Shadows Fall’s Brian Truthful Gives New Music Replace

After over a decade, Shadows Fall have returned with new music in 2025 and singer Brian Fair 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 superb 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 Truthful concerning the moments that their jam classes become one thing extra.

Talking concerning the new music, Truthful informed Jackie, “We discover the older we get, it looks like 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 have 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, Truthful provides 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 metallic 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 trade has modified within the band’s decade-plus away and the way he feels concerning the present state of metallic and the teams which can be rising which have caught his ears.

Try extra of the chat under.

It is Full Metallic Jackie. Tremendous excited to welcome again the one and solely Brian Truthful 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 might truly be uttered. As soon as we bought rolling, we needed 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. Prepare is again on the tracks, and the rock and roll trainwreck continues.

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

After we first began jamming only for the stay reveals, it felt simply good to be enjoying 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 form of began displaying some stuff, there was that nervousness of, like, is it gonna sound like Shadows Fall? Is it gonna be our identification of who we’re and what we have been doing again then? And instantly, the primary spherical of stuff he confirmed us, not solely have been all of us tremendous stoked on the concepts, it appeared like Shads. We’re like, “Alright, the mojo’s nonetheless there.”

The primary tunes got here collectively actually rapidly, and that power actually form of impressed us to essentially give attention to that as an entire factor as a substitute of simply possibly we’ll write a tune right here or there. We’re like, “Oh man, we have an album in us.” We positively bought it and the juices have 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 superb 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 stored their chops up enjoying. Jon’s been enjoying 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 have 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 like 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 have 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 will have your entire life to write down your first report. Clearly issues get more durable after that, when the machine kicks in. However this being a reunion report after such a interval away most likely 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 atmosphere?

I feel that was an enormous a part of it. While you’re engaged on these early songs within the early days, you’ll be able to refine them and work on them time and again till you are completely happy. We’re again in that scenario once more, which is good.

Working with Monarch as a label has been nice too, as a result of they needed us to make the most effective songs we may and not using a very restrictive or imposing schedule, as a result of in addition they knew we’re attempting match it in between issues. Everybody’s bought actual life stuff. So we have been capable of actually let these develop in a manner that we have been 100% 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 might cross them round, get everybody on board, after which I might demo vocals, ship them to the blokes, and as soon as we have been happy, we would get it with [producer] Zeuss and we would bang that out. And we’re nonetheless doing that. New concepts are popping up always that we’re ready so as to add into the combination, versus having a deadline already set the place we’re like, “Oh, we bought to only give attention to what now we have.”

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

So, yeah, we’re not solely tremendous psyched, however we have additionally bought the power to essentially give this every thing that we wish to.

Brian, you have 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. Completely different songs present totally different challenges. How pleasant is it so that you can write one thing that permits you to create your personal image versus one thing extra private the place the music is all laid out?

It was a whole lot of enjoyable, truly. I’ve tended to write down from a reasonably private and philosophical form of vibe loads. Granted, I’ve dipped my toes into different form 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 occurring.

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

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

Brian, current years have seen Shadows Fall play the odd present right here and there. Clearly, we had the brief 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 have been experiencing in 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 all the time really feel blessed to have been capable of journey and tour the best way we did within the early days. We have been tour monsters. We by no means went house and once we did, we have been often most likely enjoying like random gigs with different bands we’re in or different tasks. But it surely does take a toll on you, simply that fixed grind. It may possibly begin to drain a few of the enjoyable and pleasure out of the music since you begin to punch a clock. We have 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 form of catch up too. So when you will have 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 street. 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 bought to observe our daughter crawl for the primary time, which is a fairly cool story for later. However on the identical time, I might have appreciated to have been within the room.

So we knew we would have liked to take a break. We have all the time 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 power onstage is a part of who you might be.

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

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

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

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

Brian, you have had that point away. It must be one thing you like to return. Can you set into phrases what it’s about metallic 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 power and the spectacle and the chaos of metallic. I used to be fortunate having a cool neighbor and older brother turned me on to metallic. Fairly early on I used to be listening to Ozzy and Sabbath and all that stuff. The crunchy guitars and simply that that angle 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 wish to do this. That is what I wish to do.” And I knew from that minute actually and from there, I rapidly ended up extra within the underground scene. I spotted you do not have to be an area rocker, which is a tough place to finish up. You possibly can simply be a hardcore child in a small band enjoying 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 power of the early Boston hardcore scene within the ’90s was like nothing I would ever seen or skilled. And I bought caught up in that wave. And I knew from then on, in a roundabout way, this music was going to be part of my life ceaselessly. Granted, I nonetheless did not suppose I would be enjoying reveals in my 50s. Perhaps not, however I am glad I’m.

