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Al: Carcass is an obvious influence on Exhumed's music, although it seems while they were scouring medical dictionaries, you guys were drinking. How many beers does it take for you to get good and loaded?
Matt: Between 16 and 22, depending on how many festering entrails I feasted on for lunch...
A: What do you think of later Carcass releases like Heartwork and Swansong?
M: Heartwork is a brilliant slab of metal that has gone on to profoundly influence the metal scene! It's true intricacies are still being unravelled by the metal public at large. I
consider the second best Carcass record after Symphonies of Sickness. Gone were the cluttered arrangements and dull guitar tone of its plodding predecessor, Necroticism: Descanting the Insalubrious. Heartwork showed Carcass
slimming down their sound to its razor sharp essentials. Though I do lament the conspicuous absence of lugubrious lyrical content of old, the sheer ferocity and dexterity
coveyed in the playing of Messrs. Steer and (especially) Ammott definitely more than compensates for Jeff's complete lack of lyrical inspiration. Swansong on the other
hand, is certainly Carcass' least well-conceived musical foray. Having reduced themselves from one of the most lethal metal units in the history of the genre, to a lackluster
by any standards hard rock band. The shinig moments where Steer's penchant for melodic, hooky riffing rears its much missed head are few and brief. Less of a swansong
and more of a last gasp of a band who were one of the most influential in the history of extreme music.
A: What death metal bands today do you feel still carry the torch for true death metal?
M: Krisiun is definitely one of the first that comes to mind. Incantation and Mortician have unashamedly stuck to their guns. This may sound like a cop-out, but we really try to
keep Exhumed focused on what we're doing, instead of paying attention to "the scene". Some great death metal I've heard lately has come from Angel Corpse, Hate Eternal,
Disordered, Haemorrhage, Blood, Dead Infection, Mental Horror, Yattering, Rebaelliun, Damnable, Nasum, Deathwitch, The Chasm, Immolation, and a bunch of others I can't remember due to the hangover!
A: What do you think of Gorguts' latest album, Obscura?
M: While I respect the spirit of innovation within a largely stagnant genre, I really have to say this- Get the fuck OUT of the METAL scene if you want to play FUCKING JAZZ
BULLSHIT and quit wasting my fucking time!
A: I would imagine you are big fans of gore flicks, correct? Any favorite movies?
M: My personal favorite movie of all time is 2001: A Space Odyssey, followed closely by the fondly remembered "Gidget" film series of the '60's. Though I must confess that
Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Suspiria, Zombie, Gates to Hell, Brain Dead, and many other films (especially Italian ones) occupy a special place in my heart...
A: Are you into pornography?
M: I am actually in a lot of pornagraphy. My other job is being Barbara Dare. It's a very difficult profession, but I get a lot of satisfaction out of the grueling hours naked under the lighting rig...
A: Have you ever seen any snuff films?
M: Not that I know of...
A: I understand you recently parted ways with that skinny bassist. What happened? Who is the replacement?
M: Basically the ol' "musical and personal differences" is the best way to sum it up without degenerating this interview into a mudslinging session. Suffice it to say that everyone
involved knew that it was a LOOONG tinme in coming. Our new basscsyt is none other than that star of stage and screen, Bud Burke, whose solo album went gold in Malaysia.
His past work can also be heard alongside master musician John Tesh on several different recordings. we were really excited that he was interested in the project, so we are
priveleged to have this man on board. Did I mention he vomits at every show?
A: You've had a buttload of members come and go. Why has the door been so revolving? Did any part as enemies?
M: The reason for the "revolving door: policy is that Col and myself are complete assholes. Nobody can sit there and look at 8 years, 8 bassists, 4 guitar players, and 3 vocalists,
and say "Those guys are all fucked, and I was just an innocent sweet guy who was left in the lurch, through no fault of my own in every case". Come on, who the fuck
believes that Chuck Schuldiner's easy to work with? My ass! the guy's gotta be a total prick (in a band situation at least, I don't know him personally, luckily for him) ! We
have a very specific idea of where we're going with exhumed, and if you're not a part of it, there is no room for yo in this band. It's as simple as that. I can't expect
everyone to share my dedication to DEATH FUCKING METAL, but I can't tolerate anyone who doesn't either. Our enemies arent worth wasting the time to mention...
