WITHIN PUNK ZINEINTERVIEW WITH

ALEX ERIAN OBEY THE BRAVE

DECEMBER 1 0,2015@ THE UNDERGROUND

“The salvation inside us all that we have to keep that positive mindset”

ALEX ERIAN / PHOTO J.B

They say you have your entire life to write your debut and six months for the follow-up.OBEY THE BRAVE catapulted to the top of the metalcore pack in less than two years, thanks largely to the experience the five men in the band gained through hard touring and the amassing of mercilessly heavy discographies in prior outfits. In short order, Obey The Brave took their message to the people, armed with the gritty crunch of classic acts like Hatebreed and Madball and the melodic heft and energized spirit of Epitaph label mates past and present like Pennywise and NOFX. The shadow of Pantera looms large over heavy music and there’s a hint of that timeless sound in there, too.Aggressive might, old-school attitude and pit-demolishing anthems propel Salvation, the group’s second album, which brims with the chemistry and unified vision Obey The Brave crafted touring the world with bands like Chelsea Grin, Emmure, We Came As Romans, Blessthefall, Counterparts, Stick To Your Guns, Stray From The Path and more.

J.B: So I caught up the one and only Alex Erian, vocalist and front man for Montreal’s own OBEY THE BRAVE. How goes it my friend?ALEX: It’s going we made it here to Hamilton, it’s a long drive but I’m excited for the show.

J.B: So this tour you are doing is a smaller one compared to the extensive touring you have done previously for the latest release “Salvation” along with the numerous tours for “Young Blood”.ALEX: Ah ya this is the last tour of the year considering it is

“The salvation inside us all that we have to keep that positive mindset”

December and that makes sense obviously for it to be ending, but this year we have toured to a lot of places that we haven’t previously been to. We did South America and all of North America for the first time, we went to Asia for the second time and even did China this time. It’s actually cooler in China now than it is here actually and a whole less amount of pollution as well but that’s a whole other story as well. So as far as the tour is concerned this is our last tour for “Salvation” then we are heading into the studio again in January and February to record some new shit. J.B: So do you find the scene is more alive in China because of the oppression?ALEX: Dude its weird. Our friend brought us to the one and only record store in Beijing, it was just so tiny and condensed. Everything is just so regulated and controlled there you know you can’t even go on Facebook, Instagram or You tube, and these are the things we have as bands to promote our shit you know and advertise our mu-sic so it’s a whole different ballgame over there. Our music isn’t even for sale over there but there was more people at our show than there is people here tonight in Hamilton.J.B: So “Young Blood” was your sophomore album. That was a really explosive debut not only for your sound but as a band that led right into “Salvation” which is a well-defined and well produced album.ALEX: Well thank you! On “Young Blood” we were barely just a band for about six months and after extensive touring and bettering ourselves as musicians and getting tighter as a unit, and eventually that is what defined our sound and “Salvation” is what I feel is a rep-resentation of who we really are. Also though there has been some changes so when it comes to do this next album there is going to be some changes again and that’s the evolution. You know you have to keep it interesting not only for the fans but also for ourselves you know so we like what we are doing.J.B: Lrycial content on “Salvation” is all about the message and the choices and lifes decisions we make. Do you feel that message is still alive out there?ALEX: I don’t know I’m not trying to inspire anyone I’m just trying to be Solace and just keep my head above water and if people can

TERRANCE McAULEY / PHOTO J.B

STEVE MOROTTI / PHOTO J.B

relate that’s really great, A lot of people come up to me and they actually identify with what I have to say so, much love to those guys and a few girls.Mostly guys but yeah take it day by day try and stay positive in a negative world simple as that really.J.B: So let’s talk about the cover art for “Salvation” which is the Grim Reaper against the Lone Wolf?ALEX: Yeah you got that exactly the name of our first E.P was “Up’s and Downs” on Good Fight Music and duality, the representation of good forces against the bad you know that Inner fight. I guess it’s a way of putting that into an expression.J.B: The title of the Album “Salvation” really works for that mes-sage of the whole album and the representation of it that people can relate to.ALEX: Yeah exactly it’s the salvation inside us all that we have to keep that positive mindset.J.B: Well most of the songs are except for “Into the Storm” it’s a little negative?ALEX: Hey look Terry is joining in here we go!J.B: Well that works out because I was about to ask about the lineup change?ALEX: There we go!

TERRY: Yeah what’s the question?J.B: Ya you started out as a fill-in in the winter then became a full on member. So tell us about that?TERRY: Ya I came on to help out and now I’m here it’s great I mean before I was a good friend of the band and I was doing the sound for them before on a couple of tours and I think we’re in a good spot pretty tight and have been best friends for years so a seamless transi-tion really. ALEX: Interesting fact Terry’s first tour with Obey The Brave as a

“Try and stay positive in a negative world simple as that really”

“You really got to be happy with who you are and that’s the bottom line you know”

COREY WILSON / PHOTO J.B

sound guy we named that tour the New School and we just fed him biscuits and he stuck around so..TERRY: I had a fucking blast too!ALEX: Ever since the lineup change we are all on the same page, we all have the same focus and very motivating as well. Everyone’s in it mentally and as a business since so I’m confident that we are a com-plete unit you know?J.B: So Terry what do you feel you’re bringing to the table a new direction perhaps into the next one?TERRY: Well it’s been conventionally me and John hanging work-ing on things and we have this flow and it works and really looking into spicing things up, I’m really anxious to start working on some new stuff and see where it goes and it’s all about that. It really comes down to the bottom line you know you really got to be happy with who you are and that’s the bottom line you know.J.B: So what do you think of the scene as it is today because the evo-lution of hardcore covers a lot of sub genres...TERRY: Ya it’s amazing that so many amazing bands are out there representing it and all over the scenes everywhere, like in Europe, bands like Parkway and After The Burial and it’s still a little bit com-petitive I think and it’s a little bit more genre inclusive but I think it’s a good thing because all the bands that are coming out have their own thing to add it and that’s what makes it better.J.B: So where did the coin phrase “The Beat Goes On” come from?TERRY: That’s an Alex thing?ALEX: The Beat goes on and on it’s about keeping positive thoughts carrying it through and keeping to real life.J.B: So we always end with a famous book or quote that inspired your life anything come to mind?ALEX: “I just Live by my own rules”

“You really got to be happy with who you are and that’s the bottom line you know”

JOHN CAMBELL / PHOTO J.B