Kill The Lights Michael ‘Moose’ Thomas Talks Success, International Bandmates and more

Featuring two ex-members of Bullet For My Valentine and a former member of US metalcore outfit Still Remains, modern metallers Kill The Lights recently dropped their awesome second album, Death Melodies through Fearless Records.

With members of the band as far apart as Wales and the US, there must be plenty of logistical challenges to overcome when not only writing a record but getting out and touring the thing. Ahead of their recent UK tour, V13 had a chat with Kill The Lights drummer Michael ‘Moose’ Thomas about the logistics of getting an active band together when you’re thousands of miles apart, what their goals are and how they set about writing their second album before they’d even finished their debut…

Check out the full interview here:

Thanks for your time, it’s been a challenge getting to this point so I appreciate you talking to us. Now the new record is out, was there always a plan to have a second record?

Michael ‘Moose’ Thomas: “A lot of people think Kill The Lights was a side thing just to release an album, see how it goes but, from day one, it was just a brand new project for all the guys. It was a brand-new band. So yeah, there are plans… well, we’ve already started writing the third one.”

In terms of the second record, you guys aren’t located together but what were your timescales? Did you put any pressure on yourself to release it by a certain day?

“We started writing it in 2019. We sat on the first album, Sinner, and then we signed with Fearless which took a long time to get the deal and stuff. We signed the deal in 2019 and then the album was released in 2020 just before COVID hit. We were in LA so we just started writing because, during COVID was the perfect time. We thought we’re not going to be able to tour because of the backlog and because everyone was wanting to tour so maybe we’ll just make a dent in writing the next album and that’s what we did.”

“A lot of people think Kill The Lights was a side thing just to release an album, see how it goes…”

So your timescales were back to front then?

“Yeah, it was really weird. Going obviously from being a musician for 20 years and being able to write and tour for 18 months and do the whole cycle but this was just to keep writing.”

Did you separate the material? How did it work writing the second album before the first album came out?

“The first album was just me, James and Jordan, writing that one. This album was nice to have all five members. Some songs were done file sharing but we did a big block of it when Canada opened the borders for the UK and US so we decided to immediately fly to Canada. I think we wrote like eight songs or something like that in like ten days.”

You talked about 20 years in a band where you’ve got the luxury of being able to tour for 18 months then have a break, then write, then tour again. What did you learn from writing the first record differently?

“It was just a shame. We thought the first album was really strong and had some really good moments on it. We felt like, because of COVID and the restrictions, it didn’t get the push it deserved. I was annoyed because I just wanted a tour. I’m used to not being in one place, and then two years later, I’m still stuck in the same place. It was horrible. I wouldn’t want to go through that again. We were just really quite devastated that we didn’t get the chance to fully tour and show the people what Sinner was about.”

You mentioned file sharing. Recording an album these days, it’s slightly easier than 20 years ago. Does the location matter in terms of writing nowadays as much?

“It’s better if you get in a room and bang out a whole bunch of songs in 10 days, but it’s a lot better… easier I should say, if you are far apart like me and the guys are. We could write a song quite easily via file sharing, but the best stuff comes when we’re all together when we’re all vibing off each other and picking ideas. That’s when all the energy comes and that’s the only thing about writing via computers and stuff. The lack of vibe is pretty shit though.”

Given the distance, it must be quite special knowing that you’ve got that connection with somebody over the other side of the world, that you can write material together and it sounds like a band?

“Yeah. It was weird, obviously, because of my past, I was writing with them all my career. I didn’t know how it would work writing with someone else but, as soon as I was in a room with Jordan, because I toured with Jordan for years before, it just snapped. It was just like there was no forcing anything. It was just us sitting in a room and it flew out. Even with Travis, I never met Travis before he joined Kill The Lights, it’s just incredible. The boys just sit there in a room, playing their guitars, and then there’s a song idea.”

You’ve toured with Jordan previously. What made you think I wanted to work with Jordan in a band?

