Fear, Emptiness, Decibel: Floor Featured in the Latest Episode of Converse x Decibel

Before there were blogs there were these things called magazines, and the only metal magazine we still get excited about reading every month is Decibel. Here’s managing editor Andrew Bonazelli…

I’m not too proud to admit that, upon learning that it was the title of Floor’s comeback album, I had to look up the term “oblation.” It’s a sacrificial offering to God, which I can totally identify with, seeing as how I gave up Doritos for Lent when I was like 12. Well, anybody familiar with their history knows that Floor have done more than their share of sacrificing. You may recall that the doom-pop trio’s 2002 self-titled debut wasn’t exactly met with rapturous universal applause. In our Hall of Fame piece from last July, drummer Henry Wilson remembered, “We played to no one all over the country—constantly. We played the Knitting Factory in L.A. to like four people. Two of them were people I went to high school with. I remember we played to two kids in Huntington Beach who begged us not to leave.” Sacrificing your sanity/livelihood for your art: that’s a big deal.

And yet, 10 years after swan song (ha) Dove, there couldn’t be more anticipation about Floor’s resurrection. Since Brooks took a little time away from Torche to help reestablish the band as a live entity, their shows have been events, packed with kids from all walks of the scene slow-banging to the bomb string. You’d expect these guys to be rapturous about coming back to an actual audience, but in the newest Converse x Decibel video, Brooks, Wilson and Anthony Vialon couldn’t be more nonplussed. They’re glad to be back, but they’re not annoyingly effusive about it. In that spirit, the video’s cool and simple: Brooks gets a Floor tattoo (Vialon conceived the logo and explains its origins) on his calf; Wilson screws around with a bullwhip (WTF?) before busting out some sick bike tricks. Two and a half months ’til Oblation—gotta bide that time somehow.

The March 2014 issue of Decibel also Behemoth, Arch Enemy, and Alcest, and can be purchased here. But why not just get a full subscription? If you subscribe by 3 p.m. on Friday, February 14, you’ll receive a special downloadable, foldout Decibel Valentine’s Day card designed by artist Bruno Guerreiro and personally emailed to you by editor-in-chief Albert Mudrian!