EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH NONPOINT DRUMMER ROBB RIVERA

Florida metal stalwarts Nonpoint have just released their new record Vengeance (read our review), and the band is currently touring the U.S. on the Great American Rampage tour with labemates Skindred, Ankla, and Karnivool. MetalSucks recently caught up with drummer Robb Rivera for a quick chat about the band’s new record, fan reactions, and the tour so far. Read the entire transcript after the jump.

MetalSucks: So you guys have a new record Vengeance out. (Here’s your chance to plug the new record.)

Robb Rivera: Yes, it is in stores everywhere. Best Buy, Target, Amazon, EVERYWHERE…….

Who produced and mixed the record, and what role did the band members have in those
processes?

The record was produced by Matt Laplant and Nonpoint. We were all in there bouncing ideas back and forth, when it came to everything that had to do with the record. Be it arranging, instruments, vocals, tracking and mixing.

How does Vengeance stand up against To the Pain [Nonpoint’s prior record]? What were you guys going for?

I think it’s the perfect record to release after To The Pain. To The Pain was in recorded in a different key. Key of A. With Vengeance, we went back to drop tuned C like our previous records and I personally think it has more of an aggressive feel .

I think a lot of fans think that Recoil was your best record; it was also the most popular. It seems like on this one you’re trying to bring that sound back a bit with catchier choruses and bigger hooks.

All fans have different opinions on all of our records. I actually ran into a kid in Columbus that thinks Development is his favorite record. It all comes to taste to be honest, a lot of people think Vengeance is our best record. We wanted to have all the elements of Nonpoint from all records. Heavy riffs, up beat songs, hooks, choruses, melodic vocals, heavy vocals, and backing vocals; the whole package. We dug deep into our influences for this album.

Can you speak to any of the lyrical themes on the new album?

Well, all themes are all personal experiences of the band, be it bad decisions or good decisions. We hope to offer a possible solution or at least hear what we tried to do with the situation at hand.

How is the current tour going with Skindred, Karnivool and Ankla? Have you guys ever toured with those bands before?

The tour has been amazing. One of the best packages we have put together; all the bands have been killing it and all the bands are amazing live bands.

How are the fans receiving the new material?

They as far as I can tell are totally into it. I see them singing the new stuff just like the old stuff.

Any funny stories from the tour so far?

None I can say…..lol.

What do you guys do to keep busy during down time? Have you caught the Guitar Hero bug yet?

We all pretty much keep to ourselves. Give each other the space needed, you know.

What are your plans for the next several months?

Touring, touring and more touring.

Thanks. Good luck!