AD: There’s not long to go now until the release of the new album “Xecutioner’s Return”. How excited are you about the new album?

JT: We are pumped! I cannot wait to get this thing out and moving! We have a lot planned and will be playing a lot of the new songs when we hit the road!

AD: Obituary seem totally alive and re-invigorated. How much does this have to do with signing to Candlelight and their support for the band? The difference must be vast, coming from a label that marginalises you compared to one willing to support you?

JT: I really don’t think I could have done another record for Roadrunner. I have never been more disappointed in anyone. Now that we are with Candlelight we feel like a weight has been lifted off our shoulders and it is so nice to have a company willing to work with you.

AD: You described the title as relating to the work and passion from all your previous albums. Do you feel that this album is a return to the passion and urgency of the earlier days?

JT: We just felt like we could start over and do whatever we wanted. The passion is there for all our records. I would not release any music if I was not 100% satisfied with what we did. But, it just got to the point that no matter how good a CD we did RR was just not going to do anything for us. Candlelight is very excited about having Obituary and they are giving us the attention that I think after over 20 of music we deserve!

AD: For me, this is one of your best produced albums. It sounds so heavy and powerful. Did you go into the studio with a particular sound in mind? It’s so much bassier/dirtier than Frozen – very similar to “The End Complete”

JT: Thanks!!!!!! Where do I start! First we designed and built our own studio. Redneck Studios! This is where we did all the tracking for this album. After doing this for so long we were ready to produce this thing ourselves. Mark Prator, (Redroom Recorders), our long time friend, producer and engineer was a vital part of this album and he went above and beyond to help us get this done. Having a studio is a lot of work, but gives you the freedom to record whenever and for long you want to. It is unbelievable! Buying the equipment and setting it up is one thing, almost anyone can do that, but the most important thing is the “room” sound. We knew we had a good room sound by recording before we purchase the Pro-Tools HD system. That and the mics you use and their placement is so important. You find so many people that tell you to place a mic like this or you can’t do it like that. Well, we just close our eyes and let our ears tell us what to do. We call it Redneck Studios because a lot of the things we did are just not the “way” you should do it! I say if it sounds good just do it!!!!

AD: Did you have input into what you wanted with the artwork on this album? It’s certainly eye-catching and impressive! You have worked with Andreas Marschall before. Was he top of the list as far as you were concerned?

JT: Like most of our work with Andreas, it starts with our ideas and then he just takes it to a whole new level of sickness! We seem to work well with each other and this artwork really fits this new CD!

AD: There are quite a few songs on the new album that contain that “groove” that we all know you can inject into songs – such as on “Evil Ways” or “Second Chance”. It sounds like it was a lot of fun to record?

JT: That is all we do is have fun. Sounds corny, but if you are not having fun with what you are doing I think it will sound like it! As long as we have a good time doing it, I know we will put something heavy together!

AD: How much new material has been played live so far? Have the audiences responded well to the new stuff?

JT: The audiences have been great. We played 3 of the song at the Waldrock Festival in Holland and the fans seemed like they already new the songs! It was awesome and we plan on playing a lot off this record on the Sept. U.S. Tour!

AD: You must be well pleased with the addition of Ralph Santolla to the ranks. With Alan not available, how did recruiting Ralph come about, as I know he was good friends of the band before joining?

JT: We have been friends with Ralph for a long time. Not close friends, but living and working in the same city for this long we know each other well. It really worked out good for both of us. He was ending his gig with Deicide and we were getting word that Allen would not be available to do this album. Ralph is such a talented guitarist that he can play anything he wants. It was just a matter of styles and not playing anything too “pretty”! I think he did a great job of playing with our music and not just over it!

AD: How is he enjoying himself? As I’ve read he likes to keep himself busy!

JT: I think Ralph is as happy to be with us as we are of having such a talented person working with us.

AD: I have to say, some of the solos on Xecutioners Return are superb and seem to add a depth to all the music within the songs. It kind of reminds me of a cross between the solos on “Cause” and “The End Complete” but better! I particularly like the solo and the riff going on behind the solo on “Seal your Fate”.

JT: It is really something this band has never touched on and gives a whole new dimension to our music! I have listened to it 100 times and still find stuff that sounds new to me! His solos, along with some of the best song writing we have done, to me, make this the best album we have done!

AD: Do you see Ralph’s involvement with the band continuing? Or is it far too early to say at the moment?

JT: We have a lot planned with Ralph right now, but we will take it as it goes. Right now we could not be happier with Ralph and I think we have a lot of music to be done with him, with or without Obituary!

AD: I hear that there is going to be an extra track for the special edition release of Xecutioner’s Return. Can you tell me a little more about this?

It is a song call Executioner Returns and it is absolutely one of the sickest things we have done! You have to hear!!!! Look for it!

AD: Are there any plans to release any videos for songs to support the new album? I haven’t been able to get “Evil Ways” off my cd player – will there be a supporting video for this track?

JT: We are working on that. Hopefully we can find the time to get one done as soon as possible! AD: This album strikes me as having a guitar sound like “The End Complete”, solo’s from “Cause” and ”The End..” and the groove from the latter albums. How easy or difficult was the writing process for the new album?

JT: Just like Frozen in Time, the writing was easy as can be! The way it should be. I think the several years off left us with so many ideas that we still have not used them all up!!! I am ready to start another CD right now!!! …we might just do that!

AD: You have some extensive touring coming up and I believe that you are back in London in the February. How did you enjoy playing at The Underworld in July?

JT: We do have a lot planned and look forward to playing a lot of shows! The Underworld show was completely sick! It is a small place, but it was packed to the ceiling and people going crazy! We filmed the show with 3 cameras and hopefully will be able to use that footage in a video!

AD: How do you rate the death/extreme metal scene as a whole at the moment compared to when you originally broke up? JT: Firstly, we didn’t ever break up!!! We just had a longer than expected break! To me things are going great. We have been getting bigger and better offers than ever and the scene seems to be on an upswing again! It happens with all kinds of music but it is nice to see heavier music getting more and more mainstream!

AD: You guys obviously love playing after all these years. What keeps you going and what keeps it fresh for you? Do you find that the break did you good?

JT: The break was awesome and left us happy and refreshed! The fans keep us going and as long as we have their support we will keep going as long as we can!

AD: Does the band have interesting plans for the future (new places to tour) that you’re looking forward to?

JT: We just got to Australia and S. America for the first time (other than Argentina). We also got to Russia for the first time last year! There are still a lot of places we want to get too so we will see what happens!

AD: All that’s left to say is that this is one of your best releases in my opinion and one which fans will return to again and again. I cannot wait to see you again! Hope the tour goes well and have fun!!

JT: Thanks for all the support and glad you like the new CD! See you out on the road! – John Tardy / FANS@OBITUARY.CC Well there we have it! I for one cannot wait for the return of the Xecutioners to these shores when they get back over here in February. But in the mean time, I strongly suggest that you check out “Xecutioner’s Return (Candlelight Records) – which will be released 28th August! Enjoy!

Listen to Obituary at www.myspace.com/obituary
www.obituary.cc
Label information at: www.candlelightrecords.co.uk
Other info can be found on the following wikipedia page: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obituary_%28band%29

Interviewed by Andy Duke
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