It’s been a long time coming, but the new album from All Human is finally getting released tomorrow. The band that features Adam Rupert Fisher (Fear Before the March of Flames, Orbs) and Brian Ferrara (Trophy Scars) began tracking the record in the summer of 2014, but hit several road bumps along the way.
So naturally we had a bunch of questions. Why did it take so long? What’s in store for the future? And with all of these bands from the early 2000s making a comeback, is there a possibility of a Fear Before reunion?
We chatted with Adam and Brian about Teenagers, You Don’t Have to Die, the sophomore effort from All Human. It officially gets released tomorrow (March 18) — and you can pick it up on Bandcamp.
Spoiler alert: Expect touring and lots of new music in the near future.
It’s been almost four years since you put out your last record. What were the challenges you faced with releasing Teenagers, You Don’t Have to Die?
Adam: Pretty much everything you can think of. No money. No backing. Not that it takes money to make a good record, but it does take money to buy a pair of headphones that didn’t come free with your phone. Fortunately, Brian and John [Ferrara] came along and really helped move everything forward. I’d been working on the record for so long I kinda just hoped that it would see the light of day. They changed that.
Brian: There are so many challenges we’ve had to face. Adam being in CA while I live in NJ made the process a bit more extensive sending things back and forth and being sure we were both effective within our communication. So, that distance makes some things difficult in some ways. We had plans for everything though, and even sent our little notes back and forth. It’s also really tough on bands these days finding the right label/home for their music. With that being said, we’ve had to fund everything ourselves with the tracking, mixing, and the mastering. It’s just the two of us, and that was a little hard on our personal pockets. I think that all of the funding/figuring out a plan with releasing the record and playing shows to follow have probably been the most challenging aspects of everything we’ve had to endure so far.
This new album is the first one with Brian as a major component. Talk about how he became part of the band.
Adam: Brian and I had toured and been friends for years. I had written this record but it was just me and I didn’t know who would have any interest in being a part of it. I was nervous to ask him. I think I got drunk to work up the courage and then sent him the text.
Brian: Adam and I have been friends for awhile now and always seemed to cross paths years ago, albeit touring with the others band, or simply spending the night at each other’s place while touring. About two years ago, he messaged me asking if I’d be interested in playing on the new record. We talked about what he was doing and the sound he had aimed for, and sent me the demos of the songs. I was really into it as soon as I started listening while we were talking.
How has the band’s music evolved with the new album? What did you want to accomplish with it?
Adam: It was a very natural evolution. I’ve always felt like your surroundings and current situations shape your music. Maybe that’s just me. What the shit do I know? Anyway, all of these songs originated around the time I had moved from home to Long Beach, so there’s a lot of sadness and longing there. I missed my friends and everything that was comfortable to me. After I finished being a little bitch about it though, I went surfing and had some tacos, and then wrote the most posi record ever. But no one will ever hear it…
Brian: It’s tough to say exactly how it evolved from my perspective being there’s a whole bunch of new faces that helped make this record, as well as me being one of those new faces. But we got to touch on a lot of different vibes that just came fluidly from our range of musical inspirations, and that’s definitely one reason the record has flashes of eeriness while still maintaining it’s stride with all the other feels it touches on. I think it kinda does it’s own thing, and takes the listener on a ride along with it.
Over the past few years Adam has been busy with both All Human and Orbs. With bands from the early 2000s making a comeback, have there been any talks of a Fear Before reunion?
Adam: There’s talk. However, we’ll never do it as a trend. I have seen a lot of bands doing ten year anniversaries or reuniting for one last tour, and it all seems so money driven. There’s no way for me to answer this without sounding self -righteous. Fear Before the March of Flames was never about money. We made a lot of really poor decisions based on principal (most of which I’m sure the other guys would blame me for). That’s the kind of band we were. If and when we play again, that’s the band we’ll continue to be.
Aside from a vinyl pressing of Teenagers, You Don’t Have to Die that’s due out this year, what else is in store for All Human in the near future?
Adam: Everything and anything. As I type this, I’m on my way to pick up my computer from the shop, and maybe purchase a new one. I’m ready to write a new record with Brian!
Brian: There’s a chance of us doing a split with a band called Flyermile. It’s Steve Clifford’s (Circa Survive) other band, and they just recorded a track with John, who was a huge part of this record doing a lot of tracking/producing, and mixing the record — all of that awesome behind the scenes stuff. Definitely ready to write some more stuff and just keep the wheels moving!