Hate Eternal - Erik Rutan
Posted on March 25, 2008 at 11:01 pm by admin
Unfortunate circumstances had delayed my previous interview attempts with Erik Rutan. I had actually sent these interview questions via e-mail out before I’d gotten my hands on “Fury And Flames”, and I figured that since Erik was a busy guy (producing, in a band, touring and all), eventually I forgot I’d sent them out! It was great to get these questions though, as “Domination” by Morbid Angel was an album I grew up listening to for a long time, and I still have fond memories of how the Morbid Angel guys looked on the back of the CD insert. I’m also quite a fan of Hate Eternal as well, so it was great to talk about “Fury And Flames” as well.
Way Too Loud: I heard that you were planning to get Jared Anderson back on board after Randy Piro left.
Erik Rutan: JARED AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT HIM POTENTIALLY COMING BACK TO THE BAND. I ALWAYS THOUGHT SINCE THE DAY HE LEFT THAT HE WOULD COME BACK TO THE BAND. HE WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THIS BAND AND A VERY GOOD FRIEND .HE ALWAYS WAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE A PART OF THIS BAND IN SPIRIT.
WTL: Fury And Flames was the name of Jareds MySpace page, e-mail address and other things, wasn’t it?
Erik: YES IT WAS, I WANTED TO HAVE A TITLE THAT NOT ONLY REPRESENTED JARED BUT HOW I WAS FEELING AT THE TIME OF WRITING THIS ALBUM AND HOW I FELT ABOUT HIS PASSING, I THINK THE TITLE IS A REFLECTION OF ALL, A TRIBUTE TO MY LOST FRIEND.
WTL: Do you know how Steve Tucker was affected by the death of Jared? I heard they were close.
Erik: STEVE AND I CERTAINLY TALKED A BUNCH OF TIMES AFTER JARED PASSED AWAY AND HE WAS AFFECTED LIKE MANY OF US, SURPRISED AND DEVASTATED. STEVE IS WHO INTRODUCED ME TO JARED IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THEY WERE FRIENDS FOR A LONG TIME. STEVE AND I TALK ABOUT JARED ALL THE TIME AND WHAT A TRAGEDY IT IS TO NOT HAVE HIM HERE WITH US.
WTL: How did Shaune, Jade and Alex contribute to the new album?
Erik: THEY ALL CONTRIBUTED IN DIFFERENT WAYS. I WROTE ALL THE LYRICS AND MOST OF THE MUSIC BUT SHAUNE AND I WROTE 2 SONGS TOGETHER AND HE WROTE SOME GREAT SOLOS AS WELL. ALEX WROTE ALL THE BASS LINES AND JADE AND I WORKED TOGETHER MONTHS AND MONTHS ON THE DRUMS FOR THE NEW ALBUM. NOT ONLY DID WE REHEARSE FOR MANY MONTHS AND PRE-PRODUCTION BUT HAVING THESE GUYS WORKING WITH ME ON THE HARDEST ALBUM OF MY LIFE WAS SO REWARDING ON A MUSICAL LEVEL AS WELL AS A PERSONAL LEVEL. HAVING THE BEST MUSICIANS AND SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS AS WELL, I COULD HAVE NOT ASKED FOR ANYBODY ELSE. THEY’RE THE BEST AND I OWE A LOT TO THEM FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS.
WTL: Who will handle the extra vocal duties?
Erik: I DO ALL THE SINGING AS ALWAYS BUT SHAUNE DOES BACK UPS LIVE.
WTL: Speaking of vocals, what made you want to do lead vocals?
Erik: EVER SINCE I STARTED PLAYING GUITAR I ALWAYS WANTED TO SING AND PLAY. I ALWAYS RESPECTED GUYS LIKE JAMES HETFIELD AND WHATNOT. THERE IS A CERTAIN FEELING SINGING AND PLAYING, SO MUCH POWER, DOUBLE THE POWER IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
WTL: Can you tell me who will play bass for your upcoming tour? Perhaps a fill in, or do you have a permanent member in mind?
Erik: RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A GOOD FRIEND OF OURS FILLING IN UNTIL WE FIGURE OUT WHAT WE SHALL DO ON A PERMANENT BASIS, HIS NAME IS MAKOTO MISOGUCHI, AWESOME BASSIST AND GREAT GUY.
WTL: Will Hate Eternal stick with the current tradition of 3 years between albums?
Erik: IT’S NOT LIKE I SIT HERE AND SAY “HEY LETS WAIT 3 YEARS TO DO AN ALBUM” I JUST DON’T RUSH ANYTHING, PLUS I PRODUCED LIKE 20 ALBUMS AND MANY MANY TOURS SINCE OUR LAST ALBUM AND SINCE I HAVE 2 CAREERS GOING, PRODUCING TAKES UP A LOT OF TIME, BUT I LOVE DOING BOTH. AN ALBUM IS FOREVER AND TO JUST SLOP A RECORD OUT EVERY YEAR AND A HALF MAKES NO SENSE TO ME. AN ALBUM IS DONE WHEN IT IS DONE. I GUESS 3 YEARS IS A LUCKY CHARM!!
