Suture Interview

1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these   days?

SFC Records from Russia just re-released   our "Skeletal Vortex" cd. Originally released on UBR here in the states a few   years back. The re-release has been totally reworked. With the help of Chad   Kelly (Underworld Records) we re-recorded all the guitar tracks, rythms and   solos. We re-amped the bass, brought up the vocals and backing vocals, remixed   and remastered the whole cd. The finished product is an in your face, kick in   your teeth, death metal monster! 

Last Year  SFC contacted me about   releasing the original version in Russia, due to the lack of communication and   proper distribution and promotion from UBR , I thought it would be wise to cut   our ties and make a fresh start. So I bought the rights to the recording back   from UBR and pressed on. The production of the original release was good but   sounded thin. I told SFC if they wanted to release Skeletal then I wanted to   remix the cd, thicken it up a bit. Once Chad and I started remixing and   getting into the tracks we ran into some problems with the guitars, we couldnt   get them eq'ed the way I wanted them. I wanted a more heavier, beefer tone.   More like the guitar sound I write with and play live with. The only solution   was to re-record the guitars. So we started the guitars from scratch..The   whole re-tooling of the cd track by track, instrument by instrument, was a   lenghty process, took about 6 months on and off, but the end result was way   more than I, and I believe Chad,  would have expected or hoped   !

Currently Suture is back with our   original line up for the  re-recording of our first release    "Carnivorous Urge to Kill" originally released in 2001.
We were never happy   with the production of the original version. Back then we didnt have a   recording budget and it showed. I always thought we had some really strong   songs on the cd,  but the  production was muddy and at times the   performance was sloppy.
Once Chad Kelly (Underworld   Records/Excommunicated)  and I wrapped up the "Skeletal Vortex"   re-release sessions, we both decided now would be the best time to revisit   Carnivorous and finally do the songs justice with a proper production. We   should wrap the cd up by the end of September. I do not know who will be   re-releasing Carnivorous yet, but we have already had interest in it. So time   will tell.

 

2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new material that you   are working on and how it differs from previous recordings?

Skeletal Vortex is the next step in   evolution of song writing for Suture from our first cd,Carnivorous Urge to   Kill. Where Carnivorous was about straight forward frenzied brutality,   Skeletal is much more focused and mature, still brutal but not just for the   sake of it. More progressive, yet still simple enough to grab your throat and   command your attention.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores   with the new music?

I will let Jayson Ramsay answer this   one  since he is the primary lyric writer: Quantum Theory, The   Paranormal, Interdimensional beings, Alien existence, but aside from the   metaphysical we also touch on subjects such as the power of lies through   politics and religion. I really kind of visualized skeletal vortex as a   concept album. I was very interested in science and the advancement of   technology at the time andI had all these little stories in my head that came   together through our songs. I Also wanted to explore things that influenced me   more intellictually other than the cannibal corpse style gore lyrics that I   had out grown and felt that it didn't truly represent us as real artists any   longer. I am very proud of our accomplishmet with skeletal vortex and I really   feel like it's our masterpiece contribution to death metal.    

 

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?

There is no deep meaning or inspiration   behind the name, I just thought it sounded like a death metal band name,    so we used it.

 

5. The Band was broken up for a few years what made you decide to reform   the band after a long hiatus?

Mainly just to re-record the Carnivorous   cd, there are no plans currently for keeping the band together in any form   after we finish the recording of Carnivorous.. As I stated earlier, that cd   has always been "unfinished Business" for me, a thorn in my side for   years.  I am proud of those songs we wrote back then and I feel like they   deserve to sound the way they were meant to sound, heavy, brutal and clear. I   got in touch with everyone on the original  release and they felt exactly   the same as I did, so we started rehearsing and booked time with   Chad.

 

6. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and   how would you describe your stage performance?

One show that sticks out was one we   played in Texas right before we recorded the Skeletal Vortex cd, we actually   played 4 or 5 songs off the cd that night.  Probably about 150 people   there, it was a small club so it was packed. The crowd was totally nuts!   People where knocking me and our bass player over stage diving, it was   awesome.  Also the Gathering of the Sick fest in New Mexico, those were   always really fun to play..Great crowds !

7. Do you have any touring plans for the future?

 We have kicked around the idea   of maybe doing a couple of shows as the original line up once we re-release   Carnivorous, but that is still up in the air.

8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans   of brutal death metal?

We have always gotten great response   from Russian and European fans, people just love brutal music there,Its a way   of life for them. We would love to  tour there if things work out and we   decide to stay together.There are also tons of fans here in the U.S. as well   who have showed us nothing but love and we appreciate them for there support   over the years.

 

9. What is going on with the other musical projects these days?

Chad and I are in a band together called   Excommunicated ( old school death/black metal),  Recently  we   released our debut cd called "Skeleton Key" through underworld records.We will   be recording a covers cd in late September. We chose some really good old   school death metal bands to cover from Obituary to Pungent Stench. Its gonna   be fun as hell. Then we start work on the next Excomm release entitled "The   Exterminating Angel". Also I just got finished tracking guitars for the third,   yet untitled release of the porn rock band, Peckernut. Those guys are a trip   and the songs are hilarious, we always have a great time at practice and at   shows. Definatley a band to check out. Excommunicated and Peckernut both have   facebook pages.
All and all it has turned out to be a real busy year for   me, Im not complaining.

10. What direction do you see your music heading into on future   releases?

It would only make sense to continue   the evolution process with Suture ...still heavy, still brutal riffing but   with a more progressive/experimental direction maybe. And in no way do I mean   to the extent as some death metal bands today, where you have a million riffs   and tempo changes in one song.
If we stick around it would be interesting   to see what we'd come up with.

11. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music   and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Im very old school with my music,   everything early 90's as far as death metal is concerned, so if I had to name   influences it would only be appropriate to tell you specific albums :Gorguts   -Erosion of Sanity, Deicide-Legion, Obituary-Cause of Death, Napalm Death-   Harmony Corruption, Pestilence-Consuming Impulse, Morbid Angel- Blessed are   the Sick, Death-Human, Suffocation-Effigy of the Forgotten...Those are the top   ones for me ...besides death metal I'd say Kiss was a huge influence on me,   Ace Frehley inspired me to play guitar, I really dont think I would be playing   music today if it wasn't for him, others would be Iron Maiden, Type-O   Negative, old Metallica and Megadeth, King Diamond, Death Angel, and local   thrash masters Exhorder. There really are to many to name...Right now I listen   to alot of Reggae heeheheee..I love it, cant get enough Peter   Tosh.

 

12. Outside of music what are some of your interests?

Watching Football and Grilling for my   wife.

13. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this   interview?

Thanks for the interview and supporting underground music.   Any one out there that doesnt have Suture's Skeletal Vortex in one shape or   form I highly suggest you pick it up...It is well worth your hard earned   dollars !