Fall of The Albatross Talks Music

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There are few bands with as much chaotic appeal as Fall of the Albatross.

With their home in New York City--the biggest cultural hub in North America--the band has managed to rise through the ranks of underground artists and become a prominent act in the metropolis' metal scene.

Albatross covers many musical genres, with virtuosity being the pervading element across all of them.

Their time signatures are exotic and their melodies are awe inspiring to even the most practiced musicians; they can gracefully strum through verses of thirties-style swing before plunging back into depths of metal-based brutality.

Recently, Empty Lighthouse got a chance to ask the band a few questions. They spoke about their synergy as musicians and the city in which they play.

What is the dynamic like between bands in New York City? Is there a supportive network in one of the most competitive areas on the planet?

The dynamic is super-supportive and loving between all the bands. Everyone knows how hard it is to make things work so we all help each other and when a new young band comes along and makes a faux pas (like taking over an entire merch table for your small row of demos).

We remember what it was like starting out.

FOTA has a distinct fusion of different styles. Does each member have a specialization in one of the genres you dabble in? What was it like fusing your styles at first?

We all came to the table with the desire to make heavy music that wasn't heavy all the time.

Not one of us started in a specific genre. We all just enjoyed metal and not metal things, so the transition into the weird blending was natural.

What is the most unconventional time signature you've played in?

The weirdest would be 21/8 over a 4/4 in the song, "Flesh." It's a way to ride the up and down beat without changing what we are playing. Think the 7/8 over 2/4 in Porcupine Tree's "Deadwing."

You guys have gone from having a vocalist to being entirely instrumental. How is it playing the songs from your vocal EP? Did you add anything to them to compensate for the absence of a vocalist?

We actually wrote all the songs on our EP without vocals in mind so they translated very well back to their original state.