From sold-out shows to soul-baring lyrics, Confessions Of a Traitor’s third album, This Pain Will Serve You, is a testament to survival. We caught up with them in London to talk grief, growth, and what this new album means to them…

Words & photos by Felix Bartlett (@bartlettfelix4) | June 02, 2025

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The hum of a jazz band bleeds through the walls of London’s 229 venue, an odd contrast to the blistering metalcore riffs soundchecking inside. Confessions Of A Traitor, London’s rising force in the UK metal scene, are hours away from their first sold-out headline show in the capital, a milestone for a band that’s spent the past decade grinding through tours, personal tragedies, and an unrelenting pursuit of growth.

Fresh off the release of their third album, This Pain Will Serve You (Facedown Records), the band is palpably energised. Vocalist Stephen MacConville, guitarists Jacob Brand and Jack Darnell, and drummer Sebastian Olrog are crammed into a green room, still buzzing from the news that tonight’s show is sold out—their second ever, and first in the UK.

We sat down with them to talk about the album’s emotional weight, their evolution as a band, and why it’s more important than ever to speak openly about these messages and themes in the alt scene.

First sold-out show, we’ve just heard. Second one ever. First one in the UK. We’ve got to start by asking — how does that feel?

Stephen: “I think it feels pretty good. Like, we were all backstage and we were just kind of slapping each other. Just going, ‘Do it!’ And then we had to compose ourselves. And now we’ve got to do an interview! So… how do you feel, Jay?”

Jacob: “Absolutely ecstatic.”

Stephen: “I’m not a big numbers guy; these guys are. Yeah, they’re like, ‘Oh, what’s the count on that stream?’ and I don’t care. For me, it’s all about people showing up, showing face. The shows, that’s the best part of the year for me.”

Jack: “Yeah, it’s a very surreal feeling to see that this album’s achieved this for us. We did well with the last one, and this one looks like it’s building on that. We only found out we’d sold this out about ten, fifteen minutes ago.”

Sebastian: “I don’t have much to add on, I’m a man of many words. But we’ve put a lot of effort into the show, so it’s amazing to see that we’re going to have a full room later.”

And it’s your third album, which has seen some great reviews and praise. How was that process, coming into this album? How does it feel now it’s out? What’s the reception been like from your side and from the fans?

Stephen: “It’s amazing to start with, to see it out in the wild is just phenomenal. It’s been such a journey. The first single we released came out a year ago. Originally, the record was going to come out last year, and then, you know, we had to… I mean, the record is very explicit about it. We had a lot going on, these guys, specifically family-wise, and it’s like, right, we’ve got to delay it. But that allowed us more time to grow it and make it the best possible product we could, with the most emotion. And that’s been reflected in what’s come back to us.”

Sebastian: “I feel incredibly proud of what we put out. The album’s been out officially two weeks as of yesterday, and I think we’ve just gone over 920,000 streams in just over two weeks. And that’s just on Spotify. So, you know, in the next week we’re kind of hoping we’ll break the million.” I won’t pass it to the numbers guy himself for fear of fame overwhelming us.”

Jack: “I will say it’s definitely been a different process from how we usually write albums. More so, obviously, there’s that stigma that vocalists do nothing, they barely load in, just write lyrics. But this man, props to him, he’s really lifted a finger with this thing.”

Stephen: “Just the one.”

Jack: “Yeah, just the one. You can hear it in the difference between ‘Punishing Myself’ and this, how many more layers of synth there are and everything. I don’t want to boost his ego any more than it already is, but yeah, props. It feels like a real collaborative effort, and I think that comes across. That’s probably why it’s connected so well.”

Jacob: “Yeah, like Jack said, it’s been a different process this time. And again, I’ll say props to Steve for the work he’s put in with the production elements. He kind of squirrelled away with Justin Hill from SikTh to work on vocals and production, because the rest of us couldn’t get time off work. So he went a little bit rogue [laughs] I’m joking, he didn’t go rogue! But there were definitely a few moments where he was like, ‘Yeah, I got this, don’t worry about it.’ And he smashed it.

“We’ve had a really good team around us in terms of the actual production of the music, all the different elements we’ve worked with have really helped us grow. This Pain Will Serve You has been great, and to see the response build on it, with people not saying, ‘Oh, they’ve just released the same album again,’ but instead saying, ‘This is the growth of the band’, that’s been really nice. Those comments and reactions have been exceptional.”

