Chad Bowar: You have some new members since your debut. What led to the departure of the former members, and how did Travis, Adam and Norm come to join Threat Signal?
Jon Howard: Threat Signal started as a very young band, some of us just fresh out of high school. Success came very quickly for us and we really didn’t know the lifestyle we were getting into. The former members chose to leave Threat Signal one by one as they realized this wasn’t the life for them. It was hard to see them go, and I was very upset at the time. But I’ve come to realize being in a band isn’t the life for everyone. Rich and George are now married with kids and are happy with that life. I’m still in contact with them.
Norm is from Hamilton and was actually the very first drummer I wanted for Threat Signal, but he was loyal to his band at the time. I got in touch with him when George left and he was available so it worked out great! Travis is from Texas and auditioned for the band through the internet. Adam was playing for us when Kyle was still in the band, he filled Marcos’ spot when he left. So basically the new lineup has been around for two and a half years. This is the longest and only time we’ve been a solid band. We are all on the same page and are ready to destroy the world for years and years to come!
It’s been three years since your debut. Did the lineup changes delay things, or was this your planned timetable?
My initial goal was to release an album at least every two years. The lineup changes were the main reason we had to delay our second album. I also didn’t want to rush into recording until I was completely satisfied with the new songs and the new members. I can now say that this is the best line up Threat Signal has ever had and this album tops Under Reprisal by far.
How has the band’s sound evolved from Under Reprisal to Vigilance?
We maintain the same style as Under Reprisal, but every element has been pushed further this time around. We’ve grown as musicians and songwriters over the years and I think this is a more mature album. It’s a lot more diverse as well. It’s heavier and more melodic at the same time if you can imagine that. Even though I’m the only original member, the most recognizable change is in the vocals. I was learning to be a singer during Under Reprisal so I wasn’t comfortable with my voice or my range. With Vigilance I have found my range and style and you can hear that I’m very comfortable now with my voice.
What inspired your lyrics for the CD?
Anything personal, global, or political that has influence on me inspires my lyrics. I don’t throw words together just to form a song, each lyric has purpose and meaning to me. One song could be a personal experience of mine, another could be about the media controlling what people see, another could be about the innocent victims of war. I touch on a lot of topics, but the main goal of mine is to stay positive. The world is filled with hate and I really don’t want to add to that. I touch on negative topics but try to offer some form of hope or strength.
Was your songwriting/recording process any different than usual for this album?
The songwriting was exactly the same process as the first album. We use a program called Guitar Pro to tab our ideas and listen to them in midi. We send the files to each other and just hammer on the songs until they are near completion. Then we record demos with real instruments and keep fixing and adding until the songs are complete.
However the recording process was very different from Under Reprisal. We chose to record most of the album in my home studio. This provided a very non-stressful atmosphere to record whenever and however long we wanted. Instead of tracking the whole album in five weeks like the first record, we took months to perfect Vigilance. This made for a better sounding record we are completely happy with.
How did you decide to produce this time?
Since I’ve been producing and recording Threat Signal’s demos since the beginning, I thought there would be no one better to do the new album other than myself. I took the demos to the label and convinced them I was the man for the job. Of course they wanted a producer with a name and reputation, but they were confident in letting me take on this challenge. It was a lot of work since I handled the producing, tracking, engineering, and editing. Basically the only thing I didn’t do was mix and master. I love having control and I love how the record turned out.
What are your expectations for the CD?
I expect this album to push us even higher in the metal world. Hopefully it will gain us more recognition as a band who is real and here to stay.
Do you read or pay attention to reviews?
We pay a lot of attention to what fans write on the internet every day and what people have to say about our music. Not that it really makes a difference what anyone has to say because it won’t change anything about us, we are just interested that people are talking about us, positive or negative.
What are your upcoming tour plans?
We just returned home from a 30 day headlining tour of the US. We brought The Agonist and Sybreed with us and it was an amazing time! We are currently looking to support larger bands through Europe and the US. I really want to get over and tour Europe! That’s my main goal right now.
What are your van/tour bus essentials?
Laptop, Xbox 360, deodorant, toothbrush, vodka. Can't tour without those!
What was the first concert you attended as a fan?
The first concert my mom let me go see in Toronto was Silverchair back in the mid ‘90s. After that she took me to see Metallica.
