'Glasshearts' is the first new track by THE DISASTER AREA since the release of their album ' Alpha // Omega ' in November 2018 that scored more than 1 million streams and 500,000 video plays to this day. 'Glasshearts' was produced by Romesh Dodangoda who is, among many others, also responsible for 'Amo', BRING ME THE HORIZON's latest album.
For THE DISASTER AREA the new single is the kick-off for two major support tours: Already in December, they will be the opening act on the European Tour of ESKIMO CALLBOY (WE BUTTER THE BREAD WITH BUTTER will also be onboard) and in January the band will accompany TO THE RATS AND WOLVES on their farewell tour, which will be taking them once again all over Germany. In between, THE DISASTER AREA will play their annual end-of-year show – for the first time in Munich and with the support of VITJA and BREATHE ATLANTIS. (All dates are listed further below)
What THE DISASTER AREA defines, aside from their music, is the close relationship to their fans and that both sides take part in each other's lives. 'Glasshearts' is a declaration of love by THE DISASTER AREA to their fans and presents the band's new musical approach. The already famous metalcore mixes with more and more electronic elements and surprisingly mature alternative rock – “WE ARE THE GLASSHEARTS!”
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE DISASTER AREA:
Your album 'Alpha // Omega' is only one year old, why do you already release completely new music?
Alex Maidl (vocals): “'Alpha // Omega' was only released in November 2018 but the song-writing had been finished a long time before. I think it was back in 2017.”
Chris Zillinger (drums): “In the meantime, we have found new topics that we take interest in, we have new things to say and we have also evolved musically. What defines THE DISASTER AREA for us, is the closeness to our fans and that we take parts in each other's lives. So, for us it was high time to get back to our fans with new material and show them what we’re up to now.”
What were the most remarkable things that happened since the release of 'Alpha // Omega'? What would you describe as your biggest successes?
Alex Kisslinger (guitar): “What has happened since the release of 'Alpha // Omega' is hard to put into words for us! I think, the best thing is that through the album we got in touch with our fans' lives and the other way round. “We started getting letters, uncountable messages and people started getting fan tattoos.”
Markus Zabel (bass): “People really spend a lot of time on us, they listen to our music at home, through it they escape from everyday life and spend their evenings on our shows – that is an incredible feeling! There are so many bands, so many possibilities to get entertained, that people are looking forward the whole week to be on one of our shows, still amazes us the most.”
Franz Apfelbeck (guitar): “Of course, there are things like one million streams, tours all over Germany and festivals we play with some of our favorite bands that are crazy successes for us but as five guys, that were finding shelter in music themselves for years, to be with our fans is still the most amazing thing.”
How did 'Glasshearts' come into existence?
Alex Maidl: “The only major thing that we regret about our older songs is that often hurt. We wanted to release new songs so much that we put more pressure on ourselves than necessary. This is what we changed about 'Glasshearts'. We knew that we had just released our album and we had a little more time. I think, it was while we were touring with OUR MIRAGE in February 2019. We wanted to use this advantage to work on a song without any pressure as long as it lives up to our expectations 100%.”
Chris Zillinger: “We took all the time we needed to develop the song. Of course, in the everyday music business this is very often not possible. There are always different aspects that have to be taken care of as well when it comes to a release – sometimes things have to be just finished. But with 'Glasshearts' we had all the time in the world to get our thoughts into it and do what we were aiming at.”
What is 'Glasshearts' about?
Markus Zabel: “Our last singles were a lot involved with the topics depression, doubt, the feeling of being alone and not belonging somewhere. To see that so many people can identify with that or they are in the same situation, showed to us that we are not alone at all. This is the paradox, you feel alone and find someone who, apart from the feeling of being alone, couldn't be any more different. I think this builds up a huge connection between people and with the band.”
Alex Kisslinger: “Through the band we've met totally different people that all identify with us by that fact. To show them that we all belong together, we invented 'Glasshearts' as the group name for our fans. This is also what the song and the lyrics are about: 'We are the Glasshearts!'”
How does 'Glasshearts' differ from your earlier works?
Franz Apfelbeck: “First of all, since the release of 'Alpha // Omega', we got a more precise idea of who we are and what we want to achieve. The album helped us a lot finding out who we are, which is why we could focus much more on what we wanted to achieve with 'Glasshearts' musically. We got to know each other and our fans so much better – now we know how we work best together. Essentially, we don't make music just for us but for our fans as well. We like to share with them something that gives them a four-minute time-out and touches them. The knowledge about our fans and us as well wasn't that precise when we did 'Alpha // Omega', which maybe the most remarkable difference to 'Glasshearts'.”
Does 'Glasshearts' give hints on future releases?
Alex Maidl: “Yes and no. Of course, the song marks the start of something new for us. I think you can hear that very clearly. It's not something completely different but it leads the band to a new level. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t be too sure about what we are going to do – there will be some musical surprises coming for you!”
Would you speak of yourself as the whole new THE DISASTER AREA?
Alex Kisslinger: “We have matured as a band. I know, everyone keeps saying that. But we wrote 'Alpha // Omega as a band that stood at the very beginning and we hadn't seen so much. We have played a lot of shows, have met a lot of people and we have worked on ourselves as well as on THE DISASTER AREA like never before. That has taught us a lot about ourselves and the band. But still I wouldn't say that we have changed completely.”
Markus Zabel: “It's very common with bands that they suddenly are or want to be something completely different – we don't want that at all! We never pretended to be something which we are not and we will never do that. There will be 100% of THE DISASTER AREA in the future but along with personal progress.”
What can we expect from you in the future?
Chris Zillinger: “Everything but slowing down! We want to keep on accelerating, release new stuff, meet every single fan and get to know everyone even better!”
Alex Maidl: “New music, new show on stage, new tours, new influences, new topics – but the same guys!”
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THE DISASTER AREA live:
07.12. DE- Ebersbach an der Fils, Rock in Weiler
12/27 DE- Munich, backstage
ESKIMO CALLBOY Rehab European Tour (w/ WE BUTTER THE BREAD WITH BUTTER)
01.12. DE- Berlin, Metropol
03.12. CZ- Prague, Storm Clun
04.12. HU-Budapest, Dürer Kert
05.12. AU- Vienna, Simm City
07.12. DE- Cologne, palladium
08.12. DE- Hamburg, docks
13.12. BE-Hasselt, Muziekoroom
12/14 DE- Bremen, modern
17.12. FR-Paris, Gibus
18.12. CH-Zurich, Complex 457
12/19 DE- Munich, Tonhalle
12/20 DE- Nuremberg, Löwensaal
12/21 DE-Leipzig, Haus Auensee
TO THE RATS & WOLVES - Farewell Tour (w/ Empty Home)
10.01. DE- Berlin, music & peace
11.01. DE-Frankfurt, Zoom
17.01. DE-Hamburg, logo
18.01. DE- Cologne, canteen