Withered pour l'album "Memento Mori"

Hi Mike ! Could you please introduce your band to our readers, your main influences and the style which could best define your music ?

- Sure, we're WITHERED from atlanta, ga. We're what we call blackened/death/grind/sludge. We have a noticeable early swedish death influence with some black metal overtones and also some modern metal elements as well. Some of our main influences would include Grave, Weakling, Immortal, and probably Neurosis to name a few.

What are your main influences (in your music and your lyrics)?

- We've been striving for an underlying sense of anguish. Our lyrics mostly deal with the emotions experienced when dealing with death and depression so it is important for our music to also portray those feelings.

Could you explain us the meaning of the title Memento Mori?

- Memento Mori is latin for "Remember Death". It's carries a number of meanings and uses which we found very appropriate for our album. It reminds us all that death is always coming closer. It is also used to describe things that remind us of the dead and keep them in our memories.

How does the writing process goes for Memento Mori"?

- Writing for the album was a very organic process. All of the ideas came to us spontaneously and naturally. Sometimes, if we didn't feel like rehearsing the songs we have already written, we'd just jam a little bit and see if a new idea will surface. If so, we'll work on it and try to make it grow into something. If not, we'll just stop and call it a day. We never rush or hurry to write anything. It takes time but then we're much happier with the result.

Your album is really great...but really short, have you planned to record a new album soon?

- Well, we are already writing (we never really stop). I definitely want to have more music on the next album so we will probably take our time to make sure that we really love the material. It's hard to say how soon it will be. Maybe just a year from now but probably a little more since writing takes us a while.

I love the oppressive tracks as « Like Locusts » and « Among Sorrow », which remind me of a Katatonia meeting Pelican and Unleashed. Moreover we still feel your grind/death roots in the other tracks. Why a mixed music like that ?

- It's just what we like. We love many different styles of metal (and music in general) so we want to play them all. It keeps it interesting for us and is much more fun to play.

Paul Romano did the beautiful artwork, could you explain us the meaning of this dead bride? And how did you meet Paul?

- We hired paul knowing that he has a unique style and perspective when it comes to art and music. We didn't want a typical death metal dark and gray album cover but we also didn't have any specific ideas. We wanted the reminders of death but we also wanted a feeling of peace with darkness. Paul created the entire concept on his own. I think she represents how delicate life is and that no matter how beautiful something is, it will come to an end. I met paul a few years ago. I was on tour with my other band, Social Infestation. Troy from mastodon plays bass for Social Infestation so we met up with Paul just after he completed work on Mastodon's Remission album cover. He's a great person and I really enjoy having his friendship. So, when withered formed and things started building up for hte album release, I talked to him about it. It turned out that he already gotten a burned copy of our demo and really liked it.

Withered is completely different of all those bands of metal/hardcore from Lifeforce. How did you have a contact whith this label?

- After we made our first demo, we toured the eastern US to try and gain a little exposure. After playing in philadelphia, Our demo found its way into the hands of Drew Jeurgens at Relapse Records. He soon wrote to us about how much he enjoyed the CD. He then sent a copy to Stefan at lifeforce and introduced us to him. Stefan was also very enthusiastic about our demo. Shortly after, Drew left Relapse to head up Lifeforce America. After many discussions, we felt confident that everyone at Lifeforce had the right motivation and are genuinely good people. We felt very comfortable with them so we forged the deal. I hadn't really heard of Lifeforce until then. Probably because I don't listen to much hardcore or metalcore. It's interesting being a little different from the other bands but we don't mind at all. Everyone else we've met from lifeforce bands are great and that's what matters to us.

Have you listened to one of those bands?

- Oh yeah, Lifeforce sends me promo discs all the time. I love that because it means I always have new music to try out. There is alot of good talent on the label.

What do you think of the current metal scene?

- It's pretty interesting tome right now. Metal is making a big surge in the states right now. I think this has alot to do with the popularity of Metalcore. It has opened alot of doors for metal across the board. We're very excited about the possibilities right now and can't wait to see how things go for the next couple of years.

What do you do for a living apart from the band?

- I work as a web designer and a tech support supervisor for an electronics company that makes car alarms and remote car starters among other things. It's a pretty good job and it's only 2 miles from my house!

What is the best (an the worst) memory you have from your musician’s life?

- Wow, there are so many good memories. One of the best memories is from when I was 14 years old. A local guitar store had an Epiphone Les Paul for sale that I absolutely loved. One day, I came home from high school and that guitar was sitting in my room. My older sister had gone and bought it for me with her credit card since I didn't have the money to buy it. She let me make small payments to her for over a year to pay it off. I still play the same guitar. I've had it for 14 years now and will probably keep it forever. My worst memory is the passing of my father. I know it's directly related to me as a musician but my father is probalby the biggest reason I'm a musical person. He sang all his life and from as far back as I can remember, he would take me to group rehearsals and choir practice. I have been around music all my life thanks to him.

A tour in Europe is planned?

- We're trying to work one out right now. If it all comes together, we'll likely come over and see everyone before the end of the year.

If you could organise your own metal festival, whose bands would be invited?

- Wow, it would probably have to be a week long from all the bands I would want to invite. I would invite Entombed, Grave, Immortal (RIP), Weakling (RIP), Behemoth, Gorgoroth, High On Fire, Mastodon, Leechmilk (RIP), Goatwhore, Crowbar, Napalm Death, Obituary, Nasum (RIP), Pig Destroyer, Slayer, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Isis, Neurosis, False Hope, Baroness, Battlemaster, Accursed Dawn, and about 50 more bands I like. Guess this is more of a fantasy fest since some of the bands don't exist anymore.

What are you listening to these days? Any good metal / non metal albums to recommand?

- weakling's Dead as Dreams is an amazing black metal album. Anyone who doesn't own Immortal's Sons of nothern darkness should go out and buy it now. I'm also listening to High On Fire's Blessed Black Wings (Awesome), Acid Bath's Paegan Terrorism Tactics, and Weezer's Blue album!!!

And about your cult albums?

- Hmmm......I'm not sure about cult albums but I do love Firewoman. Actually, albums I'm addicted to would be Metallica's ...and justice for all, megadeth's rust in peace , Grave's ...you'll never see, and Entombed's Clandestine to name a few.

And what do you think of France as a country ?

- I'm not sure yet. I have never been there and I only like to judge a place on my own personal experiences. Hopefully, we'll get to play there soon so I can get a first hand experience. I try not to pay much attention to the media and the political representatives of a country. I find that usually, they do not accurrately represent the country and its people. Plus, you can't really trust mainstream media. So, I'll wait to find out for myself. Hopefully, I'll meet some wonderful people and make some new friends.

Last words are yours!

Mitch, thanks so much for the interview and support. It means alot to us. Hopefully, we'll get to play in france someday and get to eat some fabulaous french food. I will leave you with some words of wisdom. When the great Ramier Wolfcastle had to attend a weight loss camp, he left us with some great words of inspiration and hope. As he dumped ice cream into the garbage can in defiance, he said "Your Haagen Days Are Over!!!!".