So it seems I am making my rounds with a group of guys that work with each other projects. After interviewing Tommy Vext and Chris Clancy, I was fumbling around sites when I stumbled upon another project in the works with main man Frederic Riverin and his work I LEGION. Now this guy has managed to pull some amazing musicians into the fold for this debut album, and I personally couldn't be happier to see this music coming straight out of my home country Canada!
Well, that's if you consider Quebec a part of Canada (haha). Just kidding folks, no need to go into a frenzy. Anyways, Frederic/I Legion hails from Chicoutimi, Quebec and as I stated before, had quite the amount of guest appearances for this album:
"I Legion is the musical work of Frederic Riverin, who shaped and wrote all the songs in fall 2011, at his home in Quebec. Helped by friend producer and vocalist Chris Clancy (ex-Mutiny Within), they both crafted these recordings into a melodic metal machine. Metal monsters Bjorn Strid (Soilwork), Jon Howard (Threat Signal) and Chris himself took the vocal duties and put their melodies and talent over the 12 songs of the album.
I Legion also features modern guitar heroes Andy James (Sacred Mother Tongue), Peter Wichers (Soilwork), Angel Vivaldi and Brandon Jacobs (Mutiny Within) on the lead guitars for tasteful and melodic solos.'
Now, let's dive into some album artwork and track listings for the album. But after hearing the first track (as you continue the article) plus seeing that star studded line up, how can you not buy this album. Seriously?!
(Artwork by Alexander Lean)
2. Signs from Above (feat. Björn Strid)
3. Night Calls (feat. Chris Clancy)
4. Escape As Deliverance (feat. Jon Howard)
5. Beyond Darkness (feat. Björn Strid)
6. Search for I (feat. Chris Clancy)
7. Deceive the Light (feat. Jon Howard)
8. A World So Black (feat. Chris Clancy)
9. Despite Your Grace (feat. Björn Strid)
10. We Will Fight (feat. Jon Howard)
11. Faithless (feat. Chris Clancy)
12. Love Is a Battlefield (feat. Björn Strid)
13. Dead Inside (feat. Chris Clancy)
And since I like to pry at new artists and albums making their way onto the music scene, I got in contact with Frederic and asked for a few minutes for an interview. He was more than willing to accommodate and so AFGM brings you (straight from the creator's mouth) a one on one with Frederic Riverin!
- Bonjour Frederic! Thanks again for taking the time to do these questions for the blog. So, what are you up to today?
I’m at lunch time at work! I’m caught a cold and not feeling at the top of my game but it’s alright!
- So let's talk about your history with music. Where did it start?
I got my first classical guitar at 12 years old but it didn’t take long before I asked my parents to buy me an electric one! I wanted to play heavy songs, right at the start. So I follow private lessons for 5 years then learnt everything else by myself, playing along records and jamming around with friends. Other than that I always been a music lover, I love listening to music. I’m an huge fan of musicians too, I always wanted to meet the guys after shows, taking pictures and chat with them.
- When did you realize that music was the thing in life you wanted to persue? Was it an single moment of clarity or something that just snowballed?
I guess when I wrote my first songs around 14, friends were impressed by it. So from that moment I never stopped writing songs. Even when I took a break from music when I moved in an house with my girlfriend and got kids, I was writing music. I was simply piling them and saving the ideas for later.
Of course when I was younger I dreamed about having a music career, but it took so long before it actually worked that now it’s an hobby and a passion, and I don’t plan living from that. I have a good day job and a family which I love to be with.
- Did your childhood play a big role in you composing music? Did you have a lot of family/friends who were musicians as well?
My father used to be in a 60-70’s French tribute band, he was the singer. Other than that my family isn’t really into music. But yeah I got friends who played instruments so I spend a lot of my teenage years in a garage jamming Metallica and Iron Maiden songs with them!
- Influences. Can you name us a few and why?
I can’t hide my love for Iron Maiden, it shows in my songs chords progression, the dual leads and the solos. I love the sound they have! Adrian Smith is one of the best guitarist ever, even if he’s not a big shredder. Also I guess I’m influenced by the whole Gothenburg scene : In Flames, Soilwork…in my opinion they took the Maiden sound and made it heavier and beefier. Then I could name American punk band Strung Out, I love putting that punk touch on some of my songs.
