, it’s storytelling, however I do not know the way far off from the actual future it’s. Who is aware of the place this world’s heading? So perhaps all of us must be able to faucet into that instinctual, primal demons inside us sometime to outlive. It was in all probability watching an excessive amount of of like The Final of Us and different issues like that in all probability creeped in as effectively.

Brian, current years have seen Shadows Fall play the odd present right here and there. Clearly, we had the quick tour for Could for the band and I do know you spoke not solely of the burnout issue of years of touring, but additionally the bodily ache you had been experiencing in the direction of the top. What classes did you be taught from these early years of touring and has a lot modified when it comes to what it means to be a touring artist in 2025?

I’ll at all times really feel blessed to have been capable of journey and tour the way in which we did within the early days. We had been tour monsters. We by no means went residence and once we did, we had been often in all probability taking part in like random gigs with different bands we’re in or different initiatives. However it does take a toll on you, simply that fixed grind. It may possibly begin to drain among the enjoyable and pleasure out of the music since you begin to punch a clock. We had been on that hamster wheel for 20 years or so.

Bodily, my neck, my again, every thing from swinging round this hair like an fool each evening was beginning to type of catch up too. So when you’ve the psychological fatigue mixed with the bodily fatigue, we knew it was time to take a break and hit pause and actually give attention to various things in our life.

Each myself and Paul [Romanko] began households and we actually missed being away from that. It may be powerful lacking a few of these firsts whilst you’re on the highway. Like I watched my daughter crawl for the primary time on Skype whereas I used to be in Bulgaria and stuff like that. It is simply powerful. Which was humorous although, as a result of Joey Belladonna was over my shoulder watching it with me. So I am telling my spouse, the singer for Anthrax acquired to look at our daughter crawl for the primary time, which is a reasonably cool story for later. However on the identical time, I might have appreciated to have been within the room.

So we knew we wanted to take a break. We have at all times been shut and like brothers, however even these tensions begin to construct up from simply dwelling in one another’s pockets for many years. Now, to have that break, you notice how a lot you do love performing, how a lot that vitality onstage is a part of who you might be.

However we have additionally approaching it differently. It is a a lot more healthy Shadows Fall bus nowadays. We had been identified for throwing it down fairly exhausting again within the day. And now there’s much more yoga mats and rollerballs than there are bottles of Jack Daniels and tequila nowadays, I am going to let you know that. Not that we do not nonetheless have our enjoyable, however it’s very balanced.

It is additionally realizing the present is a very powerful factor. We’re a bit bit older now, in order that takes a bit extra warming up. It takes a bit extra consciousness of simply caring for your physique and issues like that. Proper now, man, we’re killing it reside.

And it additionally made us notice we did not used to apply lots. We did not wish to rehearse as a result of we toured a lot. We’re lots higher once we apply. It is a type of classes we did not need to admit again within the day.

We have been hitting the bottom working and doing these festivals after which some weekends, and now an extended run. We’re form of extending it, and we’ll see. Hoping to do some perhaps extra in depth touring within the subsequent 12 months or two. There’s nothing nailed down but, and actually, plenty of obstacles type of get in the way in which of a few of that. But when we will not, something we will do this is smart, we’re gonna do. It has been a blast.

Brian, you’ve got had that point away. It must be one thing you like to return. Can you set into phrases what it’s about steel that first drew you to it again within the day? And what retains you coming again to all of it these years later? Has your view and appreciation for it modified over time?

Within the early days, I used to be drawn in by simply the vitality and the spectacle and the chaos of steel. I used to be fortunate having a cool neighbor and older brother turned me on to steel. Fairly early on I used to be listening to Ozzy and Sabbath and all that stuff. The crunchy guitars and simply that that perspective is what drew me in.

However then I noticed Cinderella on the Night time Songs tour, opening for Bon Jovi. And I noticed Tom Keifer and was like, “I need to do this. That is what I need to do.” And I knew from that minute actually and from there, I rapidly ended up extra within the underground scene. I noticed you do not must be an enviornment rocker, which is a tough place to finish up. You’ll be able to simply be a hardcore child in a small band taking part in individuals’s basements and small golf equipment and bars and have simply as a lot enjoyable.