Sebastian: “I can’t add too much apart from thanking everyone who helped us record and actually make the album. I could say the names, but everyone knows who they are, they’re all in the album credits. Buy the album, see for yourself.

“We’ve learned how the recording and writing process works for us. We found from the last album how we want to go into the studio, and it feels quite natural now. We worked with the same people as last time, minus Lance, who did mixing and mastering and I think we’ll keep using the same team. It’s obviously working for us. On to the next album.”

The album is so personal and cathartic. There’s a lot of heavy, dark themes explored. How did you emotionally prepare to throw yourself into that?

Stephen: “There was a lot of collaboration between Jack and me. It’s well documented what the record is about. If we look at what was going on last year, Jake’s mum was diagnosed with breast cancer. Jack’s mum was diagnosed with brain cancer. It all came at once. I remember when Jake posted in the group chat, like, ‘Lads, this just happened,’ and two weeks later Jack called me, and I said, ‘What on earth is going on?’

“We were about to go back to America, everything was happening, and we were writing at the same time. After we came back, sadly Jack’s mum passed away. I remember the whole time, you and I were talking. I was always checking in, because as guys, we tend to say, ‘Yeah, I’m alright,’ but it’s like no, let’s really talk about it.

“I said, ‘Write down your feelings. How would you feel about making the album about this?’ We’d call every couple of days, and you’d add to this shared document with all your feelings. I’d take those raw thoughts and put them into structure, then morph them into lyrics. A couple of times in the studio it really hit, I wasn’t sure if some of it was too deep. I recorded a couple of versions and didn’t tell anyone at first. I called you, asked how you felt about the lines. You said you loved it — that it was exactly what you wanted to put out into the world.

“So in a way, I became your mouthpiece for this record and for the pain you guys shared. Thankfully, your mum’s alright, and we gave your mum, whom I knew well, the best send-off we possibly could. I’ve talked a lot, but this is the first time I’ve said some of this in front of the guys. It’s such an important record.”

Jack: “As Steve was saying, it was cathartic for all of us. Especially in the studio, some vocal parts took a while because of the emotion behind them. There’s a section at the end of A Love You Left Behind, and Steve had to go to a meeting. I was in the booth with Justin, and he asked, ‘You alright?’ I just cried in the booth and said, ‘Yeah… just keep going.’

“Those moments — they’re when we poured the pain into the music. You can hear and feel it. That emotion is the core of the record.”

Obviously, you need those experiences to create something like this. One of the songs is Still Haunted which stood out the most to me. .

There’s a real sense of vulnerability in it. Was that intentional? And what was the silhouette a reference to, if you’re able to share?

Stephen: “Yeah, Still Haunted is about one of my closest friends and his partner, who died by suicide. I remember the day it happened he called me the next day and said, “I need to tell you… She’s taken her life.” I went over immediately.

“It’s been a long, difficult process for him. Even three years later, until about six months ago, she was still the background on his phone. He just couldn’t let her go. I remember saying to him, “Are you going to be haunted by this forever?” And that stuck with me, it felt heavy, but real.

“I started writing from that moment, and I asked him if he was okay with me documenting his experience through a song. He said, “Yeah… I don’t know how I’ll feel at the time, but go ahead.” So I kept him updated as I wrote. The lyrics detail what he went through, something that’s often overlooked when someone dies by suicide.

“It shows the mental and emotional process he went through as he tried to recover. That song is hard for me to sing. It’s personal. I saw everything he went through, and I’ve lost other friends that way, too. I know I’m not the only one, so many people go through this. I hope it helps others heal or feel seen in their own grief.

“It’s a hard topic, but an important one.”

And the album title This Pain Will Serve You. What does that mean to you now, after everything you’ve poured into it and after releasing it?

Stephen: “Well… the guys didn’t actually get a say in the album title
[laughter] I just called them one day and said, ‘I’ve got a title.’ I went to each of them individually and told them: This Pain Will Serve You. And they all said, “That’s wicked… but what does it mean?”

“For me, it means everything we go through, everything that hurts. can either break us or shape us. And as a band, our message is always: there is hope on the other side.

