AS LIONS

THE MELODIC MAVENS ARE READY FOR THEIR FIRST HEADLINING TOUR.

How have fans reacted to the material from your new album, Selfish Age?

AUSTIN DICKINSON (VOCALS):

“It’s been fantastic. Obviously it’s a gamble to be a new band, especially in this climate. We’ve been really fortunate in our touring partners and bands that have been super-kind to us and taken us out. And currently we’re, like, Number 13 in the States with the [Aftermath] single, which is mental to us.”

That’s good going!

“We never thought we’d have a song in the charts. I’ve never had a song in any chart ever!

So, it’s been really cool. We got to play with Trivium, we’ve been out with Five Finger Death Punch, so it’s just been a matter of keeping our thing rolling.”

When you toured the UK with Trivium last year, people had only heard one song. How different is a live show now, with fans more familiar with your songs?

“I think that’s been the biggest difference, the awareness. The cool thing is that, before, there was a lot of mystery about the band and that generated a lot of hype. The difference now is that we’re pulling in our fans and we can see people in our shirts now, singing the words. As a singer, the highest compliment I can ever be paid is to have somebody singing the lyrics back. So that’s been the coolest thing, for me at least.”

In your old band, Rise To Remain, there were obviously a lot of harsh vocals; with As Lions, that’s no longer the case. How has that change affected the atmosphere at shows?

“I think it prevents the chorus from being the only singalong part available. We found that with Rise To Remain, the chorus tended to be the big, singalong, cathartic moment, which, to be honest, is what a chorus is meant to be anyway. But I think that with not screaming and singing more, it’s easier to tell a story and it’s easier for people to understand what you’re talking about. I think it’s made the singalongs more fruitful and easier for people.”