EARTHRIDE (Eng.)
– Hi and thanks for your time. Whats the band currently up to?
Earthride is getting ready to play our first show with our new bass player, Josh Hart. It’s been a year since we’ve played out.
– And to start, could you make some history of the band for all those who don’t know you yet?
Earthride formed in 1999. The band was started by Eric Little, former Internal Void drummer and Kyle Van Steinburg on guitar. Eric asked me if I wanted to sing, I said yes and we released a self-titled ep. Shortly after, we signed to Southern Lord records and released two records with them, Taming of the Demons in 2002 and Vampire Circus in 2005.
– We have now finally got the vinyl version for «Something Wicked». How important is for you having the vinyl edition as
well?
well?It’s really important since vinyl is making a big resurgence, one million vinyl lps were sold/exchanged hands last year.
– That’s why I would like to get into this album. So first off, how did you come up with the name? What’s that «wicked thing» for or form EARTHRIDE?
Drummer Eric Little came up with the name and wrote the title song. I guess it’s just about what the world has become today.
– «Something Wicked» was released 5 years after «Vampire Circus» came out. Why did it take you so long?
We had a lot of broken bones and injuries. I jumped off a stage in Germany, and it took a long time to heal, mentally and physically. Then we got it back together and started writing this record. We did some demoing for the record with Jean Paul Gaster of Clutch. He has a small studio in his basement.
– When I reviewed the album I said this is your most groovy and rocker album so far but, what’s your opinion on this?
I agree. The songs seem to flow a little better than the other releases. I like the songs a lot too on this record because I tried to do a lot more singing, rather than just screaming.
– I also wrote is your most solid and mature album so far, specially due to the great compositiones are the way songs flow. In fact, have been over 10 years since the band was formed so, how do you think has been your musical evolution since then?
I think the writing of the songs has become more diverse than the first ep for sure, but that was in 1999, and now it’s 2011. So we are more familiar with each others’ musical talent.
– Due to this, I would like to know how’s the composition process in a band like EARTHRIDE, as everything sounds quite natural and honest.
A lot of the times Eric will come up with words and Kyle comes up with the riffs. He’s got riffs for days! But sometimes I write the lyrics as well, and I’ve written a whole song on Vampire Circus, “Dirt Nap”.
– I think this album sounds even heavier and all the elements that have bilt your sound have a bigger presence. Is what we
hear in «Something Wicked» your actual current sound?
hear in «Something Wicked» your actual current sound?Kyle used his Orange head on Something Wicked but at the present time he’s using Matamp 120. So occasionally Earthride’s sound will vary from live to on a recording. We tend to have more distortion live, it’s a little cleaner on the record.
– I found several elements from different music styles in the album, from Southern Rock to Heavy Metal so, what are your main musical influences?
Obviously, Motorhead and Sabbath, but we also like Free, Pink Floyd, Blue Cheer etc.
– We can find Wino doing backing vocals and leads for «Supernatural Illusion». How did the idea of having him there arise?
I thought having Wino on the record would bring another feel to the Earthride sound, he was in Maryland at the time recording his “Adrift” acoustic record and I took him up to Chris Kozlowski’s studio and he did the tracks. It was magic again, me and him working together again.
– And, what could you say he brought to the song?
He’s WINO!!
– EARTHRIDE has been described by some as an «all-star» band, as some of you have played or are still playing in well-known bands. Is easier, in any way, being known?
It helps to know the music business and have toured a lot of times, but if nobody played in other bands I think Earthride could stand on its own.
– How do you see the Doom scene in the US? For example, labels as Southern Lord are releasing plenty great Doom bands from different sub-genres, so I guess it may be stronger than in other countries.
The doom scenes are different all over the world because there’s so many bands in the genre now. But Maryland is the strongest because there are just so many doom bands from around here. Iron Man, Revelation, Unorthodox, The Obsessed, Wretched, Pentagram, etc etc
– And finally, what are your near-future plans? I know you have toured Europe but, do you see the chance of visiting Spain someday?
Possibly next year, I don’t know if we will come to Spain but we are trying to play Roadburn and then maybe do a couple of weeks after that.
– That has been all. If you now want to add any final words, last lines are yours.
Buy Something Wicked if you’re into any kind of heavy sound, or vibration.
Thank you,
Dave Sherman