“If you can just make it through the darkest part, it will get better. And if you let it, that pain can make you stronger. These are sad songs about sad situations, but there’s growth on the other side.

“Watching these two (Jack and Jacob) go through what they went through with their mums… the strength they showed was unbelievable. They were their families’ rocks. I couldn’t be prouder of them.

“And that’s what this album is about: taking that pain and choosing to build from it, not letting it smother you. Things can and will get better.”

Jacob: “Yeah, I just want to add, it’s also really nice to finally have an album title with fewer syllables. [laughter] Our band name is already long enough. I’m working on getting Steve to eventually title an album with just one word! Maybe next time.”

[laughs] One step at a time.

And one last thing on the subject matter of the album, do you think it’s important that more bands talk about these sorts of subject matters?

Stephen: “Absolutely. Like, don’t get me wrong, I love ignorant metal. I love caveman grunting and barking. But for me, the longevity of a song is in the lyrics, in what resonates with me. So yeah, I think we do need to speak more about these things. There are a lot of pissed-off bands, and it’s like, “Okay, you’re angry, but what are you going to do about it?” Right now, it’s just shouting. I need resolution. Personally, that’s what I connect with. So yes, I do think it should be talked about more.”

Jack: “Yeah, I agree with Steve. I think it’s something people, especially men, really need to talk about more. We’ve spent a lot of time not talking about issues and things going on. That applies to everyone, not just men. Everyone should feel like they’re not dealing with experiences alone. When bands write about these things, others can hear that and go, “Actually, someone else has gone through exactly what I’m going through.

“Maybe they’ll feel like, ‘I’m going to be okay. I can reach out.’ I’ve spoken to people recently whose family members have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Because I went through that with my mum, I’ve been able to pass on those experiences. People know I’m open to talking about it, same with the rest of the guys. That openness creates opportunities to share and say, ‘Yeah, it sucks, but you’re not alone. Talk about it.’ So, yes. A big yes.”

Looking more at the production side, you mentioned working with Justin Hill and Lance Prenc. How was that? What did each of them bring to the table?

Stephen: “We worked with Justin on Punishing Myself Before God Does, and that just skyrocketed. He really pushed us vocally, Jake and I especially, to reach melodies and build confidence in what we had. It was always there, but this time I came to Justin like, “This is what I want, and here’s how we’re going to get there.” And he was all in. It took things to the next level.

“We’d have whole days where we didn’t even sing, just focused on production, layering, and making things sound more modern. Not just raw elements, but thick, full sound. And when I thought about who’s putting out the best modern metal mixes, Lance was it. He’s working with Polaris, Thornhill, Diamond Construct… all top of their game. So, yeah, it was obvious. He was the next step up.”

Jacob: “I can’t remember who said it earlier, but it’s about building a team and sticking with it. On Punishing, we self-recorded guitars, but this time we went to Jigsaw Audio. We just gel so well, shout out to Jigsaw. I don’t think we’re moving from this group unless someone offers something we can’t refuse. But yeah, Lance’s mix is massive. From Alpha Wolf to Polaris, hard to top that.”

Jack: “Yeah, I think we’ve really grown in terms of not being possessive over parts or lyrics or song concepts. With older albums, it was more, “This is my part,” or “This is how it should stay.” Now, no idea is a stupid idea, it either works or it doesn’t. In the studio, especially vocally, working with Justin again pushed us way beyond what we thought we could do.

“Like, I asked, ‘Can I chuck some falsetto on this?’ And Justin’s like, ‘Let’s find the note.’ Next thing you know, we’re nailing it and wondering where that even came from. And then the tools, we’re used to saying, “Right, this was the idea,” and letting it evolve. Like ‘Noble Bloom’, written early last year, was a different concept back then. We ended up working on it with Chris Wiseman from Currents, and it’s a completely different beast now.”

You mentioned some big names there. You’re now part of that new wave of metalcore artists shaping British metal. How does that feel?

Stephen: “I think you’re bigging us up a bit much, but thank you. I appreciate it. Personally, I still see a lot of growth ahead for us. I know we’re in a blessed position, doing a lot of cool things. But it’s hard to sit and reflect, I’m always thinking, ‘What’s next?’ Like, in ten days we’re off to the US for a headline run. If you’d told me a year ago we’d have a third album out, a million streams in two weeks, and be doing that, I’d be floored. But now I’m like, okay, what’s next?”

