|
| Interview with: Chris Barnes By: Blissfulviolet |
| Spiders Crawl on your skull. Before and after death I drink your blood. Fuck yeah! Some sinister lyrics from the master mind of gore, Chris Barnes. The talented artist, writer, musician and vocalist has been busy preparing to unleash ‘Commandment,’ Six Feet Under’s next brutal assault. I was fucking ecstatic to speak with Barnes over the phone and got to know a little more about him and the new album. So prepare yourself fuckers…For today is ‘Doomsday.’ |
Blissfulviolet: Hey Chris, I would like to thank you on behalf of Beyond the Dark Horizon for
doing this interview. So how are you and what have you been up to since the completion of
the new upcoming album, Commandment?
doing this interview. So how are you and what have you been up to since the completion of
the new upcoming album, Commandment?
Chris Barnes: I’m doing great. I’ve just been working on the new songs and getting ready to
go on tour, hopefully in the next couple of months.
go on tour, hopefully in the next couple of months.
Blissfulviolet: Sounds good, Can you tell me about the recording process for
Commandment? I read that the band constructed and recorded this album in the studio within
12 days…and I thought that’s pretty insane.
Commandment? I read that the band constructed and recorded this album in the studio within
12 days…and I thought that’s pretty insane.
Chris Barnes: Yeah, I think theirs a misconception. People have been thinking that we just
went into the studio and wrote the record and recorded it at the same time. That’s really not
the thing. For the last 2 albums, we blocked out about 2-3 weeks before the recording
process in the studio and just used the studio as a rehearsal space to write new material and
then we record after we’re done writing. So the recording process took about 3 ½ months.
went into the studio and wrote the record and recorded it at the same time. That’s really not
the thing. For the last 2 albums, we blocked out about 2-3 weeks before the recording
process in the studio and just used the studio as a rehearsal space to write new material and
then we record after we’re done writing. So the recording process took about 3 ½ months.
Blissfulviolet: That’s interesting.
So have you found this method to
be easier for the band?
So have you found this method to
be easier for the band?
Chris Barnes: It had its ups and
downs, like everything. Every time
you go into the studio you have to
deal with certain things. It was a
very good learning experience for
the most part.
downs, like everything. Every time
you go into the studio you have to
deal with certain things. It was a
very good learning experience for
the most part.
Blissfulviolet: So how was it
working with Hate Eternals Erik
Rutan?
working with Hate Eternals Erik
Rutan?
Chris Barnes: It was ok. He really didn’t do anything but engineer the record and from there I
produced it. It was like working with anyone else.
produced it. It was like working with anyone else.
Blissfulviolet: Could you elaborate more for me on the albums title Commandment?
Chris Barnes: It was something that I came up with over the past few months. I thought that it
was a very powerful word and that it could be interpreted on different levels. It worked well for
the element that I was trying to accomplish.
was a very powerful word and that it could be interpreted on different levels. It worked well for
the element that I was trying to accomplish.
Blissfulviolet: Certainly did, the album sounds great. Do you have any favorite tracks off the
new album?
new album?
Chris Barnes: Nope I don’t. I enjoy everything on that album.
Blissfulviolet: The lyrics are killer. You’re like a master mind when it comes to these lyrics of
death, blood and gore. I was wondering if you also write anything else that’s outside the style
of Six Feet Under.
death, blood and gore. I was wondering if you also write anything else that’s outside the style
of Six Feet Under.
Chris Barnes: (Laughs) um... What you see is what you get. That’s really just my style of
writing. That’s my style, what you hear on the records.
writing. That’s my style, what you hear on the records.
Blissfulviolet: Cool. I remember years ago that you created the original Cannibal Corpse
and Six Feet Under logos and even the cover art for War path. Do you consider art to be one
of your hobbies?
and Six Feet Under logos and even the cover art for War path. Do you consider art to be one
of your hobbies?
Chris Barnes: You know I love to express myself in a lot of different ways and I find being an
artist to be very exciting and unique. I like to draw and sketch from time to time. Most of my
artwork is what my lyrics interpret.
artist to be very exciting and unique. I like to draw and sketch from time to time. Most of my
artwork is what my lyrics interpret.
Blissfulviolet: Have you recently created any art work for Six Feet Under?
Chris Barnes: Like a drawing or something?
Blissfulviolet: Yeah.
Chris Barnes: Not recently, the last thing I did for Six Feet Under was the cover for the
Double Dead DVD.
Double Dead DVD.
Blissfulviolet: Wow, I didn’t even know that, but I
kind of had a clue by the imagery. I also just
recently found out that you sing for the band
Torture Killer. How did that come about?
kind of had a clue by the imagery. I also just
recently found out that you sing for the band
Torture Killer. How did that come about?
Chris Barnes: I knew about those guys and
accepted their concept. I was really interested in
their style and how they formed the band and are
using one of my song titles as the name of their
band. I was pretty psyched on what they were up
to. I noticed that they in need of a new vocalist,
and I just offered my help. And we were kind of
going about things like that. We later entered the
studio and recorded an album.
accepted their concept. I was really interested in
their style and how they formed the band and are
using one of my song titles as the name of their
band. I was pretty psyched on what they were up
to. I noticed that they in need of a new vocalist,
and I just offered my help. And we were kind of
going about things like that. We later entered the
studio and recorded an album.
Blissfulviolet: Can you fill me in on what Torture
Killer has been currently working on? Have you all
just released a new record or something?
Killer has been currently working on? Have you all
just released a new record or something?
Chris Barnes: They did the first cd ‘For Maggots
To Devour’, ‘Swarm’ came out about a year or
sometime ago and now the guys are working on
some new material, so hopefully we’ll be back in
the studio soon.
To Devour’, ‘Swarm’ came out about a year or
sometime ago and now the guys are working on
some new material, so hopefully we’ll be back in
the studio soon.
Blissfulviolet: Now back to Six Feet Under. You
have been involved in this band for many years.
have been involved in this band for many years.
What keeps you motivated and inspires what you do?
Chris Barnes: I really like doing what I do. I find it really enjoyable being a writer and musician.
Blissfulviolet: Thanks Chris for your time. Any final comments you wish to tell us on the new
album and what to expect from Six Feet Under in the future?
album and what to expect from Six Feet Under in the future?
Chris Barnes: We’ll be going on tour here pretty soon and I’m looking forward to playing the
new material. Other than that, I appreciate all the support out there, all the fans out there and I
hope they enjoy the new record.
new material. Other than that, I appreciate all the support out there, all the fans out there and I
hope they enjoy the new record.
Blissfulviolet: Thanks once again.
Chris Barnes: Thanks and take care.
