Interview with Behold the Flood guitarist Tony Billings

Behold the Flood is a local band stemming from Mount Airy, Maryland. Since the band’s beginning in 2007, they have accomplished many honorable goals, such as their Warped Tour appearance in 2008, and their first CD release. In the midst of show preparation chaos, I was able to pull aside guitarist Tony Billings, and ask him a couple questions about the band’s direction.

What do you believe your music does for people?
Tony: I think that our music is basically a reflection of the world, the way things are. We’re kind of in a recession and stuff. Things aren’t so great, but it’s about looking inside yourself, finding out who you are and what you want to do with your life. Trying to keep a positive outlook. Because it’s hard to stay positive in times that aren’t so positive. I don’t really know if it does that for people, but I hope that it does. That’s the kind of message we try to deliver.

What makes your music different from other metal bands?
Tony: We try to put as much emotion into it as we can, but it’s kind of hard to explain. There are so many other bands out there, and we do sound like other bands. But if I had to say anything that’s different, it’s that we try to keep everything balanced. I hope that people don’t label us as a metalcore band, or just a hardcore band. We’re just a heavy band with catchy hooks that wants to write positive music for whoever.

What do you think Frankie brings to the stage that no other vocalist in your past has?
Tony: I think he’s very into it. A lot of vocalists I’ve seen kind of do their thing, and they don’t really get in your face, and they’re not really personal with you. I think Frankie has definitely brought that to the band when we didn’t have it before. I think that he’s just very personal.

Stage performance is a big deal in the metal scene.
Tony: Definitely.

What are your strengths and weaknesses as far as your own performance?
Tony: Sometimes if we get a little too into it, we might mess up a little bit. It’s kind of hard to stay tight when you’re just going crazy. But stage performance is definitely a key thing. We’ve been working on it recently more so then we did before. It definitely brings a lot more to the actual show. It makes it more entertaining.

Do you have any big expectations for the future?
Tony: Not really. I mean, we’re trying to pursue this as a serious thing, but, I mean, we’re gonna go on the road and if we could make it into a career then that would be sweet, but I’m not expecting anything. I have my hopes. And for the other guys, I know they would probably want to see it go further, I know we all would. But we’re not expecting anything. We’re just taking it as it comes. So if we get any big opportunities, we’ll probably pursue them. But I mean it’s really for fun, but if we can make it into something serious, which we’re definitely trying to do, then that would be sweet.

If you could narrow it down to one major influence, who would it be?
Tony: For the band as a whole, I would say As I Lay Dying and August Burns Red. Definitely Melodically, they’re really a key influence for us. Myself personally, I would say Metallica. Dates back to the older metal stuff, but definitely As I Lay Dying and August Burns Red.

Who have you most enjoyed sharing the stage with?
Tony: Well we’re playing with This and the Apocalypse tonight, we always love hanging out with those dudes and playing with them. In Alcatraz 1963, they’re really great guys. The whole crew, Mikey and everybody. There’s a couple of local bands that we’re pretty good friends with, and that we like playing with. I would have to say The Outlawed, they’re pretty cool. The Overseer, some other local bands. We haven’t played with too many big big bands.

How do you think touring this summer will alter your friendships?
Tony: Since we’re just starting out, I don’t know how much of a damper, or what it might do. With the band for me personally it’s hard to keep in touch with people. But if we do this as a regular thing, it might make it harder to have regular friendships with people. But if you’re really good friends with somebody or really care about something, you won’t let anything get in the way. As long as they understand that this is our dream, I think it’ll stay tight.

Are you expecting a big turn out on tour?
Tony: Since it’s our first time out, I’m not expecting to see much. There’s another band we’re playing with on a couple of the shows, and they’ll draw people as well. It’s our first tour, so I wouldn’t expect to see that many people out there.

I don’t listen to metal at all. What could you say to convince me to start?
Tony: What I find with a lot of people that don’t get into metal, I know it’s hard to get into the screaming, or anything aggressive or loud and obnoxious, but I think if people actually took the time to read a lot of the lyrics and what people sing about and write about, and the message they’re trying to deliver. People mistake it for something negative a lot, and they assume it’s, you know, stain this, when now a days it’s more people trying to inspire people to get up and do things, do stuff for themselves, try to take care of each other. And you bring the religious aspect into it. You have a lot of Christian bands that deliver that message but now they’re more in your face about it. It can be universal and can be applied to everyday life. So I think if people actually took the time to read the lyrics, and try to sense out the emotion that they’re putting into the music. Like I said, it’s not for everyone. It’s loud, quiet at times, it’s crazy. That’s what draws me into it.

That’s the part I don’t understand. They have some of the best lyrics, but you can’t understand them. you have to look them up, unless you really know how to understand a scream. But if these lyrics were used, and you could understand them, they would be phenomenal.
Tony: I mean, it’s… I can see where you’re coming from on that. Especially with a lot of more extreme, heavier bands. they have a lot of the crazy growls which sounds like random noise. But I draw a lot of inspiration and motivation from it. And if you’re a physical person it gets you pumped, and you exercise and stuff like that. I mean it’s not for everybody, you either like it or you don’t.  [ END ]