Sebastian: “Yeah, where do we go from here? How do we elevate this? But also, you’ve got to bask in it. Tonight’s our first sold-out London headline show. That’s incredible. I’ll let the others speak for themselves, but yeah, I’m very proud of us.”

Jacob: “I just want to play gigs. I’ve got nothing else to add.”

Jack: “First off, thank you. It’s humbling to even be considered in that conversation. I think later, when I’m on stage, it’ll hit me. My brain’s still processing.”

Sebastian: “I think I’m the only one trying to rein everyone in and say, ‘Be in the moment more.’ Especially with this album, I’ve tried to take my own advice. We’ve done so much already, so many tours, played with bands we’ve loved forever. It’s easy to forget. So yeah, tonight, talking about this now, in this little circle, I’m really going to soak it in. It’s amazing.”

Back to the record, there are a lot of collaborations on there. How did those come together?

Stephen: “That was all me, yeah. I was determined. We’ve got amazing peers around us, people we’ve always wanted to make music with. And I thought, why not?”

“Midnight Sun with Sarea, we almost toured with them in Ukraine in 2019 and got so close. We tried touring again, but then COVID hit. So I thought, let’s do a song instead.

“Then we toured the US with Convictions. I thought it’d be cool to drop a single with them before our next US tour. That got my brain ticking: who else do we love? Who do we respect? War of Ages, for example, they’re on our label. I’ve listened to them since I was 15. Having Leroy on the record was surreal.

“Same with HolyName, we flew to Germany to see them play. When they heard we were coming, they asked me to sing with them. Before I went on stage, Trevor said, ‘We should do something together.’ I had a song for him the next week.

“So yeah, some of it was serendipitous, but a lot of it was me hunting people down. Like Charlie from Black Coast, we toured the UK with them and I love his voice. Probably one of the best live bands I’ve seen. I thought, ‘Why aren’t more people talking about them?’ So we put him on a song.

“Honestly, I wish bands did it more. I discover so much music through collabs. Pop’s been doing it for 50, 60 years. Why has metal dragged its heels?

So yeah, it was a labour of love. I remember texting the guys when the final mix came in: ‘Eight collaborations. Seven songs. I’m done.’”

Rounding things off, who are the top three bands you guys would love to either collaborate with or tour with?

Stephen: “Let’s plug it on. “Okay, three each. I’m going to go for Currents, Polaris, and While She Sleeps.”

Jacob: I’m going to go with A Day to Remember, Linkin Park, and I Prevail

Jack: “I don’t know how I would make it work with Bilmuri, but I think that would be really, really fun to do one with him. August Burns Red, still one of my all-time favourite bands and Sabrina Carpenter, just to change it up.”

Sebastian: “So… Electric Callboy, Slipknot, and Bring Me the Horizon.”

What was the first album that got you into this alt music, and the first one you bought?

Stephen: “The first album I ever bought was Destiny’s Child – Survivor. And then I went straight to The Offspring. But the one that got me into this was It was Linkin Park – Hybrid Theory. That’s probably ubiquitous, but the one where I was like, ‘I’m a nu-metal kid’, I remember getting into proper metal and hiding it from everyone, was Trivium – Ascendancy.”

Jacob: “Just to differ it a bit, the first CD ever was Crazy Frog. Apart from Hybrid Theory, I’d probably say Limp Bizkit – Significant Other. That really tipped me into metal. That and obviously Trivium, but I can’t say that now.”

Jack: “Please see Steve’s answers for mine, because they’re exactly the same.”

Sebastian: “I think we branched off the question a bit, but my first album was Green Day – American Idiot. Then I was on a family holiday, went to the local HMV, and bought Linkin Park – Minutes to Midnight. And that was it for me.”

Finally, what’s next for Confessions of a Traitor in 2025?

Stephen: “We’re off to the Netherlands next weekend to headline Galluïs Fest. And then on the 12th of June, we’re off to the States to do 22 dates in 26 days across, I think, 17 states. We go from one side of the country to the other—we do a big old circle. And yeah, we’re driving ourselves. It’ll be in a mum’s sports wagon. Because that’s how we tour.”

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“This Pain Will Serve You” is out now via Facedown Records. Catch them on tour across the US this June.