Cattle Decapitation pour l'album "Karma.Bloody.Karma"

Hello, Cattle Decapitators! I’m Keyser from the French webzine Thrashocore, nice to virtually meet you! Let’s begin this interview with the traditional introduction question. Can you give us a brief history of Cattle Decapitation (10 years spreading the message, happy birthday guys!)?

I hate this question. Our band is almost 10 years old! Haha... We started in the beginning of 97 and signed to Metal Blade in 2002 after releasing 2 albums on 31G. We've been touring almost nonstop for the past 4 years. Haven't been to 3urope yet, hopefully this year!


You started as a goregrind band, then years have passed and things have changed as you play floridian death metal on Humanure. Every record you’ve made shows a different face of Cattle Decapitation. How do you explain that? Is it a need for constant artistic evolution or are you just trying to find yourselves, musically speaking? This time again, Karma.Bloody.Karma, the new album, is different from the previous ones...

Yes we strive to evolve with every recording. Progress is actually the word. Everybody thinks Humanure is dumbed down death metal but I don't think so at all... It just has classic dm production. Karma is drastically different from anything weve done and that's what we were going for. Its not like we're still trying to find our sound or anything... Our sound is based in grind but we're obviously a death metal band. Just really frantic sounding.


To Serve Man and Humanure were good albums but in my opinion, something missed to make them great. Let me tell you that you finally did it! Karma.Bloody.Karma is great! It’s more diversified, more technical, more chaotic, more inspired, more schizophrenic, and definitely darker than ever! It sounds cliché as fuck but the new album’s really your best album so far. I guess you agree with that!

Honestly I didn't expect to hear this. We didn't know what to expect since we took a shot in the dark with this one, but we're very happy with the reception of the new record so far. Everybody is enthused and says "this is the one!" we're very happy about that. To Serve Man is a shitty record, cool songs, but a bad sounding record. I don't know why people bash Humanure. Its not that bad!!! Haha...




What about the writing/recording process for the new album? Again, you worked with another producer, Billy Anderson (Mr.Bungle, Swans, Sleep). As far as I know, Billy Anderson’s not familiar with brutal music. So why did you choose him? Anyway, he’s done an incredible job!

He's very schooled in all forms of music. We knew this was going to be a very diverse record and considering he's worked on almost all the MrBungle and Secret Chiefs 3 records and not to mention the fact that he freaked out with multiple YES' when we asked him to do it, we knew he was the guy. The recording was a little rocky but maybe that pressure worked for us instead of against.


You have two newcomers: Kevin “Fetus” Bernier as 2nd guitarist and J.R. Daniels at the drums. Can you introduce them to us? Did they take part in the new album? And by the way, why did drummer Michael Laughlin leave?

ok, we decided against taking Kevin out with us on this tour cause nothing seemed ready yet. JR is just a fill in for this 3 month tour we're doing. Mike left cause he didn't want to tour anymore. We're just glad he was able to finally make a decision on something. He's very indecisive which is one in a million reasons that led us to actually start looking for another drummer even before he left.


Karma.Bloody.Karma features guest appearances by Joe Karam and John Wiese. Can you tell us more about them? On which tracks do they appear and what do they do?

Joey is the keyboardist for the band The Locust. He also sings in that band and I'm very familiar with his voice and there was a part in the song "Total Gore" that was perfect for it. We also had him do keys on that song and another song called "Of Human Pride & Flatulence". Awesome stuff. John is an old friend too and we had him do some really deep ambient stuff and harsh noise for parts. He had short stints in the bands Bastard Noise and Sunn O))).


So Karma.Bloody.Karma. What’s the meaning behind this title? The cover is awesome, I guess it embodies the whole lyrical concept...

That revenge by the elements, the environment and/or the animal kingdom would be right and just. That mankind will eventually pay for its slow erosion of this planet. That's the essence of this album.




Since we’re talking about cover, I have a question about Humanure’s. It’s a gore version of Pink Floyd’s Atom Heart Mother, right? Funny idea!

No, but Wes B. (Wes Benscoter, le dessinateur, Ndt) and I knew people might perceive it that way.


Now let’s talk about the concept behind Cattle Decapitation, which is as important as the music. You’re vegetarians and animal rights supporters. I personally feel close to that, at least with the pro-animals, misanthropic part (actually I eat meat, sorry about that but I think it’s a biological need!). Anyway, you explain all that better than me so can you develop the concept of the band for us?

We're all vegetarians. I think its funny to be such in a music that is the way it is. The lyrics focus on antihuman, proenvironment, death, carnage and misanthropy. Obviously we're fucked up.


What do you do for this cause exactly, besides Cattle Decapitation?

Not much. We live in a very expensive area so theres not a lot of time for volunteer work. Don't believe the hype. Its just fucking death metal.


Is a European tour (including France) planned to promote the new album?

I hope so. We've been waiting patiently for years. This is fucking bullshit. Somebody bring us over... NOW.



Do you know French metal bands? I’m thinking about Gojira in particular. Gojira is an ecologist death metal band whose mentality is close to yours, but in a non-gore and more peaceful way...have you heard of them?

No, haven't heard of them. Sounds interesting. I do like Bands like Dystopia and Carcinogen though, that were more of a mix between us and what you're talking about.


What bands kicked your ass recently? What are your favorite bands, your biggest influences?

Lurker of Chalice (one-man band américain de black/ambient, Ndt) is the best album of last year by far. A lot of USBM. The one man bands beat most shit that's out there.


End of the interview, thank you! Last words are yours!

Thanks! We better be out there this year or we'll kill somebody!!!