Suffocation pour l'album "Suffocation"

Hi Mike, how are you man? I’m Keyser from the French webzine Thrashocore, thanks for accepting this interview. Live CD, new album, DVD in the works, tours, Suffocation is pretty busy at the moment. Isn’t it too much for old people like you? (:p)

No, touring and creating music keeps us in shape. Its when you have a job you don’t enjoy that you grow old quick than we’d like to.


You’ve just released your 5th album. Why is it self-titled? Does it have something to do with a lack of inspiration, honestly?

We wanted to concentrate more on the music instead of Album titles or cover designs. We are at the strongest point of our career ,so it was due time for a self titled album. The fans should know what a Suffocation album contains by now. We don’t need sell it through artwork or gorey titles anymore at this point.


You called on Jon Zig for the cover art. This choice is quite surprising since Dan Seagrave was expected. Why Zig and not Seagrave? Suffocation covers are famous for being complex and detailed, it’s pretty much your trademark. The new one is completely different, sober and almost empty. What does it represent? What did you ask Zig to do exactly?

There are other artists who are close friends of the band that we felt like promoting. Dan of course is great and we love all of his work hes done for us, but we aren’t obligated to stay in the same mold, we do what we want when we want.We asked Jon Zig to create a new symbol for Suffocation which he did. In our opinion the album cover art wasnot reproduced properly through the label. The original art is way better in detail and color, Hopefully the label will eventually right the wrongs.


Let’s talk about the music now. How’s the new album compared to “Souls To Deny” in your opinion? I’ve noticed a big old-school vibe in it that reminds me of “Breeding The Spawn” and a bit of “Pierced From Within”, do you agree with that?

We tried to add all the elements from old school and new. We feel the scene has lost focus on what the music started as in the beginning.The new breed is stuck on Grindcore and sounding the same .We are determined to keep the integrity and all the elements in play when we create albums. Whether they like it or not. The mainstream still needs to catch on to Deathmetal and they need to have reference to all of the elements it contains.


One can hear the bass on “Suffocation” more than on “Souls” but it doesn’t have the same importance in the mix as it had on the old tunes when Chris Richards was in the band. Why do you attach less importance to the bass than before although Derek Boyer is a great bass guitarist?

That would be a question better answered by Derek. He was free to add what ever he felt needed to be to make the song. Derek plays to fit in and hold the ass end of the song. Chris Richards tried to stand out in the song more so I suppose. Both are relevant and needed.2 different players 2 different approaches.


Did Derek Boyer and Guy Marchais take part in the writing of the new album? What do you think they’ve brought to the band?

Fresh blood and drive. They help to make the working aspect of the band complete.They both bring different things to the band whether it is writing or business skill. They help to keep the ball moving. Terrance and myself wrote the majority. Everyone had their input whether it be rhythms or lyrics.



Speaking about the writing process, how does it go for Suffocation?

We all write separately to ourselves and combine it all once we have enough to put on the table.that works best for us so that we can live our own lives as well as write.


What about the recording process? I remember you saying on the band’s official forum that the other guys weren’t very motivated about recording a new album and that you had to give them a kick up in the backside...

At a time I did, but it has shaped up considerably since. And slowly but surely they all realized that we better get to work and stay at work or we will soon be broke .


I guess you know a lot of people are complaining about the shut up thing in the “Translucent Patterns Of Delirium” lyrics because it “sounds like nu-metal crap”. I don’t agree but I would like to have your opinion on this issue.

No opinion, Frank writes and says what he wants when he wants. I don’t really understand the line, but it definitely has relevance to frank .So be it..


Why did you decide to re-record “Prelude To Repulsion”? Again, rumors about re-recording the whole “Breeding The Spawn” album have risen. Can you say once and for all that it will never be re-recorded?

We will record a track on future releases if we feel it is needed. It is the only way the fans will get those song rerecorded. We don’t have time to just sit in the studio to record the whole album straight through. It would take way too long to teach the newer members all of the material.


It was about time you release a live album. “The Close Of A Chapter” is fantastic, one of the greatest death metal live CDs I’ve ever listened to, period! What are your thoughts on it? Why did you handle the whole thing by your own instead of working with Relapse Records?

We need the income, we cant survive on royalty checks alone at this point. Any opportunity we have to put out extra product we will do it on our own, unless a label reassures us worldwide distro and coverage. Otherwise we travel more of the world than our label distributes to , so the product is better in our hands.


