LD: Well, it wasn’t that hard to be honest and really it was just exciting to be doing something so freeing as compared to pop music.

JS: Have you always been a fan of heavy music in general?

LD: Yes, ever since I was a young boy. That’s not something most people know about me so I guess it can throw most of my fans off, especially my critics.

JS: The Secret Handshake was a solo project. At what point did you realise you might need some help from others to fully realise the band Of Legends?

LD: Well, I think it was clear I needed to have that real element, so Travis [Orbin, drums] was an obvious choice based on his talent and character. It has been a great fit.

JS: The band is comprised of yourself and members of Drop Dead Gorgeous and Sky Eats Airplane. How did the collaborations come about?

LD: Well, at the time when I was ready to start touring with Of Legends, the guys’ other bands were sort of ending per se and so it was a perfect fit.

JS: Who took on songwriting duties?

LD: On the album, I wrote everything and sent the tracks to Travis who really took ownership of the drums and tracked them. I played everything else on the album.

JS: I’m thinking specifically of the lyrics that refer to “the humans” when I ask whether you’re a fan of Devin Townsend’s body of work?

LD: Ha! The album is a concept album about the movie Event Horizon, so that’s why those references are made.

JS: What would you say your influences are for writing the songs that you have?

LD: Well, to be honest I’m a huge fan of all genres of music, but overall I really love Meshuggah, In Flames and Soilwork as far as metal goes.

JS: The atmosphere generated by the pile-driving polyrhythms are somewhat reminiscent of bands like Meshuggah, Dillinger Escape Plan and Strapping Young Lad. How much input did Travis Orbin have with that side of things?

LD: Well, like I said earlier, I had written the drums and he took them and “orbinated” them and really made them shine and become unbelievable. He has an amazing talent.

JS: Your vocal style is a real throat-scraper! How did you find it trying to reproduce that kind of raw power and what methods do you use to keep it intact?

LD: I think that sound is just my newness to the genre and overall lack of knowledge of how to scream properly. I’m glad people like it.

JS: You’ve now got Ben Weinman (Dillinger Escape Plan) and Tim Smith (Atreyu / HORSEtheband) co-managing the band. How did they register their interest?

LD: Well, I had been friends with them for a few years and when I showed them the album it was clear that I was serious about the project and so they decided to get involved.

JS: What did it feel like to get that kind of backing so quickly?

LD: Well, it was a bit of pressure but it was fun to live up to it - especially live.

JS: Considering you performed virtually everything on the album, can you describe how difficult you found the process?

LD: It was a bit tricky to be honest as I had done all the demos at home with virtually no pressure. The whole album was done in about 6 days so it was go, go, go!

JS: Now you’ve covered North America, can we expect to see you taking the live shows to other countries in the future?

LD: Hopefully soon, just taking it one step at a time right at this moment.

JS: Is this a project that you think can run and run and, if so, have you already started thinking about what you want to do for the next album?

LD: Yes, we have already begun writing the next album as a collective, so it’s not just me at the helm anymore. Very excited to see how it turns out.

JS: Perhaps (and it’s only a thought) with so many members of Sky Eats Airplane on board, we might expect to see you developing a more melodic sound?

LD: Definitely not melodic in a singing sense. I think personally I really prefer to have metal with just screaming, though I do think the music will become more technical.

For more on the band check out http://www.myspace.com/oflegends
For more on the band check out http://www.oflegends.net/oflegends

Interviewed by John Skibeat

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