Rising Pennsylvania Metalcore band 156/Silence are set to release their third album Narrative on September 2nd via SharpTone Records. The band’s guitarist Jimmy Howell took the time to talk with Metal Express Radio about Narrative, the progress and changes within the band, the band’s recent North American tour with the Acacia Strain, and more. Check out the chat below!
Metal Express Radio: The band’s third full length album Narrative is set to be released on September 2nd, what can you tell fans about the upcoming album?
Howell: We’re just excited for people to finally be able to hear it. We’ve been working on this album since 2020 before our last album even came out due to the pandemic. We experimented with new sounds and ideas more than ever before and we hope you like it. For me it’s important that each album we make stands on its own and is unique from the others. I feel like this album still retains our sound but takes it into new and exciting directions.
MER: How was the writing and recording process having this being the band’s third album?
Howell: The writing process has been the same throughout the course of the band. I start the song on my own and then bring it to the band to flesh out and fully complete. With the pandemic this time I wrote a lot more on my own beforehand but the process was still the same. As far as recording goes we absolutely love working with Andy Nelson. This was our fifth time working with him and he just gets us in every way. Could not recommend him enough!
MER: What are some of the changes within the band having three albums under your belt now?
Howell: I think overall we got a lot more comfortable with each other. Before this release there were lineup changes between almost every album and while the band still had its core in tact it was a lot harder for everyone to contribute.
MER: The band has released three different singles, what kind of feedback have you been able to get so far?
Howell: The feedback has been incredible so far. To be completely honest we were a bit nervous when it came to releasing some of these songs because they’re a bit different than what we’ve done in the past. Thankfully everything has been received well and I’m so excited for the album to finally come out!
MER: Do you feel like those three songs give fans a good idea on what to expect from the full album?
Howell: Absolutely! When picking singles we try to give listeners a good idea of what you’ll find on the album. Of course there’s still plenty of surprises but we just try our best to showcase the atmosphere and themes through the singles.
MER: The band recently toured North America with The Acacia Strain, how did the tour work out for the band?
Howell: It was by far our best tour to date. Every person in every single band was so welcoming and we had such a great time. We always say that we’re a live band and getting to play for more people every night really solidified that for us.
MER: What do you see as plans for the band after the album release?
Howell: We have an unannounced tour with dates that start not long after release that should be announced in the near future! After that we plan on diving into new material that we’ve been working on for a while at this point. We’re always busy working on things for the band and we have no plans to slow down!
MER: Is there anyone that you hope to tour with that you haven’t yet and why?
Howell: There are so many bands I would love to tour with. To pick just a few, I would say touring with Korn or Deftones is probably one of our biggest dreams as a band. We all have been listening to those bands for literal decades and even though it’s out of reach right now it would insane!
MER: What have been some of your favorite releases of 2022 so far?
Howell: Chat Pile has been a big one for us, their newer album God’s Country has been in constant rotation since it came out. I’ve also been really into the new Thornhill album as well. Ever since their first singles dropped I’ve been fascinated with their new sound. Both bands I hope to play with sometime!
MER: Out of the band’s three albums, what is one you would recommend to a new fan and why?
Howell: This one’s easy, I have to recommend Narrative. I feel like it’s our best work and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve created. Irrational Pull is a close second but we’re always experimenting and trying to be the best band we can be.
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