Philip Labonte

Philip Steven Labonte (born April 15, 1975) is an American singer, best known as the lead singer of the metalcore band All That Remains. He is the former lead vocalist for Shadows Fall, was the touring vocalist for Killswitch Engage in early 2010, and filled in for Five Finger Death Punch vocalist Ivan Moody in late 2016.^[1][2]

Philip Labonte
Labonte performing at Rock im Park in 2015
Background information
Birth name	Philip Steven Labonte
Born	(1975-04-15) April 15, 1975 (age 50)
Origin	Chicopee, Massachusetts, U.S.
Genres	Melodic metalcore hard rock heavy metal melodic death metal
Occupations	Singer songwriter
Years active	1995–present
Member of	All That Remains
Formerly of	Shadows Fall

History

In the mid-1990s, Labonte was in a death metal band called Perpetual Doom, with its members being teenagers at the time. The original vocalist of Perpetual Doom was Scott Estes; Labonte, however, took over the vocal position in 1993 after Estes joined the United States Marine Corps (USMC), with Labonte also playing the guitar. In August 1993, Labonte left to join the USMC and Perpetual Doom remained inactive for nine months in his absence. In June 1994, upon Labonte's return, Perpetual Doom resumed making music, and in 1995 they recorded and released a seven-track demo called "Sorrow's End".^[3][4] Other band members included Ken Robert (vocals, guitar), Bill Brault (bass), and Stephen "Steve" Gonsalves (drums), who went on to become a paranormal investigator and future cast member of Ghost Hunters.

Labonte left Perpetual Doom to join the melodic death metal band Shadows Fall. His new bandmates asked him to refrain from playing guitar, but he served as Shadows Fall's lead vocalist from 1996 to 1998. The band's debut record, Somber Eyes to the Sky, was released in 1997 through Lifeless Records, a label owned by Shadows Fall guitarist Matt Bachand. Labonte was asked to leave Shadows Fall due to "musical differences"^[5] and was replaced with current vocalist Brian Fair, leaving Somber Eyes to the Sky as the only Shadows Fall record with Labonte on vocals.

In 1998, Labonte formed All That Remains as a side project. After he left Shadows Fall, All That Remains became his main priority. Labonte has been the vocalist of All That Remains for it’s entire 20+ year run. Their debut record, Behind Silence and Solitude, was released in 2002 through Prosthetic Records/Razor & Tie, and eight more albums have followed. Since then the band has become one of the more notable acts within the American heavy metal scene.^[6] In 2010, Labonte filled in as Killswitch Engage's vocalist during the band's tour with The Devil Wears Prada and Dark Tranquillity, replacing lead singer Howard Jones.

In March 2011, Labonte appeared on CNN in an interview where he discussed his experiences during the 2011 earthquake in Japan. All That Remains was playing a concert in Osaka, Japan, nearly 800 miles from the site of the earthquake, when the earthquake began.

In 2012 Labonte visited service members aboard a marine corps base in Lejeune.^[7]

Labonte and All that remains released 4 more studio albums from 2012 to 2018. Then taking a 7 hiatus from making new music before eventually releasing their newest album AntiFagile on January 31st 2025.^[8]

Influences

Labonte has cited Cannibal Corpse, Carcass, Grave,^[9] Metallica, Iron Maiden, Pantera, and many 1980s hair metal bands^[10] as influences. He has expressed fondness of artists both within and outside the heavy metal genre, stating "I fell in love with the whole glam world. And then like death metal too, Cannibal Corpse ... it's very wide range of what people like, you know, Justin Timberlake ... all that stuff."^[10] Other non-metal influences he has cited include Sarah McLachlan, Garth Brooks,^[9] Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Taylor Swift,^[11] Carly Rae Jepsen, Fall Out Boy, and Skrillex.^[12]

Political views

Labonte has stated that he is a libertarian.^[13] He expressed his support for gun rights,^[14] cannabis legalization and criminal justice reform.^[15] He has also advocated cutting the size of the military and was critical of U.S. intervention overseas and military bases in the Middle East; he stated: "You can be pro-military and not be pro-imperialism. You can be pro-military and pro-national events and still think that we have too many bases in foreign countries that we just don't need."^[16]

He supported Republican presidential candidates Ron Paul in 2012,^[17] and Rand Paul in 2016.^[18] In 2020, he supported Libertarian nominee Jo Jorgensen for the presidential election, while also expressing his detest for the party's leadership.^[19][20]

Labonte moved to New Hampshire to join the libertarian movement taking place in the state.^[21]

In 2023, Labonte became a regular recurring guest on Tim Pool's nightly political podcast, Timcast IRL.^[22]

In 2018, Labonte said that he was an atheist,^[23] but has since stated in tweets and Timcast IRL that he is an agnostic.^[24][25][26]

Labonte has been vocal about his support for Donald Trump towards the 2024 United States presidential election. In response to photos taken of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, Labonte tweeted, "FUCK YES! put this man in office and DESTROY THE LEFT." ^{[27][better source needed]}

Discography

Labonte in 2009

With Perpetual Doom

• Sorrow's End (Demo) (1995)

With Shadows Fall

• To Ashes (EP) (1997)
• Somber Eyes to the Sky (1997)

All That Remains

Main article: All That Remains discography

• Behind Silence and Solitude (2002)
• This Darkened Heart (2004)
• The Fall of Ideals (2006)
• Overcome (2008)
• For We Are Many (2010)
• A War You Cannot Win (2012)
• The Order of Things (2015)
• Madness (2017)
• Victim of the New Disease (2018)
• Antifragile (2025)

Guest appearances

• Killswitch Engage – "Self Revolution", "To the Sons of Man", "Hope Is...", "Irreversal (re-recorded)"
• Ligeia – "Makin' Love to a Murderer"
• Flatlined – "Parallel Reflections"
• The Autumn Offering – "Homecoming"
• The Acacia Strain – "Predator; Never Prey"
• Tarja Turunen – "Dark Star"
• Unearth – "Grave of Opportunity" (music video)
• Timcast – "Coming Home"
• Jasta – "Something You Should Know"
• Nik Nocturnal – "Scarlet"

Achievements

Labonte and his band All that Remains have become a staple of the Metalcore genre. With their album Fall of Ideals being celebrated as a metal core classic as well as being described as genre defining.^[28] Their hit “Two Weeks” was certified Platinum, while “What If I Was Nothing” and their cover of Garth Brooks' “The Thunder Rolls” have achieved Gold status.^[29]

In 2007 the band was nominated for Outstanding Metal/Hardcore band of the year by the Boston Music awards. In 2009 the band was nominated at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods awards for best breakthrough artist.

In 2010 the band’s a-claimed album Overcome won best Metal/Hardcore album at the Independent music awards.^[30]