The Color Morale on the Band That Showed Them Their Touring Ropes

Metalcore standouts The Color Morale from Rockford, Ill. will be releasing their third LP on March 26 via Rise Records. Entitled Know Hope, the album is brimming with tons of shredding riffs, catchy choruses and the kind of heavy, faith-based tunes that have made this group one of the more popular acts percolating in the underground.

The Color Morale will be hitting the road soon with As I Lay Dying and The Devil Wears Prada, and they just kicked off their own headlining tour, their first.

Noisecreep had a chance to speak with guitarist Devin King and bass player Justin Hieser to get the lowdown on the upcoming album and more.

Congratulations on the new album, guys.

Devin: Thanks. It's been a long time coming, we really worked our butts off on it and we're totally proud of how it turned out.

Justin: Right. Now it's just a matter of getting out there to share it with the fans once it's released. We think they're really going to like it.

You guys have just kicked off your very first headlining tour. Are you finding that there are different pressures when your name is at the top of the ticket?

Devin: For sure. Going into this we did not know what to expect. But it definitely puts a new strain and stress on the tour but so far it's been very satisfying. It's just been a little cold out there [laughs].

When you look back on all of the tours you done so far, is there a headlining band that comes to mind that really took care of you guys we were just starting out?

Justin: I remember we did a national tour with Attack Attack! and they just took us in and made us feel that we were a part of things. They looked out for us, gave us advice, and just in general were very generous to us.

Devin: They were awesome. And that actually taught us that if and when we ever became a headliner to extend the same vibe to any bands that were out with us.

Watch 'Learned Behavior' Lyric Video

Are you guys playing songs off the new record right now?

Justin: We are playing two new songs right now, then two of the first record and four from the middle one. Then, as kids get more familiar with the new record will work a couple of other songs in.

Can you guys remember show growing up that inspired you or influenced what you wanted to do with your life?

Justin: There were two shows like that. The first one was the Misfits. Their whole stage production of presence was just amazing. The other show was Norma Jean when Josh Scogin was in the band. You could just tell how much they loved their audience.

Devin: For me I would have to say the first punk show I ever saw. Green Day and Blink-182 back in 2002. I was 13 years old and I was a drummer at the time. But watching Tom DeLonge and Billy Joe really influenced me. Seeing how much energy a bad can have on stage, physically throwing themselves into everything they did was really inspirational. Also, seeing The Chariot play for the first time was amazing. They were another one of those bands that we really looked up to in the beginning and that was very nice to us on early tours.