Jonathan Donais

Prior to co-founding Shadows Fall with fellow guitarist Matt Bachand in 1996,{{Cite web |date=April 5, 2000 |title=Shadows Fall Interview |url=http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewshadows.html |access-date=May 10, 2012 |website=metalupdate.com}} Donais was a member of metalcore band Aftershock from 1993 to 1997,{{Cite web |title=Jonathan Donais |url=https://www.metalkingdom.net/band/jonathan-donais-27370 |access-date=May 11, 2023 |website=Metal Kingdom |language=en}} which morphed into Killswitch Engage, although after his departure.{{Cite web |date=November 14, 2013 |title=THROWBACK THURSDAY – AFTERSHOCK {{!}} The Circle Pit |url=https://www.thecirclepit.com/2013/11/throwback-thursday-aftershock |access-date=May 11, 2023 |website=www.thecirclepit.com |language=en-US}} Shadows Fall's first line-up included Donais and Bachand alongside Damien McPherson (vocals), Mark Laliberte (bass), and David Germain (drums). By late 1996, the band recorded and released a demo titled Mourning a Dead World, of which only about 200 copies were produced. It consisted of the songs Lifeless, Suffer the Season, Fleshold, Forever Lost, A Souls Salvation, and Deadworld. McPherson decided to leave the band, and was replaced by Philip Labonte in 1997. Around the same time, bass guitarist Paul Romanko, formerly of the hardcore band Pushbutton Warfare, was recruited as a permanent replacement for Laliberte, who had originally joined on a temporary basis.{{Cite web |title=Shadows Fall 'The rebel becomes the next oppressor |url=http://www.hardtimes.ca/shadowsfall10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100926131059/http://www.hardtimes.ca/shadowsfall10 |archive-date=September 26, 2010 |access-date=May 10, 2012 |website=Hardtimes.ca}} Now with a more solid lineup, the band released its first EP, To Ashes, with Aftershock member Adam Dutkiewicz playing as a session drummer. The band's name, according to Bachand, comes from the title of a comic book published in the early 1990s.{{cite web |author=Epstien, Daniel Robert |title=Shadows Fall interview |url=http://www.ugo.com/ugo/html/article/?id=17152 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127184013/http://www.ugo.com/ugo/html/article/?id=17152 |archive-date=January 27, 2008 |access-date=January 5, 2008 |publisher=Ugo.com}}

Shadows Fall went on hiatus in Summer 2015 after completing "farewell" tours in Europe and North America.{{cite web |date=August 25, 2014 |title=Shadows Fall To Embark on Final European, North American Tours |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/shadows-fall-to-embark-on-final-european-north-american-tours/ |access-date=December 23, 2015 |website=Blabbermouth.net}}{{cite web |date=August 28, 2015 |title=Video: SHADOWS FALL Performs At Rhode Island's BIG KAHUNA Festival |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/video-shadows-fall-performs-at-rhode-islands-big-kahuna-festival/ |access-date=January 3, 2022 |publisher=Blabbermouth.net}}

On June 22, 2021, vocalist Brian Fair confirmed that Shadows Fall were reuniting for their first show in over half a decade at the Worcester Palladium on December 18. Supporting acts for this show were Unearth, Darkest Hour, Within the Ruins, Sworn Enemy and Carnivora.{{cite web |date=June 22, 2021 |title=SHADOWS FALL Announces December 2021 Reunion Show |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/shadows-fall-announces-december-2021-reunion-show/ |access-date=June 22, 2021 |publisher=Blabbermouth.net}} Flair also said that the band could release new music.{{Cite web |title=Episode 94: A Conversation with Brian Fair of Shadows Fall/Overcast |url=https://www.podioslave.com/episode-94-a-conversation-with-brian-fair-of-shadows-fallovercast/ |access-date=May 11, 2023 |website=Podioslave Podcast |language=en}}

