In support of some pre-tour coverage of the upcoming Mayhem Fest, MAA staffer Ridge A.K.A. Deadite recently caught up with WHITECHAPEL lead guitarist Ben Savage to talk about the stellar new self-titled record, how they are preparing for Mayhem Fest, and what the near future holds for the band.
MAA: So I’ve heard the new record and I must say that I’m blown away by it. It truly is a huge step up from anything you guys have ever done. In songs like “Hate Creation,” there’s just so much more going on than just the music. What made you guys want to incorporate all of these different sound elements into the album, instead of the no holds barred assault such as This Is Exile?
BS: It’s one of those less is more. This Is Exile was unrelenting and had a lot more riffs per song where the riffs was powering the song. We went with a different approach where we will take two, three, or four awesome riffs and take different views on them and what we could do. We wanted to experiment with the riffs we had because the other riffs worked together really well. With “Hate Creation,” that riff just calls for it. We never would have figured out that riff can go to that place had we not experimented with it. It was a lot of trial and error.
MAA: Having three guitarists, was it any harder to write these more melodic sections on the self-titled album?
BS: Not really, if anything it was easier. Whenever we were writing, everyone was there. We didn’t have anything written before January 1st when we started writing and we were done February 1st. We ended up with a table full of riffs. We would listen to them every day to see which riffs stuck out to write songs from. We didn’t finish the record until everyone was happy.
MAA: Why was it that you left it as a self-titled album?
BS: We couldn’t really think of a name that gives off the vibe that we wanted. We felt that self-titled was fitting because it’s sort of like starting with a new beginning or a re-branding of the band. I love our first three records, but we feel that this album is a step up. It’s a whole new thing we’re trying to do.
MAA: That’s one thing I’ve always loved about WHITECHAPEL is that every album takes the band in a whole new direction and they don’t sound alike.
BS: We always keep out ear open and look for different ways we can go. After we write and record those songs, we’re out there playing them live. We have to be confident in the songs that we make.
MAA: Looking back at Somatic Defilement and fast forward to now, how do you feel the band has progressed in terms of song writing and experience wise from then?
BS: I don’t know, it’s hard to say really. I mean, we were really young when we wrote Somatic Defilement, which was of course our first album we ever wrote together. We’ve gained so much experience, being out on the road and seeing all of these different bands and touring with bands that we respect. We take influence from them in any way we can.
MAA: When you guys wrote the acoustic version of “End OF Flesh,” you guys received a lot of positive feedback. Any chance you would do that again in the future?
BS: Definitely. That’s another thing with our new songs. I wanted to write songs that we could play acoustically to. A lot of the songs on the new album can be transcribed to acoustic guitar. I wouldn’t count it out on recording more acoustic tracks in the future.
MAA: What was the overall experience like working with death metal legend MARK LEWIS behind the board for the album?
BS: Mark’s the man! He’ll keep pushing you till he hits your buttons. Phil would be like “Let’s take a break,” and Mark would give him shit for it and say things like “Don’t be a little bitch about it” to piss him off so he gets better takes out of it. He did the same thing with me and everybody else.
MAA: The last time I saw you guys live was on Warped Tour 2010 and now you’re on Mayhem Fest 2012. What sort of differences do you anticipate between the two tours?
BS: Warped Tour is more like chaos. There’s about fifty bands on Warped, where as there’s about ten on Mayhem. Mayhem I see as more relaxed and getting to know everybody on tour rather than chaos. I definitely prefer Mayhem as far as how it’s set up and the bands that are on it.
MAA: How are you preparing yourselves for this tour?
BS: Just packing really well, maybe some sunblock or something. I’ve been doing this for a while, so I pretty much got it figured out.
MAA: What are some of the songs you plan on playing live at Mayhem?
BS: “Hate Creation,” “Section 8,” “I, Dementia,” and “Possibilities Of A Possible Existence.” We may even play a song off of Somatic Defilement out there.
MAA: After Mayhem Fest, what’s the next step for the band?
BS: We have two supporting tours after Mayhem, but I can’t say who and what just yet.
[Note: Not even thirty seconds had passed after the phone interview when the WHITECHAPEL FB page announced the tour in Europe they’re doing with THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA and AUGUST BURNS RED.]
MAA: If you were to market WHITECHAPEL to people who haven’t heard you or seen you live yet, how would you go about doing that?
BS: I would exaggerate it. I would say that we’re the most disgusting and heaviest band ever, even though we’re really not. I don’t know what I would really say. (laughs)
MAA: Any last words for the fans?
BS: Enjoy the new record! Make sure you listen to it on good speakers to get the full effect. No distractions, we have a lot of stuff going on and hopefully they can take it all in.
by: Ridge “Deadite” Briel