That is actually when issues kicked up a notch. That vitality of the early Boston hardcore scene within the ’90s was like nothing I would ever seen or skilled. And I acquired caught up in that wave. And I knew from then on, indirectly, this music was going to be part of my life without end. Granted, I nonetheless did not suppose I would be taking part in reveals in my 50s. Possibly not, however I am glad I’m.

Actually, the fan response, the discharge onstage, that type of cathartic expertise that I’ve reconnecting with the lyrics I wrote, that is what retains me going. And I am glad we’re making new music as a result of the inventive facet of it has at all times been an enormous half. I really like writing, I really like recording. Some individuals suppose that is the tedious a part of it, however I actually get pleasure from that. So to have the ability to stability that with taking part in reveals once more is what actually made me excited that we’re getting type of a second life, a brand new breath to this.

However steel and hardcore are a part of who I’m and at all times will probably be. And so long as this physique permits me, I will be leaping round like an fool onstage.

Brian, a decade has handed because the time Shadows Fall stepped away. You have eased your manner again into issues in recent times. What’s your thought on the state of steel proper now? Any new bands come alongside that provide you with hope for what’s to return?

The state of steel proper now’s unimaginable as a result of not solely is there a ton of various new music, persons are realizing that it is a scene that is saved alive by the individuals themselves.

Clearly issues from once I was younger to now have grown in a enterprise sense with these large U.S. festivals, which is an unimaginable addition that wasn’t there once we had been touring. To have the ability to play issues like Sonic Temple and Aftershock and Rockville and have all these bands in a single spot for followers to return and journey and never should go to Europe to do it’s unimaginable. In order that’s been an thrilling improvement because the time we went away.

But in addition simply the fearlessness that youthful bands have of blending totally different concepts and attempting to push the style in new methods is absolutely inspiring. Typically at our age we’ll really feel a bit bit like dinosaurs in comparison with among the bands we play with. However you notice that vitality and that spark is coming from the identical place, so it is cool.

And so far as newer bands, man, there’s been just a few that I really like. The type of loss of life steel resurgence of among the traditional sound with bands like Gatecreeper and Frozen Souls bringing that form of like ’90s Florida sound again to the forefront and turning on youngsters. The bands like Bolt Thrower and issues like that, I really like seeing that.

READ MORE: Why Shadows Fall’s Jason Bittner Initially Hated Two Legendary Thrash Bands

However then there’s additionally bands like among the larger bands to see, like Sleep Token and Spiritbox and these bands with the ability to play like enviornment sized reveals, however with taking part in loopy underground music is fairly inspiring, man.

It reveals you that there are actually no limits to what this could do. You are able to do the small hardcore reveals that there is nonetheless a DIY signal run by younger youngsters, however then there’s additionally the possibility to actually convey this music to the lots. So I really like that none of that is disappeared.

If something, it is simply advanced and grown in methods which can be cool and we’re simply comfortable to have the ability to type of cruise within the again door and get again onstage once more and nonetheless be capable of get together with everyone.

Brian, we had been simply speaking about this time away and it supplying you with primarily an entire different life to guide. What has crammed your pursuits in your time without work the highway?

I used to be at all times nonetheless making music. A few of it was type of extra mellow solo type of stuff. I am a type of guys who will write in all probability 100 songs that nobody will ever hear. However I used to be additionally doing just a few different initiatives that had been a bit extra the hardcore facet.

Like I used to be taking part in in a band referred to as Hell Night time in St. Louis. We nonetheless do stuff sometimes now that it was extra of a like Black Flag meets like Deep Purple type of band. We had been performing some bizarre stuff.

After which personally I acquired far more into yoga and health the place I used to be even finding out to turn out to be a private coach and dealing with individuals with issues like that. I even put up some train movies which I will get again to in some unspecified time in the future and exhibiting that even at a later stage in your life you possibly can nonetheless get in the most effective form you could possibly be in. I am in all probability, perhaps not in pretty much as good as form as once I was like a 20 12 months previous, however I am in all probability in a extra balanced form than I’ve ever been in my life. In order that’s been a enjoyable factor to actually get into then.

