Greeley Estates Axe man, Brandon Hackenson makes some noise.

"Should be another summer full of fun, FO SHO"

May 22, 2008, 12:38 PM

Want to know what makes the dudes in Greeley Estates tick? Now you can. Brandon talks about the album, live shows and chilling. Read on!


Firstly, new album, looking forward to releasing it?

YES!! WE REALLY TOOK OUR TIME ON THIS ONE. 8MONTHS TO WRITE AND 3 TO RECORD. WE'RE SUPER STOKED WITH HOW THINGS TURNED OUT. VERY EXCITED THAT IT'S OUT NOW.

You guys seem to be popular with the Warped Tour, will there be anything different about touring this summer?

HAHA. YEAH THIS IS OUR 3RD TIME DOING THE WHOLE THING. SHOULD BE ANOTHER SUMMER FULL OF FUN FO SHO.. AS FOR ANYTHING DIFFERENT, YOU MIGHT SEE A FEW GUEST MUSICIANS JOIN US ON STAGE. DOING SOME VOCALS OR PERCUSSION. WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE. HAHA. WORD.

How much do you feel you've come on as a band, what's changed?

THIS PAST YEAR A LOT HAS CHANGED. TWO NEW BAND MEMBERS, TELLE AND ALEX, AND A NEW LABEL. WE FEEL REFRESHED AND READY TO TAKE OVER. WE'RE STOKED WITH HOW THINGS ARE GOING.

The new album is being hailed as a more accomplished sound, Greeley Estates coming to terms with all their potential and making a solid record. Do you feel that's accurate? Why?

I THINK THAT'S AN ACCURATE STATEMENT FOR SURE. WE ALL PUSHED EACH OTHER TO THE MAX ON THIS ONE. GOTTA PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD. I THINK THIS RECORD DOES THAT.

Have you had chance to play many of the songs off the album live yet? How do you think they are/will be received?

WE'VE PLAYED ABOUT HALF OF THE SONGS LIVE SO FAR AND THE FEEDBACK HAS BEEN AMAZING. EVERYONE SEEMS TO WANT TO HEAR MORE HAHAA

Do you guys sound better live or on recordings? What's the difference?

WE'RE A LIVE BAND FOR SURE.. THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE. THAT WAS ONE OF THINGS WE'VE STRUGGLED WITH AS A BAND FOR A WHILE NOW. PEOPLE WOULD SAY HOW HEAVY WE WERE LIVE BUT THE RECORDING DIDN'T MATCH UP. I THINK THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE NOW WITH THIS NEW RECORD. WE TRIED TO RECREATE OUR LIVE SOUND AND ENERGY ON THIS RECORD.

Live, you do portray a lot of energy, do you think the recordings on the new album fully capture this?

HAHA. YEP


Obviously you've been through a few line-up changes over the years, do you anticipate everything will be a little more settled from now on?

WE'RE REALLY HAPPY WITH THE LINE-UP WE HAVE NOW. WE FEEL STABLE FOR SURE. EVERYONES ON THE SAME PAGE AND WE HAVE THE SAME GOALS.

Is it becoming harder to stand out musically for your own merits, do you find people tend to follow what's "cool" rather than stay loyal to bands? Does this affect you at all?

IT'S HARD TO A DEGREE. MANY THINGS HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE. WE TRIED TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX WITH OUR NEW SONGS. HENCE THE SOULFULL CHOIR, GROUP CHANTS, CREEPY FALSETTO VOCALS ETC... WE DID A LOT OF RANDOM THINGS PEOPLE WOULDN'T EXPECT ON A METAL/HARDCORE/SCREAMO/WHATEVERYOUWANTTOCALLIT RECORD. BUT THEY STILL FIT IN THE SONG.

Where do you see the band going off the back of the new album, and even further into the future?

WE SEE OURSELVES HAVING FUN AND PLAYING AS MANY SHOWS AS WE CAN. WE'RE PRETTY CHILL PEOPLE. WE TAKE THINGS A DAY AT A TIME.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

WE'LL SEE YA SOON. CHECK OUT THE NEW RECORD. "GO WEST YOUNG MAN, LET THE EVIL GO EAST" WORD!!

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