All That Remains’ Phil Labonte Says Society Is Failing Men And Boys, Calls Therapy An Ineffective Fix For Men

All That Remains vocalist Phil Labonte has been outspoken about politics for much of his career, and in recent years he has increasingly aligned himself with conservative viewpoints. He recently revisited his concerns about what he sees as a growing crisis affecting men and boys in modern society.

Labonte previously argued in a 2024 op-ed that society has been failing men and boys, pointing to issues such as the lack of father figures, fewer male-focused spaces, and declining educational engagement among young men. In a recent appearance on Today’s Boondoggle Podcast, he expanded on those views and said he believes too many men are being pushed away from traditional roles and support systems.

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He claimed that men have been portrayed negatively in media and culture for decades, arguing that fathers remain just as important as mothers in raising a family. Labonte also pointed to rising divorce rates, lower college attendance among young men, and what he described as a growing trend of men disengaging from relationships, work, and social life.

“Look, for the better part of the past three decades, men have been told that they are the problem. You saw it in the ’90s when every single sitcom had the doofy husband, and the woman was the smart one, and thank God for her because without her, that poor schlub would just run his life into the ground. And that was the standard kind of thing. And it’s been like that. And that’s not the way that reality is. Raising a family is a team effort. Mothers are super important, but fathers are super important too.”

According to Labonte, many young men are turning to video games, marijuana, and isolation instead of pursuing goals or building purpose. He also connected those concerns to broader social trends, including mental health struggles and declining birth rates, saying the situation reflects larger problems in society.

“Young men are not going to college. They’re not graduating college. They’re checking out of society. They’re deciding that it’s not worth it to try and find a girlfriend. Most kids nowadays — I don’t know the numbers — but most kids have not gone on a date. There’s not nearly as many young men and young women getting together that are dating. Gen Z is the least sexually active generation in a long time. You see abortion is at an all-time high. All of these things are directly downstream from feminism and the massive influence that the left and feminist ideas have on society.”

Labonte further argued that therapy is not the answer for most men, saying men tend to solve problems through action rather than conversation. In his view, men need meaningful work, goals, and time spent with other men doing constructive activities.

“The idea that men can go to therapy and that’s gonna solve their problems is ridiculous. Therapy is for women. Men don’t solve their problems by talking. Men solve their problems through action. So men should be doing things with other men, like building things, going out and fixing cars, whatever it is. But those kind of activities are what will help a man feel accomplished, help a man feel like he’s got purpose.”

He said that fixing cars, building things, and making progress toward achievable goals are more effective ways to build confidence and purpose.

“Just going and talking to a therapist, that’s not what fixes men. That’s not what fixes men at all. Men need goals that are achievable, and they need to make progress to those goals. That kind of stuff is what will help a man feel empowered, feel good about himself. That’s the kind of stuff that men need. And the idea that all of society is telling men, ‘Oh, you should be more like women,’ or, ‘You should go to therapy,’ none of these things help men.”

Labonte also addressed his political shift, saying he now considers himself an independent rather than a libertarian.

“Libertarians have lost their way. There’s a lot of ideas that libertarians have that I like, but I think that libertarianism as a political vehicle is silly. The idea that you’re gonna get into power and then even dismantle the government is ridiculous. And the idea that you’re gonna get into power and then leave people alone, that’s ridiculous, too. If there is power available, someone is going to use that power. So your best bet is to get into government and use the power to push forward an agenda that is suitable to you and the people that elected you into the office.”

He added that he is generally right-leaning, describing himself as a right-winger.

“I did call myself a libertarian for a while, but I think the reality of politics and the reality of the execution of power when it’s given to you, I think that’s changed my opinion, so I just call myself an independent now. I am generally right wing, though. It’s safe to say that I’m a right-winger.”

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