Devourment pour la réédition de "Butcher The Weak"

Hi Mike, I’m Keyser from the French webzine Thrashocore, thanks for accepting this interview! You recently signed with Brutal Bands. The news quite surprised me because I thought you wanted to stay independent. So why did you sign with a label, and why with Brutal Bands? How did it happen, I mean who got in touch first, you or BB? I guess a lot of other labels were interested in signing Devourment...

1. Basically when we thought of the idea to re-record Butcher the Weak, we wanted it to get a lot wider distribution and advertising than when we put it out ourselves. We initially didn’t want to go with a label, but it made sense if we found the right one. We were approached and received several offers from labels but the one in particular I was interested in was Brutal Bands. I have always heard good things about their business practices and I was impressed that they seemed to be going for quality and not quantity with their bands. I actually approached them with the idea of re-releasing a new version of Butcher the Weak and they were very excited about it and went out of their way to accomadate us. So we signed a 2 record deal with them and everything is going great with them, we couldn’t be happier.


Why did you decide to re-record “Butcher The Weak” only 6 months after its release? Were you already unsatisfied with it from the day it came out? I mean, if you released something that did not come up to your own expectation, you kind of staked your integrity, you know what I mean? Especially when you think it was one of the most anticipated album in death metal history! Don’t you think you rushed things a little bit? Fortunately, the result was far from bad...

2. There were several things wrong with the first release. The main thing is that we did rush going into the studio. We were so anxious to release a new album and prove that we really were back that in the end, it hurt the final result. The engineering and recording itself was good, we just weren’t as tight as a unit as we are now.We weren’t totally dissatisfied with the first recording, but we knew it could be so much better. It is an extremely important recording for us so we wanted it to be as good as possible.


In my review of the original “Butcher The Weak”, I wrote the production could have been better and the vocals more diversified. These two points were part of the reasons why you re-recorded the album, I’m glad you followed my advice haha!

3. Yeah ha ha. Those things needed to be fixed and we didn’t want to wait for the next album to do it. The end result is a much better album and it really brings the most out of those songs.


The new version is so much better...like I said, the guitars sound huge and there is more variety in your vocals. The drums sound also makes the difference, it’s so powerful! Now we can fully appreciate Eric Park’s incredible drumming!

4. He really is amazing and it shows a lot more on this recording. Everything does. It started to become frustrating listening to the first recording because we knew what we were all capable of. We are very fortunate that we had the opportunity to re-record it and get the album out that we want everyone to hear.



This time, Chris Andrews recorded the bass parts (Ruben Rosas did it for the original version because Chris was not a member yet). Did he bring his personal style, I mean did he change some of the bass parts? By the way, tell him he shouldn’t have cut his hair haha!

5. For sure man. He is an unbelievably talented musician and he definitely brings a lot to the table. He has such a powerful style of playing that’s just perfect for Devourment. It really makes the brutality hit a lot harder. He hits the bass harder than anyone I’ve ever seen.


Ruben was Devourment singer on “Molesting The Decapitated” and you were the bass guitarist. For “Butcher The Weak”, you gave up bass and traded the frontman position with Ruben, who became guitarist and only did some backing vocals. On the re-release, you do all vocals. I really liked Ruben’s growls on the “MTD” album so I wonder why he stopped singing! Can you give me an explanation? And what about you, do you feel comfortable with the frontman role, do you miss playing bass?

6.When we initially re-formed the band, our original singer Wayne [Knupp] was going to do vocals but he had to back out due to some personal obligations. I pretty much thought right off the bat that I would give the vocals a try because I knew the style and I knew I could handle the job.
Ruben just wanted to focus on the guitar and he had faith that I could pull off the vocals. I enjoyed playing bass for the band, but I love being the front man, it’s a blast.


I really enjoy your drawings for Devourment and other bands but I’m not a big fan of the “BTW” cover art. I don’t know why, maybe because of the naked, decapitated guy on “MTD” who still haunts my mind! When I saw the cover for the re-release, I was like wow it’s even worse, seems the original cover was bleached! Where on earth did you get that horrible color?!

