On the loading dock of a security-intense venue during the Anaheim stop of the band’s headlining tour, For Today frontman Mattie Montgomery reminisces of signing with Facedown Records in 2008. “Our drummer David [Morrison] was on the Facedown street team for years,” he commented. Montgomery says the band repeatedly sent Facedown demos of their music, but the label had no interest in signing the group. Then one day the label said “record the album and we’ll give it a listen.”
For the Christian metalcore band from Sioux City, Iowa, their persistence is what has helped propel them into an international force. Within the past year the group has toured the globe extensively with bands such as The Devil Wears Prada, Whitechapel, Emmure, and Stray From The Path. Last summer the band inked a deal with Razor & Tie for the release of their upcoming album Immortal (out May 22nd) — a record packaged with surprises, featuring guest appearances by P.O.D.’s Sonny Sandoval, August Burns Red’s Jake Luhrs, and Tommy Green of Sleeping Giant.
Says Montgomery of working again with producer Will Putney on Immortal, “He’s not afraid to [say] ‘that part sucks’…he’s really willing to jump in there. It’s almost like having another band member with us that has new ideas and is coming at it with a fresh perspective. And that is priceless to have when we’re recording.”
As the sound of low rumbling tour busses faintly echo throughout the venue’s staging area on the early evening, Montgomery and I have a brief conversation about Professor Mustache, a pet monkey the band enlisted to accompany them on tour. As we further acquaint ourselves, we continue our conversation on the beginnings of For Today, tour stories, and Immortal. Montgomery recalls his first-ever show with the band: