Darkest Hour released their new album, The Human Romance, on February 22nd. (Side Note: What’s with all metal sites having black background and white font?)
Staff writer Leah Henry had the pleasure of sitting down with John Henry (Lead Screamer) before Darkest Hour performed at 9:30 Club, Friday, February 25, 2011.
Is the US leg of the Atticus Metal Tour being kicked off in DC because DC is considered the home of modern hardcore music?
Yeah, it makes sense, and we’re from here. I used to live next to Big Hunt in Adams Morgan — that apartment was great, huge rooms, lots of light — and I crashed on a couch in a [punk] house in Arlington for six months.
Why?
After a break up. Those houses were pretty grimy. Yeah, woke up one morning, and there was glass all over the ground; we looked for the cause and finally came across a bullet entry hole.
I bet that was your last night there.
No, it definitely was NOT my last night.
Oh yeah? I had a friend in HATE CRIMES [no longer intact], probably a frequenter of that house.
Oh man — Eric Judycki’s old band?!
Yeah, small world. There was a great article, I think it was City Paper a year or so back, that listed a few of those places. I’ll send it on if I find it.
Cool, yeah I’d love to read that!
Alright, logistics. Your tour schedule is packed January through March. Is this your average tour schedule, and how do all of you handle it with wives, girlfriends, families, etc.?
Well some are married, there’s one guy expecting a child in May — we’ll be done with tour by then — but we’ve been touring for 10+ years, and we’ve toured for seven months out of the year multiple times. Three months is nothing.
Good timing [baby being due] on that one!
Yeah, I even met my girlfriend through this [Metal]. She played for a black metal band, a great piano player. There aren’t a lot of lead singers who can say their girlfriend is a better musician than they are. It’s sort of intimidating. Ashley is great on keys.
That is an incredibly kind compliment; you know that’s going in the article.
Yeah that’s okay, she deserves it.
So, I am a sucker for a good story. How did Ashley and you sort all of the travel out, and end up together?
Well [huge grin], we met, she was in NYC for a bit, and I asked her to stay and she did, and here we are 2.5 years later.
So the entire band is scattered across the US, and you are….?
Oh yeah, I am in Los Angeles now. It’s great, I’ve never lived that close to the water. It’s relaxing… LA isn’t as bad as it seems.
With all of the touring, do you feel like you’re still visiting your home?
Definitely, now that you mention it. When I come home, I breathe a sigh of relief. Feels like a vacation, but shortly after, I am sure I will be itching to go on tour again. But these days, it’s good to just chill on the beach, read a book, and relax.
Big plans after March?
Yeah, probably travel some, pick up some work. Ashley has a studio she lets me use so I can work on music. It’s pretty great.
Speaking of studio time, what inspired you guys to do Darkest Hour TV? (Seven Episodes)
Oh I don’t know who came up with that, probably someone who wanted us to sell records. It’s pretty funny, just shows the process, and gives the fans some behind the music-type stuff.
You’ve been doing this [Metal] since you were 15. How did you decide you could scream?
Well, I was in the car listening to music with Mike [Guitarist]. He was driving, and I said, “You know what, I think I can do that,” and Mike said, “Okay go ahead!” So, there I was screaming, speeding down the road.
Nice! I always wondered how people start doing it, either through imitation, trial and error, or some formal training.
Funny you mention that, I’ve taken some lessons. There’s a woman who coaches mostly screamers who helped me, showed me how to properly stress my vocal chords and taught me how to breathe better.
You mean you found a vocal coach who didn’t just advise you to stop screaming?
[Laugh] Yeah, she helps a lot of people in the industry, and I can really hear the difference from my earlier monotonic sound on my first album and the range I have on the more recent stuff. I think to myself, ”Why did I make that album, ugh!?”
Probably because you were 15.
Yeah, well it’s good to hear the improvement. I know everyone says that their most recent album brings them excitement, plugging the album and doing interviews, but honestly, I mean it more than they do.
That’s great; you pressed this album locally at Furnace MFG [the official vinyl and CD manufacturer of Record Store Day 2011].
Love the guys at Furnace, great working with them again.
Darkest Hour:
Paul Burnette – Bass Guitar
Mike “Lonestar” Carrigan – Guitar
John Henry – Lead Screamer
Ryan Parrish – Drums
Mike Schleibaum – Guitar
John could not have been calmer (or nicer), dressed in a relaxed, colorful plaid shirt backstage, only to morph into a sinister screaming front man, jumping on amps and ”eating” the microphone to the guttural cries of the diehard DC hardcore fans.
I highly recommend seeing this tour if you can. If not, these seasoned hardcore veterans will circle back to the homeland soon, I am sure.