7. It is disgusting isn’t it. I chose it because it is an uneasy color to look at, its not pleasant so it makes you feel a bit uneasy. I personally love the artwork, its one of those pieces that you can look at and enjoy for hours. Of course I’m a little biased because its my art but people seem to love it. Im very proud of it.


Now a technical question: how can you manage to do those inhuman vocals? Do you use a specific technique with your throat or something? Do you use vocal effects in the studio or are your vocals 100% natural?

8. I learned from the 2 sickest vocalists in history. Having those guys in my corner gives me an unfair advantage because as far as I’m concerned, Wayne and Ruben invented and mastered that style of singing. Its all about practice and singing from the gut, not the throat and there are no vocal effects at all.


You released an official DVD last year. I couldn’t watch it yet but I read bad reviews about it. What’s your opinion on this product? I know some people regard you as sellouts for releasing a DVD and re-recording the new album. What do you answer them?

9. Well, you can’t please everyone. No matter what there is always going to be someone who talks shit so it doesn’t bother me a bit. As for the DVD, the sound quality was not that good but we our fans wanted to see the footage and they enjoyed the DVD, and that’s who it was made for. And for people who think we sold out by re-recording Butcher the Weak, Ill say this without getting into to much detail. The whole process cost us about $4,500 and the copies we get from Brutal Bands are sold at our shows to help pay for the cost of going on the road, so I assure you, it was not recorded for any financial gain. We wanted the best album possible, simple as that.


You’re going to release another DVD before the end of the year...

10. Yes and everything about it will be greatly improved over the first one. The audio from the live footage is going to be mastered and will have several different camera angles, there is more fan submissions and studio footage from the recording of Butccher the Weak. Hopefully anyone that didn’t like the first one will check this one out.



A new album is in the works. Can you tell us more about it (studio, release date, title, etc)? Will “Deflesh The Abducted” and the Cannibal Corpse cover “The Pick-Axe Murders” be on the tracklist? Will it be the last album for Brutal Bands or the re-release of “BTW” isn’t part of your 2-album deal?

11. Butcher the Weak is a part of the 2 record deal, but I’m sure Brutal Bands and ourselves will be partners for a long time. With all the stuff we just went through with Butcher the Weak, we are in no rush to record any time soon. We want Butcher the Weak to circulate for a while. We learned a valuable lesson about rushing into the studio so for the next album, we will take our time. Oh and Deflesh the Abducted will be on the next album.


Let’s go back in 1999, the release year of “Molesting The Decapitated”. What bands made you want to start Devourment? At that time, did you expect from this album to change radically the underground metal scene? Were you aware of being the creators of a new genre, “slam death”, “texas death metal”, “brutal moshing death metal”, whatever you call it?

12. I saw Devourment practice before I joined and I knew the second I heard it, that it was something special. It was just so far beyond anything I had ever heard before and I have been a fanatical death metal fan since I was in high school. I was hooked right off the bat and to me it was by far the sickest shit I had ever heard. I became friends with the band and eventually joined on bass. When we went in the studio to record Molesting, I knew it was going to do well, we were all really stoked on it and sure enough it became a huge success, even after we broke up. I knew it would do well, but It definitely exceeded my expectations and I’m happy I was a part of it.


What does it take to become a cult band with just one album? What do you think about “MTD” today?

13. I guess it just takes something fresh. We were the right band at the right time and people took to it. I wouldn’tsay we were the creators of the style, but we definitely took it to a sick new level. I will always be proud of Molesting and I think it definitely stands the test of time. It sounds just as impressive today as it did back then.


Ruben got arrested the day “MTD” came out then Devourment slowly disappeared. What was the atmosphere in the band back then? Were you mad at Ruben?

14. That was the last straw for the band back then. There was a lot of problems in the band and it was going to end soon any way. I was never mad at Ruben, shit I felt bad for him he spent 2 and a half years in jail. Ruben and I were probably the closest in the band so I stayed in touch with him when he was in jail. The only way I was ever going to be involved with Devourment again was if Ruben was too. It took a long time but everything just fell into place and now the band is better than its ever been.