Like I said earlier, a DVD is in the works. What can you say about it? I hope it will be worth the money and the wait because a lot of metal DVDs suck, you know!

We will make sure it has the quality it deserves. We want it to be a one stop tutorial on Suffocation. Fans gotta be patient though, we are busy handling all at once.


How many albums do you plan to release before calling it quits? Is it something you often think about?

Who knows ,we still are waiting on the record industry to give us the respect we deserve. If they don’t catch on soon. They may never get another one. Who knows it depends how our income and future ventures are looking.


How is your relationship with Relapse Records compared to the one you had with Roadrunner Records?

We weren’t respected on Roadrunner , we were on the bottom of the priority list. With Relapse at least I have direct contact to let them know what I feel they need to know. It can still be better for a band that has been here as long as we have. But we’ll make the best of it.


Some fans don’t understand why you tour with mainstream bands like Shadows Fall, Poison The Well or Fear Factory. They think you’re sellouts. You said in your defence it could be cool to show fans of those bands what real heavy music is. Do you really think you can win more fans with this kind of tours? Do you really think it’s a good thing for death metal?

Of course, fans who are into the bigger bands and feel that that is heavy learn quick fast what heavy is when they see us in the same show ,which opens eyes up to death metal. It can only help the scene. Weve beeen undergroud way too long. We are ready for the next level of success and income. We dont live with our parents and ride bmx’s we have house and drive cars. We need to make the income to survive. Staying underground isn’t where the income is at least not for the working bands.



Let’s go back to the early days of Suffocation. What was your goal at that time? What did you have in mind? Did you really expect to become such a cult band?

We expected to mash every band out in quick fashion. That was our goal and that is what we do .Wenever thought about cult status .We just expected to be paid off of our music and efforts ,especially since Roadrunner was our first label. We quickly learned that was not the case and here we are 17 years later just starting to get the recognition we deserve.


You left the band in 1993-1994. What did you do between your departure and the 2003 reunion? I heard you started a hip-hop project, can you tell us more about that?

Grimm Real is the project I did in 99. During my time off I worked carpentry, rode motocross bought a house and lived like a normal being. Happy and secure. I didn’t touch the drums for 9 years .i listened to very little deathmetal as well. If I wasn’t playing in Suffo I wasn’t interested.


What kind of look did you take at the band while away from it? Did you still follow what the band was doing? Were you still in contact with your former bandmates?

I didn’t follow the band at all unless someone alerted me to the goings on. I didn’t speak to them at all either. Once in a blue moon I would see doug cerritto but that’s about it.


What do you think about the job Doug Bohn and Dave Culross did?

They did what they were required to do.


Were you surprised by the split of the band in 1998?

Nope. It was a dysfunctional picnis at best


Suffocation reformed in 2003. Was it difficult for you to find the good vibes again since you spent almost 10 years apart from the band?

If the vibes weren’t good we wouldn’t have agreed to do it.


What are your five favorite Suffocation songs?

Cant say. They all hold a special place. I have no favourites. They are like my children.


Do you have some news about Doug Cerrito and Chris Richards?

Nope


What’s your opinion on the evolution of the death metal scene since the early 90s?

Its evolved into a beast of skill and precision that only a certain few can pull off. I still think the music from the early 90’s is all the mainstream needs at this point. Weve gone way beyond what a normal mortal can comprehend.



You took part in Roadrunner United. Why? What did it bring to you?

It brought me a new fanbase that follows the new Roadrunner catalog but didn’t necessarily know about Suffocation. They know now.


Suffocation tours massively in the US but not that much in Europe. Can you assure me you’ll play France next year?

We tour plenty in Europe .Weve been to france many times ,we will be back shortly im positive. The world is big, time is short, and we have to tour correctly at the right time or we will burn our selves out.


By the way, do you know some French bands?

Not in particular. I listen to bands I don’t look into their birthplaces and homes. If its good its good.


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

All and everything. In order to stay original I have to know what is going on in all forms of music.


Who are your favorite drummers? Who made you want to play drums?

Maiden, Zeppelin, Sabbath, Slayer, Metallica.


Last question Mike (finally haha!): what’s your greatest pride with Suffocation?

The creation of the Blast beat, and it s infusion into most bands style and the Suffocation sound and technique that has helped shape the entire scene.


End of the interview, man. Thanks a lot for your answers and for all what you’ve done! Last words are yours!

Whew that was a long one. Later
Mike Smith