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Just before this year’s Vexfest we got to sit down with drummer Fred Whitacre and talk about the band and there past and future so check it out. Also hit up their web site at www.kitchenknifeconspiracy.com for all the show dates, some mp3 and lots more info. First off we want everybody to know what you sound like. To me, it’s kinda hard to describe. You have elements of Fatomas and Mr. Bungle, but I hear Cannibal Corpse and maybe even some Down in there. How would you describe your sound to me if I had never heard Kitchen Knife Conspiracy? |
We call our music, “Stompcore”—a mixture of death metal meets hardcore, with a bit of groove sprinkled in. Think what would happen if Six Feet Under had sex with Hatebreed while Obituary and Corrosion of Conformity are watching. Ok, don’t think about that—that’s gross. But, that is what KKC is in a nutshell.
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My first glimpse of KKC was a group of guys in suits and tie, and what popped into my mind was that old D.R.I. song, “Suit and Tie Guy”. Is there a story behind those photos?
The suit idea didn’t stick around long. I mean, it was great to
be a heavy as hell death metal band that was dressed up and looking more
like business men than rock dudes, but it just got too damn hot on stage.
Also, no one really reacted to them. We thought a lot of fans would be
like, “Hey, that kicks ass” or “I hate the suits”.
Instead, apathy. You’ll have that. The suits may return someday,
but for right now, they’re nixed.
You have played with some very significant bands. How does it
feel sharing a stage with some major acts?
I think the biggest plus in playing with these “big” bands is it’s very personally rewarding for us, both as musicians and as music fans. For example, we’ve played with Six Feet Under, Crowbar, Soilent Green, Agents of Oblivion, Today is the Day and more. These are all bands we’ve looked up to and taken influence from. So to say we’ve shared a stage with them shows that we’ve been making progress since our start in 1998. Now, to say that we shared a stage with Dokken (which, no lie, we did) is not really proof of progress. In fact, it makes me want to down a flask of 100 proof Vodka and leap to my death.
What can we expect from a Kitchen Knife Conspiracy show?
Intensity, crowd involvement, a more intense sound than on our recordings, for the most part. You see a lot of bands now leaping around, swinging their guitars around their throats while they “chug chug” on the open note. We don’t do that. We thrash, but the energy comes from the crowd. We aren’t an aerobics band. You know that, when Jeremy (Cibella-guitars) is playing guitar, he is playing the guitar and banging his fuckin’ head—not doing a jumping jack to tighten his ass cheeks. We think that’s important.
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You have a new release. How does that sound compared to your previous efforts?
The new disc, which should (crossing fingers) be released by late September or early October, is definitely clearer than anything we’ve ever done. On past releases, there always seems to be a bit of mud in the speakers. You know, hindsight we say shit like, “Damn, I wish the guitars was louder” or “Why is the volume on our disc less than, say, another major indie release”. You won’t hear that on this album. I think, quality wise and production-wise, the new CD is top notch.
You recorded in Boston for this album. What brought about that opportunity?
Well, we were playing with Today is the Day here in Youngstown one night. Steve Austin, TITD’s main songwriter and the guitarist/vocalist, was up front for us rocking out and shit, which was a major head trip because that guy is a metal fucking master. He’s a genius. So to see him appreciating us was awesome. I pissed myself. Once we were done, he came up and asked us if he could record our next release! He told us he had heard “Handicapitated” and liked it a lot. He wanted to push us to the next level. So he invited us to come and record at Austin Enterprise, his studio in Massachusetts. Some great bands have recorded there: Converge, Lamb of God, Today is the Day and many more. So it was an honor to record at the same place that these guys did and to have him behind the mixing board. He is superb, and he gave us an unbelievable sound. He shares our vision for what heavy music should be, and that’s why it works so well. I can’t wait for people to hear it.
What do you think of the music scene in Cleveland, Youngstown, even Pittsburgh?
Every local scene is exactly that, a local scene. You’ve got bar owners that want to make money, bands that want to play for a ton of people, and etc. You’ve got bands that get big heads because they get a few hundred fans that know who they are on the street. The problem with all of this is that, in the end, no one benefits from competition amongst local acts. I can honestly say that I can’t think of a local band we’ve ever played with that would call us dick heads because, in the end, we just want to play for people and let them hear our tunes. We’re a local band, and we know that every band we play with is helping us spread our tunes and is allowing us to do the same for them. That’s the great thing about it. For the most part, all three areas seem a little stagnant right now. It is up and down. Just like everywhere else. No one is wearing flannel in Seattle anymore, you know what I mean? Music is just too unstable. Nothing is a sure thing, and that rules.
Anything you want all of us to know about you or Kitchen Knife Conspiracy?
Check out our site. We are proud of it. Oh, and we once killed a man, just to watch him die. Ok, I’m fuckin’ fibbing like crazy right now.