Chimaira’s Matt DeVries takes a moment on the “No Fear” tour with Killswitch Engage and Dragonforce to talk with SMN about their new album, changes in the band, and Chuck Norris.

So the big news, of course, is that the new album, Resurrection, was finally released yesterday… how does it feel to have that wrapped up?

It’s cool, it’s a good feeling.. We’re most proud of this record, and we couldn’t be happier. I mean we’re on a great tour to push it so, it’s real good, it’s a real good vibe.

Are you happy with how the final product turned out?

Yeah, definitely… the production, the songwriting, getting our old drummer back, we couldn’t be happier.

What’s your favorite song off the new album?

If I had to pick, I’d pick “The Flame”… It’s more brutal, it’s a pretty groovy tune.

Certain parts on Resurrection are a little more experimental than previous Chimaira releases; specifically, the song “Six” is unlike anything the band has ever done. How did the songwriting process happen on Resurrection? Has it been different from previous albums?

Yeah it was a little bit different. The last record was mainly Rob writing most of it, then myself and Mark writing a song here and there and this one was pretty much equal between Rob, myself and Mark, you know, with everyone else putting in their two cents. The other big difference on this one: we took some time off in February to get Andy back in the fold and in the swing of things and up to par on the old record because we were still touring. We all kind of sat back, got ProTools and kind of wrote full songs in MP3 back and forth to each other so we had a pretty good jump start when we did start writing so that was a little bit different. But yeah, the song “Six” is pretty cool it was a collaboration of three songs that we just put together and it somehow worked.

Aside from the album, you all have been going through a resurrection of your own with Andy returning to the drums, switching from Roadrunner to Ferret and Nuclear Blast.. what’s your take on Chimaira’s situation now versus, say, three years ago?

I think we’re at the best place we’ve ever been.. We’re at a different label like you said and we’re finally at a place where they’re pushing us very well, there’s a lot of press, there’s a lot of hype, they’re putting records in stores and we weren’t getting that love on the last label. We were at the bottom of the totem pole where as now we’re at the top of it. We were kind of bummed out in that period of time; we weren’t really happy with our drummer…

That was Kevin Talley right?

Yeah. It was just personality-wise; he’s a great person and we’re still friends and he wrote a great record with us but we still kind of had some issues… Touring, when you live with someone, you know what I mean, for a long period of time you’ve got to get along. Doesn’t matter how good you are on stage or writing.

You’ve got to mesh well…

Exactly.

So the split was amicable?

It was, it was alright. We’re still, you know, he came up to a show the other day in D.C., hung out; no bad blood so it’s cool.

Well that’s definitely good. So, now of course, it’s time to tour and support the album. Is that something you’re looking forward to or is it something you’re dreading?

No no, I love it, this is why I’m in a band you know? Actually, I dread writing and recording because it’s kind of tedious, I just want to be on stage you know? So this is what I love. We’re going to be touring a lot on this record, pushing it hard.

Are you all looking into joining any of the big summer festivals like Gigantour or Ozzfest? Or will it be mostly smaller shows?

You know, I’m not sure yet they’re booking it right now. We’re only booked up until June which is when we’re going over to Europe to do a few festivals over there so I’m not sure, we should be announcing something soon.

Do you prefer touring in Europe or the U.S.?

The states, definitely. It’s just more comfortable you know what I mean? I love going to Europe and I love going to different countries but in terms of accommodations; it’s good to know where everything is and what you’re used to.

Culture shock?

Exactly.

The “No Fear” tour’s been on for a couple weeks now, how’s it been going so far?

It’s sick. It’s probably one of the most successful tours we’ve done you know; big crowds, sold out every night. It’s going real good, No Fear’s doing lots of support it’s cool.

What can fans look forward to hearing from the set-list this time around? New material?

Yeah, new and old. We’re doing two new songs a night and doing some old stuff too, so we’re trying to mix it up every night just so that kids go to more than one show so they’re not screwed listening to the same songs over and over again, you know?

How have the other bands on the bill been, Killswitch Engage and Dragonforce? Any tour hijinx to speak of?

Everyone’s cool as shit but Dragonforce is just nuts! I don’t understand how they drink so much before going on stage, I just don’t get it. If I drink that much before going on stage I wouldn’t play but those guys shred. It’s a good vibe, every band gets along you know?

Must be that British blood?

Yeah, definitely! Exactly.

Switching gears to you, did you always know you wanted to be a professional guitarist? When did that change from a hobby to a career?

I always want to, ever since I picked a guitar pretty much. I guess back in 7^th grade playing a talent show, you know, being on stage made me fall in love with that, I always knew that this is exactly what I wanted to work towards.

