When six individuals with boisterous personalities, various interests, a knack for music and a common passion for God come together, what arises? In Hopwood, PA this equates to the cultural anomaly that is All Have Fallen.
Classifying themselves as a Christian metal band along the lines of tremendously popular bands such as As I Lay Dying and Still Remains, AHF approaches music in a unique way. With Mat Slagle on drums, Shane Smallwood on bass,and newest member, Ryan Combs on vocals and keyboard, these five form a diverse and dynamic group.
Five members with different styles, tastes and talents promise in that alone to be a treat. AHF brings something more to the table, too. Their performances are far from dull, filled with absolute energy and passion. How can they account for such self-investment in their art? They stand for something significant. AHF rocks out because it's fun, it's an opportunity to focus and create, but also because they care about people and value their relationships with God.
Shows and concerts for them are teaming with head-bangers and mosh pits which one would expect at any metal concert. Beyond this, though, they also introduce an element of conversation unlike any concert-goers are likely to experience. They pour out their personal convictions and testimonies, hearts on the line, to help members of the audience whenever possible.
AHF has been around for about three years. In that time, existence as a band has been an experience. From a number of shifts among the members--the only original members being Mat and Shane--to adventures in sound and influence, they've taken the bad with the good. In addition to these types of obstacles, AHF has also had a bigger obstacle to overcome.
Mat's brother Pat Slagle has a story that few other nineteen-year-old's can boast. He's faced psychological and spiritual turmoil that others can hardly imagine. As a member of a close-knit circle of friends, Pat's struggles took a toll on the whole band. Most amazingly of all, they've turned that tremendous struggle into a means by which to relate to others and help them.
During their performances, Pat relates his experiences. He plans to pursue a career as a minister, so he can continue to use his difficult past to help people in the future. Struggle has brought them closer together as a band, and as friends, and has strengthened their personal faith, as well.
They're so vocal about it, in fact, that they discuss their struggle and similar issues in their song lyrics. Which will be on their upcoming five-song ep, "Prepare for War," Produced by Mark Anthony of Breaking the Silence, a band very close to the hearts of All Have Fallen.
"Just because we're a Christian band, people expect us to sing about happiness and worship, but that's not what's going to help someone in their room with a blade to their wrist," Says drummer Mat Slagle, "We sing about real issues that we know people go through because, in a way, we've faced them, and we know what helped us."
With regards to what they play, AHF is all rock/metal. Their unique sound, as in production on their upcoming five song ep, "Prepare for War," produced by Mark Anthony of Breaking the Silence, demonstrates their unique style. But how can a band consolidate such a spiritual message with a genre like Metal? "Our music and our message don't influence one another. They're separate parts of who we are as a band," Says Mat, "People who try to make it all the same miss the point."
The amount of passion, energy, and drive that metal bands output is great. It makes sense, then, that as a band that cares so much about people and about demonstrating their personal passion for Christ, they would take on a heavily passionate, driven genre. Messages and ideas endorsed by other metal bands who have less than positive representations of God create a stereotype that AHF strives to defy.
"Don't listen to your parents," says Mat jokingly, "Make decisions about music based on what you understand to be right. Play the music that you enjoy, and don't forfeit your personal style because other people say that screaming music or certain clothes or tattoos mean anything but what they really do mean."
There is one thing that every band, local or national, has in common. Every band, no matter the genre, has a message. Some bands are political, while others focus on rebellion, drugs, sex, love, or even death. One thing has been certain about the Metalcore band hailing from uniontown,PA since day one. Every show, every lyric, every note is an offering of praise and glory to Jesus Christ. Even the name, All Have Fallen, comes from a bible verse. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." All Have Fallen screams a message of hope,love,sin and duty to every crowds person through bone-crushing metal. The technical guitar riffs, blasting double bass, commanding screams and melodic singing is proof that whether you have a faith or not, you will be crushed by the power,passion and intensity of All Have Fallen.
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