After their last performance on Black Friday of 2001, Stigmata have been no more than a fond memory of the heyday of the Capital District Heavy Music scene in Upstate New York. Now, four years later to the day, the bands’ long time hopes for a reunion have finally come to fruition. Shortly before the long awaited one time only show, I sat down for an interview with Stigmata drummer Jason Bittner who may be more recognized as the drummer of the critically acclaimed Shadows Fall.
Jon Sevastra: I am here with Jason Bittner, drummer of the well known Shadows Fall. Tonight however, he sits in for a one time only reunion show with his former outfit Stigmata. Jay, welcome back to the scene. It’s really good to see you play to the home crowd again.
Jason Bittner: It’s nice to be here.
JS: First off I’d like to thank you for this interview and take the chance to personally congratulate you on your recent Modern Drummer Awards.
JB: Thanks.
JS: Most of our readers don’t know a lot about the history of Stigmata and the Capital District Heavy Music Scene. Tell me a little bit in your own words what this reunion show means to you and what it means to the scene around here.
JB: Well to me it’s a reason to get back together with a bunch of good friends, have a lot of laughs and play some really good music and have fun. We’ve been trying to do this for a number of years now but it’s just the fact that I’m usually so busy with Shadows Fall that I’m never home for more than three weeks so it’s almost impossible for us to rehearse and get ready. By the time we rehearse, I’ve gotta go out on tour again. It’s also nice to come back and really show some of the younger bands that we still got it basically and that this is where it came from. You know, we may have been gone for a number of years but we haven’t gone away. Everybody’s been doing other projects and whatnot but we’re coming back to give the Capital District a beat down one more night.
JS: So this is something that has been in the works for a while?
JB: Yeah we’ve been talking about it for a long time.
JS: So it’s just been a timing issue?
JB: Pretty much, yup.
JS: Why the choice to play Hymns For An Unknown God in it’s entirety as your set?
JB: Well that’s not the entire set but that record is going to be played in its entirety because number one, I feel, and the band feels as well, that that’s our best record. It’s the one that we always get asked about. You know “you gotta play more stuff off hymns blah blah”. It was also me being a little bit of a… not a leader but it was kind of like when I was home, I called everybody up and was like “alright I’m home, we’re gonna do this reunion but I have one stipulation.” The stipulation was that we play all of Hymns. So everybody was cool with it. They were like yeah sure whatever. But considering that we always get asked about it and there are some of the songs on this record that we haven’t played in years. So it’s gonna be literally like ten years since we played a few of these songs. So it’s gonna be really fun for us to do this.
JS: Tell me a quick story of your progression or transition form Stigmata through to Shadows Fall.
JB: Well what happened was, Shads were looking for a drummer back in 2001 and they were taking a really long time to find one. Person after person after person finding nobody that really fit the band. I heard about it and at the time Stigmata was really kind of on the downslide and nothing was really happening for us. We were working on a new record but the songs just weren’t coming out. We were lacking every kind of motivation possible. Everything that could have been going wrong for us was. So we knew it was time to, not so much call it a day but at least give it a rest for a while. So that’s why we played our farewell show. Well that was our farewell show, four years to the date on black Friday 2001 here [Saratoga Winners]. Which is another reason we wanted to do this show on this date, in this venue. So anyways, I had heard that Shadows Fall was looking, my mom had recently passed away and that really took a big toll on me. I found out these guys were looking for a drummer so I sent them an email. Aside from the usual asking for a press kit, they already knew me. We had known each other through being in the scene for years when Stigmata had opened up for Shadows Fall a few times. My old band used to play with Brian’s [Fair, singer Shadows Fall] old band. Stigmata used to play with Overcast [Fair’s old band]. Stigmata used to play with Push Button Warfare which is Paul’s [Romanko, bassist Shadows Fall] old band. So this whole New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts scene was pretty incestuous. Everybody knew each other. So they were like “yeah we know you come down and jam” so I thought about it. I had a good job with the state and I didn’t want to do it right then. My life was in turmoil right then. Maybe it wasn’t really right for me. I had a good job and didn’t know if I really wanted to go back out on the road and all that crap. So a few months went by and they still couldn’t find a drummer. Fast forward a few more weeks, they