Interview with Faith Or Fear Guitarist and Founder Chris Bombeke

August 05, 2020

Interview with Faith Or Fear Guitarist and Founder Chris Bombeke

By Mick Michaels

COSMICK VIEW: Hello, Chris! Welcome to TheCosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.
Chris Bombeke: Hi Mick, nice to meet you!

CV: How different do you feel Thrash music is now compared to when Faith or Fear first formed in the 80s? Does it still have the same fierceness it had back in the early days in your opinion?
CB: I do and largely because we’re seeing a resurgence in the old school style songwriting and arranging. You also have many original era bands that are still together today & still making music in their classic style.

CV: Was Thrash on a mission back in the day? Was it out to prove something moreso then being a primarily underground movement than it is now?
CB: I don’t look at it as a mission as much as I think it was just evolving into its own powerful genre. Bands like Slayer, Megadeth, Metallica, Exodus as well as all the record labels like Combat , Metal Blade, all combined and found their place on the Thrash freight train that was clearly gaining momentum on its own.

CV: Chris, what's your personal definition of Heavy Metal music? Aside from the notes on the guitar or speed at which a song is played, what do you believe truly makes Metal, Metal?
CB: Just that power that moves you. It can be almost anything. Peter Green wrote Green Manalishi well before Judas Priest covered it. Although Priest certainly takes it up a notch, it’s that spark of whatever moves you and is powerful….some loud screaming or crunching guitar never hurts though!!!

CV: It's been eight years since Faith or Fear released any new material. Why the long silence?
CB: Life… We never truly stopped…a few scattered shows in the late 1990’s & early 2000’s, as opposed to taking a long break. It’s just other things that you have to follow through with like family, career, etc. When the time was right in 2007 we became much more active.

CV: The band has released a new digital single. Can you tell us a little about the new song, "Conflict Resolution" and why the band felt now was the right time to release it?
CB: Probably an internal band conflict that was written in poetic verse!! The concept lends itself to being applicable to a whole range of things…war, a game, a scandal, etc.

CV: What do you consider as the best method of conflict resolution based on your experience? Can conflict every truly be resolved?
CB: Always. My personal experience is to step back for a little to better understand the situation or initial reason. That pause lets you calm down & then focus better on a clear strategy on resolving the issue.

CV: Faith or Fear are also working on a long awaited, brand new album, which promises to be a modern recapturing of the band's classic sound and style, much in the vein of the it's '89 debut record, "Punishment Area." Chris, do you feel physical albums are still worth the effort given that digital downloads are the favorite choice of the current generation of listeners?
CB: Yes, to me there’s nothing like holding, looking, studying, reading all the ideas that went into the album. Artwork, lyrics, credits, comments etc. It accentuates the listening experience in my opinion.

CV: Has the COVID pandemic derailed the new album's production in any way?
CB: Yes. Social distancing has prevented us from meeting at the studio. We have been meeting at parks with acoustic instruments to keep in stride but it’s not the same as a good loud, powerful rehearsal. Hopefully this will end soon but the facts & science change daily because the virus is so complex. We’ll do our part in the meantime & wear masks & socially distance.

CV: When do you see the new album dropping and will a tour quickly follow its release given bands are permitted to tour again?
CB: COVID-19 will largely dictate that but we’ll keep writing in the meantime to stay productive. Any opportunity for touring is always exciting & welcomed!

CV: What's next for Faith or Fear? What can fans expect to see from the band post COVID?
CB: The release of this new CD featuring our 2 newest members who joined in 2015…Jarvis Ball on vocals & Bill Cavallo on drums. Bob Perna is one of the original members/founders as many people know.

CV: Thank you again Chris for spending some time talking and sharing with
our readers. I wish you all the best and continued success.
CB: Same to you Mick. Thanks for your interest in Faith Or Fear!

Check out Faith Or Fear at:
Official: http://www.faithorfear.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FaithOrFearBand/

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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.