Albums of Purgatory interview Backyard Mortuary

Firstly, whats the band up to right now?

Chris/Dave: Right now we are working on the new songs we have written, teaching the new members all our stuff and practicing so we can start playing live as soon as possible.

How would you describe the Backyard Mortuary sound?

Chris/Dave: Death Metal.

How did you get involved with the band?

Chris: I met Dave when I worked at KFC. Dave was in a band and they needed a vocalist, so I tried out. That band only lasted a couple of months, then broke up. About half a year later I suggested to Dave that he and I start a new band.

Can you remember your first gig (how did it go)?

Chris: I have memories of gigs we almost did hahaha, but so far we still haven't played live. Once we feel we are tight enough we will.

Are you involved in any other projects and if so how do they compare to Backyard Mortuary?

Chris: I'm only in Backyard Mortuary. Bob is in a Black Metal band called Forlorn Suffering as well as B.M., and Andrew is also in another band called At First Light who sound like Opeth.
Dave: My only project at the moment is Backyard Mortuary.

What are your favourite Backyard Mortuary tracks?

Chris: Out of the stuff we've already finished, I'll say 'Feast on the Deceased', 'Pre-Mortem Autopsy' and 'Dead Goregous'. Although the new stuff that Dave has been writing is much better than those songs.
Dave: Mine would also be 'Dead Goregous' and 'Feast on the Deceased'.

What are your favourite all time songs?

Chris: Suffocation - Pierced from Within, Abramelin - Flesh Furnace/Dearly Beloved/Spiritual Justice, Obituary - Don't Care, Morbid Angel - Day of Suffering/Dominate, Dying Fetus - Pissing in the Mainstream/Absolute Defiance, Dissection - Night's Blood/Unhallowed, Exhumed - Limb from Limb... I'll stop there or I'll be listing songs forever haha.
Dave: Death - Trapped in a Corner and Suffocation - Liege of Inveracity.

What was the first record you ever bought?

Chris: I can't remember. I think it was probably Michael Jackson - Thriller when I was really young haha. Eddie Van Halen does a guitar solo on Beat It!
Dave: First one I ever bought was Pantera - Far Beyond Driven

Which album was it that got you into metal and can you explain why?

Chris: When I was young I used to like the cover art on Iron Maiden and Megadeth CDs, but musically I think it was Metallica - Black, back when I was in Year 6 at school.
Dave: The Pantera album I bought.

Whats the last album you purchased and what did you think of it?

Chris: Cryptopsy - None So Live. It's really cool. The new guy's voice is better than Mike DiSalvo, but not as good as Lord Worm. Flo is brilliant on drums! I'm still waiting for the new Dying Fetus to come into Australia.
Dave: Dying Fetus - Destroy the Opposition. It is most enjoyable! The guitar work and drums are nicely done.

What would be your dream band line-up?

Chris: My dream line-up would be Simon Dower (Abramelin) - Vocals, Trey Azagthoth (Morbid Angel) - Guitar, John Gallagher (Dying Fetus) - Guitar/Backing Vocals, Kevin Talley (Dying Fetus) - Drums and Novy (ex-Devilyn, Behemoth) - Bass. I don't know if it would sound as good as they do in their respective bands though...
Dave: Chuck Schuldiner (Death) on Guitar, Frank Mullens (Suffocation) doing Vocals, Kevin Talley (Dying Fetus) on Drums and Jeff Walker (Carcass) on Bass and Backing Vocals.

If you could do a cover for a tribute album to any band, which song of which band would you pick and why?

Chris: Suffocation - Breeding the Spawn, cause Suffocation rule, and the headbanging bit in the middle of the song is so brutal!
Dave: Yeah that sounds good. What Chris said.

What do you think of the position of metal and music in general today?

Chris: I'll put it this way... it doesn't make me smile when people say Linkin Park is metal and Slipknot are the heaviest band in the world.
Dave: It was a happy day when Drowning Pool died.

Which other bands stand out for you at the moment?

Chris: Behemoth (new stuff, not the old Black Metal stuff), Nile, Impaled, Myrkskog, Edguy, Skinless, Pungent Stench, Excruciate and Oni. I'm looking forward to seeing what the new albums from Suffocation, Dissection and Dismember are going to be like.
Dave: Dungeon, Suffocation and Dissection.

Do you have any funny stories about the band you can share with us?

Chris: When we had finished recording 'Visceral Masterpiece' we accidentally saved over it with another half finished song. Actually, that wasn't funny at all. It sucked!
Dave: We went to the local cemetary for band photos with shovels and shit... we got some very weird looks.

and finally, what do you see in the future for Backyard Mortuary?

Chris: Plenty of gigs and more CDs!
Dave: Yes, yes, YES! Definately that.

Thanks again for the interview and good luck for the future.

Chris: Thanks! Check out our homepage www.backyardmortuary.cjb.netif you are interested.
Dave: Thanks.