Cranioectomy Interview

Band:

Cranioectomy

Formed In:

2012

Origin:

Plymouth, England

Genre:

Brutal Slamming Death Metal

Members:

Jez Lundström - Drums, Lead Vocals

Olly Lyle - Bass, Vocals (backing) 

Grant Nicholas - Guitar, Vocals (backing)

Q: What was the reason for using the band name "Cranioectomy"? Does it have a specific meaning?

A: I first read the word "Cranioectomy" in the 8th book of the "A Series of Unfortunate Events" series, about 3 years before the band formed. Straight away I decided that I wanted to be in a band called Cranioectomy, but I never found a band which I felt matched up with the name, until last year. Literally, it means "surgical removal of the skull", and in the book it was a name used to cover up a decapitation.

Q: How many shows have you played, and which one has been your favorite thus far? 

A: We've played about 5 or 6 small shows in our local area, we're still looking for gigs all the time. I think my personal favourites are the ones where we've been asked on really short notice. We played a show tonight that we were only asked to play about an hour before we were due on stage!

Q: What lyrical theme do you guys use in your music? What message do you want to send? 

A: All of our songs are just gory horror stories. We talk a lot about violence and killing, mostly centred around some messed-up villagers in the middle of nowhere, killing any hikers that stumble upon the village. Ther's not really any underlying message, we just try to be as controversial and offensive as possible. So far it's worked pretty well.

Q: What artists have influenced your band and its music?

A: Me and Grant were listening to Cryptopsy at the instant that we decided to form a band (the exact song was Mutant Christ), but we mostly take influence from other slamming death metal bands, such as Cephalotripsy, Guttural Slug, Abnormity, Abominable Putridity, Torsofuck, Devourment, etc. I (Jez, the drummer and lead vocalist) take a lot of influence from tech-death bands, like Cattle Decapitation and Hour of Penance.

Q: What is your favorite lyrical line from one of your songs?

A: Wow, that's a tough one!! I don't think I could single out any particular line, they're all just gory sentences! I'd have to say that the sickest line (or pair of lines) we've come up with is on Rotten Torso Lacerations: "Tounguing the algae inside the wounds, Letting slugs in through the cuts".

Q: Earlier this year, you released your first full length album called "Twisted Tales Of Putridity". Can you tell the readers what is special about this album and why they should check it out?

A: Well, there are quite a few things special about it! It was a zero-budget album, all the members were 17 at the time of recording, I play a guitar solo on the second song (even though I'm the drummer!) and I don't think I've ever seen any other slam-death albums come out of Plymouth. 

Q: What is the main source of inspiration when writing new music?

A: The sick, twisted thoughts at the back of our minds. The ones we all have, but don't let out in fear of being locked up. The ones that say "Dude, you could easily push that old lady in front of that bus, it would be so easy". We often just get drunk or high, put all the "rules" of lyric writing to one side, and let out all the messed-up stuff in our heads.

Q: What are your plans for 2014?

A: We're currently about halfway through writing for a second album, which should be released by about August 2014. This time we're writing a full album, rather than a bunch of unconnected, individual songs. Apart from that, we really want to get ourselves out there a bit more, promote the first album, and keep improving our music!

Q: Do you have any shout outs to give the readers?

Shout outs to everyone that listens to metal of any kind! The metal community is the coolest I've seen, I love it! Special shout outs to everyone that's listened to us on YouTube, liked the page, come to our shows and supported us or the general slam-death scene. Thanks for keeping death metal alive!!

(Facemelter Webzine would like to thank Cranioectomy for the time spend answering the questions above, check them out and give them a like on facebook if you like their tunes! Cheers!)

Links:

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/CRANIOECTOMYUK