Metal enthusiasts Bearhammer had started off as a 2 piece side projected but would later develop into something more than just a typical project it would be metal, metal, and more importantly metal! Guitarist Eric Morris talks of the band and how METAL infects their ways of making it.
1. What type of band are you?
Eric: I'd say we are in the metal/thrash genre but we definitely don't limit ourselves to that. we pull from a ton of different genres, so long as its heavy and fun.
2. Tell us the brief history of your band.
Eric: Bearhammer started as a 2 piece side project with just the drummer and myself. We were in an indie rock band at the time and after band practice when everyone would leave we would just start playing these super fast thrash metal songs for fun. Our drummer was also in another band called Great Floods that shared the space with us. Their guitarist, Nick Smith, eventually heard these songs and kept giving me shit/motivating me to get back to playing metal again (both the drummer and I had been like 4 metal bands prior to the indie rock band). So basically, I blame Nick Smith of
Great Floods for Bearhammer haha!
3. Where are you from?
Eric: Louisville, KY and Southern Indiana.
4. What's the music scene like and would you have any bands to recommend?
Eric: Louisville's music scene is great! We've got the bigger bands like Young Widows, Coliseum, and Breather Resist (rip) to help us out nationally and then we've got great local talent from the likes of Great Floods, Neighbor, Voyage of Slaves, All Dead, Permanent Night, Abominant, Trophy Wives, etc. I'm sure I missed a few but thats the glory of having a motivated scene with tons of musicians.
5. What’s the origin of the band’s name?
Eric: Haha! Well, a few years ago a gnarly group of my good friends all took a trip to Houston, TX. While in the airport they kept getting approached by people asking them what band they were in as they are covered in tattoos and probably drunk. After a few fake names were thrown out, one of my buddies threw out the name BEARHAMMER. People were buying them drinks, it was pretty funny! It was so good that when they got home a few of them actually got bearhammer tattoos. So when the time came, I kindly asked permission to use the name.
6. Who are your musical influences?
Eric: Geez, so many. I'll try to limit this. Obviously the classic metal bands like Slayer, Sabbath, Anthrax, etc. More recent would be Pig Destroyer, Integrity, Converge, Coalesce, High On Fire....the usual suspects I suppose. Oh, and 90's country like Travis Tritt and Garth Brooks.
7. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)
Eric: Hmmm....riffs, beer, cigarettes, riffs, more beer, cigarettes, and....riffs.
8. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)
Eric: We cover a lot of different things and we all really like Game Of Thrones.
9. Tell me about the new EP.
Eric: It's a 5 song EP recorded by Tom Curtis who does amazing things with computers physically and sexually. He's great to work with and comes highly recommended. These are our first 5 songs recorded mainly written by myself and Matt back when we were just doing this for fun. In fact some of the musicians in this band had met for the first time while we were in the studio. We instantly clicked. It's not as cohesive as I would like but the songs still rule in my opinion haha.
10. Is there any story or concept behind the EP?
Eric: No not really. If I had to say anything I guess it's that we're just happy to be playing heavy music again.
11. Do you guys have any new music in the works?
Eric: Oh yes.....TONS!
12. What are your upcoming plans for this year?
Eric: Tour, shows, writing for a full-length record, world domination, riffs, beer.
13. What do you hope for in 2013?
Eric: Just to have tons of fun doing this, staying focused and writing tons of new material, and most importantly days where I don't even have to use my A.K.
Post a Comment