A: Are you usually loaded during your performances?
M: Relatively. By your standards, yes.
A: What albums lately have impressed you?
M: Amber Asylum Songs of Sex and Death, Serpent Obscene Massacre demo, Hypnosia Violent Intensity, Merciless The Awakening reissue, Hate Eternal Conquering the Throne, PerverseSeraph Savage Messiah, Abominator Damnation's Prophecy, Nunslaughter “advance tracks from
the new album."
A: Have you ever incorporated actual gore and blood and stuff into your performances?
M: Exhumed shows are basically like a fucking nightmare come to grisly life. We were unable to do our full stage show on tour due to time, money, and logistic limitations,
but I assure you when we cut loose, poseurs start running! Our shows always include at the bare minimum ear splitting volume, Fire breathing, and actual vomiting, but on a good
day you will see blood spurting, chainsaw flailing and equipment bashing (Unfortunately we can't afford to destroy our instruments, but it's not uncommon to find most of the drumset and speaker cabinets all over the
stage and floor), and of course, some of the slppiest playing known to man... we used to use real animal blood and innards in out stage perfoemances, but we quickly rann out
of places to play, as well as scaring away a lot of fans from banging at the front row where they belong!
A: Does Exhumed attract any groupies?
M: We get a good amount of chicks, you might be surprised! Usually we like to make them do all of us at least once before they settle in with the guy of their choice to cut
down on any potential jealousy. A lot of girls are put off by the show, but the ones who stick around are 100% ours, baby!
A: What is your "day" job?
M: Being Barbara Dare, and I'm exceptionally good at it (see question 6)
A: Are you completely satisfied with Gore Metal?
M: There are always some things you would do over if you could, like going back and writing some decent songs for the sucker for instance! There were a LOT of mistakes that
ocurred while recording that album (like letting me play on it!), but all things considered, I dig it...
A: Have you written any new material since its release? (if so) tell us about some of the tunes.
M: We have deranged and decomposed 6 new obscene opuses for the follow up album! We cannot divulge any details on the new material, except that it will continue in
the same vein of DEAD HEAVY, DEAD EVIL, DEATH METAL...
A: Any plans for your next recording/release?
M: To totally destroy...
A: How is the relationship with Relapse? Do they buy you pizza and stuff?
M: Relap$e is the perfect label for this band. They have 3rd world sweatshops churning out Exhumed merchandise for pennies a day, and goon squads that intimidate press and
radio to promote our insipid compositions to the hordes of teenage wastoids that litter our society. They pander to our every bizarre whim, and they are currently trying to
wrangle Bea Arthur into doing some guest vocals on an upcoming split 7" with Sanity's Dawn.
A: What are your three all-time favorite death metal albums?
M: Death Scream Bloody Gore, Repulsion Horrified, Carcass Symphonies of Sickness.
A: What do you think of Manowar?
M: They are GODZZZ!
A: What are your five favorite names for the vagina?
M: 5. Fur Burger 4. Tuna Taco 3. Poon-tang 2. My fuzzy buddy 1. HAIR PIE
A: Do you find farts funny?
M: My own, yes.
A: What has been the best live show you have played to date?
M: The Massachusetts Metal and Hardcore Festival. those kids in Worcester are FUCKING NUTS! When we returned it was the same thing- TOTAL MANIACS! Milwaukee, El Paso,
San Francisco, New Orleans, and Nashville were some of the most memorable shows in our recent US Contamination tour with labelmates Nasum, Morgion, Soilent Green, and Today is the Day (all GODZZZ!!!).
A: Does cheap beer give you the shits?
M: ALL Beer gives me the shitz, why do you think I drink it?
A: When was the last time you shit your pants? I am man enough to admit that I shit myself like 5 years ago. Are you?
M: I seem to think it was somewhere on the "Grind Over Europe II" in winter '97. I only heard about it, I don't remember it myself (thankfully...).
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