Shadows Fall all about fans

The members of the thrash band Shadows Fall are thinking about their fans. That's why the Massachusetts-based group decided to release a CD composed of six new songs, a few covers and some older Shadows Fall remakes.

"We didn't want the fans to wait until early 2007 for an all-new full-length CD," singer Brian Fair said by phone from his East Coast home. "So we worked up some songs that we had started but didn't finish during the recording of the last album, 'The War Within.' We also recorded three cover tunes and re-recorded a couple of songs that were only available on a Japanese release."

The new CD is fittingly titled "Fallout From the War." And Fair says it's a companion release to "The War Within," which debuted at No. 20 on Billboard's Top 200 album chart last year.

"It was a blast going into the studio and finishing up the six songs that we didn't finish while recording the last album," Fair said. "But it was a blast remaking 'Deadworld,' which was a demo that got us signed to a record company in the first place. And it was good being able to re-record the song 'This Is My Own' that, until now, had only been released in Japan."

As for the remakes, "Only Living Witness," "December," Leeway's "Mark of the Squealer" and Dangerous Toys' "Teasn' Pleasn'," Fair said it was good to get those out, too. "They were like our B-side songs. And those bands were all influences on us. In fact, Dangerous Toys' original lead singer Jason McMasters sang this one with us. He laid down the tracks, and I added my own to the mix."

The new CD isn't the only highlight in the Shadows Fall world. The band members have impressed many in the music industry, and individual band members have their own side gigs. Guitarists Jon Donais and Matt Bachand write a monthly column for Guitar World magazine, and Donais has signed on with Washburn Guitars for his own signature series. Bassist Paul Romanko writes a monthly column for Bass Guitar magazine, while drummer Jason Bittner was featured on the cover of last month's Modern Drummer magazine.

Fair said a lot of the recognition was due to a breakout performance during the 2003 Ozzfest. "We were not really thinking too much of what we were playing as much as we just wanted to have a good time," Fair said about the band's early years. "We were pretty low key. But as we began playing, things started happening. And we were able to land a spot on Ozzfest. And that threw some attention our way. Now I look at what we've done and it blows me away."