Prior to Shadow Falls going on hiatus, Donais was announced, on January 11, 2013, to be joining thrash metal legends Anthrax on their Metal Alliance Tour,{{cite web |date=January 11, 2013 |title=Shadows Fall's Jon Donais to Join Anthrax on Upcoming Tour Dates - Hard Rock & Heavy Metal News | Music Videos |Golden Gods Awards |url=http://www.revolvermag.com/news/shadows-falls-jon-donais-to-join-anthrax-on-upcoming-tour-dates.html |access-date=December 23, 2015 |website=revolvermag.com}} replacing Rob Caggiano who had left the band to join Volbeat.{{cite news |date=January 4, 2013 |title=Guitarist Rob Caggiano Quits Anthrax |work=Blabbermouth.net |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/guitarist-rob-caggiano-quits-anthrax/ |access-date=January 4, 2012}} Donais made his live debut with Anthrax in Australia without a single rehearsal with the band. "I jammed with Scott [Ian, guitarist] a little bit, but it was, 'Here. Learn these songs and be ready,'" he recalled. "Oh. God. That first show — I was shaking."{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=May 13, 2021 |title=JONATHAN DONAIS: How I Landed ANTHRAX Gig |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/jonathan-donais-how-i-landed-anthrax-gig/ |access-date=May 11, 2023 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}} Donais was originally a touring member until August 13, 2013.{{cite web |last=Fanelli |first=Damian |date=August 14, 2013 |title=Anthrax Reveal New Guitarist: Jon Donais of Shadows Fall |url=http://www.guitarworld.com/anthrax-reveal-new-guitarist-jon-donais-shadows-fall |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630151644/http://www.guitarworld.com/anthrax-reveal-new-guitarist-jon-donais-shadows-fall |archive-date=June 30, 2015 |access-date=August 24, 2013 |work=Guitar World}} The first Anthrax release that Donais appeared on was Chile on Hell live album and video in 2014, which was from a concert recorded at the Teatro Caupolican in Santiago, Chile, on May 10, 2013.{{Cite web |last=Kennelty |first=Greg |title=Watch ANTHRAX Play Entire 2013 Chile On Hell Show |url=https://metalinjection.net/video/watch-anthrax-play-entire-2013-chile-on-hell-show |access-date=May 11, 2023 |website=Metal Injection |date=May 5, 2020 |language=en-US}} Donais appeared on the bands following studio album For All Kings in 2016.

File:Anthrax-Rock im Park 2014 by 2eight DSC8081.jpg performing with Anthrax in 2014]]

According to Donais, his predecessor in Anthrax, Rob Caggiano, hooked him up with his current gig. "'Cause he knew he was gonna leave, and he wanted to make sure that they were all set." Donais' appearance with the band has been an overall positive experience for the band with bassist Frank Bello saying: "I think Jon has brought a great energy to the band. He stepped up and then some on this record." Scott Ian said, "Jon's approach towards lead guitar playing, he's more of a guy who's looking to construct something that makes sense and helps a song rather than the 45 seconds for him to be showing off how many notes he can play in X amount of measures." Donais has said that it was "a dream come true! I'm playing for a band that have been a huge influence for me.".{{Cite web |last=Weaver |first=James |date=February 14, 2016 |title=INTERVIEW: Jonathan Donais - Anthrax |url=https://distortedsoundmag.com/interview-jonathan-donais-anthrax/ |access-date=May 11, 2023 |website=Distorted Sound Magazine |language=en-GB}}

Donais is set to appear on the band's next studio album, expected to be released in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Hadusek |first=Jon |date=May 1, 2023 |title=Anthrax are in the studio recording their new album |url=https://consequence.net/2023/05/antrhax-recording-new-album/ |access-date=May 11, 2023 |website=Consequence |language=en-US}} He has stated that he is not involved in the band's songwriting process saying, "Nope. Nope. Nope. All bands work different, man. They have a way that's worked, and they've [had a] strong 40-year career. So, if it's not broken, don't mess with it."{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=November 2, 2021 |title=ANTHRAX's JONATHAN DONAIS Hasn't Heard Any Of Band's New Music, Says He Isn't Involved In Songwriting Process |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/anthraxs-jonathan-donais-hasnt-heard-any-of-bands-new-music-says-he-isnt-involved-in-songwriting-process/ |access-date=May 11, 2023 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}}

