You have to make sure that your assets and your back is protected before you make any big decisions.

So you have to just be really careful and make sure that when a deal comes along, that it's like the right deal for you... not necessarily the most money, because you have to pay the record label that back in like record sales and stuff.

A lot of big labels will just sign bands like a write off.

We knew that we wanted to play heavy music but I hadn't gotten into melody and things like that.

Actually, we got signed in November of 2000 with Dreamworks which is the most amazing label. We have friends on other labels and though we are not selling millions of records, yet, they treat us with tons of respect and give us some very good guidance.

Whether you like another bands music or not you never know who is going to take you out on tour or who you are going to be friends with and that is just something that is important to us.

You don't want the biggest record deal as far as money goes, you just want to make sure that the people at the label really support your band and the music and stuff.