Mark Hunter - Chimaira (04/08/2013)
With their brand new LP Crown of Phantoms out now through 3Wise records, we chat with Mark Hunter of Chimaira.
Hey, Mark. How are you?
I'm doing well, and you?
Great, thanks. Let's kick things off with the new album Crown of Phantoms. Where did that name come from?
I actually saw the phrase “crowd of phantoms” in a book by Graham Hancock called Supernatural which was a book about an Amazonian trip and experimenting with the most powerful hallucinogens on the planet. We wrote the phrase down and we, actually Jeremy (Creamer, bassist), pointed out that the word “crown” instead looked really sweet and we talked a bit about that and what it meant to all of us and it ended up meaning quite a different thing to us than the book it originally stemmed from (laughs)
(laughs) I Bet. What was the recording process like for the album?
Pretty effortless really. Everyone in the band are extremely talented musicians and pros so they all kicked ass at their respective instrument. It was very painless and fun. We felt very confident with what we were creating.
Is it hard to believe this is now album number seven?
Yeah each album feels different on the release and this is probably the least attached to a release I've ever been and it feels weird. When I look back the first time we released an album I had no idea what it'd be like and now with this album it's more just a wait and see what happens kinda thing. I don't have any expectations for it and I honestly feel carefree for the first time in my life about what happens and as an artist that's a good feeling. I've searched for that for a long time.
What would you say the new members of the band brought to the album?
Definitely different styles and backgrounds musically but also a common ground to what was previously there within Chimaira. On top of that there was just an excitement and a passion to just create something awesome. Everyone really brought their a-game and was themselves and it was just a special moment where it worked somehow (laughs)
Let's move on to Soundwave Festival 2012. What was that experience like?
It was great for us because it was the first time the band's new lineup had had a chance to perform in front of an audience and it was a gigantic audience and on top of that the audience was extremely receptive to us, chanting our name and such, and it really sealed the deal for the band to want to continue. We realised that this wasn't just a clean up crew it was more of a reboot if you will and a fresh start and we're really thankful for that experience. If that crowd would've hated us I don't think there would've been much motivation after that.
Yeah I remember your sideshow in Melbourne with Machine Head and you guys were really well received.
Yep it's really been the case all around the world and we're extremely grateful that the fan base have pretty much embraced everybody with open arms. I mean you get a few people on the internet that prefer the old way but that number in contrast and in ratio to the people that are excited and all these new people that are excited who perhaps hadn't heard of the band before. Even at that Melbourne gig there may have been some people that didn't even know who we were and so to them it was a brand new band. It's just been overwhelmingly positive and we don't know why (laughs) or how but we are confident that what we're doing we're doing well so maybe that's what people are reacting to.
Yeah I think a big part of it is that if you keep releasing great music that the fans will love then they'll stick by you.
Right. I think we made this album worthy of having the name Chimaira with what we've represented in the past and at the same time really stepping out of the box which is another thing Chimaira has always done. There's all sorts of new sounds on this album.
Talking about that, when you're writing for an album what influences you?
I definitely like to come from the subconscious for the lyrical content. I like to turn off the lights and almost be at a meditative state and then whatever comes out comes out. Interestingly I like to listen to a lot of electronic and rap music just so I'm not subconsciously ripping off my heavy metal brethren. I don't wanna be listening to somebody else's album and then come in and play the same riff because it's in your head. That's happened before actually, in the early nineties (laughs) but that was when I was a kid. I don't think anyone is gonna notice if a riff is from some weird some in a hip hop song (laughs)
I guess it must be hard to not sound like any other band when writing songs.
Yeah, exactly. I mean we hear that as artists within the scene, multiple bands sounding like each other, and we definitely don't wanna be doing that.
When you were growing up what bands inspired you to want to play music?
Definitely Slayer and Machine Head. Fear Factory, Metallica, Pantera. All the heavy hitters if you will. There was also a lot of underground death metal and hardcore bands. Every time I watched a band I used to think that I could do that.
