There ain’t too many bands in the metal world that pour our extreme metal with the intensity and pure bludgeoning of New Orleans’ Goatwhore. Releasing albums since 2000, the band seemed to hit a real stride with the release of their 2006 album “A Haunting Curse”, it’s first on Metal Blade Records. But fans were really blown away with the band’s 2009 album, “Carving Out The Eyes of God”, where it seemed like the band’s venom hit a critical mass.
Just when you thought the band couldn’t push the heaviness envelope any further, the band has unleashed their fury once more with the recently released “Blood For The Master”. With nihilistic titles like “Judgement of the Bleeding Crown” and “When Steel and Bone Meet”, the cuts on “Master” are quick, concise and punishing all at the same time. If you think the albums are pummeling, hitting up one of the band’s live sets are equally as intense and make you want to punch someone or something.
With “Master” now out, the band is wasting absolutely no time getting back on the road. In the next six weeks, the band will be out on three separate tours, including a Michigan show with The Faceless and Dying Fetus. Before the band played a gig in Baltimore, I had a chance to speak with the newest member of the band, bassist James Harvey. Harvey joined the band in 2009 after playing in the band Ritual Killer before getting brought into the Goatwhore fold.
James and I discussed how he came into the band and with all of this touring, what keeps him as normal as possible when on the road:
Here’s my interview with James:
AM: What did you see as the band’s mindset going into the recording of “Blood For the Master”?
JH: The last album was way well received and really got the band into some new places. Our mindset for this new album was just to deliver the best follow up possible and go in very prepared. It’s paid off, there’s been plenty of buzz behind the album. It’s something we weren’t expecting, but glad we have received it so far.
AM: How quickly did things come together for the album?
JH: We spent 6 months in the rehearsal state and then took enough couple months to record. With us wanting this album to be a worthy follow up, we reviewed every single part and lyric just to make sure it’s right. We wanted this thing to be perfect.
AM: You’ve been in the band since 2009, how did you end up making your way into the band?
JH: I jammed with Sammy (Duet- guitarist) in a band that I played in called Ritual Killer for about 5 years. We jammed for a long time and I knew all the guys already when I got the call. Sammy called while on tour, discussing how they were looking for a new bassist quickly for their tour. We had been talking about me joining for a little while before I actually joined, but when I did it, it’s been great. It’s real natural fit with these guys.
AM: New Orleans has given us a lot of great metal bands- do you feel things are strong locally between the bands there?
JH: I think there’s a close knit group of bands and plenty of local bands hitting the different clubs all the time. Most of the metal bands around here all practice at the same place, so it’s not uncommon to see us practicing in one spot, Eyehategod in another and so on.
AM: How have you seen yourself improve as a musician?
JH: I think with being on the road and in the studio, you naturally tend to improve. With myself, obviously there’s improvement by playing live every night. But I feel like the time where I’m improving and getting tighter as a musician is in the studio. You have to be tight when recording the album so you can be even tighter live.
AM: With the constant touring, how have you coped with being on the road?
JH: With being on the road, it can be difficult for your sanity and your health. For me, it’s just a matter of staying occupied and getting rest. But when you tour like we do, you tend to stay hungover for most of the entire tour. Hell, I’m even hungover as we speak (laughs).
AM: Where do you see the band’s music heading beyond this new album?
JH: I can definitely see more thrash elements in the music we’ll have in the future versus the black metal sound, or “black n roll”, whatever you want to call it. I think things will sound a bit more mood, a bit more atmospheric- even more so than now.
Goatwhore plays with The Faceless and Dying Fetus at the The Loft in Lansing on Tuesday, March 6th. Tickets are $15 and are available at www.ticketweb.com. Additional tour dates and band info can be found at www.goatwhore.net.
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