Six Feet Under Interview

Six Feet Under have returned with a vengeance with their latest platter of full-on raging death metal, the appropriately titled "13". As one of the major forces in the death metal genre today, Six Feet Under continues to redefine their sound and with the new record, the band has returned to the heavier, faster style of music that they previously displayed on offerings such as "The Haunting". Certainly never one to back down from a challenge, vocalist Chris Barnes proves on this record exactly why he is the master of the guttural vocal style which so many after him have emulated. The Gauntlet's own Erin Fox chats with Chris about the new record, the band's upcoming box set and the vocalist's tastes in recreational activities.


The Gauntlet: First off, what is it that you would like to say to the detractors in the media who have been launching diatribes against Six Feet Under in response to your release of "Graveyard Classics 2?"

Chris Barnes: You know, that's the norm for my career, so I will thank them for being wrong for bashing Six Feet Under.


The Gauntlet: Do you think they are being fair in their assessments?

Chris Barnes: I think that everyone has their own opinions, you know? And I think that's normal. But I think there's a lot of negativity and they have no facts in which to base their opinions. In this business there are many people who perceive themselves to be journalists who are, in fact, more like gossiping girls.


The Gauntlet: So let's talk about the new record, "13". It seems that the band has returned to a more aggressive approach, similar to the type of thing you were doing on "Haunted", but with an updated feel. Was it time for you guys to kick things back into high gear and bring out the faster heavy material?

Chris Barnes: We just attacked the writing process in a different way in order to stir up some different sounds, a different way of creating. It worked out for the most part. I think in order to make an album that's fresh and new sounding every time, you have to attack the level in which you're writing songs and actually change the way you write the songs.


The Gauntlet: Artistically, is the band constantly writing and always striving to come up with new ideas for songs?

Chris Barnes: Yeah, you know, I am always writing lyrics or song titles or verses, you know? That's just who I am, I do it actively. It's not something I have to do, that's just the way it is. You know, I have an idea for a verse or song in my head and I take pen to paper and put it down for the future. So we're always writing. I don't know about the other guys, Steve, he's pretty much always coming up with riffs.


The Gauntlet: Is the record's title something that holds a connotation in reference to religion?

Chris Barnes: Someone asked me that if it was anything that had to do with Mark 13 in the Bible and I hadn't really even thought about that. I actually went and did a Google search on the Bible. I came up with, well it seems to be pretty odd man, but Mark 13 gives some pretty strong ideas about end times and the destruction of the world and the Apocalypse. After I saw that, it was pretty surprising for me. It seems like that was pretty close to what I was talking about. I'm not a big fan of the Bible or anything. All of the prophecy that I have seen says pretty much the same things about the end of the world, so we'll have to see.


The Gauntlet: Well, to me thirteen is a pretty heavy number as it is claimed that there are thirteen pure Satanic bloodlines that have been put upon the Earth in order to refute the twelve Tribes of Judah, which I believe, is the reason that so many consider the number to be unlucky, whether they are aware of the story behind the superstition or not...

Chris Barnes: Yeah, and it seems like as I research it more, I don't know, I'm just linked into those thoughts or something. I definitely have been researching different Prophecies and looking into this subject...But for whatever reasons, the number thirteen seems to be the most superstitious number in the world. It seems to hold some type of supernatural powers.


The Gauntlet: What do you consider to be the biggest difference between "13" and Six Feet Under's previous recordings?

Chris Barnes: I think that there is a whole different personality to it. It has a little bit of of the sound of our other records, but there's a whole different element to it. It has more of an original sound overall and it's a little bit more of a progression for us.


The Gauntlet: The album sounds really heavy but the guitars are still really sharp and biting. It seems to have a good edge to it.

Chris Barnes: Yeah and that's what I was really looking for. We went for that sound. I was trying to get that crunchy tone and still keep it really heavy. We wanted to keep a consistent sound throughout the whole production and I think that we managed to get that out of it. We wanted to get that full sounding production and for everything to be turned up really loud. We worked really hard on the production and I think that the album is a lot stronger for it. I'm really happy with this record.


The Gauntlet: You were the first vocalist to bring the extreme, guttural vocal style to metal fans back when you were a part of Cannibal Corpse. There have been countless singers that have imitated that style since you first brought it to light. Is this a style that comes naturally for you?

Chris Barnes: Yeah, it does. I would like to think that I was doing something a bit more unique with my vocal approach, and still do. Going all the way back to the days of Cannibal Corpse, I was trying to do something different, that set things apart in terms of style, and I think that I have managed to accomplish that. I've tried to put a lot of thought behind that vocal approach and the performance that I was getting. I think that many of the people who have tried to copy my style have kind of missed the point, and that was to be doing something that everyone else was not doing at the time. I'm proud that I have been able to do this and to have a strong enough voice to be able to carry out parts like I do.


The Gauntlet: Have you ever experienced any types of problems from singing the way that you do?

Chris Barnes: No, it's not really what I do, it's who I am and that's just my voice. I don't even have to practice hardly, that's just the way it comes out.


The Gauntlet: So it you don't have to strain in order to sing?

Chris Barnes: No, not at all. It's just like talking, you know?


The Gauntlet: What do you do to relax after a performance?

Chris Barnes: Just after show stuff? Man, we just try to wipe the sweat off of us and relax a little bit and catch our breath. It's a hard thing to be out on the road and it catches up with you really quick. I think the first five days of the tour are the hardest.


The Gauntlet: Who is the average Six Feet Under fan?

Chris Barnes: (laughs) It's a pretty diverse crowd of people. The average fan is twelve to age fifty. We have a pretty wide range of fans.


The Gauntlet: As it stands right now, there seems to be fewer and fewer bands that are actually playing straight up death metal anymore. Bands seem to be branching out into other areas like doom, or throwing melodic vocals into the mix and things of that nature.

Chris Barnes: I think that it's okay for musical exploration like that, it's all good. But once you strip it down, it all comes back to the death metal. If bands want to branch out into other territories with their music, it's all a part of it, but I'll still be around doing what I do as long as the people are still into it. When the time comes that they're not, that's when I'll end my career.


The Gauntlet: Well you certainly have one of the most unique voices in metal today. It's instantly recognizable and when you hear it you know that it is Chris Barnes. You have been hammering it out with Six Feet Under for almost a decade now. What is the mission and purpose behind this band?

Chris Barnes: To take my revenge, Erin. To take my revenge�


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Tags:  Six Feet Under  , Chris Barnes, interviews

EF    May 03, 2005