In your time touring with Chimaira what one band would you say has been the most fun to tour with?
It's a tie between Slipknot and Slayer. As far as hanging out with the band and having a good time it's a tie but as far as being received by a crowd I would definitely say the Slipknot crowd were more open to us than Slayer's were (laugh)
(laughs) I bet. Are there any bands you'd love to tour with but haven't had the opportunity to?
Well touring is a different story because there are quite a few but we've got to play with everybody, at least within a festival capacity, but I think it'd be sweet to team up with Gojira or Crowbar. More bands that I'd love to sit and listen to every night, bands I'm fans of. Just more or less bands that we're into.
Do you have a favourite country to tour in?
I definitely felt the most out of my element in Japan. I really felt that Japan didn't feel like anywhere else in the world. As far as crowds though Australia and Mexico are insane for crowds. Then we also get to see things, like in Greece we get to see all the artefacts and the ancient ruins which is really cool. We're just lucky to be able to travel all over and to see what we get to see.
Definitely. You just mentioned Australia, are there any plans to tour here any time soon for the new album?
Yep, every interview lately is asking that question so I've been saying the same answer which is that we'd love to do a headline run and also play Soundwave so hopefully the people that are checking this interview out make some noise to the promoters. Hopefully whoever puts the interviews together knows that too (laughs) we really wanna come back at least twice for this album. That'd be sweet.
Definitely would be. Moving on, in the fifteen years you've been in Chimaira what one thing would you you're most proud of that the band has done?
Hmm....that's a really tough question. I'm not a guy that generally thinks about that sorta thing in that regard, I'm just thankful of having the opportunity to do this after all this time so I guess that'd be it, the longevity. I mean we've had plenty of up's and down's but it's a cool rock 'n' roll story, basically everything that can be thrown in there is thrown in there.
Yeah I bet back when you formed back in 1998 you never thought you'd still be around in 2013.
Nope, no idea. Back then I just thought it'd be cool if we signed one day. (laughs) Be careful what you wish for.
And now fifteen years later you're releasing album number seven, pretty amazing really.
Definitely wouldn't change a thing about it.
What would you say is the best and worst thing about being in Chimaira?
Well the best thing is that it gives me the type of life where I am able to travel and step outside my own little box of culture and get to see how the world operates as a whole. You definitely get a different perspective on life in general. Also getting to connect with people with our music across all languages and barriers which at the end of the day is the same message wherever you are. That's pretty remarkable whereas those who don't get to leave the comfort of their home only see everything one way really. The worst thing I'd say is that it's hard to leave home sometimes. Over time I wouldn't say it gets easier but we begin to understand it a little bit differently. When you first start a band you really can't wait to get away and get out of the house but then you start realising when you're out on tour for so long you just really can't wait to get home so you've gotta have a balance. It's gotta be more going on tour for a few weeks rather than nine months straight. It's kinda like let's go on tour for a few weeks then go home for a few weeks and so on to have some balance so we don't miss important things in life like birthday parties or graduations or funerals. All the things we've had to endure. I mean I'm sure we'll still have to miss some of those things down the road but we'll have a balance so we'll be able to be there for at least half of them say.
That makes sense. We'll make this the last question now, when you get some time off what do you like to get up to?
I'm big into studying the brain and the anatomy and all sorts of weird health and wellness stuff. I guess it could coincide with heavy metal if you're a big Carcass fan but I'm more into the living than the dead (laughs) I'm into all sorts of weird stuff with the body, like drinking coffee with grass fed butter. Check out bulletproof coffee, I'm into that a lot too. Have you ever had coffee with butter?
No, can't say I have.
Alright! You've gotta check it out. Google it, read up about it. It's crazy. (laughs) It's all I've been doing for the past few months now for breakfast. It's awesome.
(laughs) I'll look into it.
You'll love it (laughs)
(laughs) We'll wrap the interview up there. Thanks for your time and hopefully we see you back in Australia soon.
