Chad Bowar: You have a lot of influences and styles. Which ones are at the forefront on Breathing The Fire?
Chance Garnette: We didn’t really try to make Breathing the Fire this or that. We never said “let’s make the new one more death metal, or more black metal.” I do think that the epic parts are more epic and the brutal parts are more brutal. Id say Breathing the Fire is pure Skeletonwitch, bottom line.
How did you decide on Jack Endino to produce?
I’m not really on top of who’s produced or recorded what. I heard recording with Jack was an option so then I checked out what he had done in the past and it seemed he could definitely give us the sound we wanted to achieve on Breathing the Fire. Plus, I talked to the dudes in the band Early Man about their experience recording with Jack, and it seemed just what we were looking for, so we did it.
What was his producing style, and how did you like working with him?
Style? Easy, breezy beautiful. We worked from around noon to at least midnight most days. The band had a day off here and there so Jack could do his thing without us up his ass. I had a great time doing vocals with Jack. He was completely open to doing things unconventionally, there was not “this is how I do it guys” with Jack. Great guy to work with, I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I’m totally satisfied with the final product.
Where did the CD title come from?
Breathing the Fire is a reference to how we live our lives. Everyone in Skeletonwitch lives breathing the fire of heavy metal.
What inspired your lyrics?
I’m a fan of evil things, evils stories etc. I have some pretty wicked thoughts and dreams sometimes, too. Some of the songs are directly related to that. You know, human torture, willingly being possessed by demons, the process of dying in general, just good old evil fun. Good times, good times.
What are your expectations for the CD?
I’m not sure. I’d like to reach new fans and get people stoked on this type of music. I guess I don’t expect anything from it, but I have high hopes that we will be able to tour another two years on this one before we do another one, as we were able to do on Beyond The Permafrost. Just to be out there doing what we love to do, I guess. So I guess I expect to be in the van a hell of a lot, to play a ton of shows, and to have a killer time. Fingers crossed.
You’re currently on tour with Children Of Bodom and Black Dahlia Murder. How has it been going?
I couldn’t complain if I had to. It’s great, shows have been big, we’ve been drinking a ton of beer, and we’ve met a lot of people that have never seen or heard of Skeletonwitch. Mission accomplished!
Both of those bands are known for partying. Has it been a wild time, and have you been able to keep up?
Keep up? Of course! We 100% have been holding our own partying. Not a problem.
What else do you have coming up for touring?
12 days after we get back from this tour we will leave for Europe for three weeks with our good friends in Goatwhore and Toxic Holocaust. We are good friends with both bands and are stoked our second trip to Europe is with those guys.
What are your van/tour bus essentials?
We aren’t too picky on that. As long as it has four wheels and a heater in the winter we’re good. Our A/C hasn’t worked in ages. That really sucks driving through the desert of Arizona, New Mexico, and California. But then I think, I could be working some construction job or warehouse job again and it doesn’t really matter how hot we are.
What are the largest and smallest crowds you've played in front of?
Smallest crowd? The band Couldron and a sound guy in Youngstown Ohio. So five people, of which zero paid to attend the show. Largest crowd? Maybe last years Scion rock fest in Atlanta GA, or maybe the times we’ve played the New England Metal and Hardcore fest is Massachusetts. There have been some killer sold out shows on this Bodom tour as well.
What was the first concert you attended as a fan?
Hank Williams, Jr. I was 15 years old. Soon after that, I went to see DRI on the Thrash Zone tour.
Any tour horror stories?
Just yesterday, our bassplayer Evan cut his hand so badly while we were camping on an off day that he had to get stitches inside the cut as well as outside the cut. He is so bummed out right now because he can’t perform as well as he usually is able to. Which is amazing! And then at sound check today Nate’s Marshall took a (crap) and we are forced to use our spare 5150 head. So we’ll see what happens.
Describe the first show your band played.
We played at home in Athens, Ohio. The band had played 2-3 shows as an instrumental band already. I had lyrics for four songs, so I held my lyric book on stage during our performance for those four songs. Then the band played another 3-4 instrumentally after the songs with lyrics.
What the best prank you’ve played on bandmates or other bands?
Mullet Chad (the band’s drummer) forgets a ton of his own belongings at clubs. He went to drink at a bar with some friends from Goatwhore and left his laptop. Ben from Goatwhore gave it to us while Mullet Chad was partying. So the club closed for the night and was all locked up. We let Mullet Chad think his laptop was gone for a good while until Nate said, Ben brought this for you, keep your stuff straight dude. It’s not the best prank ever but it's the one I can remember right now!
What’s the dumbest or most unfortunate thing you’ve said on stage?
I called Minneapolis Milwaukee once. Felt like a dick there. Then the other day I said, “Thanks for coming out on a Sunday guys.” It was Saturday. The real unfortunate things I’m going to keep to myself and hope people didn’t hear me or will forget soon. I’d rather not open up that can of worms again.
