Metalcore outfit Traitors are set to release their fifth studio album entitled Phobias on February 21st. The band’s vocalist Tyler Shelton spoke with Metal Express Radio about their upcoming album, their upcoming North American tour with Crown Magnetar, playing with a wide variety of band’s within the genre, and more. Check out the chat below!
Metal Express Radio: Your band, Traitors is set to release their fifth album entitled Phobias on February 21st, what can you tell fans about the upcoming release?
Shelton: At this point, all I can say is, I am sorry it took this long. My fans deserved more music from this band over the past 8 years, but I am looking to the present and also the future. Because of the changes I have made in the past year, I promise to provide you all with more content and music than ever. I cannot wait for you to hear Phobias!
MER: How was the writing and recording process having this being your band’s fifth album?
Shelton: This was a very perfect timing process. I was going through a major life change, and kind of tucked myself away from reality and wrote this entire album lyrically with nobody over my shoulder. Luke, Alan and I got together online and knocked this thing out in about 5 months. This process is all comfort and morale based. My goal is for my guys writing to write on their terms. I would rather not force anything. Pressure doesn’t always make diamonds.
MER: How would you compare this to your band’s previous four albums?
Shelton: This is definitely more upbeat and intense but still has callbacks to the earlier days. Especially our EP Night Terrors.
MER: You’ve released four songs from the album so far, do you feel like they represent the album well?
Shelton: I feel like they do, but for my true fans, I left my personal favorites to be released this coming week.
MER: Later this year, you’ll be doing a headlining tour across North America along with Crown Magnetar, and Yosemite in Black, what are your expectations on the upcoming tour?
Shelton: We are always as prepared as we can be, but you never know what’s going to happen. Regardless, it will be a fun and chill tour. I love to grill on the road and keep everyone relaxed and having a good time.
MER: What do you see as plans for you and your band after your upcoming tour?
Shelton: We are already writing our next release, so I will be focused on that, playing Warped Tour, and I have something special for the fans later this year.
MER: Who do you hope to tour with that you haven’t yet and why?
Shelton: I just want to play shows with my friends really, but it would be cool to tour with Gojira, Knocked Loose, Entheos, Emmure, Spite (Again), there’s so many others too but those are a few I would love to tour with.
MER: You’ve toured with a variety of band from Attack Attack!, to Born of Osiris, how has it been to play to such a diverse variety of fans within the genre?
Shelton: Healthy. It’s good to have a little bit of everyone involved from different genres. People responded very well at those shows.
MER: Have you ever shared the stage with anyone where you had to work on winning over their audience?
Shelton: Absolutely, some of those Miss May I and Attack Attack! shows required a lot of crowd control. But that’s where I truly thrive as a musician.
MER: Out of your band’s five albums, what is one you would recommend to a new fan and why?
Shelton: I would recommend Phobias, because it has a modern touch to it but still delves in a lot of the pain and heaviness I’ve experienced over the years.
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