Interview with Chris from Awaiting the autopsy

I hooked up with Chris from Awaiting the autopsy via mail and shot some questions at him:

Q:
You guys just released your debut album, could you tell me a little about it? Did the lyrics or the music come first? And how does it feel to have released something as anticipated as this album actually is? I suppose you’re satisfied with the end result of the recording but was it a long process to narrow the songs down or decide what to keep etc (who came up with the hilarious MC Hammer sample?)?

A:
Hey Dennis, how are you doing?

Just as you mentioned before, we released our debut full lenght „couldn't tell the bodies apart“ due Amputated Vein Records (Japan) a few weeks ago. We've worked on this record for at least one year and are very satisfied, holding the final copys in our hands!
In addition to the songwriting, which was followed by the pressure to satisfy those people who digged the promo, it has been my first own-production. So, especially myself was very excited whether the people will like it or not.

But the previous feedback is pretty stunning! Especially the MC Hammer sample seems to work out as the metal quote of the year. Meant as a joke to open the slam part of the song – it seems like many people have the same stupid sense of humor the way i see it.

Q:
Will you tour to support the record? If so where and when?

A:
Painfully we will not tour with ATA! We received a bunch of request (e.g. Death Feast Open Air) but it's pretty hard to come together with the full band in the moment cuz we all have main bands which are pretty active.
For now, the album must be enough to satisfy you guys.
But who knows, maybe we'll find the time to go on tour at a later date...

Q:
What were the main influences for this album and for the forming of the band?

A:
Our main influences are Guttural Secrete, Wormed & Infested.

Even if our music is different to theirs, we love their stuff and got our inspiration through their music. Funny enough Briel and me decided to form this band during a Wormed show.
This is one reason why we are very proud to have Phlegeton's guest vocals on our album. He's an awesome artist and has an unique voice which has been a great enrichment to our song „slowmotion slide down the impalement stake“

Q:
There’s been sort of a high-tide in the slam death subgenre lately, do you feel like you’re riding that wave or not?

A:
To be honest, i'm pretty sure it's much to late to ride the high-tide. Some bands got their fame (e.g. Waking the Cadaver) but fans of Brutal-Death are tired of that so called „Deathcore-kids“.
Thats one of the reasons why they are hypercritical with new bands. Everything out of the Devourment universe seems to be false metal.

We dont care who's listening to our music – we love to please the metal heads, but don't mind if anybody else has a good time pumping our music.

Q:
As most of us know females that dig extreme music of this sort (Black metal seems to have a lot of girl followers in comparison) are very rare, is there any difference with having a female in the band from if you’d just be guys? Have you ever felt discriminated in any way because of it?

A:
Not at all! It's very cool having Ulli in the band. There is no difference working with a girl or a guy. Far from it! Most people are very open minded for this band cast and support us for what we do.
The remaining envious bitches can fuck off!

Q:
What do you guys do when not playing in a band? Are there any weird jobs or such?

A:
Boring ass life! Working or study and playing rockstar while answering interviews LOL.
Spare time is wasted with hobbies or our other bands: Corporectomy & Poostew.

Q:
Could you try to describe what Awaiting the autopsy stands for musically? And how did you guys meet in the first place?

A:
This is a hard one... we never followed the main target to reinvent the wheel when we started the band! It's our tribute to the Brutal Death scene, trying to perfom some negativ slam death the way we would love to hear it. We tried to work out a unique songwriting and an own sound at which Ulli's vocals helped a lot.
But mainly, Briel an me acted on instinct when we started to work on our first songs. Both got a Hardcore background so it has been easy to write groove and slam parts, the remains followed of its own volition.

Q:
Your demo was named “Eight girls instead of nine” why was it called that?

A:
Upon completion of the songwriting for the demo, we were looking for a lyrical content and disturbing name. „eight girls instead of nine“ seemed to work out just fine for this purpose.
Each song on the demo represents a chapter (you'll find girl 1 and girl 2 on the demo). Maybe one day we will finish the remaining chapters and you'll get the whole story, dunno yet!

Q:
As a Swede I’m almost ashamed that we came up with the Gothenburg sound, what’s your take on what is called commonly called “melodic death metal”? and what about other genres, what do you listen to at home or in your car?

A:
To be honest – i don't mind the Gothenburg sound. I don't listen to old bands such as „At the Gates“ or „Dark Tranquility“, but bands like „The Black Dahlia Murder“ (dig their Carcass influences, too!) & „Arsis“ have their right to exist!
But just like in every scene, many wack bands try to clone a good working concept and i'm sure this clone bands are the one you are ashamed of (Editors note, yes, the clones are the ones disturbing my sleep)! But this is a practice which you can easily find in every music genre!
My taste in music isn't settled on a main genre. I like Death Metal & Grind for sure but i'm also listening to Avant Garde music such as „Fantomas“ or "Bohren und der Club of Gore" as well.

Q:
This question has become something of an epic since I asked Dismember about it, would you do a gig at a wedding?

A:
May i ask for Dismember's answer first!?
Regarding us: not in the moment – but at a later date, why not?
As long as it's a a civil marriage and not connected with the church or any religion... LOL

Q:
And finally any last words for the readers/the world?

A:
Thank you for your patience to read this interview to the end! We would like to thank you all for the amazing support!
Feel free to visit our website www.myspace.com/awaitingtheautopsy and get in touch!
By the way – if you're listening to a downloaded version of our album up to now - feel free to get in touch with us and order a regular CD and/or Merch *g*! That would be sweet - haha!

Cheers!

Thank you Chris, i/we hope all goes well and you guys are able to continue to release sickness to the world. Awaiting the autopsy's debut album was reviewed by Intestinal Dismemberment here: http://intestinaldismemberment.blogspot.com/2009/05/awaiting-autopsy-couldnt-tell-bodies.html and is well worth the cost.

support the sickness.