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A shred aheadGermany’s Necrophagist make
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In 2004, German death/tech band Necrophagist set the metal world on fire when they released their seminal album Epitaph. Though metal bands were already taking technical ability to dizzying new heights, Epitaph rose head and shoulders above its competition with head-spinning guitar work, stop-on-a-dime arrangements and off-the-chart tempos. That record has proven to be a touchstone for technical metal bands with an influence still felt half a decade later. Despite the recent tsunami of shred-heads and math-metallers pushing the envelope of technical ability, many of whom Necrophagist have directly influenced, vocalist Muhammed Suiçmez hardly feels anybody nipping at his heels. “We really never set out to be super complex or musically complicated,” says Suicmez. “The technical side of the band just comes out really natural for us. “We like to come at the technical aspect of the band from a more musical perspective and never really try to force anything. Epitaph has definitely left its mark on the death metal world and a lot of bands have cited it as an influence, which is really flattering, but to be honest, I really don’t follow the technical death metal scene too closely and just stick to what I know.” Necrophagist, who headline the 10-band Summer Slaughter caravan at le Medley this week, certainly continue to cast a shadow on the death metal scene, but given the five-year gap with nary a new song since, suspicions of writer’s block and the sophomore slump come to mind. Suiçmez insists nothing could be further from the truth. “It’s not really that dramatic a story. I was finishing up my college education after Epitaph was released, as the band never really set out to be a touring band. After the record was out for a year, we decided to get out on the road and then we did that for two years. Time just flies by, I guess, but now I’m almost finished the writing process for the next record and it really feels good with the band right now.” WITH ENSIFERUM, DARKEST HOUR, |
