Interview with Solace

A huge welcome back with 13,how has the response been so far to the album from media and the Solace fan base ?

The response has been overwhelmingly positive. After being out of sight for 2 years I was concerned that people would forget about us. Not so. It has been very positive to say the least.We are very pleased.

Take a trip back in time, can you fill us in a brief background of Solace ?

Rob and I both were in Godspeed. Most people will know us by the fact that we toured with Black Sabbath and Cathedral in 94 and appeared on the first Nativity in Black tribute to Black Sabbath where we did Sabbath Bloody Sabbath with Bruce Dickenson.

Looking back at the Godspeed period, compare to Solace what kind of following did you have with Godspeed compare to the following you have now ?

Godspeed had a cross breed of different types of music fans. We had more punk fans and general freaks. Solace seems to be more located in the heavy world of 70s rock and doom fans. Its funny because I always wanted Godspeed to be more like the way Solace is but it was not to be. Our singer came from a different school. He was more punk that he was into 70s rock or Black Sabbath so we actually changed our sound a little bit to fit his vocal style. If we had a great singer like we do now there would not be that much of a difference in our sounds.

The first time I heard Solace was this infamous demo tape from 1997, how much of a springboard was those early demos and the compilation txs for your album releases ?

It was everything. Those tapes and comp/ tracks got us out there and let people know that we existed.

Compare to the last album Further, what is the major progression on this new one 13 ?

I think 13 is shorter burst of anger and power. Its a little more aggression filled.

Further was a very strong album, 13 is even more mighty, to me you have taken a lot more turns on 13, plenty of experimentalism, harmonica, keyboard, percussion and cosmic string arrangements and overdubs is some of the surprises ,it's a hell of a grooving progressive album with a lot of emotional and melancholic moods and directions. How pleased are you with the recording process of 13 compare to Further ?

While there are always things you would like to change after a record is finished we are very pleased with what we have accomplished with 13. It was a labor of love and I think that shows. We tried not to skimp on any elements to recording.We also tried not to limit ourselves musically, as far as trying new things. We used some of these on further, some light keyboard things here and there and other effects, but time and money really cut into the recording of further and we still went way over budget, so we couldnt do as much as we wanted to. But we always wanted to try and branch out and use other instruments and experiment with sound. And that is what we did with 13 and we continue to do so in the future. No holds barred.

More on the powerhouse production,how much is recorded live and how much are studio tracking ?

All the basic tracks, drums, guitar, & bass we all recorded live. Then overdubbed rhythm guitars and a second bass track. Some of the leads were done live. Most were dubbed in later. Vocals were all done at a later date. But the band is basically done live. Overall that sound is us, as is.

Looking at the visual and the music/lyrical standpoint, compare to Further what is the main difference to 13 and what is the main messages on 13, is it any specific topics here ?

Musically I dont think it is that much different. Its still an aggressive, doomy affair. 13 is slightly more aggressive with a bit more experimentation. As we touched upon before. Visually we wanted artwork that reflected the way we felt about our music. Twisted, Dark, & Evil. Just as with Further we wanted to steer clear of the typical stoner type themes, space, hot rod cars, hot girls, etc Thats not how we feel about our music. This isnt feel good party time music. Its deeper than that. Lyrically I cant comment at all really since Jason does all the lyric writing. But I know it come from a more personal place. A dark place.

More on that subject, what is the main musical inspiration for Solace, is it spread out on the members or do you have any particular bands in common?

Our inspiration comes from all over the musical map. Rob and I have been friends for years and years and have hung together for so long that we have many of the same interests in music. Everything from 70s hard rock, Sabbath, Budgie, Grand Funk, Blue Cheer, ect… to NWOBHM, Tank, Holocaust, Maiden, Venom, & doom, Pentagram, Trouble, Witchfinder General, saint Vitus, Celtic Frost, to punk & hardcore bands. Agnostic Front, Cro-Mags, The Accused, Poison Idea, Battalion of Saints. And just tons of other bands, old Metallica was a big influence, Slayer. We do not limit ourselves with bands that we like. And its not all just heavy shit. I also dig stuff like Neil Young, Nick Drake, Syd Barret.

After the 12 tracks that are listed on the disc, there is also a no name track as bonus at the end, was that planned in the pre-sessions or did that come in the recording process?

