We did what we were moved to do. We followed our guts and we just made some really heavy songs that we're having fun playing live.

It was just a small idea, to write these records and songs that have a concept, ... and at some point create those records in another medium, whether it would be comic books or a novel or something else.

We had traces of our music that could be liked by the punk scene or the hardcore scene, ... But that was what people did with us; they said they could put us out on tour with anybody because 'nobody really knows what you guys are. You got some of this, you got some of that, it will probably work, let's see what happens.'

I just think it's that we bring a lot to the table. There's the concept idea, which is very interesting and, again, I don't think has been done. Concepts have been done over a standard record, but not like this. And the songwriting is different. There are classic rock influences, and I think they come out more because the band has gotten better.

Basically it acts as a companion and also like an extension of the record and vice versa.

Just because we went (to Columbia) didn't mean that we were going to change who we are. We were ready to do what we always do when we make music.