http://www.loudtrax.com/Artist/Whitechapel - 's June 2010 release " http://www.loudtrax.com/Album.aspx?id=49510 - " achieved a remarkable Top 50 entry on the US Billboard charts. Not a common occurance for a http://www.loudtrax.com/Genre/DeathMetal - band. The http://www.loudtrax.com/Label/MetalBladeRecords - artist is currently on the Vans Warped Tour, and we had a chance to catch up with guitarist Alex Wade for an interview.
Download link for " http://www.loudtrax.com/Album.aspx?id=49510 - "
http://www.loudtrax.com - : Congratulations on the success of your new album, A New Era of Corruption!
What can you tell us about the writing and recording process this time
around? How long did the whole process take, including songwriting and
recording?
Alex Wade: We
took about the whole year of 2009 with the writing process, at home as
well on the road. The recording process took about a month down in
Florida with producer Jason Suecof. It felt alot easier this time around than http://www.loudtrax.com/Album.aspx?id=23441 -
because we had more time to write material. We didn't have to write
anything in the studio, we went in prepared. We changed some stuff
around and cut some songs from the track listing but all of the songs
were written when we went in. It was nice feeling prepared.
LoudTrax.com: If
I'm not mistaken, some of the material was written on the road during
your last tour; is that an experience you'd like to try again? Why or
why not?
Alex Wade: Definitely
not, it's really hard to write on the road unless you have a tour bus
and can set up in the back lounge, which we don't get the luxury of
very often, so for the next record we are going to make it a point to
take a few months off from touring to write the record and then go in
and record it rather than writing a piece at a time here and there.
LoudTrax.com: How
are songs normally put together for your albums? Does the music come
before the lyrics? Are most of the songs based on collaborations?
Alex Wade: Songs
start with the guitarists writing and riffing together, and then we
take the riffs we like best and think will work well together and put
them together to make songs. Sometimes someone will write a whole song
and we'll use all of it or maybe just part. Phil puts his lyrics and
vocal patterns to the songs after they are done so he kind of has a
canvas so to speak to lay out his vocals on, rather than pre-writing
lyrics and trying to just shove them into a song.
LoudTrax.com: Many
bands says their new album is their best one to date. How would you
rate this one compared to the previous albums? What are some the tracks
that stand out to you so far?
Alex Wade: Hahaha
hate to sound cliche but this is definitely our best release as well.
The song writing and production just came together so well on it. My
favorite tracks on the new CD are Reprogrammed to Hate, The Darkest Day of Man, and Breeding Violence.
LoudTrax.com: As
mentioned earlier, A New Era of Corruption is a great success; it
debuted in the top 50 albums on Billboard! Now, considering how
�un-commercial�, your music is, what was your reaction to see it do so
well in its� first week of release?
Alex Wade: We
were extremely excited to see the first week sales hit 5 digits
(10,600) and to be in the top 50 on the Billboard 200. We never
thought we would be able to accomplish something like that when we
started this band 4 years ago. Especially playing extreme metal.
LoudTrax.com: Do
you think this will bring up new opportunities for you? For example
different touring opportunities, late-night talk show appearances
(after all, Slayer did recently perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live).
Alex Wade: I
sure hope so, the more album sells you have the better tours you do get
and we would love to be on a late-night talk show. I love watching old
videos of Slipknot and Deftones playing those and it would be awesome to play something like that.
LoudTrax.com: Who were some of your favorite guitar players growing up and who has had the most influence on your playing style?
Alex Wade: I'm
definitely more of a riffer. I couldn't solo my way out of a paper bag
so I like guitarists who can write sick riffs and well formulated songs
rather than super shreddy dudes. My favorite guitar player of all time
is Stephen Carpenter from http://www.loudtrax.com/Artist/Deftones - . I just love how his riffing is so simplistic but yet so captivating and atmospheric at the same time.
LoudTrax.com: You
were part of the Mayhem tour and now part of Vans Warped. If
Whitechapel were to create its own touring festival, what bands would
you like to put on the bill?
Alex Wade: Slipknot, Deftones, Lamb Of God, Meshuggah, Suicide Silence, and Whitechapel. That would be the most insane tour ever hahaha.
LoudTrax.com: Your music is so intense and so brutal, how do you guys �chill� from that after the show is done? How do you unwind?
Alex Wade: Nothing
too special, some dudes like to play Xbox 360, other dudes enjoy some
brews. We aren't a super crazy party band so it never gets too wild.
We're pretty mellow and just like to get on stage and deliver an
awesome show and then get off and hang out and do it again the next day.
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Thanks to Sarah Lutz at Metal Blade Canada for hooking up this interview.