Cattle Decapitation Interview with guitarist Josh Elmore. Genre: Death Metal Progressive Grind.
Cattle Decapitation Interview
– What’s new in the world of Cattle Decapitation?
Josh: We just finished up a weekend of shows and will be headlining the Armstrong Metal Fest in Armstrong, B.C., Canada next weekend. Summer Slaughter starts on July 28th and then the new album is released on August 7th. After that we will be doing a small West coast/Canadian and Midwest and Northeastern U.S. tour followed by a very special tour that will be announced shortly.
– How was it recording your the forthcoming album The Anthropocene Extinction and finding the subjects for the lyrics and concepts?
Josh: It is always an arduous process recording our albums. This is not necessarily because of performance, but more the emotional turmoil we put each other through in the studio. There’s a lot of pressure we all put on one another and although it is because we care deeply about the outcome of the recording, it is still trying. I sometimes wonder if that dynamic is part of what leads to the increasingly better results we’ve been having over the past few records. Either way, I think we are all happy with the outcome and hope the fans will feel the same way. As far as lyrics/concepts go, Travis spent a great deal of time researching the Pacific Gyre and the effect plastics and human material waste has effected the Pacific Ocean and humanity as a whole.
– When writing a song, is there such a thing as investing too much time? What’s the shortest time you ever took to write one? What was your strangest inspiration?
Josh: Absolutely. After a certain time it just becomes pointless to keep frustrating one’s self when you hit a blockade in writing. Come back to the riff/part/song at a later date and see if the inspiration returns. If anything, you can always take the best bits and pieces from the tune and use them for another song. Sometimes the writing inspiration comes out of nowhere and we can crank out a song or at least the skeleton over the course of a practice or two. It’s almost scary when that happens as we are used to agonizing over parts for a bit. Regarding inspiration, I would think that my odd inspiration comes from the sounds of nature or industry. In my way I sometimes try to create riffs or guitar sequences that resemble howling wind or clanking machinery. Whether anyone hears these things in the song remains to be seen, but sometimes that odd place inspires.
– This summer Cattle Decapitation are embarking on a big US tour. While on tour I am sure you meet interesting fans and stories? What’s your take on this?
Josh: There always ends up being a wide-range of characters that make appearances of these types of runs. Whether it be a very enthusiastic fan, or a particularly scathing detractor, rest assured these folks will all earn nick-names and have their place amongst Cattle inter-band lore. However, every tour there ends up being a few individuals that go above and beyond to ascend the ranks to the level of truly impressing their insanity upon us. They will become mythic figures.
– What would be some of your main musical influences today?
Josh: Whether it makes its presence known in Cattle or not, I find a lot of the Daemon Worship and Nuclear War Now catalog pretty inspiring. Many of the bands on these labels take me back to the time when death/black metal sounded and felt violent and dangerous. Really, anything with good songwriting that uses technicality to bolster the tune and not give the song its sole identity. From 80’s new wave to Americana, all of the above finds it way (whether detectable or not) into what I want to hear and play.
– How important is it for a musician in this generation to spend time on social media?
Josh: It is a necessary evil. It’s pretty much the default source people go to for your band info. This is increasingly the case so that the bands’ actual websites seem to serve as mere portals or sources for links or redirection to social media sites.
– What would we be surprised to find in your music collection at home?
Josh: I listen to a lot of Americana. The writing in that style of music is very different than the typical metal tune, but it can be just as emotionally cathartic. Friends call it my “sad bastard music.”
– Where do you see music in general going in 100 years from now?
Josh: Hopefully music will still be something that people care about. Due to advancements in technology and the diversification of entertainment outlets, music isn’t the force it once was. Video games are what seems to motivate individuals these days. I can believe that in a century there will be currently unimaginable pass times that the average individual will indulge in. Music is such a great way to manipulate your own mood and emotions and playing/performing is a fantastic way to keep one’s mind agile and to connect with each other. I hope that people do not stop seeing the value in such interactions.
– Any words of wisdom to share with aspiring musicians?
Josh: Keep at it. Whatever form your music takes it will always be something you can turn to, regardless of what the outside world throws at you.
Check out Cattle Decapitation online http://cattledecapitation.com/