Did you have any backups or anything if this didn’t work out?

Haha, no! I used to bartend before this so no, I really just focused on this, and that was it.

That’s the way to do it apparently, it worked out well for you!

So far so good! I couldn’t be happier, it’s cool.

What words of wisdom would you give to aspiring guitarists who are looking to follow that same path?

Network yourself, never give up, always practicing, playing as much as possible building a homebase, a hometown crowd following. Meeting more and more people, it’s all about who you meet. Just being a good band, playing a lot and practicing. I mean, practice makes perfect, hehe. Never giving up is really what it is and finding people who are 110% just like you are.

Did you have times when you kind of felt like giving up?

No, not really!

110% all the way, eh?

Even if we didn’t get signed or whatever I’d still be doing it.

Because you love it?

Yeah, exactly.

What bands would you say have influenced you the most? Any specific guitarists that you idolize?

I have to give the typical answer, you know, a band like Slayer; I look up to those guys because number one, they’re cool as fuck to us and number two they take the “fuck you” approach, we’re going to play what we want. They’re successful and they’ve been doing it for twenty-five years playing the same style music, not selling out to anyone you know?

(Cough) Metallica! (Cough)

Haha, I didn’t say it!

No it’s cool I did!

Hehe. I have to say, you know, Kerry King, being a rhythm player like Scotty Ian from Anthrax and Mitch Harris from Napalm Death…

That’s the kind of stuff you grew up on? Thrash and grind?

Yup.

And what have you been listening to lately? Who are the most worthwhile artists of the moment, in your opinion?

Umm, probably Decapitated from Poland, they’re just sick. They’re sick as hell live too! I’m hoping we can take them out one of these days, you know?

Personally, I thought Winds of Creation… that first song was the ultimate way to start an album. Declared their intentions right out of the gate.

Yeah, yeah, absolutely!

So let’s move into some retrospective career questions… what’s the most memorable moment you’ve had as part of Chimaira?

Hmmm, probably the first time playing in a venue called the Agora Theater in Cleveland, it’s a venue I’ve always wanted to play, with Slayer, which is awesome since they’re my favorite band. So that was just real cool, you know?

Pretty surreal, huh?

Yeah that was a real cool feeling definitely.

What’s the most embarrassing moment playing with Chimaira?

Let me think… Hmm… I can think of an embarrassing moment playing on stage but it wasn’t with Chimaira. It was actually with Killswitch Engage, and I was fucking hammered… I went on-stage, doing windmills and goofing around, and then I went to stage-dive… Literally missed the end of the stage and went right down feet-first into the barricade and boom! The kids were like, what the hell was that, you know? So after that you know, that wasn’t bad enough for whoever saw it but on-stage Adam proceeds to tell the whole story about what happened so, you know, a thousand people of my homecrowd just laughing.. It was awesome, I could care less but at the same time I was embarrassed. Then a week later, Adam told the whole story on Headbanger’s Ball so the whole world knew about it! I mean I’m not ashamed, I think it’s hilarious, but it was just funny how it happened. Pretty embarrassing though…

What’s the funniest moment?

Probably that, haha. No, the funniest moment… I don’t even know! Probably just recording with Jason Suecof this past album because he’s crazy! He’s the craziest person I’ve ever met, but at the same time a musical genius. I dunno, the dude’s nuts. It was fun recording with him, he’s hilarious.

Ok, important question here. Who would win in a brutal fight to the death, Chuck Norris or Mark Hunter?

Haha! Chuck Norris of course.

No faith in Mark?

Well, it’s Chuck Norris!

He can build a snowman out of rain.

He can beat anyone up.

If, due to unexplained circumstances, you could only have one beer for the rest of your life?

Oh, Bud Light, definitely. Shitty, shitty beer, yeah I love it.

You could only see one movie for the rest of your life?

One movie? Hellraiser? Hellraiser 2 probably.

Big fan of the horror movies? That would make sense being in a metal band.

Hehe, yeah.

And here comes the trickiest question of the interview.

Uh-oh!

You can only listen to one CD for the rest of your life…

That’s an easy one actually! Guns N’ Roses, Appetite for Destruction.

Yeah?

Yeah, start to finish I can still listen to that record all the time.

Well thanks very much for your time Matt. It’s a sold out crowd tonight, so have fun kicking all our asses on-stage!

Thank you! I appreciate it.

Interview by Martin Parets

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This entry was posted on Thursday, March 8th, 2007 at 9:22 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

junkyhead wrote:

Cool as fuck!

May 9th, 2007 at 11:03 am

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