REVOLVER How’s the new album coming along?
BROOKLYN I’m absolutely ecstatic about the new album. We have two phenomenal new guitar players and fresh vision for the band entirely. I’ve been taking a very active role as far as the songwriting goes, using my eight years of classical piano training to write a lot of the instrumental work, arrangements, and songs as a whole, and that’s been very rewarding for me as a passionate musician. Collaborating with my boys has also produced something that stands as an album capitalized on musicianship and being in a real band that formed organically, setting us apart from the plague of manufactured gimmicks out there today.

What are you guys trying to do differently this time around?
I say with confidence that we are an entirely different band. We’re abandoning all genre criteria, musical trends, and silly subgenres like “screamo”–that’s not to say I wont continue screaming–and simply creating music regardless of whether or not it fits into any of the boxes we’ve been placed in or are expected to fit. We’re no longer a group of 15 or 16 year olds experimenting as we were on our previous releases. We’re seasoned musicians with a vision and much more mature songwriting capabilities.

Can you share some song titles?
My current favorite track is titled “Corrupt Me.”

What have you been listening to recently?
In seeking lyrical inspiration, I’ve been immersing myself in a lot of Eminem and Bad Meets Evil simply because they so clearly convey the most high-strung emotions and dramatic life situations. I’m trying to capture this more in my own lyrics. I’ve also been gravitating back to a lot of my HIM albums lately because I love electronic textures mixed with dark rock music.

Congrats on turning 18. How did you celebrate your birthday?
Thank you. I spent my 18th birthday on the set of the first Black Veil Brides music video shoot of their new album, with Andy [Biersack, vocals] and the rest of the guys. It was a blast!

How does it feel to be officially an adult?
I’ve felt like an adult and always had a sense of maturity since I was in grade school, perhaps because I started working toward building my music career so early in life, but turning 18 certainly makes it more official. I even got myself a lip piercing in honor of being legal that I took out three months later.

Who are you musical heroes and why?
Davey Havok has always been the figure that I’ve looked to both as a musician and as a person. I remember stumbling upon a couple of AFI albums when I was about 10 years old and they sparked my interest in darker, more aggressive music, which is what I continue to write to this day. I also practiced a vegan/vegetarian and straightedge lifestyle throughout high school to match his. He has had a very positive effect on my life in terms of being a role model and I think that’s rare to find in rock musicians. Other heroes include [Muse's] Matthew Bellamy, Skylar Grey, [Heart's] Ann Wilson, and Eminem.

What’s the sexiest hard-rock or metal song and why?
“Welcome to the Jungle”–Guns N’ Roses. It’s the essence of sexy and rock and roll.

Sunglasses
“Get yourself a new pair for every imaginable situation to keep you not only cool but goth to the bone. Ray-Ban Wayfarers are the original cool, but pilot mirror shades will do as well, as long as they’re just Ray-Bans.”

Books
“Stock up on the latest horror/erotic vampire fiction and stay out of the sun, reading. Search Amazon.com for anything with the keyword ‘vampire.’”

Twilight DVDs
“Have you really already seen all the DVD extras? And for a summer holiday, travel to Forks, Washington, of course! Don’t forget your umbrella, Bella!”

Become a SoCal Goth
“Good news: tanning allowed! Listen to your AFI boldly on the beach or by the pool from your iPod.”

Become a 69 Eyes Fan
“Those Helsinki vampires claim to be daywalkers and don’t give shit about the sun either. Goth ’n’ Rollers bear no rules except one: Look sexy in your high heels while waiting for their new album in the fall.”

Check out “Dead Girls Are Easy” off Back in Blood below: