...And You WIll Know Us By TheTrail Of Dead

Tue 23rd Aug, 2011 in Features

The music industry is a harsh mistress. It casts aside many who apply themselves to it, so to last past your first couple of albums is a noteworthy achievement. Texas group And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead released their first cassingle way back in 1995 and 16 years later, key band members Conrad Keely and Jason Reece are still doing what they do best – kicking sonic arse and taking names. With eighth studio album Tao Of The Dead looking to stake a place on many best-of-2011 lists, and an Australian tour just around the corner, FasterLouder spoke to Reece about stripping back for the new album, and why nobody should be playing music as a hobby.

The new album represents the band’s second effort away from Interscope Records, their home since breakthrough album Source Tags and Codes. But, as Reece explains, the indie-dream of casting aside your all-controlling devil of a record label is a bit of a misconception. “In the past, we were definitely in charge of the records. We decided how they were going to sound, and we put them together ourselves, there wasn’t any interference in that.

“Our problem was, once we were finished with the record, we would just hand it to them, and they were in charge of releasing it. There was never any negativity from them, but they wouldn’t promote it. It was just get-it-in, get-it-out, throw it against the wall and if it sticks, great. I just feel like the system we have now with a smaller group of people, and our faith to the label, there’s more of a sense of everybody being on board together. We’re all fans of the music – we’re doing it for the band.”

Tao of the Dead was recorded in just ten days, but according to Reece, the quick timeframe wasn’t something they originally set out to do. “We were fortunate enough to work quickly by having a creative rush and flow happening. We were more prepared, we’d demo’d all the music before we went in, so we had this kind of path to take. It wasn’t a strict path, but it was definitely better that we had something to work to.”

And did the shorter timeframes cause any tension, any frayed nerves in the studio? “I felt like we were having a lot of fun,” says Reece. “We were enjoying our time making the record. Some of the last few records have always been painful, like there’s some kind of outside force getting in the way. This time, there were no heavy dramas surrounding us. It was always about, you know those little obstacles that get in the way that are trivial once you move past them, but they’re always big dramas at the time? We were past that, and just having an easier time.”

Surely it’s no coincidence that for this album, the band stripped back on it’s member list, going back to just four members, and a far-more guitar-propelled sound. “It was definitely related to that. The more people you have, the more you need a leader, and Trail of Dead is not a band that has a leader. We all tend to work together, so the more people involved, there’s a communication breakdown. It becomes complicated when you have headstrong people, who have bands of their own, ideas of their own, things they want to accomplish.”

“To me, when I’m playing music, if someone has a strong vision, and I like what they’re doing, I try my best to go with that vision, and find a way to make it happen. If you’re frustrate and you don’t like what’s going on, then you start poisoning the group. Of the past band members we’ve had, who’ve gone on to do their own thing, I’m sure they’re way more happy where they are now.”

Reece stops just short of blaming ex-band members for past indiscretions and missteps. “There was a lot of different factors. We toured around the world with the band we had for three years. That band was great, but there was a lot going on – two drummers, piano, keys. That’s a lot of people when you’re going on the road, and after a while people get on each other’s nerves. Last time we were in Australia, we had a really tight band, but at the same time we were getting sick of each other. When the tour was finished, everyone went their separate ways, not because we hated each other, but we had lives to live, and things to do.”

“A lot of people started to get into their own things, projects and jobs. And when roll call came, when it was time to gather the troops, to start working on the new record, not everyone returned. The ones that showed up are the ones that are on the record.”