Donais is also a member of supergroup Living Wreckage which is composed of Donais, vocalist Jeff Gard (Death Ray Vision), guitarist Matt LeBreton (Downpour), bassist Matt Bachand (Shadows Fall, Act of Defiance) and drummer Jon Morency (Let Us Prey),{{Cite web |last=BraveWords |title=JON DONAIS Talks LIVING WRECKAGE, ANTHRAX, SHADOWS FALL And Love Of Heavy Metal: "I Fu***ng Love It" |url=https://bravewords.com/features/jon-donais-talks-living-wreckage-anthrax-shadows-fall-and-love-of-heavy-metal-i-fu-ng-love-it |access-date=May 11, 2023 |website=bravewords.com |language=en}} the band came about during COVID-19 pandemic and was composed of musicians who lived near each other so "we could get in the basement once a week and just do it the old school way of, you know, having some beers, jammin and just having fun with friends. And that's what it is. We're all friends from the same area. We're in the same scene. So things fell together really quickly and Matt LeBreton, the other guitar player, he writes a lot too. So between the both of us songs are coming out left and right pretty fast." The bands music is a cross between thrash metal and arena rock, like "Skid Row, Tesla, the mainstream MTV stuff that was in the eighties. And then also nineties metal and rock. Bands like Sepultura, Nevermore and Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, stuff like that."

Donais main influences are guitarists Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society) and Dimebag Darrell (Pantera) (both of which he has toured with),{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Amy |year=2009 |title=Jon Donais Of Shadows Fall: 'I Think Everybody Was Feeling Angry' |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/jon_donais_of_shadows_fall_i_think_everybody_was_feeling_angry.html |access-date=May 11, 2023 |website=www.ultimate-guitar.com |language=en}} Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne), James Hetfield (Metallica), Warren DeMartini (Ratt), John Sykes (Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake) and Alex Skolnick (Testament).{{Cite web |title=Jonathan Donais |url=https://www.quilterlabs.com//index.php/artists/details/jonathan-donais |access-date=May 11, 2023 |website=Jonathan Donais |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jon Donais Of Shadows Fall: 'I Think Everybody Was Feeling Angry' |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/jon_donais_of_shadows_fall_i_think_everybody_was_feeling_angry.html |access-date=May 11, 2023 |website=www.ultimate-guitar.com |language=en}} Early bands that influenced him include Skid Row, Guns N' Roses, Tesla and Whitesnake. He has also recommended DVD's of the teaching of Paul Gilbert and John Petrucci.{{Cite web |date=June 1, 2009 |title=Practice Tips From: Jon Donais |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/practice-tips-jon-donais |access-date=May 11, 2023 |website=guitarworld |language=en}}

• Two Songs EP (1996){{Cite AV media notes |id=DHP001 |title=Two Songs |others=Aftershock |type=liner notes |year=1996 |publisher=Devils Head Productions, Inc.}}

{{Main|Shadows Fall discography}}

• Chile on Hell (2014)
• For All Kings (2016){{Cite AV media notes |id=27361 39340 |title=For All Kings |year=2017 |type=liner notes |others=Anthrax |publisher=Nuclear Blast Records}}
• Kings Among Scotland (2018){{Cite AV media notes |id=27361 43332 |title=Kings Among Scotland |year=2018 |type=liner notes |others=Anthrax |publisher=Nuclear Blast Records}}
• "Indians / Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" (2019){{Cite AV media notes |type=liner notes |year=2019 |id=PPR 005 |title=Indians / Sabbath Bloody Sabbath |others=Anthrax |publisher=Press Pot Recordings}}
• XL (MCMLXXXI - MMXXI) (2022){{Cite AV media notes |id=66210 |type=liner notes |title=XL (MCMLXXXI - MMXXI) |year=2022 |others=Anthrax |publisher=Nuclear Blast Records}}

• One Foot In The Grave (2021){{Cite web |title=One Foot In The Grave (EP), by Living Wreckage |url=https://livingwreckagemetal.bandcamp.com/album/one-foot-in-the-grave-ep |access-date=May 11, 2023 |website=Living Wreckage on Bandcamp |language=en}}
• Living Wreckage (2022){{Cite web |title=Living Wreckage, by Living Wreckage |url=https://livingwreckagemetal.bandcamp.com/album/living-wreckage |access-date=May 11, 2023 |website=Living Wreckage on Bandcamp |language=en}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{commons category-inline}}

{{Shadows Fall}}

{{Anthrax (American band)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Donais, Jonathan}}

Category:1979 births

Category:American heavy metal guitarists

Category:Anthrax (American band) members

Category:Guitarists from Massachusetts

Category:American lead guitarists

Category:Living people

Category:Entertainers from Northampton, Massachusetts

Category:Shadows Fall members