“With their new album ‘No Sanctuary’ just released, and an upcoming UK tour with the huge Four Year Strong, these guys are of to a great start this year, if you love your pop punk, we strongly advise you give these guys your time, as they are fantastic!”
Interview with Marc What is the message that you are trying to bring with your new album 'No Sanctuary’? I’m not sure if there is a clear cut message exactly. Each song on the record has its own meaning, but there is a loose connection between all of them. We have been criticized that our last record was too dark. Although, some of the material may be sad or angry at points, I feel No Sanctuary is an uplifting record.
How did you get to the album title 'No Sanctuary' and what does it mean to you? No Sanctuary is taken from a line in one of the songs on the record. For me, No Sanctuary is about escape. Things in life can get you down. Everyone in this band has had life kick them in the ass in one way or another over the last couple of years. You realize that you can’t hide from it. You have to take shit head on. There is No Sanctuary.
Are there any events in particular that have been an influence to this record? Sure. Everything in our own personal lives, our collective band life, and the world around us reflects on each one of us as songwriters and musicians. It seems like we’ve each lost friends and family and been in and out of serious relationships since the last CD. Our long time drummer and friend Jack left our band. It all can be heard in one way or another through the music. I feel like the struggle for most touring bands is to allow yourself space and to not get hung up on the microcosm of tour life.
What bands have influenced you on this new record and why? All five of us are always listening to different stuff all the time. In one way or another it comes out in the songs. There are still the same pop punk band influences like Alkaline Trio, Saves, The Day, The Acceptance, on this record. At the time I was listening to a lot of big Rock bands like the Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins, Coldplay and older Pop/Rock like Peter Gabriel, Billy Joel, and Elvis Costello.
What was it like to record with Andrew Wade? How did he push you as a band? Wade was really great to work with for this record. We went in to the studio with a very specific idea in my mind for this record, and some of us were definitely a little apprehensive about working with him because we hadn’t met prior. He ended up being exactly what we needed. He had some ideas, but he didn’t push them too hard on us. Wade really helped us expand on the songs by pushing us as musicians. We had a lot of fun too. It was a good experience.