UN: To start off, congratulations of being signed to Metal Blade now. How does it feel to be signed to what is pretty much the biggest metal label around? They seem to be really diversifying their roster lately and signing many metalcore bands.

JT(guitar): Thanks a lot dude! It feels like a huge blessing and accomplishment for our band. I don't think it's really sunk in to all the guys yet, including myself. We take a look at their roster and our name is up there with some of the greats of our style and its like..whoa. And yah, they're rejuvenating their roster. Metalcore is kind of the metal style that is most prevalent right now and that's what's cool basically. And i mean, all the people over their love all types of metal so why leave the metalcore guys out of it ya know.

UN: Your new EP "The Pulse is Overrated" was just released not very long ago. How has the response been so far? Have the reviews been favorable so far?

JT(guitar): Well I would say that the response has been overwhelmingly positive with people that like our kind of metal. There are always people out there who arent gonna like it, they'd rather go listen to daughters or something like that. and that's cool, we're not all that worried about that fan base anyway. We like to bring in the kids who wanna hear some heavy stuff and we wanna bring in the kids who wanna hear some thrashing. But yah, definitely the most positive reaction we've ever had on anything we've recorded that's for sure...and I mean, the fact that Metal Blade liked it, validates the EP as a solid release to us.

UN: I was wondering if you could go a bit in depth about the name of the EP. It's meaning is fairly obvious, but the motivation behind it isn't as clear.

JT(guitar): Well, that's kind of a tricky question to be honest. That title is the brain-child or our singer Matt. Basically, it just means that...there are more things that make up the human experience than just being alive. Its like, don't settle for things that people insist on telling you about what life's purpose is. There are things that are beyond what are physical and material that make life purposeful and meaningful. That's how I understand it haha, maybe Matt would give you a better definition.

UN: I have to say that the album art and layout of the EP are amazing. Who put together the artwork for it? Does the art tie in with the album name?

JT(guitar): A company out of Canada called End-Era. Forgive me but I do not know the guys name who actually worked on it, but yah we are really pleased. The title and layout don't really tie in, although the artist did know the title before he went to work, so he may have used it as a motivation for what he came up with. Either way, we're looking at possibly going back to him on our Metal Blade release. The guys down there were all about his work.

UN: I believe I read that the band will be recording your full length in October. Any idea when we can expect the release date to be? I'm guessing that you won't really know until after the album is recorded, but Metal Blade seems to have fairly quick turnaround times.

JT(guitar): Interesting i should be fielding this question right now haha. We *were* supposed to be up in Cloud City Studios in Detroit in October with a release date of Late January/Early Feb...but, we just found out that Mike Hasty (our producer) will be going on tour with his band Walls of Jericho at that time now, so we're kind of looking at places as we speak. We've got a couple options and one of which is to work with Tim Lambesis (of As I Lay Dying) as producer and Evan White (ex-AILD) as our engineer somewhere in the midwest. But we'll see how it goes...our plan is to get in to the studio on time and get our release out on time so we can hit the road at the first of the year.

UN: Can we expect any surprised with the full length? Can we possibly expect a bit more varied sound with the longer running time? Possibly exploring ideas you didn't have time to on the EP.

JT(guitar): Well, it’s gonna be Winter Solstice music. A continued growth from our last EP. There are some things on there that we have touched up and ideas that we have gotten from our last writing process that is going on to the full length. We're gonna continue to do what we do and that's thrashing and being brutal...or trying to be anyway haha.

UN: Metalcore seems to be huge right now. Obviously you guys have benefited by getting a record deal with Metal Blade. I don't think it's really a matter of the style becoming trendy, more so that people are just being exposed to the music more so then ever before. Would you consider this the ideal time for Winter Solstice to exist?

JT(guitar): Without a doubt yes. In fact, I remember having a conversation with my drummer, Duke, 3 years ago in a drive through line about the status of our band and how we both thought that in 3 years or so our kind of metal would be on the brink of being huge and that we felt like we were really coming along at the right time. This was back when Zao was like rumored to be talking with Century Media and the drummer for POD had a Zao shirt on in their South Town video...something was just clicking. So interestingly enough, here we are three years later on metal blade...when I mean, like ten years ago the goo goo dolls released a multi-platinum album on it!

UN: While you guys are definitely metallic you seem to definitely fit into the hardcore genre. Do you think the metal scene is missing that family sort of vibe that hardcore has? For instance, it was Facedown Records that sent out the Winter Solstice cds. It's that sort of family vibe, friends helping friends, that makes hardcore so unique as a genre.

JT(guitar): Yah, I mean...I honestly don't really know how the metal scene works to tell you the truth as I/we have never been a part of it. But i do know that there is something positive to be said about the overwhelming support that the hardcore/punk scene has with its bands. I mean, ill sit and watch headbangers ball and see a hardcore band on there, and i may not even like them, but im ecstatic that they're on there and that they have a video out. because its like...ok, well the people in the scene have known this music is special and has an honesty and energy about it that is totally unique and its just great to see it spread elsewhere, so that other people can enjoy it. and the "family" aspect, or whatever you wanna call it, the camaraderie i guess is the term *i’d* use...is something that helps that out. its such a small scene, so it almost has to be that way or we'd all fail.

UN: Is it safe to assume that the song titles rarely have anything to do with the actual lyrical content? The lyrics seem to be fairly cryptic and almost random. Do you think it's important to not be overly obvious with the meaning behind the lyrics?

JT(guitar):Actually, a couple titles on the EP actual do have something to do with the lyrical content. Hampton Roads for example. Basically that's about Matt (our singer) being told that we wont achieve anything because we're a Christian band and that we stand behind that and aren't afraid to talk about it. Hampton Roads being the area that Matt is from, and "the blind" being ignorant people. L'aeroport also ties in with the lyrics...with the feeling of having to let someone go. As far as random lyrically, i would say Matt would take exception to that. Every song he writes has meaning to it and all the words in a particular song tie in to each other. As far as being cryptic....that's certainly not our goal. we dont like to beat around the bush at all as people...but Matt writes what he writes...lyrics are an artistic expression for him and the way they come out is the way they come out. I personally love them.

UN: Would you consider this an exciting time for Winter Solstice? It seems like things are just starting for you guys. Will the band be touring much more now that the deal with Metal Blade has been signed?

JT(guitar):Oh, this is the most exciting time in all of our lives. There is a tremendous amount of pressure on us too, because we know that we need to perform well and write strong material to not only make our label money, but our selves money too, and most importantly bring glory to our God who has given us this opportunity. But yah...we're totally stoked and it just seems like a big dream has come true. and really it has. As far as touring goes..oh man dude, assuming our release stays on schedule, we're gonna be on the road for like 9 or 10 months solid in 2005, and its only gonna get more and more intense from here on out!