Interview with Ryan Glisan of Allegaeon.

_BAND: ALLEGAEON
MUSICIAN: RYAN GLISON (GUITARS)
COUNTRY: USA
GENRE: TECHNICAL / MELODIC DEATH METAL

What does the band name mean and who came up with it?

Unfortunately I have to take blame for the name. Originally it was Allegiance but after some time with that name we learned of like a thousand other bands out there that were using it and at the time those bands were bigger than us. So we decided to change it to something that was sort of similar but different, so from there you can probably draw that line.

Without genre-tagging or using clichés, describe the band’s genre?

Honestly I would just prefer to be called Metal, if im being honest. People say we are Melodic Death, or Tech, or Prog or sometimes all of those together and thats just alot to say and none really, in my opinion accurately describe us. So I like to just think of us as a metal band, that prevents the 5 minute long description of who Allegaeon is.

You just released your second album ‘Formshifter’, what makes this album different from ‘Fragments of Form and Function’ and which song from the new album best defines the band’s sound?

Well I think mostly its just a little more "fresh" than Fragments was. Fragments had really old songs and some new ones, Formshifter is mostly new'ish songs so in that regard id say a good majority is a good definition of our sound. I cant really pick out any that best hint towards our future though.
 
I guess this question is not generally asked but how big is the Colorado Metal scene and what bands should the international scene watch out for?

I think the scene has died a bit in recent years. When we first started out the scene in Fort Collins, where we are from, was amazing. A bunch of talented bands and a ton of kids that loved it. As usual, bands died off and kids moved on. So that being said, of the Colorado scene as a whole, id say its ok. I dont really pay as much attention as I used to to the younger bands, mostly because im too busy with all the crap we are doing. But ive heard a couple over the last year or so that surprised me.
 
In your band’s four year existence, what would you say was the best and worst parts of it to date?

Best, for me anyways, was probably this last month having Formshifter come out and hit 3 billboard charts and hit #2 on itunes Metal downloads. I didnt expect that at all, so it was an unexpected bonus. The worst???? hmmmm....Dont really have a worst I guess. Maybe kicking all the different people that have been a part of the band, out of the band.
 
Regarding ‘Formshifter’, how long did it take to record, where did you record it and who was involved during the production of the album?

We recorded with Daniel Castleman at Lambesis Studios in Southern California. It Took about 5 or so weeks to record and a couple more to mix and master. Really it was just the main core group of our band and Daniel that were involved.
 
Picking some songs from ‘Formshifter’, could you perhaps give an insight to what they mean and why that topic was chosen?

Twelve - basically criticizing the judicial system and how they handled a serial murder trial.
Behold - How different religions preach very similar things yet throughout time people have killed in millions over the small un-important differences.

From the stars death came - an asteroid natural disaster etc etc. Alot about science and history.
 
If you had to give some advice to a musician who wants to form a band, what would you say to them?

Be good at something besides music haha. But seriously, music is maybe the hardest industry to survive in because its one of the few areas in business where pay scale doesnt always reflect how good you or your business (band) is.
 
What plans does Allegaeon have for 2012 and beyond?

Just focus on expanding our fanbase really, do some good music videos, play some shows....the usual
 
Finally who designed the artwork and what is it meant to purport?

Colin Marks did the artwork, he also did Fragments as well. Its basically just our "A" symbol that we use. We just wanted something more basic than fragments, something clean but still metal looking, so we came up with the idea and Colin nailed it in like 2 days.

RHYS STEVENSON