Massachusetts metal pioneers Shadows Fall are set to celebrate thirty years as a band, and what better way to celebrate then a home-town show at the MGM in Springfield MA on Saturday July 18th with fellow Massachusetts metal band’s Unearth, and Within the Ruins? Shadows Fall guitarist Jonathan Donais spoke with Metal Express Radio about Shadows Fall being a band for thirty years, plans for Shadows Fall’s next record, playing with Anthrax and Living Wreckage, and much more. Check out the chat below!
Metal Express Radio: Shadows Fall are set to celebrate thirty years as a band by playing at the MGM in Springfield MA along with Unearth and Within the Ruins, what are your expectations on the upcoming show?
Donais: With Shadows Fall, we always try to make every show feel like a party. We love getting on stage, playing for our fans, and hanging out with everyone before and after the show. It’s been a long time since we’ve headlined a show in Western Massachusetts, so we’re all really looking forward to coming back. It’s going to be a great night, and we can’t wait to celebrate with everyone.
MER: How does it feel reaching thirty years with Shadows Fall?
Donais: When we started in 1996, I was 17 years old. Back then, I couldn’t even imagine what life would be like at 30, let alone 30 years later. The fact that people still care about this band after all this time absolutely blows my mind. We’re beyond grateful for everyone who’s been with us from the beginning and everyone who’s joined the ride along the way.
MER: Shadows Fall has released two new songs over the last couple of years, do you feel those songs give the fans a good idea on what to expect from your next full album?
Donais: I think those two songs are a pretty good representation of where the record is headed. When I was writing it, I tried to draw inspiration only from the bands I was listening to as a teenager when the band first started. There’s a lot of thrash influence, along with 90s death metal.
MER: What do you see as plans for Shadows Fall after the upcoming show?
Donais: We’re going to put out a new record and play some shows. That’s the plan. We’re excited about the music we’ve been working on, and we can’t wait to get it out there.
MER: It’s been about five years since Shadows Fall has been playing live again, how has it been after being on hiatus?
Donais: Everyone is loving playing live again. We’re having such a great time that we ended up writing a new record. That definitely wasn’t part of the plan, but here we are. We’ll be putting out a new album and playing some shows.
MER: You recently just finished touring Europe with Anthrax; how did the tour go?
Donais: The Anthrax tour was incredible! Every show was a blast, and the crowds were absolutely killer.
MER: How is it to go from playing with Anthrax to playing with Shadows Fall?
Donais: With Anthrax, I get to play the songs I grew up on and inspired me. With Shadows Fall, I get to play the songs I helped write. I honestly love doing both. It really is the best of both worlds.
MER: Do you see Living Wreckage playing any shows or making music this year?
Donais: We’re finishing our new record this year, and it’ll be released in 2027. In the meantime, we’ll be hitting the road with shows in New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Maine this August.
MER: Having a long notable career in the metal scene, what are some of your personal favorite records that you have been a part of?
Donais: Playing on my first Anthrax album, For All Kings was one of those full-circle moments I’ll never forget. With Shadows Fall The War Within changed everything for us. The album led to some incredible tours around the world, and put us on some of the biggest stages we’d ever played. It felt like years of hard work had finally paid off. That era was without a doubt one of the most exciting and rewarding times of my career, and it’s something I’ll always be grateful for.
MER: What have been some of your favorite memories over the last thirty years playing with Shadows Fall?
Donais: Touring Ozzfest on the main stage with Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden headlining was an unforgettable experience. Every day felt surreal. As a kid, those were the bands I looked up to, and suddenly we were sharing the same stage. It was an incredible time for Shadows Fall, and it felt like everything we had worked so hard for was finally coming together. Looking back, it’s one of the highlights of my career.
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