We had planned on that. We called the album 13 for many reasons, one being that we had 13 tracks, but we didnt want that to be so obvious so we hid the 13th track. And not everyone who has reviewed the record has found the 13th track.I like that.

Looking at the deal you have with Meteor City, how pleased are you with the deal?

Meteorcity is a great label. And a great bunch of guys. They have been super supportive of us and all of our problems we have had through the years and have stood firmly by us and have never once lost faith in what we are about. A lot of other labels might not have been so supportive. And that I think is a true sign of great companionship between them and us. I honestly can say that I dont think I would want to be anywhere else but with Meteorcity.

Talking about the brilliant album cover, do you feel that cover matches the concept that this album has and where did you find the cover?

Absolutely. That is why we used the art we did. To convey what we felt about our music. The darker, deeper side of what we do musically.The art was done by a great artist named Paul Vismara, who is actually a fan of the band. I met him through the band and found out he was an artist and saw his work and really loved it. Him and I came up with the idea. The cover is based on art by Hieronymus Bosch but with a more modern twist. Paul took the idea and went wild with it. The result is 13.

The album have a very special guest Wino whose infamous and distinct guitar/vocal performance can be heard on Common Cause, how did you manage to get Wino into the recording sessions of 13?

We asked. Having played with Spirit Caravan a few times and having a few mutual friends we got a tape to Wino who heard the song and agreed to work on it with us. It was an amazing experience. Having been a fan from the Saint Vitus & Obsessed days it was a real honor to have him do this for us. We owe him a great debt.

The title 13, has it got any significant meaning?

Along with the twisted art the number 13 conveys some of the shit that this band has gone though. The number 13 has a lot of meaning and superstition attached to it, mostly being bad luck. We wanted something that conveyed all that bad luck that we have gone though with this band, and how we survived I dont know. 13 was the perfect title for 13 tracks.

There is two excellent covers included on 13, With Time by Agnostic Front that is a great remake and a stunning version of Pentagrams Forever My Queen, two brilliant tributes. Was those covers planned before you went ahead with the recordings or did they come in the studio?

Well planned in advance. We just wanted to show our vast and varied musical taste and put two songs from two very different bands that we both love on the same record and show people its Ok to dig different types of music.

Compare Solace studio and Solace live, what is main difference do you feel?

In the studio I´m more concerned with precision and making sure everything is perfect. Not that it ever is perfect but at least try to get it close and still maintain passion and feel. Live is a total different animal. Live music should not be perfect. There is no place for sterility in live music. When we play live we let it all hang out and if mistakes happen that OK as long as we are playing with fire and passion its Ok to error.

More live, what is the best/worst show you have played so far, any fine memories?

There have been shows we have played that we were so fucked up I dont remember playing! I guess they couldnt have been that good! The best show was when we (Godspeed) opened for black Sabbath in Poland to 20,000 people. That was pretty intense.

Compare the interest on both sides of the Atlantic for Solace, Europe and US, where are your strongest fan base ?

Seeing as we have not been to Europe yet its hard for me to tell. Were hoping to get there soon someday and then maybe we can get first hand knowledge.

Now after the release of 13, what is plans for Solace are you going to release a Ep, any dates for Europe, the next album, any tributes to compilations etc. What is the next plans for Solace ?

Well we already have the next record written musically, it all hinges on what Jason is going to do vocally. Other than that we have a tour in the works with the Rubes in the states. It starts May 8th and goes through May25th where we will play the Emissions from the Monolith fest. In Youngstown, Ohio. The line up for that day is: SUNDAY, MAY 25, 2003

Disengage
The Hidden Hand
Solace
Mammoth Volume
JJ Paradise Player's Club
Men of Porn
Stinking Lizaveta
Dixie Witch
Kung Pao
Rebreather
Volume
Tummler
The Rubes
Red Giant
Sofa King Killer

Should be a killer day!!!

Any last words ?

Thank you Gabriel for the interview and for your continued support of Solace and helping us spread the word about our music! Anyone who would like to get in touch can email me at: solacetom@aol.com Or snail mail to:

Tommy Southard/Solace 22 Cathedral Dr.Lakewood, NJ 08701 USA DOOM ON!!!

Thank you very much for the interview and thanks for a killer album, all the best wishes with everything and hope to see you on the road over here soon.

Thanks! If there is anything else you want to talk about just let me know!

By Gabriel Lilliehook

Info/Order Meteor City (US) People Like You (Europe)

Solace Info www.solaceweb.hypermart.net