Exterior of that, all my time is consumed by household stuff. I’m very fortunate to have an incredible spouse who lets me type of do all of this in my life. However I really feel like all we do is drive our children to sports activities. I swear to God, we’re like sports activities ubers. I am at each soccer park apply. Yeah, it’s, it is insane. We’re simply sports activities ubers.

I even have a day job the place working for a guitar firm and doing that however outdoors of that I am simply driving to soccer parks and apply fields and basketball courts and that is it, man. And I find it irresistible, although, as a result of my youngsters are discovering their very own issues and I am attending to cheer them on. It is nice. And fortunately, I have been capable of drag them to a couple Shadows Fall festivals, so I may be like, “See, I informed you dad was cool again within the day. I informed you.” They did not consider the tales, however now they’re getting firsthand accounts,

How do your youngsters not know? It is humorous …

It’s humorous as a result of with the dreads and all that, my youngsters have gone the other way. When my daughter has the shortest hair she might have, and I am like, that is her manner of being punk rock, you already know. She’s like, “You develop your hair all out loopy all you need, dad. I am going to present you.”

However it’s humorous, although. Whereas my mother and father are at all times like, get a haircut. I am at all times like, you positive you do not need to throw that out? However it’s humorous if you get acknowledged by mother and father at a soccer recreation, after which swiftly I see my youngsters type of getting that little little bit of pleasure of like, “Yeah, yeah, that is my dad.”

Shadows Fall, “Within the Gray”

Shadows Fall, there’s a few new songs on the market. Trying ahead to extra. You have additionally, in fact, signed the label deal which you talked about. Are you able to give us an replace on the place issues go along with further music coming from the band?

Yeah, it is type of been a unique form of course of than we’re used to as a result of issues aren’t as conventional so far as album releases go. So I am glad that once we had some songs absolutely completed that Monarch was cool with letting us launch them as singles.

It is type of getting individuals enthusiastic about us coming again and never having to take too lengthy as a result of for us to complete a full album goes to take us a short while. So we have the 2 songs out – “Within the Gray” and “Souls Devoured” out now. We have in all probability six songs instrumentally which can be executed. I am getting into to document some vocals in July, however we even have about 4 or 5 new ones that we’re loving that we now need to get within the combine too.

So in some unspecified time in the future we’ll should cease ourselves from hold including new concepts, however the concepts are flowing so we need to get every thing in there we will. So we’re hoping the total album is completed earlier than 12 months’s finish, however. However we’ll see. We’re taking it sluggish.

They’re being very lenient with our timeframe, however in some unspecified time in the future they will need to get the entire thing executed. So we’re beginning after these reveals. We’re type of getting proper again into full writing studio and ending every thing up mode.

Hopefully, I do not know if we’ll launch any extra singles throughout that point. However it’s exhausting if you get one thing completed to not share it with the world. And these days you actually can simply, so it is a bit bit totally different. However that is the plan now, is to try to get every thing completed earlier than the top of the 12 months.

Wonderful. Properly, I converse on behalf of the followers. We’re right here for all of it, Brian, and we’re very excited that you simply guys are again and loving the brand new music and may’t wait to listen to extra. Wishing you luck and simply tremendous psyched. 

Certainly. We won’t let you know how inspiring it’s to see individuals who nonetheless care a couple of band that we began three a long time in the past and to have that pleasure again and to see youthful faces who weren’t across the first time getting to return out and see us reside and revel in it and provides that vitality again to us, it is simply been completely overwhelming and unimaginable and we really feel very fortunate and really blessed.

We’re attempting to profit from the second and likewise admire you spreading the phrase as you’ve for nearly as many a long time as effectively. So it means lots and we will not wait to see everyone out at reveals.

And remember, we do not play reveals, we throw events so come down and get together with Shadows Fall. We cannot be hiding within the again. We’ll both be at Merch or on the bar hanging out so come say hiya.

Due to Shadows Fall’s Brian Honest for the interview. You’ll be able to keep updated with the band by means of their web site, Fb, X and Instagram accounts. Discover out the place you possibly can hear Full Metallic Jackie’s weekend radio present right here.