EXHUMED – Interview with Matt Harvey (guitars/vocals).

Hello, I am Andrew. How do you feel with after the release of “Anatomy Is Destiny”?

We feel very satisfied with how the album came out. It sounds the way that we had hoped it would and we're really proud of the record.

The album has been released in the USA one month before its release in Europe. What are the first reviews about it there?

Most of the reviews we've seen, regardless of their geographical origin, have been really positive. Of course, there are always a few people that don't really understand what we're doing, or want to slag us off, but that's par for the course. To us, reviews and critics aren't really that important. If one of my close friends came to me and said that it sucked, then I might give pause and think about what we're doing- but we do what we want, regardless of what people think.

“Anatomy Is Destiny” is your best album in my opinion. There are many things in it. First of all a killer production By Neil Kernon who is known from having worked along with Cannibal Corpse, Nevermore and Judas Priest. What was your co-operation like? Are you satisfied with the sound?

The sound was one of the biggest steps forward with this album. We really like the sound a lot. I think that that really helped our sound as a band to progress and to grow. Working with Neil was great, he had a tremendous amount of energy and a lot of knowledge and (obviously) experience. I think knowing that he had worked with people like Dokken, Queensryche and Priest was a push to us to step our own performance.

The lyrics must be in the same paths as usual if I can judge from the titles of your songs but I would like you to tell me a few things about them? What are they talking about and how important do you consider them to be for Exhumed?

I think that the lyrics are really important. Our lyrics and concepts have always been a big part of what the whole band is all about. The lyrics on this album are definitely in the gore vein, but there is a bit more going on this time around. For example “Grotesqueries” is a song about consumerism and mass media culture, but the point is put across by allegory and metaphor, rather than by hitting the listener over the head with a “message”. Also, “In the Name of Gore” kind of dissects our lyrical approach, as far as the “why?” of our gore fixation. “The Matter of Splatter” and “A Song for the Dead” both kind of tie into the overall concept of “Anatomy is Destiny”, as does “Nativity Obscene”.

Was the music on your demo era the same as you play now or not? Where can we found the major differences?

It's definitely in the same musical niche (Grindcore-infused Death Metal with Thrash Elements), but far more amateurishly performed and arranged. The songwriting and musicianship have grown in leaps and bounds since the demos. Even “Horrific Expulsion of Gore” which was always our most accomplished demo sounds totally amateur hour when compared with the new stuff.

You know many people will prefer to buy the new Morbid Angel album or the ones of Cannibal Corpse, Dying Fetus etc. What would you tell to someone to persuade him to buy your album?

People can buy whatever they want. I think people should make their own minds up as to what to buy, not be persuaded by anyone. If they want to hear us, then check it out, if not, that's fine too.

Would you prefer to be a great band in the underground scene or just one average band in the mainstream scene?

Hmmm… I don't know. We just want to be able to play the music that we want, and do the artwork and concepts that we want to. If that keeps us underground, then that's fine. We just focus on doing what we do, and let's keep it that way. Whatever status or success comes our way will either come or it won't. The only thing we can really change directly is the actual music and art, lyrics, etc, and that's what we focus on- not how big we can get or what other bands are doing, we just focus on our riffs, our songs, our lyrics, and beer…

Ok, now I am going to tell you the names of some bands and please tell me what kind of feelings their music evokes to you…

Cannibal Corpse – A band I have a ton of respect for. I wasn't a big fan of “The Bleeding” and “Vile”, but I have all of their other albums. “Eaten…” is still my sentimental favorite though. The first three are classics, and so is “Bloodthirst”. Morbid Angel – Classic Death Metal. Morbid Angel to me is like a continuation of Possessed. “Altars…”, “Covenant” and “Abominations” will always be Death Metal classics. My favorite is the “Thy Kingdom Come” demo still, though! I'm definitely more into the A-D era of Morbid, although they're still great live. Immolation – Immolation is one of those bands that kind of lost me after the first album. I really love all the demo stuff and “Dawn…”, but after that, I didn't really get into the direction that they went in. I respect it as being original and dark and unique, but it's just not really my thing. Slayer – Definitely one of Exhumed's main influences. I really can't listen to too much Slayer stuff that's post “South of Heaven”, but everything before that is absolutely classic. It's kind of depressing when you look at the kids in their crowds today, but hopefully the new album with Lombardo back in the band will be interesting… and …Metallica – My favorite band ever. I love the first 5 albums and have a hard time finding fault with anything about those records. I listen to “Master of Puppets” and “Ride the Lightning” almost daily. Of course, the direction they've taken in the last 10 years is pretty tragic, but they have some decent mainstream rock songs in that era. A massive influence on Exhumed and me personally. I was really hoping that people would see the Slayer and Metallica influences a lot clearer on the new Exhumed record, but they seem to have gone over most peoples' heads… Oh well.

If you had the chance to play on the same stage with any band or artist you like, who would that be and why?

Repulsion or Metallica- or both at one show! I just want to have bragging rights to my friends that I've shared the stage with either of my two all time favorite bands…

Have you arranged a tour in order to promote your album?

We just got back from a 3 and a half week European tour with Cephalic Carnage and Inhume that was awesome. We had a great time out with those maniacs. We will back in Europe in April on the No Mercy festival as well.

Do you prefer to be in the studio or to on the stage?

They both have their good points. I like practicing, recording, playing live, they're all great and they all have their place. I think just rehearsing might actually be my favorite way to play- it's just so spontaneous sometimes.

So, we are approaching the end. I want to thank you for your time and wish you good luck for the future. Closing is yours…

Thanks a lot for the interview and we'll see all you slaughtercultists and necromaniacs on the road or on the slab… Only gore is real!

www.exhumed.us