(((O))) Interview: 200 Stab Wounds

Death metal maniacs 200 Stab Wounds return with their brutal new album Manual Manic Procedures (their first on new label Metal Blade), which is the highly anticipated follow up to their debut Slave To The Scalpel and it sees the Ohio band deliver another razor sharp collection of gore soaked songs. Gavin Brown caught up with three quarters of 200 Stab Wounds in Steve Buhl (vocals/guitars), Raymond MacDonald (guitars) and Ezra Cook (bass) to talk about Manual Manic Procedures and everything from horror to hardcore to touring.

E&D: Your new album Manual Manic Procedures is out next very soon. What can fans expect from the album when it comes out and how excited are you to bring it out? 

Steve: I think they can expect the same signature 200 sound but just better and more mature this time around. I’m excited to get it out because it’s been 3 years since our last one! We’re really proud of these songs.

E&D: The album opens with ‘Hands Of Eternity’, the first track you have released from the album, did you choose that track in particular as it demonstrates the new albums ferocity perfectly? 

Steve: No, we chose it because of the growth it shows our band has had. We feel it represents the band perfectly, not necessarily the album.

E&D: The track has an eerie horror movie vibe intro. Did you want to start the album off with a macabre and haunting feel to it? 

Steve: We didn’t plan on it, it’s just kind of how it worked out. It was just one of the songs we wrote – and felt it was a perfect opening track.

E&D: This is your second album. Did you feel any pressure making it as it follows your debut album Slave To The Scalpel? 

Steve: Not at all – we were just making the next set of songs. There’s pressure as musicians, but not to please anyone. 

E&D: Does this album go even further both musically and lyrically in terms of brutality? 

Steve: Yes. Like I said before, we feel like it’s just a more mature and well thought out version of our past releases, and we will continue to go further with the same ideas and visions we’ve always had.

Ezra: I think so yes. I think personally it’s a combination of vibes we achieved on Slave To The Scalpel, as well as injecting new ideas, musically, lyrically, and ambiance wise, into that formula. 

E&D: Are these the most gore soaked songs you’ve written to date? 

Steve: I think they’re pretty much on par with everything we’ve done in the past, just a bit more well thought out. We’ll see what the next one holds.

Ezra: I think they’re the most hateful ones towards people. The other songs were more so imaginative, storytelling lyrics. There are just some songs of storytelling on this one that I’m proud of for sure. But as far as gore goes. It’s more real in the sense of having actual people inspiring the anger or hatred in the lyrics.

E&D: The song ‘Ride the Flatline’ features guest vocals from Jami Morgan of Code Orange. How was it working with him on the track and what did he bring to it? 

Steve: We called, and he made it happen. He’s a longtime friend of ours and he made the process super easy. We were stoked on how it came out. it’s perfect for the song.

E&D: Are the band big fans of hardcore and what are some of your favourite bands/albums?

Steve: Me and Ezra came from hardcore. My favourite hardcore band of all time is Weekend Nachos. I know they’re considered powerviolence band but we discovered them in the hardcore scene so that’s the band I’ll go with. Unforgivable is the record for me.

E&D: What has been the biggest influence on the sound of Manual Manic Procedures? 

Steve: Just trying to take our sound and evolve it. No major or main influences. Just the same ones that made us start playing music in the first place. But not anything in particular for this record.

E&D: The albums cover is brilliantly sick. Who did you work with to create it? 

Ezra: Filth Effigy is his alias. He’s a madman on the easel. Well, I guess more than just the easel. He’s an amazing multimedia artist, which is why I wanted to go with him on this one. His painting, drawings, and collaging were just so evil and unhinged feeling to me. So I knew he was the perfect one to do it.

E&D: What are your all time favourite sickest album covers?

Ezra: Masakari – The Prophet Feeds, Full of Hell – Rudiments of Mutilation, Gutted – Bleed for us to Live, Dead in the Dirt – The Blind Hole, Primitive Man – Scorn, Weekend Nachos – Unforgivable, Dismember – Like an Ever Flowing Stream.

E&D: What are some of your favourite ever horror movies?

Ezra: In no particular order. The Thing, Possession, The Exorcist, Evil Dead trilogy, Carrie, Halloween 1-3.  And I’m not sure if this is horror but, The Menu was a fantastic film with a lot of good kills I think, and with good reason if you work in restaurants

E&D: What are some of your favourite death/gore scenes ever in cinema?

Ezra: Well, the best effects in a movie ever are from The Thing, so any way that the virus kills someone in that movie is amazing. The Total Recall face scene obviously comes to mind as well, what a classic. Midsommars face smash scene is a great show of gore and effects in my opinion. The most classic one isn’t even horror though. It’d have to be how Tony Montana goes out in Scarface “YOU FUCK WITH ME? YOU FUCK WITH THE BEST” If that ain’t hard I don’t know what is. 

E&D: You have just come off tour with Dying Fetus, Full Of Hell and Kruelty. How did the tour go and what were some of the highlights? 

Raymond: It was my favourite tour we’ve done so far. Shotgunning beers with everyone on the tour and listening to Full of Hells stories about Ocean City/Baltimore were my favorite parts. 

E&D: Did you play much new material and how did it go down?

Raymond: We played 3 new songs and they all had a positive reaction. 

E&D: How was the experience of playing at the Decibel magazine beer and metal festival with Deicide, Dying Fetus, Tomb Mold and others in April? 

Raymond: It was a great welcome home from Europe. Everyone went crazy and all the beer upstairs was awesome. Deicide and Dying Fetus playing old school sets was bad ass too. 

E&D: What 200 Stab Wounds song gets the craziest response when you play them live? 

Raymond: ‘Tow Rope’, ‘Masters’ and ‘Itty Bitty Pieces’.

E&D: How did your UK/European tour with Cattle Decapitation go at the start of the year?

Raymond: The crowd reaction was awesome, and we did a lot better than we planned on doing. Hanging with Vomit Forth 24/7 made being so far from home bearable. Those dudes are so fucking funny. 

E&D: Later in the year, you are back in the Uk and Europe touring with Gatecreeper and Enforced. How excited are you to be coming back over? 

Raymond: I’m really looking forward to this one because Eric is one of the funniest people I know. Hanging out with everyone is gonna be a great time and I look forward to the random shows that happen after ours. 

E&D: The tour includes an appearance at the UK’s Damnation festival. Are you looking forward to playing that? 

Raymond: I think it’s gonna be really sick and I’m stoked to play more European festivals.