You finally decided to go on with Devourment (after Ruben’s arrest). Wayne Knupp replaced Ruben and Braxton Henry Brain. Why did Brain quit even though he was Devourment main composer?

15. He had other priorities in his life, mainly his family so he just kind of went his own way. Braxton Henry was never meant to replace Brain though, he only played a guitar track on Babykiller because Kevin [Clark]’s track sounded like shit.


You recorded a new song, “Babykiller” and then released the “1.3.8.” compilation in 2000. But in 2002, Devourment called it quits for some reasons. What were those reasons?

16. We never released 138, it was released by TXDM when we were already broken up. We had absolutely nothing to do with that release. There were 2 attempts to get the band going back then, once with me, Wayne Kevin and Brad [Fincher, drummer on “MTD”]. That was short lived and when Ruben got out of jail, he tried to get the band going too but that didn’t work out.


What did you do between the split and the 2005 reunion?

17. I went to school for 2 years and got a degree, which is why I didn’t join the band with Ruben.


After his release from jail, Ruben wanted to reunite Devourment. There were a lot of lineup problems, I guess it wasn’t easy to rebuild the whole thing...

18. Yeah, I mean he tried to get some of the original members involved too but no one was really available at the time so it just really never panned out and never was really Devourment.


Now the lineup seems stable with Ruben, Eric, Chris and you. Do you have some news about former members Brain, Kevin, Wayne, Brad, etc? Are you still in contact with them?

19. This is the tightest lineup Devourment has ever had and its not going to change. Everyone in it now is perfect for the band, we all get along and we have a blast playing with each other.
I still talk to Wayne on a regular basis and he remains a good friend of all of us. The rest of the guys I pretty much lost contact with.



Like I said above, you created a new death metal sound and a lot of bands trespassed on your patch during Devourment’s hiatus. What do you think about them: rip-offs or rightful heirs? What are your favorite Devourment clones?

20. I think its flattering if a band draws influence from us and emulates our style. I have heard a few bands that have copied our riffs note for note, even the vocal patterns. I think that is kind of lame. I think bands that do this style of death metal are cool and I will typically support them. I don’t want to name any names of bands because Im sure no band would want to be listed as a clone of any band.


A European tour with Gorgasm was supposed to take place in the summer. What happened? When will Devourment come back in Europe (and in France especially!)? You know a lot of people here are waiting for you guys!!

21. Hmm that’s news to me. That was never planned with us, I assure you. We are in the process of planning a European tour next year and we will be touring with Godless Truth.
We are very excited to play in Europe.


What are you listening to these days (metal or non-metal)? What bands kicked your ass recently?

22. The latest Immolation album has been kicking my ass for months. I also love the new Guttural Secrete, Carnivore Diprosopus and Slayer. I like other kinds of music too but I mostly listen to metal.


Top 3 albums and movies of all time?

23.Cool Question.
Albums
1. Slayer - Reign in Blood
2. Immolation - Here in After
3. Internal Bleeding - Perpetual Degradation

Movies
1. EvilDead 2
2. Predator
3. Lord of the Rings (all)


I’d like to have your position on downloading...

24. I have no problem with it.


Last question and it’s a political one! You guys are Texan so you know what you’re talking about. What do you think about President Bush and the war in Iraq? You know the image of the United States has really suffered from that, does it affect you?

25. Sure it does and I think it sucks that people’s opinion of this country has suffered because of our shitty government. I don’t like president Bush, I didn’t vote for him and most people I know don’t like him either. I think something had to be done about Saddam Hussein and the situation in Iraq, but I don’t agree with the way it was handled and most people in this country feel this way too. I just hope it is resolved soon.


End of the interview! Thanks a lot for your time and for being so close to your fans, I know you post a lot on the Devourment forum, that’s pretty cool! And please come to France! Last words are yours!

26. Thank you so much for the interview, we will be in France next year on our European tour with Godless Truth and we look forward to meeting our friends from France.Stay Sick!