“Mother E”, a brand new song from FILTER, can be streamed below. The track is taken from the band’s seventh studio album, “Crazy Eyes”, which will be released on April 8 via Wind-Up Records. The follow-up to 2013’s “The Sun Comes Out Tonight” was produced by FILTER founder, singer and guitarist Richard Patrick.
“FILTER is the mind,” exclaims Richard. “It’s your interpretation or my interpretation. Our thing is to look at people’s unexplainable behavior and assess it, using sound. It’s a way to approximate the insanity of the human condition. The reason this record is so fucking heavy and strange is it’s exactly the opposite of what’s popular. It’s not pretty. It’s not cute. It’s real.”
Rather than partner with a producer, Richard took up the reins and oversaw the production side himself…
“You recognize it’s us from my aggression and singing, but the instrumentation had to change,” he admits. “It wasn’t about just stacking guitars like we might’ve done on the last couple of records. There are way more electronics and sound design used.”
He collaborated with old friends such as the man behind 1999’s seminal platinum-certified “Title Of Record”, producer Ben Grosse (THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS, MARILYN MANSON), and Michael “Blumpy” Tuller (NINE INCH NAILS). He also worked closely with new bandmates Oumi Kapila (guitar, programming), Ashley Dzerigian (bass), Chris Reeve (drums) and Bobby Miller (keyboards), plus former FILTER bandmates Johnny Radke and Danny Lohner. Mixing, meanwhile, was taken care of by Brian Virtue (JANE’S ADDICTION, THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS, DEFTONES), with the mastering being handled by the colorful Howie Weinberg (VAN HALEN, THE MARS VOLTA, THE WHITE STRIPES).
The first single, “Take Me To Heaven”, rides a pulse-pounding gallop into an entrancing and ponderous refrain.
“I was looking into the eyes of my father when he was passing away, and I held his hand,” Richard recalls. “He glanced at me really quickly, focused on me, had this look of gratitude, and then he slipped away. I was almost like, ‘I hope you’re going to heaven’. Scientifically, the idea doesn’t make any sense to me, but if there is a heaven, take me there. That’s what happened.”
Ultimately, it all comes back to the fact that Richard remains honest.
“I’m completely into this for the music,” he concludes. “Being yourself is the most important thing. I authentically went to places I’d never gone before. That was from my heart. I’m trying to be as genuine as possible to what FILTER is. It’s about sounding fucking different, forward and original.”
FILTER tour dates:
Apr. 15 – Portland, OR – Dante’s
Apr. 16 – Vancouver, BC – Venue
Apr. 17 – Seattle, WA – Studio Seven
Apr. 20 – Minneapolis, MN – Mill City Nights
Apr. 21 – Arlington Heights, IL – Home Bar
Apr. 22 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre and Ballroom
Apr. 23 – Pontiac, MI – The Crofoot Ballroom
Apr. 24 – Toronto, ON – The Opera House
Apr. 26 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts
Apr. 27 – Boston, MA – The Middle East
Apr. 28 – Amityville, NY – Revolution Bar & Music Hall
Apr. 29 – Virginia Beach, VA – Shaka’s
Apr. 30 – Jacksonville, FL – Monster Energy Welcome To Rockville
May 01 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
May 03 – New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre
May 04 – Washington, DC – The Howard Theatre
May 05 – Knoxville, TN – The International
May 06 – Concord, NC – Monster Energy Carolina Rebellion
May 07 – Athens, GA – Georgia Theatre
May 08 – Nashville, TN – Exit/In
May 10 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
May 11 – San Antonio, TX – The Aztec Theatre
May 12 – Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey Bar & Grill
May 13 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom
May 14 – Lincoln NE – Bourbon Theatre
May 15 – Denver, CO – Herman’s Hideaway
May 17 – Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre
May 18 – Las Vegas, NV – Brooklyn Bowl
May 19 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues
May 20 – Pomona, CA – The Glasshouse
May 21 – West Hollywood, CA – The Roxy Theatre
Photo credit: David Rubene
Source: Blabbermouth
