Chiodos’ debut album, All’s Well That Ends Well, made an immediate impact on the scene when it was released on July 26, 2005. The post-hardcore Michiganders were quickly charting, amassing the kind of dedicated fanbase that tearfully screams their own songs back to them, word by word.
Twenty years later, like many bands, there’s a slew of lineup changes and a full-blown breakup under Chiodos’ belt. In 2016, frontman Craig Owens called it: the 15-year-old band came to an end, much to fans’ dismay. But appropriately, at last year’s When We Were Young Festival, Owens would helm its renaissance — alone. Or rather, flanked by a different set of faces.
Read more: Fan poll: 5 best post-hardcore vocalists of all time
Just weeks later, Chiodos announced a tour, celebrating two decades of that beloved, seminal album, All’s Well That Ends Well — as well as a rerecording of the LP featuring his backing band, a group made up of artists from Owens’ solo project and Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows. There’s no denying it’s a new way of serving up nostalgia.
For his very first interview, speaking to Chiodos as it stands in 2025, Owens sat down with AltPress.
@drewfromcharlotte
When you think back to 2005, what was the vision you had going into All’s Well That Ends Well?
The vision for All’s Well That Ends Well was to make something that blended chaos and melody without a rule book. We had all these bands that we drew influence from that we would hear on mp3.com and PureVolume, and we wanted to capture that same feeling of what listening to them gave us.
At the time, what did you think the impact, if any, of the record would be? How do you think you’d have reacted if someone told you it would essentially be canonized in the emo/post-hardcore scene?
I would’ve laughed at the “canon” talk. As much as it doesn’t seem like it, I have never been fully comfortable in that kind of spotlight. I was just a kid who wanted to make music with my friends, and I’m incredibly blessed that it’s taken me this far. Some days, I still can’t believe it, and I will always remain grateful.
What’s a memory from the writing or recording sessions that still sticks with you 20 years later?
I’ll never forget how nervous I was, absolutely terrified. This was our first time in a professional studio and working with an outside producer. We had created everything up to that point in a bedroom. I remember going into the studio, and even though I had sung these songs hundreds of times in preparation, I specifically remember how hard I sang. It felt different, like I was truly pouring out these feelings for the first time. It was a lot to take in, and I still use that feeling as a reference whenever it comes time to record vocals for Chiodos as a baseline. I actually still have some of the original lyric sheets from those sessions written on notebook paper in my home studio as a reminder.
If you could give one piece of advice to your 2005 self, what would you say? If you were to give advice to a musician at that stage, now, in their career, what would you say?
First off, I would just say one simple thing — do it. There will be so many ups and downs on your journey, and it’s OK to feel all of them. Be proud of every moment. You are who you are because of everything that happens, both positive and negative.
Have the songs and lyrics taken on new meaning over time for you? What’s it like singing them now? I know some artists struggle to relate to music they wrote so young.
Honestly, it changes every night, just as every night has its ebbs and flows. The lyrics take shape of whatever pain I’m feeling, just like they always have. Sometimes they’re like a warm blanket; sometimes they’re a brick to the teeth.
What inspired the decision to rerecord the album rather than just reissue it?
More than anything, it was exciting to be able to honor the album with a current take, both sonically and in a performance aspect. To capture how it’s actually played today, and preserve it in this moment in time, 20 years later. To be able to emphasize all the little things that made the album so special and bring them back to the surface in a new light.
What do you think you brought to the tracks this time around?
This time around came with more control and dynamics. A cleaner ability to tell the stories woven into the tracks. Tighter transitions, a stronger and more accurate pitch, and better tones overall. Obviously, technology has improved all across the board in the last 20 years. Oh, and the “WOOH” of course. That was incredibly important.
Is there a track that consistently gets the strongest reaction? Why do you think?
“Baby, You Wouldn’t Last A Minute On The Creek” absolutely crushes every time. It’s a song about leaving unhealthy relationships and provides this sense of catharsis in such a bite-sized portion that refuses to be understated. This is why it still connects over generations.
Looking back, which artists really influenced your band and this album? Similarly, how do you feel Chiodos and this album influenced the scene and bands that came after you?
Growing up performing in honors choirs, training and playing classical music, and theater. We were all just a bunch of band dorks, really. We were also heavily influenced by bands like Queen, At The Drive-In, and Saves The Day. I think if we influenced anything, we gave all the kids who were just like us permission to go crazy and to write whatever they felt. Throw a string section in there. Write about pirates. Don’t play to click if you don’t want to. Get sassy with it. Go off-key. Don’t tune your guitars. Who cares? It’s fun.
@drewfromcharlotte
What do you think it is about All’s Well That Ends Well that still resonates two decades later?
The vulnerability in the original recordings feels very human and unfiltered. They captured the sounds of the time, and it was like lightning in a bottle. Above all, the songs slap and were carved out over time in live spaces for live spaces, which I believe helps them resonate with people in the same ways today. The songs are meant to be felt, not just heard.
The second leg of the anniversary tour is coming up — can you give us a hint at what fans can expect?
They can expect what we have proven on the last tour, and all of our festival performances in the last year. No matter what, it’s gonna be a great show. We have so much fun on that stage playing for everyone, and these songs genuinely only get better. Every person involved, whether that’s onstage or behind the curtain, is there because they want to be and because they believe in what we’re all doing, and I think that translates well into the performance and connects us to the fanbase in a way that is undeniable.
Revisiting this album, you chose to push forward into new territory, with a new lineup. Can you touch on that decision process?
To me, it was incredibly important to have people involved who were not only masters of their craft but also people who actually wanted to be there. People who made the active choice to show up and show out no matter what. I’m incredibly honored to be surrounded by such talented musicians, and I’m even more honored to call them my friends.
What does the future hold for Chiodos?
Honestly, who really knows? We’ve been hard at work in the studio for a while now, writing new music, and it’s exhilarating. We’ve got some great tours and festivals coming up, and there are talks of us heading back overseas sometime soon. The future is wide open, and we’re just getting started.
