Philip A. Wickstrand is a contributing freelance writer for Metal Psalter Webzine. He sat down with drummer Ryan Parrish at the Hawthorne Theatre in Portland, OR on April 11th, 2010 to conduct this interview.

With their final record for Victory Records firmly in the rearview mirror, DARKEST HOUR have been forging ahead busying themselves with touring as of late. As part of last year's Summer Slaughter and as a support act for bands like TRIVIUM and most recently THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, they have exposed themselves to new audiences and reminded those who already knew them that they are still a force to be reckoned with. This interview was conducted just one day prior to the announcement of DARKEST HOUR's signing with their new label, E-1 Music.

Phil: How's your tour with THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN been so far?

Ryan Parrish: It's awesome. (laughs) I don't know what else to say. Those guys are cool as shit, we've known 'em for years, so it's been going really well, man - it's good to be touring with old friends again.

Phil: How would you say it is compared to the tour you did with them back in 2002?

Ryan: I'd say that they are still the same dudes, the music is still just as crazy and insane as it's ever been and they've just got as much energy as they had back then. It's great, it's awesome.

Phil: Crowds better this time around?

Ryan: Crowds are great, the turnouts have been awesome. We're stoked, kids are pumped. I can't complain - we're having a good time.

Phil: Have you been working on new material lately?

Ryan: Oh yeah. We've got a ton of new shit. We'll probably have a new album out next year, early 2011, but we've written, I think seven or eight songs. We're stoked, we're ready, man - it's going to be badass. It's a little melodic, epic shit, so we'll see.

Phil: Aside from melodic, epic, what kind of direction would you say… it's obviously going to be DARKEST HOUR, but what new things can we expect?

Ryan: Well, I don't know. I mean, we're not trying to reinvent the wheel here; we're just trying to put out a good, solid Metal album. So you can expect some thrashin', some shreddin', some heaviness, you know - classic DH, man. Some double bass (laughs) - you know, the usual. It should be cool. The song writing is definitely more intense. There's cooler structures, cooler ideas; I think it's just formulating more atmosphere, so I'm hoping for a grand, epic album, you know what I mean? We'll see; I'm stoked.

Phil: So now that you have your freedom from Victory Records…

Ryan: Yeah!

Phil: …have you been negotiating with labels as of late.

Ryan: We have been and I think we're going to go with E-1 Music. They did some OPETH and some CHILDREN OF BODOM.

Phil: And currently HIGH ON FIRE and OVERKILL, right?

Ryan: Yeah, yeah, I think so. They just were like "Dude, we can take your band and make people see you band again", you know? I mean 'cause Victory kind of shelved us, so this is like a new breath of fresh air; we're psyched, we're totally stoked. When is this (interview) going to come out?

Phil: Pretty much as soon as I type it up. I've got one interview I need to type up before this one, sp probably the next three weeks or so.

Ryan: You probably shouldn't put that out until after we announce that we've signed. If that's okay with you.

Phil: So I'll just hold onto this...

Ryan: Wait until you see the announcement and then…

Phil: So the announcement is going to be soon? (The announcement was made the very next day)

Ryan: Yeah, 'cause we're signing in like three days. This is between you and me! (to the people standing around us at the time) And you guys! (laughter)

Phil: I'll put all of this in verbatim and just not release it until afterwards. (laughter)

Ryan: There you go! Perfect, well done!

Phil: Recommend a book for our readers and then tell why you recommend that particular work.

Ryan: A book… recommend a book… Jesus Christ, man.

Phil: The Bible? (laughter)

Ryan: I've read it - it's a tough read. Let me think here…. A book that I've read lately… (pause) Hmmm… I'm on the spot here, buddy - I don't know. (laughter and another pause) Uh… the Bible sounds good. Go with the Bible; read it, it's worth it. It's a good time. (laughter) I don't read very many books. I can't think of the last book I've read. That's terrible, really. I listen to music too much. (laughs) I don't know.

Phil: All right, what do you have going on with YEARS right now?

Ryan: Oh, dude, I just finished a two disc album. It should come out later this year, I'm hoping. Hoping in the fall. It's called "Semblance"; I'm pretty stoked on it, twelve songs per disc. It's pretty relaxing.

Phil: For those not familiar with YEARS, tell us a bit about the band.

Ryan: Well, it's just me and it's pretty much like (an) ambient, atmospheric style of music. It's even soundtrack-ish, sort of - like you could probably hear it in movies or commercials or something. It's a little happy, a little sad, a little bit of both, some noise, some intermingling atmospheric stuff - it's pretty crazy. I do play drums on one song, like just kind of noodling around, but yeah, it's pretty cool. I'm stoked on it, man. It's a lot of fun. Keeps me entertained.

Phil: Okay, in the vein of the ridiculous questions I ask you in every interview, because there's always at least one, if you could have any super power, what would it be?

Ryan: Super power… any at all?

Phil: Any at all.

Ryan: Shitballs. I think X-ray vision.

Phil: Dude, you're planning on spying on me in the shower again, aren't you?

Ryan: You know how I roll, man. (laughter) That or the ability to go back in time. That'd be pretty fun.

Phil: What would you do if you went back in time? (laughter)

Ryan: Oh man, I'd do a couple things differently - I'd tell myself to do some things differently. Maybe I'd save more money. Maybe I'd play the lottery and know the winning numbers, that kind of thing.

Phil: So nothing to alter the grand scheme of history, just little things to augment your own life.

Ryan: Right, maybe something to help me out a little, push me forward, help me move along, you know what I mean? Why not? I would do good things if I had a lot of money. I think I would.

Phil: Okay, is there anything else you like to add, sir?

Ryan: Thanks for the interview again, man - it's always a pleasure. And sorry I didn't read any books; I feel terrible about that.

April 24, 2010

Interview: Philip A. Wickstrand

*Comments:

*By clicking "Submit" you agree to the following Terms of Use. You agree not to post any material that is obscene, slanderous, or threatening, or that may violate any law of your country of origin or the United States or of international law. Should you wish to restrict viewing of your email address by third parties, you must select "Hide My Email." You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Metal Psalter from any claims, actions, suits, damages, or other costs arising out of any breach of these Terms of Use.

The Misanthrope EP (1996)
Darkest Hour Demo (1996)
Darkest Hour/Groundzero
                                         (Split - 1999)
The Prophecy Fulfilled EP (1999)
The Mark of the Judas (2000)
Where Heroes Go To Die
                                         (Split - 2001)
So Sedated, So Secure (2001)
Hidden Hands of a Sadist
                                         Nation (2003)
Darkest Hour / Set My Path
                                         (Split - 2004)
Undoing Ruin (2005)
Deliver Us (2007)
The Eternal Return (2009)

DISCOGRAPHY:

John Henry: Vocals
Mike Schleibaum: Guitars
Mike Carrigan Theobald:  Guitars
Paul Burnette:  Bass
Ryan Parrish:  Drums

CURRENT LINE-UP:

Formed: 1995
Washington D.C.  USA
Label: E1 Music
Genre: Melodic Death Metal /
Metalcore

Darkest Hour's Ryan Parrish

TO THE TOP