When I wrote the songs for this album, I listened a lot to Trivium's In Waves' and Unearth's 'Darkness In The Light' albums. I believe you can hear their influence on my songs.
- What about the SBMM JP50 that makes you want to stick with it (other than endorsement)? Is it the weight, feel, tone or D: All The Above? Haha
Everything about it really. I had a Musicman JP7 since 2001 and I sold it to buy the JP50 and I don’t regret it. Some may think I dropped quality-wise, but I don’t think so. I upgraded the pickups just like those Petrucci have on his 2012 models. It sounds incredible. Those are really good guitars. Very underrated.
- Quebec is internationally known to have some of the best composed metal music on the planet. Is your hometown of Chicoutimi receive your kind of music well? Are there a fair amount of venues and/or fan base to perform there or do you have to outreach to cities such as Montreal and Ville de Quebec?
Here the scene is growing, there’s better bands now than 10 years ago. But also the region is so small that it’s always the same bands that are playing. So yeah you have to get out and visit Quebec City and Montreal if you want to reach more people. I don’t think my music is really noticed here though, it’s way too underground. Only a small bunch of people are aware of what I do and it’s ok for me.
- What's you rig looking like nowadays (guitars, amps, pedals, etc)?
Haha. I have the SMALLEST rig of the planet man! As I’m not performing on stage anymore, I have the minimum! My Sterling MM JP50, a Focusrite Scarlett interface for recording, a Boss Tuner. I also own a ESP LTD MH-1000, which I rarely use.
- OK, so let's talk about I Legion. How did it stem? Can you give us some history?
I wrote a lot of these songs during summer 2011. I was with the band Angels Can Kill at that time. These were supposed to be on the second record of that band. But I got sick of writing everything alone, having no answers from the guys when I submitted a new songs – having to deal with a whole band is hard when you’re the one pushing the most! As I wanted to spend more time with my family too, I quit the band in January 2012. This is where I LEGION started. And wouldn’t it be cool to have my favorite metal artists aboard? I’m not a singer, and I’m not the best soloing neither. So the hunt and the project went from there.
- Why did you decide to put out a solo album rather than forming a band?
I didn’t want a band. I didn’t want to deal with rehearsals, schedules and everything which go with it. I wanted my songs to be released, nothing more. I didn’t even think about promotion. I made this record for myself first.
And of course having so much guests from everywhere in the world make the possibility of a real band near impossible now.
(Bjorn with Frederic...sporting some Mutiny Within swag!)
- OK, being that I know and have seen quite a bit of these musicians live (aka Soilwork, Threat Signal, Mutiny Within), how the hell did you land so many guest spots?
It all snowballed. Chris was supposed to mix the second ACK record (he mixed the first one) so he was already involved. Chris is one of the best singer since Freddy Mercury. He can pull off anything. His tone and his vocal range are wonderful. It’s a shame Mutiny Within adventure ended so quickly as this guy deserved to be known more. So yeah, Chris sang most of the songs on the album, but he couldn’t mix, produce and sing 12 songs. So I turned to Björn and Jon to help me out.
I didn’t know Björn personally, so I reached him thru Facebook, all on my own, with only 1 instrumental song to show him. I’m glad he accepted. This guy is a metal icon. He’s impressive in person, but also his musical background is as much impressive. And when he accepted to do the vocal arrangement and the lyrics for Despite Your Grace, I was the happiest guy on earth. His personal touch is on the album.
Then Chris suggested me Jon, as they toured together on the Dark Tranquility tour [I was at their show at the Opera House! Such a great bill for that tour]. He nailed the songs so fast, he understood what I want right at the start. This guy is so easy to work with!
Andy is the last artist asked to join. The album was being mixed at the time. I had to record a whole new rhythm section for his solo spot in 'Signs From Above', as I wanted him to play a really long solo. Plus I have to credit him for co-writing the main riff of that song too. He saved me from being sued by another band – I won’t tell which one! haha
I wasn’t planning to get so much guests at first. But I tried to get in touch with a lot of musicians I liked and they almost all accepted. So from there I had no choice than having all these cool people and find them a song/spot. I can’t turn down any of them, I’m so proud of each guest appearance! I’m blessed to have these guys on this project. They made the difference actually.
- I take it you keep in touch with these guys on a regular basis then?
