Lyrical and compositional elements aside, was there an overriding performance concept in effect for Crack the Skye?
Kelliher: We definitely thought more about negative spaces on this record, rather than try to fill up every second with music. We wanted to concentrate more on feel and atmosphere. Even Brann [Dailor, drummer] kind of laid back. Brendan told him, “Think more about the groove of the song, instead of going super-crazy, Neil Peart style.” He even played to a click track, and that was a first. But it worked like magic. Brendan would have us lay down a few different tempos, and then he could listen back and say, “This one is a little too slow, this one is a little too fast, and this one is right in the pocket.” How did Brendan guide your tonal choices and performances in the studio? Kelliher: He messed with my sound a little bit, and he got it sounding not quite as heavy as I’m used to. But after the signal went through the mics and preamps and all that stuff, it sounded really good. So he was cleaning up your amp sound? Kelliher: Yeah. It was kind of weird for me, but I thought, “I’m going