WTL: Will “Fury And Flames” feature more unexpected musical instruments? I haven’t heard any talk about new instruments this time around.
Erik: A FEW SURPRISES THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO HEAR FOR YOURSELF.
WTL: I’ve only had an opportunity to listen to one song from “Fury And Flames”, “Bringer Of Storms”. Will the new album have longer songs than previous Hate Eternal albums?
Erik: SEEMS LIKE SOME OF MY SONGS HAVE BECOME LONGER ON THIS NEW ALBUM, I THINK BECAUSE THESE SONGS ARE WAY MORE EPIC I WOULD SAY. A LOT MORE DYNAMICS AND FOCUS.
WTL: Hate Eternal has traditionally had very fast songs. The song I heard features probably the slowest parts I’ve ever heard from Hate Eternal.
Erik: [On] THIS ALBUM I DIDN’T THINK ABOUT IT, I DIDN’T LET ANY OUTSIDE INFLUENCE AFFECT HOW THE RECORD WOULD BE WRITTEN OR BECOME. I JUST LET IT FLOW NATURALLY. NO PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS ON WHERE IT WAS GOING TO GO BUT JUST LET THE WRITING FLOW. I HAD A LOT OF INSPIRATION ON THIS ALBUM AND I WANTED IT TO SHINE.
WTL: Can we expect some of the other songs to follow suit?
Erik: YES, I THINK THIS IS OUR HEAVIEST ALBUM BY FAR, NO DOUBT IN MY MIND.
WTL: Was there any discussion with Paul Romano about the art, or does he have free reign?
Erik: PAUL AND I ARE GREAT FRIENDS AND WE DISCUSS EVERYTHING. THE CONCEPT OF THE ALBUM, WHAT THE LYRICS ARE ABOUT AND I ALSO SEND HIM THE LYRICS AND THE MUSIC BEFORE HE STARTS PAINTING SO HE CAN GAIN INSPIRATION. PAUL IS THE BEST ARTIST TO WORK WITH, SO METICULOUS AND DEVOTED. I DON’T THINK I COULD WORK WITH ANOTHER ARTIST, PAUL IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST!
WTL: Since you’ve now done an interview with MTV, I’m guessing that Hate Eternal and you personally are gaining more interest from larger publications.
Erik: YES, PARTLY I THINK DUE TO US BEING ON METAL BLADE AND THAT WE’VE BEEN AROUND 10 YEARS. A LOT OF HARD WORK TO GET HERE FOR SURE 4 ALBUMS AND A DVD. I AM SO APPLICATIVE OF THE PRESS WE HAVE GOTTEN ON THIS ALBUM AND HATE ETERNAL. SO MUCH EFFORT WENT INTO THIS ALBUM AND IT TOOK A LOT TO KEEP IT ALL TOGETHER SO IF ANY ALBUM WAS GOING TO GET THE NOTICE, I AM SO PROUD IT IS THIS ONE.
WTL: Do you think that more people are starting to view death metal as a viable form of art?
Erik: I DON’T KNOW ABOUT THAT, THERE ARE A LOT OF HYBRID BANDS BUT NOT TONS OF PURE DEATH METAL BANDS OUT THERE SO I DON’T REALLY KNOW.
WTL: Do you think you’ll finally get featured in a guitar magazine?
Erik: MAN, I HOPE SO, THAT WOULD MEAN A LOT TO ME .
WTL: Mana studios records all sorts of music. Do you produce anything other than metal?
Erik: I’VE RECORDED SOME BLUES, JAZZ, ROCK, VIOLINS, ETC.I LOVE ALL KINDS OF MUSIC AND WOULD LOVE TO RECORD EVERYTHING .I JUST HAVE A GREAT NICHE FOR METAL. I LIVE AND BREATHE METAL.
WTL: What are the trick snare drums that were used in “Left In Kowloon”, and actually, what’s the “trick” about them?
Erik: I DON’T KNOW BUT TRICK HAS A VERY ODD SOUND, I THINK THAT’S WHY DRUMMERS LIKE THEM.
WTL: Will you ever do anything again with the Alas project?
Erik: ACTUALLY YES, I’VE BEEN WRITING FOR AWHILE ON IT AND JUST NEED TIME TO MAKE IT HAPPEN BUT I THINK I’LL DO ANOTHER ALAS ALBUM IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO.
WTL: I’ve heard that Morbid Angel is currently writing their new album.
Erik: YES, THEY ARE!
WTL: Will you produce the new Morbid Angel album?
Erik: MAN, I WOULD LOVE TO IF I HAD THE CHANCE.
WTL: Thanks for answering my questions Erik! This interview was more personal than any other I’ve done, since Morbid Angel is a band that I’ve grown up with (I got “Domination” when it came out in 1995). I spoke to you in Detroit when you toured with Chimaira, and you’re certainly not as scary as your made out to look in your promo pics.
Erik: HA HA, YOU MUST HAVE CAUGHT ME ON A NICE DAY HA HA!! THANKS A LOT FOR THE INTERVIEW AS WELL, SEE YOU ON TOUR!
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