Chris is the person I keep in touch with the most. He’s a real friend for me and we can discuss of anything. I happen to talk to Jon and Björn from time to time. They have a busy schedule so I don’t want to annoy them too much neither. I talk to them when I have something to say or ask, not only to say a simple “hello”.
- What made you go with the album artwork featured on "Beyond Darkness". Did the artwork surround a theme for the album? I see there are two artwork piece for the album (one from Alexander Lean and one from Gustavo Sazes). Any reason for two?
Gustavo made the first artwork in March. This was supposed to be the official artwork but when I came across Alex drawing, my jaw dropped. It was EXACTLY the image I had in mind. It reflects the I Legion meaning so much. The guy is picture alone, with a devastated land in front of him. It’s a recurring them in the album. So I kept Gustavo logo, and placed it over Alex art.
(Artwork by Gustavo Sazes) [Alternate Cover]
- Chris informed me that you composed the lyrics. True?
It’s 90% true haha. Chris wrote the lyrics for Dead Inside and Björn wrote Despite Your Grace. Other than that what you read/hear are my lyrics, with some minor changes here and there by the singers in order to fit their vision of the melody/vocal pacing.
- What state of mind were you in when writing these lyrics? Do they stem from personal experiences, world issues, politics, emotions, etc?
Those are all about emotions and personal experiences. Some of them are about a specific event, and I wrote lyrics around it. Others are strictly emotions put into words. I don’t write about world issues or politics, I’m pretty ignorant when it comes to this unfortunately.
- What software were you using for the creation of this album. I saw a post stating that the drum tracks were midi files. What plugins were you using to add them into the songs?
All guitars were recorded through my Focusrite Scarlett interface, straight and clean, with no effects at all. Amps and effects have been added by Chris. About drums I used EZ Drummer Drumkit From Hell. Then Chris transposed it with Steven Slate Drums software, and his own collections of drums samples.
- I'm going to turn the question on your that I saw on Facebook. "What's YOUR favorite song on the album and why?"
I think that the opener 'Signs From Above' is my favorite. It jumps to your throat right at the start and it features one of the best guitar solo ever, done by UK virtuoso Andy James. Plus Björn sings it…You can’t ask for more!
- Do you think I Legion will eventually hit the road and start playing live shows, or was this a strictly studio album?
I don’t think it will happen honestly. And it’s ok. But I’ll do try to hook up with the guys when they’ll be around with their specific bands and maybe try to film some acoustic footage or something.
- Other than I Legion, is there anything else you are currently working on?
No, I’m taking it easy and watch the fan base grow!
- Not to take anything away from the guest spots you currently have on the roster (cause they are f**king awesome), but is there anyone you would like to compose music with and sometime in the future?
John Petrucci, as he’s my favorite artist ever. But I know it’s almost impossible, so in a more realistic perspective, I’d say Christian Alvestam and Alissa White-Gluz. Would love to work with Mikael Akerfeltd too. In fact, the list could be very long!
- What is your favourite album of 2012? (sorry, no bias here. haha)
Chris just sent me the trailer for the new Mutiny Within album. This will probably be my album of the year, hands down.
But so far albums I loved in 2012 are the new ones by The Agonist, Night Flight Orchestra and Rise To Fall.
- And last but not least, since we are a site that promotes music and musicians everyday, can you offer some words of wisdom for the younger generation that wants to pick up that instrument and rock out?
Never give up. Even if you don’t end up being the best on your instrument, which is my case, you can do wonderful things, no matter where you come from or who you are.
- Merci. Bonne journée!
Merci Andrew!
***
OK, so you all got a pretty good idea that this guy simply isn't going anywhere. He's got a great lineup on his album, the album itself just spews awesome riffs and great hooks, so what's stopping you from picking up a copy and showing some love to a fellow Canadian? Here are a few of the links where you can purchase I Legion's "Beyond Darkness":
Bandcamp - ilegion.bandcamp.com/album/beyond-darkness
iTunes - itunes.apple.com/ca/album/beyond-darkness/id563201399
CD Baby - www.cdbaby.com/cd/ilegion2
Be sure to drop him a link on his official Facebook page and let him know your thoughts on the album. Like most musicians, I'm sure he would welcome some words from fans (not an open invitation to troll. haha).
Fantastic, love this interview. Going to check this band out. :)
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