“I didn’t want to join an existing band because I don’t like being told what to do. That’s my biggest thing. I didn’t want it to be Here’s the songs, learn these. I didn’t want that. I need to express myself my way. I’m going to start a band but what if I don’t like the people I’m in the band with? I have to know who’s in the band. Jordan, there’s a no-brainer. He wasn’t doing anything musically so I just phoned him and he was in. He had 40 demos already.”

Kill The Lights ‘Death Melodies’ Album Artwork

How does preparing for a tour work?

“Easier. I just come up into my room and, as long as I know what I’m doing, my headspace is clear then I rehearse. Then we just book a rehearsal room for five days so everyone will practice at home, and then we’re all together for five days and hopefully nothing fucks up in five days.”

What about actually going out on the road? Before, you used to tour and spend a block of time on the road with people but with this is it a case of a few dates then you all go your separate ways? If so, how frustrating is that?

“It’s weird but, after this tour, we’re looking at North America then to see if we can jump on some tours over there but it is weird because we’re still trying to brush off the dust of Covid. It’s fucking weird. We will write when we’re together, so maybe if there’s nothing booked for another tour like six weeks after this tour then I’ll just fly out there and continue writing with the guys anyway because, if the energy’s there then why not capture it as soon as possible?”

“I didn’t want to join an existing band because I don’t like being told what to do. That’s my biggest thing. I didn’t want it to be Here’s the songs, learn these. I didn’t want that. I need to express myself my way.”

Are there any plans confirmed for after the UK tour?

“All North America. Maybe Japan because Japan’s doing quite well at the moment.”

Onto the album then. You’re probably not the right person to ask but a lot of the lyrics seem to come from quite a personal place. Is that the case?

“I think so, yeah. I was reading through his lyrics and it was like, fuck, man, this is some dark shit. I thought he was the happiest person in the world but fuck, man, are you okay? To be honest, I’ve never worked with a lyricist or a vocalist like James. I think he’s just fucking incredible. His hooks, melodies and lyrics are just second to none in my opinion. I think they do come from a lot of personal experiences, unfortunately for James. I think that’s his way of getting it off his shoulders and then putting it out there to see if he can help other people feel in the same way.”

A lot of people don’t have that option. I suppose it’s good to have an outlet. Now you’ve talked about a third record already, is that theme something that James is following on to the next record?

“It’s probably going to get darker because he’s had a pretty hard time lately. He’s already said it’s not gonna be any happier on the next one.”

You talked in the press about your previous band where you described your time at the end as being quite a strange period for you. Even with the fact that you’re not all together in the same room and you’re located all over the world, what’s different with Kill The Lights?

“It’s just fun. I don’t want to bad mouth them at all, it was a big part of my life and I wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for my time in Bullet. But, I don’t know, it just ran its course and it was time to go. I know I wouldn’t be enjoying playing the music they’re writing now and I would have been vocal about that. I just thought they were just following a trend which is popular now and, to me, I think they’ve lost their way a bit.”

Despite the success, do you feel freer to be yourself in this band?

“Yeah. It’s like it was in the early days of Bullet. There’s no pressure, there’s nothing to prove, it’s just all about having fun and that comes through in the music. Bullet got so big at one point, that it was just like a machine. It was fun, but looking back on it now, I couldn’t go back.”

Bearing in mind that with Kill The Lights you don’t see each other all the time, what’s it like when you get together on tour?

“It’s great. We talk to each other every day via WhatsApp and stuff, but it’s always nice to hang out and stuff. Jay’s in the band who was in Bullet with me and he’s only five minutes down the road. He’s just the funniest guy I’ve ever met so it’s just nice to be with people who like to be in your company.”

Just to wrap up then, the record is out, you mentioned the third record, and the success you’ve been through already with Bullet, what are your goals for Kill the Lights?

“Success can mean different things to different people. I would just like to have the opportunity just to carry on writing and performing music. There’s a lot of places which I tell the guys we need to go there like Japan, Australia so just be able to tour the world with the guys and have fun and not stress.”

Given the success with Bullet, what have you learned from each other and the experiences you had?

“That it’s not the be-all and end-all. Music is fun and as soon as it’s not getting fun, then it’s time to bring it in.”

Pick up your copy of Death Melodies from here.