Thanks, me too.
Matt Barton
Hey, Mark. How are you?
I'm doing well, and you?
Great, thanks. Let's kick things off with the new album Crown of Phantoms. Where did that name come from?
I actually saw the phrase “crowd of phantoms” in a book by Graham Hancock called Supernatural which was a book about an Amazonian trip and experimenting with the most powerful hallucinogens on the planet. We wrote the phrase down and we, actually Jeremy (Creamer, bassist), pointed out that the word “crown” instead looked really sweet and we talked a bit about that and what it meant to all of us and it ended up meaning quite a different thing to us than the book it originally stemmed from (laughs)
(laughs) I Bet. What was the recording process like for the album?
Pretty effortless really. Everyone in the band are extremely talented musicians and pros so they all kicked ass at their respective instrument. It was very painless and fun. We felt very confident with what we were creating.
Is it hard to believe this is now album number seven?
Yeah each album feels different on the release and this is probably the least attached to a release I've ever been and it feels weird. When I look back the first time we released an album I had no idea what it'd be like and now with this album it's more just a wait and see what happens kinda thing. I don't have any expectations for it and I honestly feel carefree for the first time in my life about what happens and as an artist that's a good feeling. I've searched for that for a long time.
What would you say the new members of the band brought to the album?
Definitely different styles and backgrounds musically but also a common ground to what was previously there within Chimaira. On top of that there was just an excitement and a passion to just create something awesome. Everyone really brought their a-game and was themselves and it was just a special moment where it worked somehow (laughs)
Let's move on to Soundwave Festival 2012. What was that experience like?
It was great for us because it was the first time the band's new lineup had had a chance to perform in front of an audience and it was a gigantic audience and on top of that the audience was extremely receptive to us, chanting our name and such, and it really sealed the deal for the band to want to continue. We realised that this wasn't just a clean up crew it was more of a reboot if you will and a fresh start and we're really thankful for that experience. If that crowd would've hated us I don't think there would've been much motivation after that.
Yeah I remember your sideshow in Melbourne with Machine Head and you guys were really well received.
Yep it's really been the case all around the world and we're extremely grateful that the fan base have pretty much embraced everybody with open arms. I mean you get a few people on the internet that prefer the old way but that number in contrast and in ratio to the people that are excited and all these new people that are excited who perhaps hadn't heard of the band before. Even at that Melbourne gig there may have been some people that didn't even know who we were and so to them it was a brand new band. It's just been overwhelmingly positive and we don't know why (laughs) or how but we are confident that what we're doing we're doing well so maybe that's what people are reacting to.
Yeah I think a big part of it is that if you keep releasing great music that the fans will love then they'll stick by you.
Right. I think we made this album worthy of having the name Chimaira with what we've represented in the past and at the same time really stepping out of the box which is another thing Chimaira has always done. There's all sorts of new sounds on this album.
Talking about that, when you're writing for an album what influences you?
I definitely like to come from the subconscious for the lyrical content. I like to turn off the lights and almost be at a meditative state and then whatever comes out comes out. Interestingly I like to listen to a lot of electronic and rap music just so I'm not subconsciously ripping off my heavy metal brethren. I don't wanna be listening to somebody else's album and then come in and play the same riff because it's in your head. That's happened before actually, in the early nineties (laughs) but that was when I was a kid. I don't think anyone is gonna notice if a riff is from some weird some in a hip hop song (laughs)
I guess it must be hard to not sound like any other band when writing songs.
Yeah, exactly. I mean we hear that as artists within the scene, multiple bands sounding like each other, and we definitely don't wanna be doing that.
When you were growing up what bands inspired you to want to play music?
Definitely Slayer and Machine Head. Fear Factory, Metallica, Pantera. All the heavy hitters if you will. There was also a lot of underground death metal and hardcore bands. Every time I watched a band I used to think that I could do that.
