Suffocation, aggression is in the blood

interview with Derek Boyer (bass) done by Paula, oktober 2006

Greetings guys my name is Paula and I will be doing your BRUTALISM interview. So please give us a short introduction of yourself?
Hi Paula, Derek Boyer here. I play bass for SUFFOCATION.

Please tell something about the other members that we didn't know before and really want to know?
The biggest news in the band is about our drummer Mike Smith, he is about to become a father. His child is due any day now. Other than that, there’s not too much behind the scenes right now concerning the members, perhaps my severely broken leg and its’ recovery. I’ve been touring with multiple broken bones and just shot our new video. I’ll be fully recovered very soon but it’s been painful to say the least.

So how have you guys been doing lately before going on tour in November?
We’re good. We’ve been working hard on our new set and I stated above, we shot a video for “Abomination Reborn” (opening song on the new record)

So wow, where do I begin here, you have a new album to be released in a couple of days! ’Suffocation’ is due to be released Sept 19th. Will this be the best release yet? *smiles*
Yes, “SUFFOCATION” hit stores a few days ago. Since the release, I’ve heard “best release yet” several times. You’ll have to be the judge. We’re very confident that this record is as good if not better than any previous SUFFOCATION album.

What would you say will make this album stand out apart from the others? What can we expect?
First of all, Frank is very legible while maintaining 110% brutality with his voice. Smith just flat out “killed it” (very fast, very smooth, very clean) With new members you always get a new chemistry within the band and if you’re lucky – new contributions. I guess I’m talking about myself (new blood) this was my first album with the band and the material I brought to the table was very well received.

The new album cover is just awesome! Who did the art for ’Suffocation’ and who came with the idea? Or did the artist get a free hand?
My Tattoo Art Jon Zig did the new album cover. Zig and I have been friends for many years. I was in Texas (where he lives) getting more ink and we discussed the possibility of him doing some art for Suffocation. When he presented the new symbol we decided to have him do the cover. As for the covers’ concept, Terrance had a scene in mind from a horror movie that he really liked, so I stuffed the DVD in my laptop, took a screen shot from the movie, then using Photoshop, I put the symbol on it and sent it back to Zig. The cover from Zig landed in our hands a few days later.

Where would you say most of your album sales are and the biggest fanbase? What country? And did you ever visit that country and meet the fans?
I personally do not know where we sell the most records. We have a very loyal fan base (worldwide). South America is animalistic, Europe is big (Festivals) and the fans in The States are just CRAZY... We still have a few territories to perform for and plan to do so very soon.

Can you tell us a little about the making of the video ’Abomination Reborn’?
The making of the video was done very well. There was an amazing film crew, great location, great narrative writing, and last but not least a great performance from the band. We a re very anxious to see the final cut of the video and anticipate the release.

You are about to start your North American Tour 2006 that will last through December. What bands will be on this tour with you guys?
The tour is called “Machines at War” and we will be sharing the stage with FEAR FACTORY, HYPOCRISY, and DECAPITATED.

What are your plans after December?
After the tour we will all take a little time to ourselves. Usually we spend time with our families in December then regroup and get ready for spring. We are currently working with our Video Editor and plan to have the DVD ready for a Winter 2007 release.

Are you planning a European Tour in the near future? If so, what spots are you wanting to tour this time?
We are working on a European Tour. It’s hit an miss with Europe. Nothing against the fans at all, the fans are great! It’s the agencies that are hard to work with. We really need to get to the northern part of Europe, Poland, Sweden, etc.. also we need to get down to Italy again and Greece needs our presence among other parts.

What is your general opinion about the American death metal scene? Do you think it has changed alot since the 90's and in what ways better or worse?
Generally speaking, the American Death Metal Scene is SICK. There are many great bands, great venues, and many great fans. At shows, the fans were much crazier in the nineties than today although from town to town there is a difference and some places really go insane like before. There is definitely more media coverage now days than in the past. Perhaps technology plays a hand in that with the common use of the internet.

What drives you to play music for more than 10 years? Never getting bored and wanting to do something completly different?
Playing aggressive is in the blood. You grow up in a Brutal, Violent World. Aggressiveness is all around you, natural and embraced. You learn to be comfortable in the fire. You eventually enjoy this edge you’ve been granted. As for doing something else, what else is there? Education, love, travel? All can be achieved in real time while pursuing a music career.

Do you agree that metal is a way of life? And how does your life fit in?
Metal can be a way of life... If you live a “real life” metal lifestyle, it can be grim, rocky, hardship. Don’t get me wrong, you can live right and still be metal. A lot of stereotypical metal lifestyle is just drugs, alcohol, music, sex, violence, etc...You know, all that good shit... My life and how it fits in to metal... I drink, smoke, do ridiculous things, play the sickest form of music ... METAL = LIFE. I can’t say metal life is always comfortable, but that’s metal.

So how did Suffocation start? And did you achieve the goals you set in the beginning? Any regrets about wrong decisions? And what were those decisions?
Wrong person to ask that to...I was racing motocross (9th grade – High School)

Who runs your myspace site? Are you involved personally in the internet movement? Ever thought about this technology when doing the paper trade in the 80s?
Mike, Guy, Frank, and myself all login in to the SUFFOCATION MySpace page. I was around for the tale end of snail mail in the death metal scene (90’s) I never saw the revolution coming, it was just on me so fast I adapted instantly.

What do you guys do for fun in your spare time? Any interesting hobbies, sports, collecting items?
We all have our own separate lives but we see each other often. Each of us are into different shit. I won’t break everyone down to deep. Smith – wife/home/motocross, Guy – fishing/anything technological, Frank – martial arts/gym/daughter, Terrance – chills out/computer tech/ guitar SHREDDER! Myself – I’m gonna’ plead the fifth. No comment.

You had so many many shows with many great bands, you've played all over. What show or tour is your most memorable and why?
All with SUFFOCATION, 200+ worldwide performances have all been amazing. The farther I can get away from the location I was born, the better. It has all become the same... Where are we? = SHOW KILLED! We SHRED it nightly. Great runs with BEHEMOTH, DESPISED ICON, MORBID ANGEL, NAPALM DEATH...

What are some of your favorite bands that have influenced you the most? Are there also non metal bands/styles you like and why?
Current? Or recently current... Regardless of style- DEATH, CYNIC, GORGUTS, SUFFOCATION, CANNIBAL CORPSE, PYREXIA, DEICIDE, HATE ETERNAL, then - CHOPIN, BACH, MOZART, then - Sade, Jill Scott, Portishead,

If you could put the word out for any upcoming new band, who would you choose?
SICK NEW BANDS or Bands that deserve a shout: Defeated Sanity, Spawn of Possession, Psycroptic, Necrophagist, Despised Icon, Behemoth, Decapitated, Decrepit Birth, Nile, Dim mak, Deeds of Flesh, Disgorge, Morbid Angel, Napalm Death, to name a few...

We always hear death metal is dying out, and all metal for that matter, but also being a band promoter, I would very strongly disagree. I think alot of the bands do not get the exposure to main stream radio and media. The internet has really become valuable to all the heavier metal/black/death/thrash metal bands. And I know this genre of music is alive and well. And I tell it to all that come at me with this ’metal is dead’ bullshit. What would be some of your advice to these bands?
Metal is alive and well. Right now metal on the rise. Even when it’s not in the media – it lives. It will never die. The advise that I’d give to any band is – do it for yourself and nothing else. When you’re doing it for the wrong reasons, it will not last.

Thank you for the interview it has really been a pleasure!! Any new news we need to know?
You’re welcome, thank you for the press.

Last Rites?
See you all soon!