Youngstown, Ohio’s Rebreather are back with Chaos Patterns, out now via Aqualamb Records. Initially formed in 1999, they have seen decades of moving and shifting in the world of metal. We talked to them about their new music and surviving the landscape for decades.
Having been at it with doom and sludge for so long, and playing out of the box music since 1999, how do you feel about the state of music today and how things have changed? Are there any bands you’re really digging or influenced by?
One change I’ve noticed is that there seems to be so many more bands out there doing things. I think it’s easy for newer bands to get lost in the shuffle. A positive aspect would be that there seems to be a lot less gatekeeping. The bands all seem to support each other and the local scenes, which is a good thing for everyone. Lately, with the economy being fucked, you can get waves of shows with lower attendance. That’s why it’s been so fun playing any of the many festivals that pop up around the country. Gives people a good excuse to see all of their favorite bands at once and the performers get to hang with so many friends that you’ve made crossing each others paths over the years. A big reunion for everyone. It’s so much fun watching your friends play live … It’s my favorite part.
What are you most excited about when it comes to having the record out in the world? What do you hope to convey to folks with this release?
That it’s finally goddamn done! We are definitely happy that it’s finished. But the main thing, I think, is that we are all proud of it. Our music has always floated around the perimeter of several genres. This album is not genre defining at all, but I believe it defines us as a band. It’s the best definition of what we are. Excited to hear what people think about it.
What was the writing and recording like for this album? How did it differ from previous releases?
It’s very easy for us to blast out material, tweak it till it’s “good enough,” and move on. We took so much time on this one … a year and a half, maybe two years to record. We would record, play out, change parts, then end up re-recording. We really took our time dialing shit in while recording at Mind Rocket with our buddy Josh Roman. A second home for us, and always a pleasure to work with Josh. It was very exciting to finally get to work with Andrew Schnieder for the final mixes. Alway been a fan of his work, and we were stoked that he squeezed us into his insane schedule. He pulled some great energy out of the tracks…very rad! Carl Saff’s mastering is always on point. He’s magic. It’s crazy.
What are some of the major lyrical themes on the album?
It’s a little all over the place … Most of the songs have lines that have nothing to do with each other, but each line means something specific to me. A bunch of puzzle pieces that add up to one vibe. We have all been dealing with our own anxieties, while trying to manage all of the random chaos throughout our families and friends, which lead to the album title, Chaos Patterns. Navigating our way through the random waves of stressors that are really effecting all of us.
Can you talk about the artwork and how it ties in with the concepts of the record?
The artwork was done by Mike Egan, a regional artist that we discovered when our friends Nate and Jami Offerdahl started hiring him the do murals at their music venue, Westside Bowl. Super bold and captivating. It really grabbed our attention. I got in touch and had a meeting with him explaining the undertones of the record and how we thought his work would fit. I shot him the album and asked if he could do one piece for each song, so that we could do a nine-panel layout for the cover. He nailed it! His characters are so fucking cool. I’m so happy he was down.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
It’s been a pleasure working with Aqualamb. This will be our second record with them. Only concerned with two things … music and art. No bullshit. The best people.
