A Few Questions with Call To Preserve

Here is an interview that took place with guitarist Harbor Partin from the Facedown Records band Call To Preserve. They just released their new album Life of Defiance this week. Interviewed by Matthew Alexander.

CRR (Matthew Alexander): There is a definite old-school hardcore feel to the new album. Was this intentional or did it just happen to come out that way?
Call To Preserve (Harbor Partin): Well, we tried to stay away from the same old tough guy formula for this record, so we definitely wanted to try some new things. In some ways, the traditional sound was intentional, but at the same time, it probably has more to do with our tastes evolving as people and a band. The music that I still listen to is consistently from when I first started discovering hardcore are probably more in that traditional style than the bands that probably influenced our sound early on.

CRR: How does Life of Defiance differ from your past albums?
CTP: It's probably our darkest record to date and I think that was a very intentional thing. We wanted the songs to be a little more moody. In the past, we've usually had a bunch of heavier songs and then a few upbeat songs. This record is more emotive I would say. In some places, it's more melodic than anything we've done, but it's still got a heavy side to it. I'd say everything is just more intentional in the mood we were trying to get across.

CRR: Is there anything you would change about the album?
CTP: You always want to change something when you hear your own music back, but it's usually little things that don't really matter to anyone else. Overall, I'm very happy with the album and wouldn't want to try to change anything. I could nit pick at it, but I'd rather just try to appreciate it for what it is.

CRR: How was working with Joe Musten of Advent on "Across The Aisle"?
CTP: Joe is an awesome guy and we were stoked that he got to be on the record. We recorded not too far from where all the guys in Advent live, so they came and hung out with us a couple nights while we were recording. The night he did the song, him and their guitar player Mike came and chilled and cracked jokes with us and stuff. Him laying down vocals was just kind of in the middle of us goofing off and playing around. They also helped us with gang vocals that night too, so surprisingly it was a productive night.

CRR: What has thus far been your favorite tour to be on?
CTP: Every tour is different for good reasons. Touring Europe was amazing because we saw a bunch of different countries for the first time and we were on tour with Agnostic Front, one of the best bands in the history of hardcore. Plus, we were on a tour bus for the first time and it was definitely a cool experience. I also love touring the states though, as I just rediscovered on this last tour. I love the American landscape and I think being able to road trip is something we're blessed with here in the states. Our Canadian tour last year was also fun because the shows were rad and we ate a lot of poutine. Of course, any time we are one the road with Advent it's guaranteed to be a good time. So I guess it's just hard to say. I just love touring in general so I can't really narrow it down too much.

CRR: What would you dream tour to be on? To see?
CTP: I think a dream tour to be on would probably be something like opening for Cro-Mags and American Nightmare, even though AN will never reunite. That would be amazing. A dream tour to see would be all the bands that got me into hardcore on one tour. Mostly broken up bands. Maybe something like Dag Nasty, American Nightmare, Refused, Floorpunch and Stretch Arm Strong. That would be a weird tour, but I would be super stoked.

CRR: Is there anything else you would like to mention in closing?
CTP: Please check out the new album and come see us on tour! Thanks to everyone who has supported us over the years. Keep supporting other bands you like who go through a lot just to play for 20 minutes in front of 30 kids every night. Thanks again and God bless.