Chad Bowar: You have a new guitarist since the last CD. What led to Scott Danough's
departure, how did you find Jona, and how has he fit into the band?
Ryan Wombacher: We felt that Scott didn't have the drive to be in the band anymore. We
didn't feel like he wanted it or expressed any excitement. We met Jona when
we toured in Europe last year. His band was the opener on the tour. After he
had got wind of our situation, he mentioned that his band was kind of on the
outs and he offered to play for us. He fit perfectly into the band all
around, he has the same personality as us and is a great guitar player.
How has the band's sound progressed from The Truth to Declaration?
I think our sound hasn't changed too much. I think we just decided to write
this record going into it thinking, "We don’t really care what anyone thinks,"
and wrote songs that made us happy. With Jona being in the band now, some of
the songs have more of a black metal sound to them as well.
How was it working with Devin Townsend?
Working with Devin was the best experience I've had personally in the
studio. It was very comfortable and productive the whole time. We joke
around and call him the "mad scientist of metal" cause the guy has ideas
that come out of nowhere and he is constantly staying up all night mixing
and coming up with these crazy ideas that work out awesome.
You contributed lead vocals for the first time. How was that experience?
This was my first time doing vocal tracks alone on a record. I've always done
harmonies on the last records. It was one of those things that just came to
the song I think. Everyone in this band stepped up to the plate on this
record and shined through more than before. I had a lot of fun doing it and I
think it was very fitting for the song.
What are your expectations for the CD?
The best part about doing this record at this time in music is that we don’t
really have an expectation or a set goal. We just want kids to hear this
record whether they buy it or download it. We are very proud of it and have
faith that it will do well. We will continue to do what we do as a band with
the same intensity as always.
You've been on the No Fear Tour most of the summer. How has it been?
The No Fear music tour has been going great. We started the tour on July
14th and right now we are one show away from the end of the tour. The shows
have been amazing and some of them have been some of my favorite shows I've
ever played.
What have been some of the highlights?
Personally the highlight of the tour for me was the Colorado show, the show
was really crazy and we got the pit to go all the way around the sound
board.
Are you looking forward to coming home for a while?
This next break we have in October will be the longest break we will have
for quite a while so I am very much looking forward to it. We have a bunch
of tours lined up after the break so we all have to get our vacations in
while we can.
What are your tour plans after No Fear?
After No Fear we will be heading over to Europe with Bullet For My Valentine again and join the tour with Lacuna Coil and Black Tide for all of November and part of
December. After that we will head over to Australia and do a headlining tour
then come home and do a headliner for the states.
Where haven't you played that you'd still like to get to?
We would love to do a full South America tour and we want to eventually get
over to Africa sometime.
Do you have any pre concert rituals?
I try and stretch the best I can before each show and kind of mentally
prepare myself. Not so much ritual. Brandan has more ritual as has to do
vocal warm ups before each show. I don't know how he screams for so long
without losing his voice.
What are your van/tour bus essentials?
I think it goes for everyone in our band, iPod and movies. Without them you
will go crazy
What are the largest and smallest crowds you've played in front of?
The largest shows we have ever played are some of the Ozzfest shows and
Slayer/Manson shows with having up to 20 or 30,000 people watching. Those
are a lot of fun. I think some of the smallest shows we have ever played
would have to probably be Little Rock, Arkansas, with about 15 people.
What was the first concert you attended as a fan?
I think the first concert I ever went to was Descendents on their
Everything Sucks tour. I was in 7th grade. They are still one of my all
time favorite bands.
You've toured with some huge bands. Which tours have been the most
memorable for you?
I think those would have to be the two Ozzfests we did. We had a lot of
friends on those tours. It was kind of like summer camp in a way. Everyone just hung out and has a lot of BBQ's.
How did you get started in music?
I bought my first bass on my 16th birthday. My two friends growing up played
guitar and drums and they wanted to start a band, so they convinced me to
learn to play bass so we could start a band. From then on I pretty much
never stopped playing.
Was there a song or album that inspired you to want to perform music?
Descendents was one of the first bands that made me want to play bass, along
with bands like Pantera that turned me on to playing heavier music.
Who are some bassists you admire?
Some bass players I admire are: Carl Alverez, Cliff Burton, Victor Wooten,
Flea, Rex of Pantera, Blasko.
What's your all time favorite metal album?
One of my all time favorite metal albums is Pantera's Vulgar Display of
Power. That album is brutal.
