SOILENT GREEN – Interview with Guitarist Brian Patton

This year SOILENT GREEN released Inevitable Collapse in the Presence of Conviction. In many ways, the new album marked a new era for the group. It not only signified their twenty-year anniversary, thanks to Metal Blades backing and SOILENT GREENs nose-to-the-grind work ethic, it also marked a new-found success. 2008 has definitely been SOILENT GREENs year. Their video for Antioxidant has become part of the normal rotation on MTV2s Headbangers Ball.

Also, the group has embarked on a number of high profile tours including stints with HATE ETERNAL, DETHKLOK, DEATH ANGEL, GOD FORBID and CHIMAIRA. Upcoming tours reveal the group touring with SCUM OF THE EARTH and KINGDOM OF SORROW. They also join OZZY, METALLICA, KING DIAMOND, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, and HELL YEAH on Ozzfest this weekend. Vocalist, Ben Falgoust will pull double duty, screaming his brains out to both GOATWHORE and SOILENT GREEN.

Life hasnt always been so sweet for SOILENT GREEN, though. The N.O.L.A. (New Orleans Louisiana) supergroup consisting of members of EYEHATEGOD, GOATWHORE and CROWBAR have suffered their share of setbacks and tragedy. The group experienced two van crashes in two consecutive years, causing injuring and slowing the bands tour momentum. In 2003, former bassist Scott Williams was found dead, allegedly a victim of a murder/suicide. In 2005, SOILENT GREEN was dealt another crushing blow. While dealing with the damage wrought by Hurricane Katrina on family members and friends, ex-vocalist Glen Rambo was found dead in his home.

Tragedy has played a vital role in the career of SOILENT GREEN, but 2008 marks a whole new chapter filled with hope. Like a sweaty, swamp bird version of the Phoenix, SOILENT GREEN has risen from the ashes reborn. Band founder and master of sludge-filled, grinding riffsBrian Patton spoke with Metal Centre about the tough times and the bright future Inevitable Collapse in the Presence of Conviction brings.

Considering all the changes in the band, some good, some terrible, was “Inevitable Collapse in the Presence of the Conviction” a hard album to make.

It was no harder than any other record. When it comes to recording, nothing has really changed. All the changes that have happened havent really affected our writing and recording capabilities.

One of the major hardships you experienced was Hurricane Katrina. Did you, your band members and friends share similar experiences or was it quite different for everybody?

It was different and the same, if that makes any sense. Everybody has their own story, and theyre all equally tragic. Pretty much everyones family lost something at some point.

A fellow journalist conducted an interview with Bower right after the Hurricane Katrina disaster. He said Navy Seals were blowing people away. Did you experience a martial law situation like stories I've heard from others such as food being three days late, guns taken away, etc?

All those things did happen, but I didnt actually experience it. We were actually on tour when it happened, so we were watching it like everyone else. We were very concerned with the well being of our family and friends. When we did come home, there was definitely a military presence.

Your first vocalist, Glen Rambo, was found dead as result of the Hurricane. On “The Inevitable Collapse” you dedicated 'All This Good Intention Wasted in the Wake of Apathy' to him. Why did you dedicate this track to him? Do the lyrics pertain to him?

He was a very good friend of ours. The song being dedicated to him was our tribute. The song is compiled of parts from songs that were written when Glen was still with the band. Ben revamped and then put his own take on the vocals and lyrics. There is no direct connection to the situation of glen being killed.

One of the good changes was your moving to Metal Blade. How did this change take place?

We finished our contract with Relapse and there was a mutual feeling of wanting to move on. Metal Blade, who has been big fans of ours for years, were there to scoop us up.

How does “Inevitable Collapse” compare to past releases?

Well of course in our minds, we think its the best record weve done yet!

I see many readers and fans claim “Sewn Mouth Secrets” as their favorite album. Before the newest one, that album was my favorite, too. Most musicians would claim their most current album to be their best. Would you say that is true with “Inevitable Collapse?” Is the group's maturity a factor?

As I said before, we believe that this is our best record, yet. Sewn Mouth Secrets was a quality record, but we feel that weve really grown as a band and theres a lot in common with both records, especially the feeling of wanting to write the best that we could. So in a way, this is a continuation of Sewn Mouth Secrets.

Ben Falgoust, Tommy Buckley and you form the core of the band, a core that has been together for near fifteen years. Do you find that you click more and more the longer you are together as a band, and has this band-member consistency attributed to the maturity of “Inevitable Collapse?”

Yes, it has contributed to the maturity of the band. The longer we play together, the better we play together. Tommy and I have been playing together for twenty years now. I feel confident that I can throw anything at him musically and know that Ill like what he comes up with. Its just natural that the longer you play together, the more youll grow as musicians.

Obviously you like working with Erik Rutan (HATE ETERNAL)? What aspects of his production skills brought him back for a second round?

Hes just a really great producer and a great friend. Hes fully capable of capturing our natural sound, the way we sound in practice and live on stage. Plus, being a friend, were not afraid of telling each other what we need to make the best record.

Do you like the way your video 'Antioxidant' turned out?

Yes, we love the way it came out. David Brodsky was the creator. We had a small budget and he went out of the way to come up with something that we considered slightly cutting edge, but yet simple at the same time.

I love the bass solo no 'Antioxidant.' How did you compose this part?

Our bass player, Scott composed that. We always try to incorporate something that is not typical in metal. So every now and then we throw in a country part or a jazz part.

New label, video, great album, great tour: Do you feel all the years of hard work are finally paying off?

We count every one of those things as a blessing. Every time we get to do one of those things, its a gift. There are so many bands out there that would like to be doing what were doing. Its definitely nice to be working, considering our history and past not always allowing us to do so.

Tommy has Crowbar, you have Eyehategod and Ben has Goatwhore. Is scheduling ever a problem?

No, as long as everyone is open and communicates with each other. We can usually coordinate touring and recording with no problem.

Obviously you were much younger when you formed SOILENT GREEN twenty years ago, but could have ever predicted it would turn out like it has today?

I dont think anyone can really predict how their future is going to turn out. As a band, we feel like we should have achieved more than we have, but we have also achieved quite a bit that were thankful for. Well just continue to keep doing what were doing and hope for the best.

http://www.myspace.com/soilentgreen