sent me an email saying “could it hurt just to come down and jam?” No it couldn’t. So I learned the first five songs off Of One Blood. I went down and jammed with Shadows Fall the week before thanksgiving and then Stigmata played the final show on black Friday. They [S.F.] had a tour pending of Europe with Kittie coming up for 2002. They had never been to Europe before. I myself had been to Europe a number of times before. Three times with Stigmata and once before another time with a band called Crisis. So I had already been to Europe and these guys had never gone so I was like you know it would be cool to go back for another European vacation. I can get the time off work, go for three weeks. Play some metal and have some fun and be with a band where I could showcase my drumming. No that I can’t in Stigmata and not that it’s about showcasing myself but in Stigmata I definitely play a lot less than I do in Shadows Fall. Stigmata is a hardcore band. It’s a lot more stripped down. It’s not all crazy drums where Shadows Fall does call for it. So I thought it would be fun and I said “I’ll go do the tour with you guys but I can’t say that I’m gonna be a permanent member.” They decided that was cool and they would take it day by day. So now fast forward another few months to January of ’02 when we’re going over to Europe. Now I said to myself I was gonna give it till the end of the tour to decide whether or not I wanted to play in this band or not. Whether or not to throw the towel in and, quote unquote, go for it one last time. I was 31 years old and not getting any younger. So I’ll wait till the end of the tour and then make a decision. Well, this is what happened. We went down to our management offices and then went across the street to the bar. Now this is the day we’re flying out to start the tour. So we’re at the bar and by the second beer, I looked at everybody and was like “ah f*ck it, I’m in.” So I joined the band before we even played or even did the tour. I mean we had played a few local shows but hadn’t even done the tour yet. So there you go and four years later, here we are. Almost three records later and two Ozzfests later and all the great things we’ve been doing. I’m definitely happy I made my decision let’s put it that way cuz I’ve accomplished things in my life that I never thought I was gonna do.
JS: Yeah, I think the rest of the music world is happy you made the decision also. What’s your opinion on Shadows being labeled one of the forefathers of this New Wave of American Heavy Metal?
JB: I think it’s amazing. I think it’s great. I just hope that we can continue to live up to the hype. It puts a lot of pressure on us but we’re very meticulous about our songs and our songwriting and we want to put out the best stuff possible so we’re constantly refining and refining and refining so we just hope that we can keep the ball rolling.
JS: Along with all of the honors and accolades that The War Within has received, it that causing any anxiety or any kind of follow up pressure for this next release that you’re working on?
JB: Ummm. Yes and no. I mean of course you always want to do better than you did the first time or the last time. The Art of Balance is around 130,000 [copies sold] right now while The War Within is at about 242,000 so we’re almost at the quarter million mark so that’s awesome! But do I want to see gold next time? I certainly do. I mean we’re talking about selling 500,000 records and for a metal band nowadays that’s not Slipknot to do that, that’s hard to do.
JS: It’s very hard to do. You were the first band on Century Media to break the 100,000 mark. And I believe it [The War Within] debuted at No. 20 on Billboard. That’s just amazing.
JB: It puts a lot of pressure on us, yeah, but we want to do as good, if not better. We want to do better.
JS: Is that going to change your approach to the writing process now or are you just going to stick with the old standby of “we’re gonna write what we like to hear?”
JB: We’re gonna write what comes out and that’s what’s gonna happen.
JS: Now that you guys have been through the recording process with the line-up that you have now, is that going to change anything for this album in terms of making things easier?
JB: Oh yeah it will definitely be easier because we know and are so comfortable with each other and how we work as a unit. We’ve got a very good working relationship between all of us and our producer Zeuss. I just got out of the studio this weekend. We’re working on this EP we’re releasing soon that we still owe Century Media for a contractual obligation so we’re in the studio right now as we speak but I did all my drum tracks in one day because that’s the kind of relationship that we have with our producer. He knows how to get the best out of me and how to do it quickly.
JS: Any teasers you’d like to let out about the new releases?
JB: The EP that we’re working on is definitely some of the heaviest songs we’ve ever done. A lot of fast stuff. A lot of extreme riffs.
JS: Back to the thrash style?
JB: Yeah
JS: With a lot of the praise and accolades comes a lot of criticism.
JB: Oh yeah!
