Here at CVLT Nation, we like our sludge crusty, damaged & blackened. So who better to interview than Coffinworm. This band unleashed the beast with their 2010 release When All Became None. Now hear from their own minds what makes them tick & what they have in store for the future. So after the jump Start Saving For Your Funeral & check out this sick interview!
What up Coffinworm? How are things in your neck of the universe?
Everything is going well. We’re busy writing new material for our next album and for a split 7″ with Fistula, which we’re very excited about. Taking most of the winter off from shows has produced favorable results and now we’re gearing up to do some regional shows this summer and hit some cities we’ve been meaning to get to for awhile.
How does Coffinworm create the resin-soaked blackened crust blues sound that’s blasting from my speakers?
There’s no set formula for how we write or what goes into the mix, which is how I think we’ve been able to combine many elements of underground music that we like into a cohesive sound. I don’t usually like bands that can be summed up by comparisons to other bands, although with 12 notes there’s not a lot of room for anything totally new. We write what we like and if it doesn’t give us the feeling we’re striving for, it gets reworked or canned. Outside influences for our music tend to be derived from where we live, our shitty jobs, intoxicants of choice, and the constant barrage of idiotic human behavior that all of us have to wade through every day.
What are some of the visual pictures the band is trying to convey through your lyrics? What is your greatest inspiration for lyrics?
Death, doom, and destruction to be succinct. Dave (vocals) is a huge fan of horror films and other high quality low-brow entertainment, so there are several nods to some of his favorite works in the lyrical content on ‘When All Became None’. Apocalypse and destruction as lyrical themes isn’t anything new in metal, but if it ain’t broke why fix it?
When Coffinworm has the dis-sludge on a 100% in front of a crowd, what kind energy over takes your bodies?
I [Carl] can only speak for myself, but when I was playing drums in the band (I’ve switched to guitar now) I had several shows that felt like I had transcended the physical. Sounds somewhat ridiculous I’m sure, but that’s the best way I can describe it. On a regular basis, though, it’s generally an alcohol-fueled ritual of high volumes and hate…every show is a blank slate and whatever happens is gonna happen. I think most bands strive for a very calculated set, but with us it’s less about playing things exactly as they were recorded and more about creating a palpable energy between us and the audience.
Does this blood sucking vampire of a so-called government with their trailer loads of social justice inaction inspire how & what you create?
Not sure what you mean exactly, but in general political matters don’t enter the Coffinworm domain. The music exists outside of a social or political ideological framework. We aren’t fascists, though, and only speaking for myself I don’t buy the typical “fuck everyone and everything” stance that many people in extreme metal purport. As a sentiment, sure, but few put that into practice in the realm of action. If anyone really felt that way they wouldn’t make music or be in a band considering the social connections required to do anything musical. Negativity and hate are universal and we all can relate to those things on some level, though. It’s all about catharsis.
Has the DIY circuit of couches & punk houses helped serve you in the spread of your sonic stench?
We haven’t done what I would call touring with this band, although most of us have done plenty of DIY tours in previous bands. I still support and believe in the DIY movement, though, and despite the trappings of ‘scenes’ I see viability in doing things on a DIY platform. Too many people are removed from what it was like before downloading, Myspace and Facebook, and corporate stipends. Whatever works is what’s best for you, but I think most bands today are hungry to jump on the gravy train without putting in any work and selling themselves to the hype machine in the process. As a result, the music suffers. It becomes less about someone going to a record store and buying your album and more about a ridiculous marketing scheme. You’re a logo or a bullet point on someone’s web site at that point. DIY keeps things at an honest level, but it isn’t a means to an end either. If we could do some killer tour with a bigger band I don’t have any qualms about dealing with a booking agent and all that shit, but for where we’re at now it makes no sense to let anyone outside the inner circle handle anything.
What was the force & the purpose that brought your five beings together?
We’d all been friends for varying lengths of time and had a shared desire to play music like this. Everyone has been in all kinds of different bands in the past within the punk and metal framework (or otherwise), but things clicked from the inception of Coffinworm. There was a shared vision of the music, which has certainly changed over time and especially with the recent lineup changes. The core is still the same, though.
Is there anyone who is in Coffinworm that knows that aliens exist? If so, what evidence do they point to?
I’d have to say no to this question.
Does the inhaling of sweetleaf on the part of Coffinworm effect how you sound?
Depends on who it is partaking in the greens. I can drink myself into oblivion and still play fine, but I’ve never been able to play well after inhaling the devil’s lettuce. So, in that respect it can fuck up our sound. Haha! It certainly plays a part in writing and performance for some of us, though.
What was the creative process for your album When all became none?
It was long and slow. We spent 2 years working on material from our inception until the recording sessions, discarding a heap of compositions along the way and fine tuning the songs that did get recorded. The recording process was incredible, though, and while there are always humbling moments it was mostly smooth. Sanford is a great engineer and producer. Once the basic tracking was done he sort of let us loose to experiment with different textures and amps/effects to fill out the sound on the record. The creative process was very laid back and anything we wanted to try he encouraged.
Things have changed since then, though, and we’re writing much faster these days with a clearer vision of what we want the new material to sound like (without getting calculated about the writing process).
When will the world be hearing another Coffinworm album?
The loose plan in our camp is to have a slew of new songs finished by the end of this year (or earlier) and then make plans to get into the studio by early next year. We want to have plenty of material to choose from for the record and so far we’re on the right track. There won’t be a new full-length until 2012, but we’ll have a split 7″ with Fistula out this summer on Hell Comes Home records and a few other cool small releases have been discussed including a live tape.
Do you guys have any plans to tour Europe?
We would jump at the chance to get over there. Once the next record is released would be opportune, so maybe next year? Nothing is planned at this point, but touring Europe is certainly something we would like to do.
Do you have any shout outs to your peers, labels, fans or family?
Thanks to those who continue to support us and to you and the CVLT Nation staff for the interview. Cheers!
CVLT Nation would like to thank Coffinworm for creating super rad music & for their support!
Photo’s by Kris Arnold
Header Photo by Kris Arnold
Photos by Andrew Hutchison & Samantha Marble.
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