Today, Ohio’s hardcore band Suffocate Faster returns with new music for the first time since 2006 in the form of a two track EP entitled This Is The Way, Vol. 1. We had the opportunity to discuss the release with original guitarist and founding member, Chris Towning.
Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with SwitchBitch Noise surrounding the release of your new EP! With a 16 year gap in creating music for Suffocate Faster, how did you narrow down and decide which messages were most important to include in these first two tracks?
Chris Towning
Well, what’s nice is not too much has changed for Suffocate Faster in the messages we’re here to present. Sixteen years is a long time in terms of music, a lot of trends have come and gone in those years. We just stick to who we are and the messages we always have. Straight Edge lifestyle, Emotional strife, Mental health, and Political/Societal rejections will always be part of the Suffocate Faster message.
Given that the band formed back in 2001, there have been countless changes in the music industry. What would you say is the most challenging difference you’ve experienced since reuniting to create again?
Social media presence. When we were touring heavily in the early 2000s, Myspace had really just begun to affect the music industry. So we’re no strangers to social media in the modern music industry. However, when you’ve been gone for a while, coming back and trying to build that presence can be very difficult. It takes some traditional, grassroots kind of marketing and just playing shows to get people to take notice again. Luckily with Smartpunk and WTF PR firm, you can get back into the proper lighting and get the proper attention.
Looking back at your two former full-length releases, is there a specific song or set of lyrics that you feel are still just as relevant and powerful today? If so, which one(s) and why? Or are there any specific tracks you’d like to re-record with the new lineup?
A lot of our songs cover emotional heartbreak. I believe all of those kinds of feelings/messages hold up today. It is those kinds of experiences that define who we are and how we deal with conflict moving forward. So those issues will always be powerful and life-changing. I’d love to rerecord a couple of the songs from the first record and even one from the second. Recording quality has come a long way since the time of those recordings, it’s actually surprising to me how well “Don’t Kill The Messenger” has held up sonically.
Can you remember a definitive moment where you realized you wanted to be hardcore musicians? Was there a specific track or artist that steered you in that direction musically?
I started playing metal in high school. I’ve always been drawn to heavy and emotional music. I think in that same time, you’re very impressionable and ready for a cause that brings more to your young, inexperienced life. Hardcore was the exact answer I was looking for in 1998. But when I saw Unearth/Poison the Well in 2001 that show solidified my desire to play hardcore music. Straightedge bands like Earth Crisis and Throwdown put the final touch on the message for me.
On the flip side of that, what is your favorite album of all time completely separate from the hardcore genre?
I was just thinking about this exact question this morning on my drive to work. Alexisonfire – Crisis is definitely one of my all-time favorite records thats outside the genre.
I’ve read that you take pride in your straight-edge lifestyle. Do you find that difficult to maintain within the industry where so many artists self-medicate to deal with the hectic schedule of writing, recording, touring, etc.? Do you have any words of wisdom for those striving to live straight-edge?
I’ve personally been straightedge for over 20 years. So to be completely honest it’s been very subconscious, it’s just something I do and I’ve always done. It’s literally just like breathing at this point. Even touring with acts that aren’t of the same mindset, it’s still been pretty easy for me. Being straight-edge has actually helped me get and keep a number of different gigs in the industry. The only advice I can offer is just be yourself. Straightedge isn’t for everyone. If you truly enjoy a lifestyle that is meant to keep your head and body clear, then really think about if it is something you want for yourself.
