we can sell music online, and with a self-release you keep all except a small percentage of the money from a sale. The downside is that no matter how much work you put in, you have to fight for every copy sold, every song listened to, every like on Facebook. It feels like we achieve something every time we gain a new fan, and it's a great feeling. We would love to be part of a record label if the chance presented itself.
I have also heard that Edmonton has a strong 'core' scene. Does that affect you guys at all? Give us some insight as to how Silent Line is accepted at home, compared to globally.
Our most popular city is Edmonton, but we have sold CDs in places as far away as Russia and Italy, and not a small amount for us either. There is definitely a strong presence in Edmonton of I guess what is called “metalcore,” which is not a bad thing at all. We've been on lots of bills where we 110% definitely did not fit it at all, but that's also good in a way since we are being exposed to an entirely different audience. The reception of our music understandably varies far more at these shows, but it's always fun. There are a few other bands like Valyria and Eye of Horus who, like us, are more melodic death metal. We don't care much for labeling bands a certain style and associating or not associating ourselves with them depending on that style. As long as they love music and want to play on stage we consider them friends.
Describe a typical Silent Line show. Is the crowd diverse? Younger? Older?
It's mostly younger people, although there are always the old metalheads showing up and teaching the young ones a lesson! Usually the crowd is diverse, and we're still smaller as a band so lots of the time the audience is there to see the headliner – like in the case of us opening for Dark Tranquillity and Insomnium. We're always surprised at the response after our set, and we gain a few fans at each show. We're grateful for every single person who shows up, and we'll crush a few beers with anyone who spares the time.
SilenT LinE Interview continued....
in our early years and the first album we were trying to emulate those bands and write in their styles, which isn't the best way to make your music original. I think everyone goes through a similar phase. Now we just sit down and write what comes to mind without trying to be like anything in particular, but we are glad it has that Gothenburg Sound!
Do Silent Line plan on continuing to self-release albums? With the age of the Internet, is that something positive? How does it affect the recognition you guys receive?
Whatever we do in the future will likely be self-released unless we become involved with a label. It's not that we prefer doing it this way, it's just the only way we know how to do things and we are used to putting in all the work and doing everything from start to finish. I think it's great that