Brutality Encompassed

By Josh Pierson

An Interview with As I Lay Dying’s Guitarist Phil Sgrosso

When I think of one word to describe As I Lay Dying, it would be "brutal," but how many times have you heard me say that? Plus, I don’t think "brutal" is what this Christian metal band had in mind when they began a metal conquest. And, after talking to the band, I realized that they aren’t trying to "Spread the Word" or preach to anyone about their beliefs, they are just simply a metal band with a whole lot of talent who lives their lives a different kind of way than some of us "sinning metalheads."

The two other times I’ve seen this band were truly impressive, but very unlike this night’s live performance at the Empire Events Center in downtown Sacramento. If you saw them at Ozzfest a few years ago, you probably had to deal with all those annoying hardcore straight edge kids running around acting like they were better than everyone else there. Tonight was a little different because some of those kids have grown up a bit and, guess what, there were a lot of people in the bar area (thoughts on that kids?).

I was able to witness one of the best live metal performances I’ve ever seen, ok, well maybe not ever, but it was pretty damn exciting. As much as this band claims not to hug on to a genre of metal (because as you all should know by now, there are about 15 different genre’s within metal), after listening to the newest album and watching them shred on stage, and with their punk and metal backgrounds, the most definitely can claim that they are a thrash band. And there’s nothing wrong with that at all. Some of the greatest metal bands have their roots in thrash-Pantera, Testament, Exodus, Shadows Fall, In Flames — need I go on? But, without sounding redundant and unoriginal (because I so don’t want to start sounding like a Rolling Stone article) I’ll give you all what you are really craving, a new interview!

I was originally supposed to sit down with Tim Lambesis (lead singer), but I guess he had better things to do. Pay no mind to that because I was able to sit down with Phil Sgrosso (lead guitarist) and pick his brain for a little while, which turned out to be a good amount of fun.

Fringe: How’s the tour going so far?

Phil: Tour’s going really well, just one show, but it was a good first show for the tour.

F: Where was it?

P: Santa Cruz at the Catalyst.

F: When listening to As I Lay Dying, a lot of people comment on the uniqueness of the drumming. I know you’re not the drummer, but do you have any comments on that?

P: I think Jordan’s kind of got his style. I think he’s definitely set apart from a lot of other good drummers out there.

F: Do you consider As I Lay Dying a Christian metal band?

P: Well, yeah, we’re all Christian, and the majority of the lyrics are focused more on things that have to do with our faith and our beliefs, a lot of times they’re just about occurrences or relationships or something, but yeah, I do consider us a Christian metal band. A lot of bands don’t want to be labeled a Christian metal band, but if you’re Christian then you’re Christian at everything you do.

F: On tours like Ozzfest, or In Flames, have you ever gotten any flack from people in the audience because you are ‘that’ Christian band on the tour?

P: Not too bad, nothing too crazy. No one spits in our face, but it’s mostly online, dumb kids saying stupid stuff, but I could care less what anyone thinks about our band."

F: "Do you ever get people who have no idea that you’re a Christian metal band commenting on it when they do find out?

P: A lot of people don’t know. It’s fine. Some people think that Christians don’t belong making heavy music, but who are they to decide that? It’s art, it’s freedom, it’s self expression, and anyone who bashes on it, obviously they don’t respect it.

F: I’ve noticed that with the newest album, the music is getting a lot more aggressive all around. Is that just maturity in the music?

P: It’s definitely maturity. Listening back to our previous records, I don’t like them as much, I guess. I’m still proud of what we did, but definitely the new record is a progression for all of us individually and as songwriters together. The songs just came out the way we wanted them, we didn’t try to go out and make them more brutal, it was very natural and organic with the song-writing process.

F: There are bands who have one or two main songwriters in the band, and then everyone else just comes in when they need to. How is that with As I Lay Dying?

P: I write the majority of the guitar riffs, and the majority of the rhythms; Nick does his solos; Tim writes all the lyrics; Nick and Tim both have input with riffs, as well. Everyone is definitely involved, but some people do more than others.

F: Do you feel that Metal Blade Records has stepped up to the plate, so to speak, for you guys and really pushed you for a reason over the last couple of years?

P: I think there’s a good market for this kind of music. They are really pushing us, and pushing bands like Unearth, and Cannibal Corpse making a comeback. They just support us, we’re a hard-working band, we’re always on tour, and we put out records consistently over the years. I think they’re just stoked in working with us.

F: You’ve at times been compared to bands like In Flames and Soilwork — the Gothenberg (SWE) sound. Did you intend for that sound, or is it just influences coming out?

P: When I started getting into heavy music, definitely got into In Flames, Soilwork, At The Gates. So, yeah, melody from those bands, melody from Iron Maiden, some punk, all of it has influenced me. On the heavier side, when I first started playing in a heavier band, the Swedish sound was definitely something I really liked.

F: Any big festivals this summer?

P: We’re doing Warped Tour the first month, then we’re doing Cornerstone, some random one in South Dakota. Then we’re going over to Europe for three weeks and playing some over there, Wacken, which is the largest one over there. So, yeah, probably about two months in the summer of touring here, and then touring Europe.

F: The name As I Lay Dying, does it have some meaning to the band, or is it from the Faulkner novel?

P: It’s from the book, there’s no relevance.

F: After talking to Shadows Fall a few years back, some of those guys still had day jobs when they would go home. Is that the case for you as well?

Phil: No, we’re very fortunate to not have to go home and find jobs, we can make a living off doing this.

F: Any side projects?

P: Tim’s got a side project he’s working on, and I’ve got this little thing that I’m trying to get going. We’re on tour so much that anytime we get home, we’re home for two or three weeks at a time on average, so I kind of just want to enjoy hanging out with my fiancee, family, friends, just relax and adapt back into home life.

F: Any newer albums that you’re really diggin’?

P: Some of the dudes are really into the new Testament album, but I’m just like whatever, I’m not really into that Thrash, but I do respect it. I just got the new Thrice album, and the new Meshuggah we’re all pretty stoked on.

F: I know some bands like to take the opportunity with MySpace to answer fans, is that something that you guys do?

P: Yeah Nick’s the MySpace guy, he’s answers as many messages as he can. I get too frustrated sometimes reading what kids have to say about us, when they say it negatively I get pretty upset. We have a fan club and I try to stay pretty active with our message board, and if kid’s have any questions about anything, hopefully I can help them learn something.

F: For those that haven’t heard As I Lay Dying yet, what would you tell them to make them go out and check you guys out?

P: If you like heavy aggressive music with a little bit more depth, a little bit more dynamic to songs, it would be cool for you to check out, it’s not just straight-forward metal at all times, there’s a lot more depth.