BORN FROM PAIN are one of the most influential bands in today’s Metalcore-scene, no questions asked. With their new album "War”, the band released another high-quality album and gave their music a darker twist. BORN FROM PAIN evolved within the limits of their genre, thus making "War” one of the best albums of the year. Karl (guit.) took time to answer my questions about the recording process and the new album, as well as had look back to 2006. Interview Your new record got a much simpler title then the previous one. Why did you chose "war"? The song titles (i don´t have the complete lyrics) seem to have war as a main theme - why did you decide to go this way?

Well, there are a couple of reasons that "War” was chosen as the album title, of which one of them is that it is simple, but also because it is a very powerful word, it grabs your attention right away and it encompasses what the whole album is about, which isn’t to say it is about War, when other countries fight one another, although that is touched upon, but it is more to do with the fact that everybody in the world today is at war in some way, whether that is to something they feel they need to fight for on a global level or personal level. After all, in 2006, the world is a pretty fucked up place. There are corrupt governments, environmental decay, poverty is rife, disease is everywhere. It is becoming harder and harder to survive this world, it’s harder to support yourself, support your family. It’s hard to find a job, keep a job. The world we live in is tough and so everyday is a war in some way. We really felt that it was important to make some kind of statement, to talk about real issues that effect people and to give people something they can identify with, to give them a voice. I think a lot of people have maybe given up or lost hope, but we really want to push a message not to give in, not to lose hope, both in the world and in yourself and so War is our way of talking about these issues. The song titles are just different ways of expressing the points we’re trying to put across.

Besides some trademark BORN FROM PAIN-songs you added some new twists to
your music, giving the overall album a much darker atmosphere. Did you do so
intentionally or did it "simply happen"?

I’m glad you notice that, and in all honesty, it was a bit of both. Before we wrote the album, we had a pretty clear idea of how we wanted to go forward and what kind of outcome we wanted in the end, and I think the end result is pretty much what we had in mind. We wanted to incorporate some new things like melody, emotion and atmosphere, yet not lose the aspects of what Born From Pain is known for, such as the massive grooves, the fast aggressive parts, the crushing breakdowns and the anthemic choruses. So whilst it was something we had talked about, it all felt very natural and a lot of those parts just came to life without trying to make it happen. When we wrote any song on the album, we didn’t force anything, we did what we felt was best for the song, and if that was to include some melody or to have it balls out fast and thrashy all the way, then that was what was right for the song and that’s why we have an album that doesn’t sound forced and yet finds our sound growing with a lot of diversity, but still remaining tight and focused and typically Born From Pain.

How long did you work on the new song? When did you start working on it?

Actually we started working on new songs and the new album right after we finished "In Love With The End”. That’s not to say that we all got together and started writing, but it was just a case of collecting some ideas, riffs and things so that we would be as best prepared as possible. Needless to say, it didn’t work out that way and we found ourselves having to write the majority of the album a couple of months before the studio time, which always happens to us, despite our best efforts to avoid that kinda thing. We were pretty much practicing 3 or 4 days a week, 7 hours a day during July and at one point we wrote 5 songs in 3 days, so I think the pressure always helps us in some way.

During the recording session you seem to have a lot of guests there. Ddid
you plan to have barney, lou, jan chris and pepe as guests on your album
before or did it happen during studio time?

We do have quite a few guests on the album ha, but the only one that was actually in the studio was Pepe from Hatesphere as he is from the town where the studio is from. Everyone else did their parts either on tour or in a nearby studio to their home. The only person who wasn’t planned to be on the album was Pepe really and he did his solo on the spur of the moment and it sounds totally killer. It’s a real honour to have these guys on our record as everyone of them adds something different and unique. They all have their own individual mark and they all compliment Che’s voice so well. It’s great that they all took time out of their busy schedules to make our record a little better.

Are you satisfied with the sound of "war"? Will you record at Antfarm the next time too?

We are all completely satisfied with the sound of "War” and I think we’ll be going to Antfarm again to work with Tue Madsen, especially since he’s done our past 3 albums ha. But to me, this is definitely the best sound we’ve ever had. It’s very heavy, it has a lot of low end, yet everything is very clear and defined. When we went into the studio, Dominik and I had a very good idea of how we wanted the album to sound, and the end result is that we couldn’t be any happier. Tue does a wonderful job and I’m sure we’ll be seeing him again within 2 years ha.

You just finished a tour run with NAPALM DEATH. What are your memories of
it? Did the tour meet your expectations?

That’s right. The tour was awesome. We had a lot of fun and it was great to go back out on the road with good friends, and obviously make some new ones in Mendeed too. At first we weren’t sure how it would be for us, because a Napalm Crowd is pretty extreme, but we found that we were really well received on a lot of the shows and I’d say we made a very positive mark on a lot of the people there. I have some great memories of some killer shows, good times hanging out, buses breaking down, long drives and the flu ha. It was an awesome 5 weeks with a lot of fun involved.

Taking a look back: was 2006 a succesful year for BORN FROM PAIN? What
had been the best moment/event and what the worst one?

I’d say 2006 was a very successful year for us. We toured all over the place, played some of the biggest European festivals and wrote, recorded and released our best album to date, so to me that is a very successful year and only paves the way for an incredible 2007. I think there are too many best moments to mention to be honest, although I will definitely give props to our Brazil tour, that was a great experience. Also, playing Wacken was amazing too, and all the more special for me because my parents were there. The Napalm Death tour was an obvious highlight and the release of "War” is way up there too. As for worst memories, there isn’t too much in many ways. I mean, all the long drives and overnighters you pull are part of the great experiences, so it’s hard to say.

Do you have plans for 2007 already? Will you do a headliner-tour in Europe?

We do have plans for 2007, and they are to tour as much as possible, to reach as many new people as possible and to tour some new places as well as re-visit old places. We will be doing a headline tour and I believe that starts on the 25th February and runs through to the 31st March. We’ll be bringing First Blood, Bloodlinded Calligraphy and The Setup as supports, so it’s gonna be an awesome tour for sure.

-how much time do you commit to the band? Do you have regular jobs besides
the band or are you full-time musicians?

We’re not really full-time musicians as we all have to work part-time jobs too, but I’d say we devote around 220+ days in the year solely to the band, whether that be for touring, to record albums, to practice, doing video-shoots, photo-shoots, interviews or whatever. At least 8 months of the year goes towards the band I’d say.

What do you think, how long will you make BORN FROM PAIN? Can you
imagine to make music as old men, like the ROLLING STONES?

Hahaha, that’s impossible to say really. I have no idea what I’ll be doing in 5 years time, let alone 20. After all, if someone had said to me 5 years ago that in 2 months you would quit your job and move to Holland to play in a band and that you’d tour all over the world, release albums on Metal Blade Records, see the world, play some huge tours and festivals and meet people from all over the world, I’d have thought they were crazy. You can never predict the future, but I have a good feeling that Born From Pain will be around for some time to come.

That are good news. Coming to the end, do you have some final words?

Thanks for the interview, it’s much appreciated. To all our German fans, thanks for the ongoing support and we will definitely see you in 2007, actually we’ll see you at the end of 2006 if you live in Potsdam or Niesky ha. But yeah, thanks to everyone for their support and check out the new album "War” now. Thanks and take care.