Shatter Messiah – No Servants, No Believers
American metallers Shatter Messiah have delivered a powerful debut with last year's "Never To Play The Servant", the album is a strong combination of different metallic styles, while maintaining aggression and focus throughout. To learn more about this great band, we spoke with the band's guitarist, Curran Murphy, and drummer, Robert Falzano.
Hey guys, I'd like to start with current events, what's currently up with the band? What kind of touring are you doing?
Curran: We are getting ready to enter writing mode for the new album, and also planning a few shows around the Chicago Powerfest we are playing in April. Also we are looking into playing Europe this fall and winter.
Robert: Up to this point we have only done a number of Regional dates, sharing the stage with bands like Byzantine, Sanctity, Into Eternity, and Beyond Fear. But as Curran Stated we have some great plans for the near future.
Some questions about "Never To Play The Servant", how are the reactions to the album as of now?
Curran: The people out there who have bought the album really dig the music and all of the different styles and attacks we put down on the metal thing.
Robert: The feedback I have received from the fans has been Great all around. I think the fans understand what we are trying to do musically. Also we have been getting a lot of great reviews.
What's the meaning of the title?
Curran: There are several meanings to the album title but it is best for everyone to get their own idea of what it means to never play the servant.
Robert: We could tell you what it means to us but I think it is important to allow the title and the lyrics to have special meaning to each individual, it allows the music to be more personal to each individual.
The album, and your website, features some cool artwork, what's the idea behind the cover and the art in the website?
Curran: To couple the music and lyrics into a visual representation of what Shatter Messiah is.
Robert: Our Art guy "Jules" is great! He listens to the Music and Creates images based on the impression he gets from it along with some direction from the band as well. He is truly an amazing artist.
Did you have any problems with the cross bearing image? Deeply Christian people are not famed for their tolerance to such imagery…
Curran: Yeah the "righteous ones" and the "forgiving ones" are all some of the most hateful and intolerant fuck-heads out there. That's okay they will all burn in their own hells when they die and meet their fates.
Robert: I haven't heard any comments directed specifically at the cover artwork. I have however received a VERY small amount of hate mail saying we are all going to hell and how we are all devil worshipers, stuff like that. But that shit makes me laugh. I mean really, how serious can you take a person who misquotes their own bible scripture and twists their dogma to fit their own warped views. Not to mention someone who has enough time to waste writing hate mail to a bunch of clowns in a metal band! *Laughs*
What do the lyrics in the album deal with?
Curran: Life/death, love/hate, god and the evil tenants of religion.
Why did you choose to sign with Germany's Dockyard1 records label?
Curran: They seemed like a very good and respectable label that liked what we are doing and will support our future efforts for Shatter Messiah.
Your band members seem to be all veteran metal musicians, where did you play prior to Shatter Messiah?
Curran: I played guitar for Nevermore and also Annihilator as well.
Robert: I played drums for Annihilator on their summer tour with Judas Priest.
Does the fact that the both of you played with annihilator bear an impact on Shatter Messiah's music?
Curran: Not really other than some of the thrash vibe we have on the record.
There are a lot of horror stories about Jeff Waters; did you guys run into some of his famed tantrums?
Curran: Yeah we all saw some pretty out there behavior from waters from time to time BUT everyone in every band out there has stories on people they have played in bands with so it was nothing I was surprised to see or be around.
Robert: I think anyone who spends any significant amount of time on the road with the same 4-5 guys in a van; bus or any confined space tends to go a little berserk now and again. Ourselves included.
I understand the album was supposed to be released as 2 EP's, why is that?
Curran: We had a vision for how we wanted to introduce people to Shatter Messiah and teach them the diversity of what we can do and what the next records will hold for our fans / friends.
Robert: The First EP was supposed to be more of the "thrash" heavy songs and the second EP was going to be more "Melodic." Culminating in the Third Release that was supposed to fuse all the styles together with some new elements thrown in.
I remember reading about the band quite a long time ago, it seems it took quite a while to record the debut album, why is that?
Curran: We needed to find the right label and I had to finish mixing the album. It takes a long time sometimes to get all of that together.
Robert: The fact that Curran and I live 12 hours away from each other sometimes makes recording a bit of a task. Not to mention that Curran is a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to recording so he tends to take a bit longer then some producers to get the album the way he wants it. Which by the way is a good thing (most of the time…)
The album has quite a lot of variety on it, does that come from the fact it was originally 2 separate EP's? Or were you going for such a varied effort in the first place?
Curran: Well I always write what I feel and I like a lot of different styles of metal so it just happens to come out a little eclectic from time to time AND yes we where really wanting to do the two EP thing.
Robert: I think cramming all the songs on to one disc doesn't really do them justice. We REALLY wanted to introduce our music to the world in that way (with the 2 EP's). But overall I think people need to realize that we are not going to limit ourselves musically to one style or another. Generally speaking I think we are all sick of all the pseudo labels that get put on music today like "Thrash," "Grind-core," "Power Goth," "Black Metal," "Power Metal," "Noise Metal," "Power Slop with an Edge" and things like that… We play METAL! plain and simple!
Any last words for your fans over here in Israel?
Curran: I am pleasantly surprised to here that we have metal and metal fans in Israel. There is only news and information about wars and death here in America about Israel. I hope that this is not true and you all are able to have good and happy lives in your country!!!
Robert: I am also happy to hear that we have fans in the holy land! And hope that you all stay safe and keep the metal strong in those parts!