JS: How do you process that? Do you take that and use it as a fire under your ass?
JB: Sometimes I do and sometimes it pisses me off. Sometimes you can’t please everybody. [in a sarcastic voice]”Oh Shadows Fall sold out. I don’t like the new record.” I’ve heard a lot of that about The War Within and I’ve heard a lot about “we love it” and a lot of “it’s not like Of One Blood.” It’s because the band is progressing. That’s the point! Of One Blood has only sold 45,000 copies. The War Within has sold 242,000 copies. Let’s see, what would I rather sell? I would rather sell the one that sells a lot more and is more accessible to more people.
JS: I was reading on some of your message boards on your website saying that there’s still a lot of criticism comparing you to some death metal drummers out there. You’re response basically was “well, I’m not a death metal drummer, I’m a metal drummer and there’s a difference!”
JB: That really pisses me off! And I know that I shouldn’t read that stuff and get angry about it. All my friends now that are my peers in the music business or guys that I can call my friends. Guys like Charlie Benante [Anthrax] and Mike Portnoy [Dream Theatre]. These guys are like “Why do you even read that shit? Don’t let it bother you.” I know I shouldn’t and it’s probably some stupid 18 year old kid saying “you can’t play as fast as the guy from Cryptopsy.” Well I never said that I could! I’m not a death metal drummer. I’m a thrash drummer and a metal and a hardcore drummer. That’s what I do. It’s a totally different style of music. The one thing that I want to stress is that drumming is not a contest. It’s not ‘I can play faster than you.’ Everybody can do what they do and they are good for doing what they do.
JS: Have you or any of the other guys in the band other than Brian ever had any interest in the lyrical writing process or do you guys want to just stick with the music?
JB: We don’t delve into the lyrical side unless Brian asks us to. If Brian needs help with the lyrics then I’m sure Matt would be all for it. I would be too because I write for my own stuff and whatnot but for the most part I think that Brian does the best job. So that’s why we like to leave him with that.
JS: How has your formal music training in the past parlayed into your metal career between Stigmata and Shadows and the other things you’ve done?
JB: I can count. [laughs] I can count and know where I have to come in. I think one of the biggest things that helps me, because I do have so much training at Berkley, is that when I get demos and stuff, I can chart stuff out and write the drum parts out. I might not necessarily remember the stuff in my head but if I can write it out then I can play along. Then when I do my clinics, I can interpret my drum parts and present them to other people. I know what I’m doing writing wise so it’s easier to convey to other people.
JS: Has there ever been any one performance that stands out in your mind as the best, or worst, in your life?
JB: We’ve had a lot of really awesome shows. I mean I don’t know if it would be the best performance wise but one of my best moments on stage was being able to jam with Dime. Plain and simple. Playing Vinnie’s kit and playing “Walk” with Damageplan and playing with Dime before he passed on. That was one of the greatest moments of my life. Another thing that just happened is I got to sit in with Anthrax a few weeks back. Charlie [Benante] let me sit in with Anthrax and I felt like I was 18 again playing “A.I.R.” I was like ‘holy shit! This is amazing!’
JS: Where is your favorite place to play? Any particular venue or country that you really want to go back to?
JB: Japan. Australia I love. Holland is always a blast. I like playing the UK. I like playing in Germany. In the States, anywhere in Texas always rules. Denver’s a great place. We always have great shows there for some reason. Tampa and Orlando I enjoy playing. New Orleans. Well, not right now cuz it’s under water but I love playing N.O. because we always have great parties down there. Chicago.
JS: Who would you pick for your ultimate line-up for a gig and where would it be?
JB: Wow, that’s a tough call. [Just as Jason was contemplating his ultimate show, we had to take a little break for the sound check. We were right back to it as soon as the few bugs were worked out.]
JS: If you had to pick one of your songs to sell Shadows Fall to someone who’s never heard you before, which one would you pick?
JB: That’s a hard one. Hmmm. That’s tough. If I was going to give them a heavier song, like if it were a thrash guy, I would probably give them “The Power of I and I.” if it was like a shredder guy, or guitar/drum guy, I’d give them “The Light that Blinds.” If I was giving a song to someone who wasn’t a real metal fan, like something a little more accessible, I’d give them “Inspiration on Demand.”
