Backstage Pass - Final Sign - Interview

ATP

What is the title of your CD? How did you come up with the name?

FINAL SIGN

The title is 'Hold High The Flame'. It's one of our song titles on the album and the lyrics reflect a "never back down" attitude. This is what we want to convey to the listener..."hold high the flame" of what you believe, what you stand for, what you love, etc.

ATP

Is this your first CD and if not, how is this one different from the others?

FINAL SIGN

This is the first CD we have released as FINAL SIGN, yes. Brian and I recorded a CD back in 2000 under the name K-OCTAVE. It was released on Hellion Records in Germany and entitled 'Outer Limits'. So, Brian and I have a long standing musical history together. We are super excited to be back in a band together and presenting FINAL SIGN's brand of metal to the faithful!

ATP

Did you write all the songs before going into the studio or did you write them as you were recording?

FINAL SIGN

All music was written prior to going into the studio. I wrote the lyrics and vocal structures after the music was recorded. Writing while in the studio can be very expensive. We opted to get as tight as we could in rehearsal before recording the album.

ATP

Walk us thru the process of writing your music?

FINAL SIGN

Brian, Howard and Kevin will begin working through and putting together riff ideas that Brian comes up with. I will contribute with arrangement ideas as the song progresses. Brian is a riff machine...he writes music all the time, which is one reason for his nickname "Hellstorm".

ATP

Where did you record and why?

FINAL SIGN

The album was recorded and mixed at M3 Studios in Elkin, NC. Brian and the studio owner Canaan Longworth have known each other for a long time so it was a natural choice to work there. It's a very comfortable environment in which to work and be creative. Mastering took place at The Basement Studios in Winston-Salem, NC and was handled by Jamie King.

ATP

HHow did you pay for your recording?

FINAL SIGN

The recording of the album was self-financed.

ATP

Did you have a producer or did you self-produce? If so, what kind of input did the producer have. If your self-produced, why?

FINAL SIGN

Brian and I produced the album ourselves. We know exactly what we want from FINAL SIGN, and with Canaan's help, we finished an album we are extremely proud of. At this point in our life as a band, we feel we know what's best for FINAL SIGN in terms of how the music sounds, and how it's presented to the fans. We can't wait for the Metal audience to dig into it! We hope they love it as much as we do!

ATP

Did you try to capture your "live sound" or did you go for something else?

FINAL SIGN

We went for the FINAL SIGN sound! As I said before, the band rehearses relentlessly before going in to record. When playing together than intensely, you develop a certain vibe that is unique to you. We feel we developed our own sound and vibe in this time. We play and sing the way only we can as a unit. If anyone in the band changed, it would change the entire sound of the band. It's about chemistry, in the end. So, when we went in to record, we knew we had to capture that chemistry and we feel like we did.

ATP

Did your record label have any input into the music you recorded?

FINAL SIGN

Divebomb Records trusted us completely and was very happy with the finished product. They are firm believers in FINAL SIGN and in metal in general, so they stand behind us all the way and allow us the freedom to be who we are as a band. The music you hear is 100% FINAL SIGN!

ATP

Are you pleased with the final product?

FINAL SIGN

I could not be more pleased with the final product! It looks great, it sounds great, we are all very excited about it! Steven Cobb's artwork looks amazing, don't you think? This album is a very proud moment for me and the band! We are extremely grateful to Divebomb Records and to the metal fans for allowing us to do what we do and the feedback we have received so far has been astounding!

ATP

Where will we be able to pick up a copy?

FINAL SIGN

CDs can be obtained directly from Divebomb Records at this link: http://tribunalrecords.bigcartel.com/product/final-sign-hold-high-the-flame It will be available at other online retailers beginning in December 2016. Also, we will be selling the CD at our live shows.

ATP

Will you be touring to promote your CD?

FINAL SIGN

We will absolutely be hitting stages to promote this album. It was meant to be played live. We cannot wait to get on stage and share these songs with the fans and interact with who we consider our metal family! Metal music is a universal language. No matter where you go in the world, when you find another metal fan, you have instant family. So, yes...locally, regionally, at festivals...we will definitely be playing shows!

ATP

Would rather be recording or playing live shows?

FINAL SIGN

I love being in the studio. Creating new music and recording songs is fun for me. Hearing the finished product, seeing the artwork, holding the CD in my hand, that is the first major payoff for me with music. Playing live is a rush, but my favorite place is in the studio.

ATP

Anything you would like to say to your fans?

FINAL SIGN

I cannot thank you enough, the metal fans across the world, for the amazing support and excitement you have shown for FINAL SIGN so far!! The response to the songs and to the album has been amazing and it's all because of YOU!!! YOU are the reason metal lives! YOU are the reason it will continue to live all over the world! Thank you all so much, spread the metal and HOLD HIGH THE FLAME!!!