A Dirty Dozen with BRIAN LAMTMAN from HOW WE FEEL – May 2025

Photo credit: Jerod Criss

According to a recent press release: “Cleveland, Ohio Rockers HOW WE FEEL are a powerful new duo consisting of Vocalist Chris Bianchi (Forever in Terror) and Drummer Brian Lamtman. Best friends for more than 20 years, they were inspired to make music together in early 2024. HOW WE FEEL is carving their name into the modern rock scene with authenticity, energy, and purpose – coupled with a sound that has a fresh yet familiar edge. HOW WE FEEL formed when Bianchi Lamtman decided to combine their shared interests and tastes to release music they were both passionate about. Their demos of emotionally driven lyrics backed with an explosive sound caught the ears of Virgin Music Group, who partnered with Bianchi’s label Legend Recordings in May of 2024.  They went into the studio with engineer John Bruke and producer Paul Bartolome (Asking Alexandria, Escape The Fate and more) to record several tracks.  The songs were mastered by legendary engineer Ted Jensen (Green Day, Bring Me The Horizon, Evanescence) and debut single “Make It Out Alive” — a hard-hitting anthem of perseverance – was released in September of 2024.  It was followed by “Devil Inside” in November, and “Losing My Mind” in December.” We get Brian to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your new album release, Ready For War. What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Ready For War is raw emotion channeled through rhythm, riff and lyrics. On the surface it’s aggressive and loud but underneath there’s lots of personal struggle, resilience and belief within each song.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

Music for me started at a very young age. I was fortunate enough to be born into a music loving family. My older brother was a drummer in a band called Hate Theory and got me started loving drums around age 3. My first concert was KISS  around age 5 and from there my passion for music took off!

3. Building on that, are there a specific songs, albums, performers, or live shows that guided your musical taste?

Absolutely! Like I said it all started with my brothers band Hate Theory, KISS, Pantera, Clutch. Even at a young age I’ve always been obsessed with the production aspect of a live show. To me, there is no better live production you can see better than Kiss, especially in that time period. Even now, live production is one of my favorite parts of a live show and something I hope to achieve with HOW WE FEEL is high level production at our live shows.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

That’s a tough one for sure because there are so many I’d love to collaborate with – but I’d say Oli Sykes of Bring Me The Horizon. Chris and I are both huge fans of everything he has been able to achieve with that band.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

For us, at least right now, writing and playing music is the time to unwind and escape the day to day grind of life / work. Nothing will clear my head more than playing drums! Other than that, just enjoying family life with my wife and our two daughters is the only thing I want to do in my free time.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Honestly, I haven’t seen a bad review yet. Everyone seems to be enjoying it and resonating with the album’s message of perseverance, determination and resilience. It’s been really cool so far to see different people connecting with different songs that relate to them individually.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Definitely not a lot of cooking going on when the band is together. We’re more of a “pass the phone around to add what you want on a Doordash order” lol.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Seeing Pantera while standing Side Stage and briefly shaking hands with Phil Anselmo was definitely one of those moments for sure.  Those dudes are legends to me, so that was a wild one for sure!

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

The absolute best part is performing live. There’s nothing like the moment when the lights hit, the crowd roars, and you lock in with your bandmates – it’s pure electricity. Every beat you play connects you to the audience in real time, and you can feel the energy bouncing back at you. It’s chaotic, loud – and it’s where I feel most alive.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

What keeps you going when no one’s clapping? Because that’s the real test. For me, it’s the belief that what we’re creating matters, even if it only hits one person the right way. Music isn’t about constant validation; it’s about honesty and connection. That internal drive, not the applause, is what keeps the fire lit. The question I’m tired of is, “What genre are you?” It feels like trying to stuff something personal and unpredictable into a box. We’re just us—loud, emotional, real. If it resonates, that’s all that matters.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

Oh for sure! There have been plenty of mistakes made along the way – but that’s all part of growing, ya know? A “do over” might mean we don’t learn the same lessons, so I dont think I’d change a thing.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

I’d go back to the sessions for They’re Only Chasing Safety by Underoath. That album hit me at a time when I was figuring out who I was – not just as a musician, but as a person.  It felt like someone had put everything I couldn’t say into sound. Being in the room while that energy was being captured would have been incredible. I think that album gave a lot of kids like me permission to feel deeply, to break down, and still come out the other side swinging. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to make music that meant something—not just sound cool.

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Category: Interviews