JS: Any thoughts of any side projects in the future or anything different you want to try that’s not really Shadows related?
JB: Oh yeah, totally. I mean obviously the Stigmata thing. We’re doing this. That’s always a side project. Mike [Maney, Stigmata] and I have talked about doing a straight up rock band. Like C.O.C., down tuned, sludgy rock kind of thing. Simple, with a four piece kit. Actually, Joey Belladonna, from Anthrax, and I have been talking about doing something sometime in the future. We were actually talking about maybe doing a cover band. He’s in Syracuse and not really too far away. So we were talking about finding regional dudes who are name players but who might want to do it while we all have free time. Maybe like an all-star cover band. It would be kind of cool ya know?
JS: Did you get a little taste of that while you were doing the Death tribute CD?
JB: Well, not really but it’s funny that you mention that because James Murphy[Death] and I have been talking about doing something too. But here’s the thing. You know when you’re on the road and you play with so many bands, there are so many times you’re sitting on the bus and you’re half in the bag and someone goes “Yeah, we should do something sometime. We should make a band sometime.” That’s cool. Like we’re all starting side bands on the road. None of them ever make it to fruition but… I mean Jon[Donais,S.F.] and Matt[Bachand,S.F.] have a band with Joey from Slipknot. In their minds! Ha ha! Whether or not the ever play together is another story.
JS: What’s your stance on the ongoing battles over downloading music off the internet?
JB: It’s hard enough to sell records man and I still feel that fans of the band are gonna buy the record regardless. Now I’m not opposed to someone downloading the record if they get it before it comes out, if they download it but then they still buy it. I have no problem with that. It’s the kids that download and don’t buy the record and then don’t come to shows. “Oh we’re you’re biggest fans!” but you don’t even go to shows and support us that way. What it is really is money out of our pockets either way. I don’t really have too much say if someone downloads a record but then comes to a show and pays the $10 admission and then buys $30 worth of merch. That’s cool with me too because they’re still supporting the band. But there’s really not much you can do about it in this day and age unfortunately. It just kinda sucks. That’s why bands don’t sell as many records as they could anymore. It’s because of all that shit.
JS: I know of a lot of friends who will download a couple of songs to see if they like a new band.
JB: I would do that too. I have no problem with that because I know all the times I’ve bought CDs because I heard one song I thought was kind of cool, then you get the CD and it sucks. Oh great, now I’m out 15 bucks. It’s got its good and its bad points. But a band like Shadows Fall, we don’t make any money off royalties per se. We’re still not selling the massive amounts of records where downloading really has something to do with taking money out of our pockets. You’re not going to see us making the Lars Ulrich/Napster/crying bullshit because we don’t sell millions of records.
JS: Any guilty listening pleasures or anything you’d be embarrassed to let people know you have in your collection?
JB: Oh I got a shitload of stuff you would make fun of me for. 80’s new wave. One of my favorite bands is called Split Ends. They were a new wave band from New Zealand that I grew up on in the 80’s. The Vapors. Thomas Dolby. Just a lot of weird, weird things. I’m a big Cranberries fan. I’m sure some of you would say that’s pretty lame and gay but hey, my guitar players’ favorite artist is Yanni for Christ sake. But then there’s a lot of shit in my CD player that you’d expect to hear. Maiden, Morbid Angel, Slayer and stuff like that.
JS: Well that gets into my next question. Who are you listening to right now and anyone you want to plug?
JB: Gorefest! I’m on a huge Gorefest kick right now. For any of your readers who are not familiar with them, they are one of the bands that helped spawn the death metal movement in the early 90’s. They are a band from Holland and they’re just awesome. I’m not a big death metal fan and they’re not really straight up death metal like with blast beats all the time. They’re a really good band. Very talented. The drummer is awesome. The guitar players are awesome. They just got back together. They’d been broken up for 6 years and they just got back together and released a new record. Fuckin awesome. So I’ve been listening to that a lot lately and all of their old catalog too.
JS: Any last words you’d like to say to my readers?
JB: Visit www.ShadowsFallRocks and visit www.JasonBittner.com. Thanks for all the support.
JS: Jason, thank you for your time. I can not wait to see you guys kick some serious ass tonight and the best of luck to you and the bands.
JB: Thanks.
