Interview with Eternal Closure

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

I'd probably work in something related to video games or movies in some way. Maybe photography. I like creative fields like this, but music is definitely way above everything else. It's the only real talent I have and I feel like not pushing for it would be a mistake.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

Pretty much what I said above haha. I am becoming a bit of an animal activist as well. Becoming more knowledgeable and aware of the world that surrounds me has obviously given me more things to talk about on our new album, or at least it has changed my perspective on some things. As far as video games and movies, I often get inspired by the music in them and have even started to do a little of that on my own.

How long has your band been around?

The name Eternal Closure has been around for about 10 years now. But to say that feels wrong in a way. The band has changed and evolved so much. There's been quite a growth in sound and quality since “Ad Primum” in 2014. The band members are also almost completely different. I am technically

the only one left, though Jonathan joined shortly after me.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

We're in Montreal, Quebec and I don't know if I can say that it has influenced our music that much. We don't really sound like many bands in our scene. Most bands here are more in the Hardcore and Death Metal range. It has led to us feeling a tad out of place on a few shows. But at the same time, we do stand out because of that.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

It really doesn't mean that much to be perfectly honest with you haha. I just threw a few random ideas together with words that were somewhat of a paradox. Eternal Closure was the one that stuck out of what everyone brought to the table in terms of ideas. It can mean different things to many people and it sounds cool, it really isn't that deep.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

There have been a few of them for sure. Our two album release shows in particular were big successes. There was also that one time were we played with The Agonist and made a pretty dumb mistake. We decided that before a song, we'd let everyone pick bird seeds out of a bag and then throw it on us during a specific part of a song. It was a memorable and funny moment on the spot, but we really didn't take into consideration how much of a mess it would make afterward. Venue guys weren't too happy with us and we felt quite stupid when thinking back. It's been a few years so the cringe side of it has mostly disappeared haha.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

Every time we've played at Le Petit Campus, it's been a blast. It's kind of a perfect venue really. It's big enough for us to have a decent crowd and it always sounds great. We're playing at a new venue for our new album release. It's called Le Ministère and I don't think anybody in the band has ever been there before. We've heard only good things about it and are excited to see how much we like it.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

Protest The Hero would be on top of my list for sure. They're funny dudes, their music would match pretty well, they're Canadian... The perfect fit really. Other than that, the foundation of my songwriting lies in Killswitch Engage, so playing with them someday would be legendary. And I think that's it really. There are many many more bands I could name, but a 3-band lineup is a sweet spot in my opinion. Gives more weight to each band than having 4 or 5 on the same bill.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger selves?

Same advice for both, really. Practice more and start sooner. The more experience you can get, the faster you're going to improve as a bandmate, musician and performer. I wish I had some sort of secret trick, a “git-gud” quick scheme if you will, but I don't.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

I tend to think of Defying Gravity as my “perfect song”. There is very little I would change about this song, even after listening to and playing it for many years now. The one that really hits me emotionally still after all these years is Survive. First time attempting a song that long and I am still impressed at how well I managed to bring it all together. The lyrics in particular hit me hard almost every time. It's a huge fictional story obviously, but it's all a big metaphor for what goes on in my head a lot of the time. There are a few tweaks I would make looking back, but it's almost what makes it so special to me in a way.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

For a while, Belligerence from “Ad Primum” was kind of a big deal with people. We were a new band at the time, and it was the first song that people picked out of the rest as being the memorable one. It's a super fun song to play live because it's quite easy and energetic. At the moment I'd say that our new single Practice What You Preach has been a hit the few times we played it. The aggressive and dynamic nature of it makes it a blast to play and the crowd has responded super positively so far. I think we're stuck playing it for a long time, and I'm not sad about it.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

I come up with the base structure and riffs for most songs while jamming at my computer and listening to podcasts or YouTube videos. When my ear finds something I like, I then focus on it until I find other parts that fit. When I have a good enough skeleton, I throw it at Marine and Phil so that they can help me flesh out the details and make the arrangement more interesting for 3 guitars. At the same time, I work with them to make sure it works with the vague idea I had in mind for vocals. We iron out the details together essentially.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

Most of our lyrics tend to be mean and harsh but with a little twist of hope most of the time. We promote nuance and respect most of all. Taking a look at everyone else's issues but also looking in the mirror and understanding that we ourselves don't always have the answers, and that's ok.

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

If a band says they don't have disagreements, they are lying to you haha. It's just a matter of being constructive and respectful while also not taking everything like a personal attack. It's a trick that both sides of an argument need to manage. It's not easy, but working towards that is the only way a relationship can work. Us being 6 doesn't make it easier either, but overall we're pushing in the same direction and we appreciate what each other brings to the band.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

“At The Center of it All – Chapter I” comes out on September 23rd and we're really excited to show everyone what's in store. Check out our first two singles, Practice What You Preach and Exiled. They give you a great idea of what the rest sounds like, but there are still many surprises left for the album.

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Music Video - Practice What You Preach -

Vocal Playthrough - Exiled -