Actually, the fan response, the discharge onstage, that form 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 all the time 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 take pleasure in that. So to have the ability to stability that with enjoying reveals once more is what actually made me excited that we’re getting form of a second life, a brand new breath to this.

However metallic and hardcore are a part of who I’m and all the time will likely 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 lately. What’s your thought on the state of metallic proper now? Any new bands come alongside that offer you hope for what’s to return?

The state of metallic proper now’s unbelievable as a result of not solely is there a ton of numerous new music, persons are realizing that it is a scene that is stored alive by the individuals themselves.

Clearly issues from after I was younger to now have grown in a enterprise sense with these big U.S. festivals, which is an unbelievable addition that wasn’t there once we have 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 must go to Europe to do it’s unbelievable. In order that’s been an thrilling growth 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 actually inspiring. Typically at our age we’ll really feel a bit of bit like dinosaurs in comparison with a few of the bands we play with. However you notice that power 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 form of dying metallic resurgence of a few of the basic sound with bands like Gatecreeper and Frozen Souls bringing that type of like ’90s Florida sound again to the forefront and turning on children. 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 a few of the larger bands to see, like Sleep Token and Spiritbox and these bands having the ability to play like area sized reveals, however with enjoying loopy underground music is fairly inspiring, man.

It reveals you that there are actually no limits to what this may do. You are able to do the small hardcore reveals that there is nonetheless a DIY signal run by younger children, however then there’s additionally the prospect to essentially carry 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 completely happy to have the ability to form of cruise within the again door and get again onstage once more and nonetheless be capable to get together with all people.

Brian, we have been simply speaking about this time away and it supplying you with primarily an entire different life to steer. What has stuffed your pursuits in your day without work the street?

I used to be all the time nonetheless making music. A few of it was form of extra mellow solo form of stuff. I am a kind of guys who will write most likely 100 songs that nobody will ever hear. However I used to be additionally doing just a few different tasks that have been a bit of extra the hardcore facet.

Like I used to be enjoying in a band known 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 form of band. We have been doing a little bizarre stuff.

After which personally I bought far more into yoga and health the place I used to be even learning to develop into a private coach and dealing with individuals with issues like that. I even put up some train movies which I’ll get again to sooner or later and displaying that even at a later stage in your life you’ll be able to nonetheless get in the most effective form you could possibly be in. I am most likely, possibly not in nearly as good as form as after I was like a 20 12 months previous, however I am most likely in a extra balanced form than I’ve ever been in my life. In order that’s been a enjoyable factor to essentially 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 form of do all of this in my life. However I really feel like all we do is drive our youngsters 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 like it, although, as a result of my children are discovering their very own issues and I am attending to cheer them on. It is nice. And fortuitously, I have been capable of drag them to some 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 children not know? It is humorous …

It’s humorous as a result of with the dreads and all that, my children have gone the other way. When my daughter has the shortest hair she may 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 will present you.”

However it’s humorous, although. Whereas my dad and mom are all the time like, get a haircut. I am all the time like, you positive you do not wish to throw that out? However it’s humorous if you get acknowledged by dad and mom at a soccer sport, after which abruptly I see my children form 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 extra music coming from the band?

Yeah, it is form of been a special type 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 form 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 time. So we have the 2 songs out – “Within the Gray” and “Souls Devoured” out now. We have most likely six songs instrumentally which can be achieved. I am stepping into to report some vocals in July, however we even have about 4 or 5 new ones that we’re loving that we now wish to get within the combine too.

So sooner or later we’ll must cease ourselves from preserve including new concepts, however the concepts are flowing so we wish 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 gradual.

They’re being very lenient with our timeframe, however sooner or later they are going to wish to get the entire thing achieved. So we’re beginning after these reveals. We’re form 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. But it surely’s arduous 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 of 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.

Superb. Properly, I communicate on behalf of the followers. We’re right here for all of it, Brian, and we’re very excited that you just 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 stay and luxuriate in it and provides that power again to us, it is simply been completely overwhelming and unbelievable and we really feel very fortunate and really blessed.

We’re attempting to profit from the second and in addition respect you spreading the phrase as you will have for nearly as many a long time as effectively. So it means loads and we won’t wait to see all people out at reveals.

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

Because of Shadows Fall’s Brian Truthful for the interview. You possibly can keep updated with the band via their website, Facebook, X and Instagram accounts. Discover out the place you’ll be able to hear Full Metallic Jackie’s weekend radio present here.