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By: Sander van den Driesche
New Zealand extreme death metal band Ulcerate was recently in the UK for their second tour in 3 years. Sander van den Driesche missed the opportunity to ask the band some questions when they played in Edinburgh, but drummer Jamie Saint Merat was kind enough to answer some questions over email. Read on to find out what Jamie has to say about the band’s influences, his favourite drummers and the band’s progress on writing the new album.
(((o))): I have seen your music being described as ‘avant-garde death metal’ or ‘progressive death metal’, and I’ve read in a few older interviews that you not always agree with these genre tags. So, how would you describe Ulcerate’s music to someone who’s never heard of you before?
Jamie: I think we seem to agree on the ‘unorthodox death metal’ genre tag if anything at all. It’s incredibly uncomfortable to keep having to answer the ‘how would you describe your sound’ question – in real life I wouldn’t, I’d just say listen for yourself and make up your own mind.
(((o))): Over the long Ulcerate career the band’s influences must have changed a bit. Can you elaborate on what initially influenced Ulcerate and what bands/artists you would consider to be influences nowadays?
Jamie: Very early on bands like Angelcorpse, old Cryptopsy, old Deeds of Flesh, Vader to some extent influenced us to go in a certain direction. Shortly after bands like Gorguts, Immolation, Today is the Day introduced us to the dissonant approach which we’ve come to be known for.
(((o))): Obviously being from New Zealand there must be a lot of restrictions in your ambitions as a touring band as it costs an fortune to fly anywhere from New Zealand really. Therefore it’s quite impressive you managed to get to play Edinburgh in the last 3 years really! How do you see this geographical isolation? Do you see it working quite restrictive, or is that just something I assume living in the UK with short and cheap flights to basically any other European city?
Jamie: It’s a huge handicap being from New Zealand financially with regards to touring. But these days everything is much more viable, we’ve just got to be smart when planning logistically. In terms of just sheer existence as a band, it may have helped us early on in terms of establishing a somewhat unique outlook on composition and approach as the internet was still in its infancy (no Youtube, Bandcamp, Facebook etc). These days everything is instantly shareable and readily available, so I don’t think geographic location really plays the same role that it did 15-20 years ago.
(((o))): Talking about New Zealand. What is the metal scene like over there? I know a few other bands of which Beastwars is probably the most well-known. Are you friendly with the other bands in the scene? Do you go to each other’s shows much?
Jamie: The scene is small and not incredibly active, sparse local shows etc. I know the name Beastwars, but I can’t say it’s my thing, and we move in very different circles. We do go a long way back with a lot of the guys in the darker bands though – Vassafor, Witchrist, Sinistrous Diabolus, Diocletian, Stone Angels, Creeping, Shallow Grave.
(((o))): Following up from this, how well are you appreciated in New Zealand compared to the love you get overseas?
Jamie: The scene is so small over here that whenever you’re playing shows you’re playing to the same crowd over and over – and we’ve been doing so for the past 15 years, so these days we keep a pretty low profile for the most part, and just treat it as any other country with 1 or 2 select shows a year. In terms of general appreciation for the band, no idea really – not something we’re paying a whole lot of attention to – there’s obviously a fanbase, but it’s nowhere as vocal as the American / European contingent.
(((o))): You just finished a UK tour with another overseas band, Bell Witch. I love both Ulcerate and Bell Witch, so seeing both of you on the same bill was pretty awesome, though I’ve heard people say they were there just to see you or just to see Bell Witch as they’re very specific genre fans. How did this tour get off the ground? I’ve heard a few beers in Seattle might have been involved?
Jamie: Yeah no doubt, we knew going in there would be some cross-over fans, as well as some hardline splits. The 2 bands are literally at either end of the extreme sonic spectrum so it’s only natural. But the intentionality of creating an oppressive sonic wall of sound is definitely the main aim for both bands, and we share a lot of similar creative tastes and philosophies in life, so it was very natural.
With regards to Seattle – yeah we played Dylan [Desmond]’s ‘Highline’ venue last year during our North American tour and hit it off instantly due to the aforementioned mutual interests, so it was a very natural option for us to pair our two bands for this tour.
(((o))): Before last night’s Edinburgh show, my favourite metal drummer was Gene Hoglan after seeing him play with Death during their 1995 Symbolic tour. After seeing Ulcerate I think I can add another drummer to my list! What are your drummer influences? Which drummer will you consider someone you admire?
Jamie: Thanks man appreciate it, that’s high praise! Influences are pretty broad, and invariably not metal drummers per se – Carter Beuford, Benny Greb, Jojo Mayer, Thomas Lang, Chris Coleman, Dave Weckl. Metal drummers who have really guided me in the past have been Derek Roddy, Kai Hahto, Dave Haley, Dave Culross, Tony Laureano, Alex Hernandez.
Drummers I admire? List is fucking endless. Obviously the aforementioned, players like JP Gaster, Maciej Kowalski (MGLA, Kriegsmaschine), Anika Nilles, Frost, Chris Dave, Jonathan Boyer (Arkhon Infaustus) to name a few.
(((o))): Correct me if I’m wrong but as far as I’m aware you didn’t play any new material during your Edinburgh show, so this leads me to the question on your new album and how it’s getting along?
Jamie: No material past Vermis was played, correct. We’d never perform new songs before they’re fully shaped during the final recording process, as arrangements change drastically for us throughout all stages of the production process. So far, we’re 5 and a half tracks in writing-wise, with half of those with fully-realised instrumentation. As always, it’s a meticulous process and we’re not afraid to take a little longer with this release than previous efforts.
(((o))): Is there going to be a specific theme on the new record, or will it continue your lyrical focus on the condition of humans and struggles from within?
Jamie: No idea yet, no lyrics are finalised.
(((o))): Thanks a lot for taking your time to answer my questions. If you happen to be pals with Beastwars, can you please convince them to come to the UK for a tour and tell them how awesome Bannermans and Edinburgh is?
Jamie: As mentioned above we don’t know the guys, so probably no-can-do. I will attest to how great both Edinburgh and Bannermans are though!