In your time touring with Chimaira what one band would you say has been the most fun to tour with?
It's a tie between Slipknot and Slayer. As far as hanging out with the band and having a good time it's a tie but as far as being received by a crowd I would definitely say the Slipknot crowd were more open to us than Slayer's were (laugh)
(laughs) I bet. Are there any bands you'd love to tour with but haven't had the opportunity to?
Well touring is a different story because there are quite a few but we've got to play with everybody, at least within a festival capacity, but I think it'd be sweet to team up with Gojira or Crowbar. More bands that I'd love to sit and listen to every night, bands I'm fans of. Just more or less bands that we're into.
Do you have a favourite country to tour in?
I definitely felt the most out of my element in Japan. I really felt that Japan didn't feel like anywhere else in the world. As far as crowds though Australia and Mexico are insane for crowds. Then we also get to see things, like in Greece we get to see all the artefacts and the ancient ruins which is really cool. We're just lucky to be able to travel all over and to see what we get to see.
Definitely. You just mentioned Australia, are there any plans to tour here any time soon for the new album?
Yep, every interview lately is asking that question so I've been saying the same answer which is that we'd love to do a headline run and also play Soundwave so hopefully the people that are checking this interview out make some noise to the promoters. Hopefully whoever puts the interviews together knows that too (laughs) we really wanna come back at least twice for this album. That'd be sweet.
Definitely would be. Moving on, in the fifteen years you've been in Chimaira what one thing would you you're most proud of that the band has done?
Hmm....that's a really tough question. I'm not a guy that generally thinks about that sorta thing in that regard, I'm just thankful of having the opportunity to do this after all this time so I guess that'd be it, the longevity. I mean we've had plenty of up's and down's but it's a cool rock 'n' roll story, basically everything that can be thrown in there is thrown in there.
Yeah I bet back when you formed back in 1998 you never thought you'd still be around in 2013.
Nope, no idea. Back then I just thought it'd be cool if we signed one day. (laughs) Be careful what you wish for.
And now fifteen years later you're releasing album number seven, pretty amazing really.
Definitely wouldn't change a thing about it.
What would you say is the best and worst thing about being in Chimaira?
Well the best thing is that it gives me the type of life where I am able to travel and step outside my own little box of culture and get to see how the world operates as a whole. You definitely get a different perspective on life in general. Also getting to connect with people with our music across all languages and barriers which at the end of the day is the same message wherever you are. That's pretty remarkable whereas those who don't get to leave the comfort of their home only see everything one way really. The worst thing I'd say is that it's hard to leave home sometimes. Over time I wouldn't say it gets easier but we begin to understand it a little bit differently. When you first start a band you really can't wait to get away and get out of the house but then you start realising when you're out on tour for so long you just really can't wait to get home so you've gotta have a balance. It's gotta be more going on tour for a few weeks rather than nine months straight. It's kinda like let's go on tour for a few weeks then go home for a few weeks and so on to have some balance so we don't miss important things in life like birthday parties or graduations or funerals. All the things we've had to endure. I mean I'm sure we'll still have to miss some of those things down the road but we'll have a balance so we'll be able to be there for at least half of them say.
That makes sense. We'll make this the last question now, when you get some time off what do you like to get up to?
I'm big into studying the brain and the anatomy and all sorts of weird health and wellness stuff. I guess it could coincide with heavy metal if you're a big Carcass fan but I'm more into the living than the dead (laughs) I'm into all sorts of weird stuff with the body, like drinking coffee with grass fed butter. Check out bulletproof coffee, I'm into that a lot too. Have you ever had coffee with butter?
No, can't say I have.
Alright! You've gotta check it out. Google it, read up about it. It's crazy. (laughs) It's all I've been doing for the past few months now for breakfast. It's awesome.
(laughs) I'll look into it.
You'll love it (laughs)
(laughs) We'll wrap the interview up there. Thanks for your time and hopefully we see you back in Australia soon.
Thanks, me too.
Matt Barton