How did you come to join Divine Heresy?
Travis Neal: I auditioned from the ad they put out on MySpace. I saw it and said I gotta do this regardless if I get it or not. I knew they had a good number of people that were fighting for the job and I really thought I would have a good shot at it. I did not think I would make it, but I was gonna give it my all. It was a shock to me when they told me I was the one. That goes to show you people out there it can happen, just don’t sell yourself short and don’t give up.
Give us a bit of your musical background.
I started playing music when I was 15. I have been playing in local San Diego bands for most of my life. In 2008 I joined the Swedish band The Bereaved, which was my first signed act. I then went on to join Divine Heresy in 2009. I currently play in three bands as well as one studio project. All the info on my past as well as all my current projects can be found here.
Do you plan on staying in the Bereaved as well as Divine Heresy?
Of course! The Bereaved is still very much my band. A lot of press releases I see say "Travis Neal (Ex Bereaved)." I do not know where they are getting that info from, but yes I will be working with The Bereaved on all my off time from Divine Heresy.
How involved in the writing process of Bringer of Plagues were you?
I was just as involved as any of the other members. I just handled my job in the band though. I wrote the lyrics and the melodies and the boys wrote the music. We all worked on this record as a single writing force.
What was the influence of your addition on the band’s sound?
I feel that with my vocal style and range, it opened a lot of doors for the band musically. I have a wide array of influences and I think when Dino and the boys sat down to write the record they saw that. I feel it gave them more of a "no boundaries" approach with this record.
What was your experience in the studio with Logan Mader like?
Working with Logan was a great experience! That guy is amazing at what he does. His knowledge behind a console is second to none; the guy is lightning fast and so precise. I definitely look forward to possibly working with him and Dirty Icon productions again in the future.
When you’re writing and recording the songs, do you consider how you’ll duplicate and perform the music live, or is that something you worry about later?
I do! I do not like to record anything that can’t be pulled off live. Some harmonies can’t always be done live, but when you put a bunch of overdubs and backups that would be impossible to pull of live unless you had four singers, I hate that. I know as a fan, when I would go see a band live there would be that one part in the song where it would give me goose bumps and if they did not do it live it was a total letdown. I do not want to give our fans a killer record and not be able to pull it off live. The last thing I want is a disappointed fan.
What’s easier for you, the screaming or singing vocals?
Well, they both are good. I like doing them both because I feel it shows more versatility in a vocalist. A lot of people that listen to metal seem to frown on clean vocals. Why, I do not know. I really like vocalists that don't do just one thing. It has a bigger impact.
What has been the response to far to Bringer of Plagues?
So far the response has been really good. People seem to really like the new sound for sure. There are people out there that want Tommy back, but this is DH now and that is just the way it is. Overall we have been getting very positive reactions.
Describe your first show with Divine Heresy and how it compared to your expectations.
My first show with the band was in Monterrey, Mexico. When we took the stage there was a big curtain separating us and the crowd. I could hear them but not see them, so I did not expect it to be what it turned out to be. That curtain opened and there was like 1000 people! I totally froze up for a second, it was pretty breathtaking. I was expecting a small show for my first, but those guys total threw me to the wolves! But it was one hell of a pilot show for me, something I will never forget.
In most bands the vocalist is the focus of attention. With Dino’s background and personality, he’s the face of the band. Is that, or do you see that becoming any sort of issue with you?
I don’t really see it being a problem at all. We are all a team. Yes Dino does get a lot of the attention, but then again so does Tim as well and now Joe and now myself. Even though Dino has a big name, he looks at everything as an equal team.
How did you get started in music?
I started out playing bass in my first band when I was 15. When we lost our singer, I just started playing the bass and singing. Then I found a bass player and started handling vocals full time. I guess the rest is history
What was your first band?
I believe that band was called De La Corte. It was a bunch of my friends from school and we would jam out in our drummer’s garage or mine. It was good times!
When did you decide music would be your career?
I always loved music. I have always wanted to do this for a career, since I picked up my first instrument. I always thought it would be cool to make a living playing music, But really what has always propelled me to do this is to be able to play a different stage every night in front of a different sea of faces. Simply to be able to pour my heart and soul to people every night. That is what it is all about to me.
What is your all time favorite album?
That is a very tough one for sure. If I had to name one it’s Nightingale - The Closing Chronicles. Dan Swano is an amazing musician, and he single handedly wrote and recorded that record. It was a very inspirational record for me. It really opened my eyes to what one could do if they put their minds and hearts into something.
