All Interviews
Paths Of Possession
Paths Of Possession
Posted on Oct 8, 2005
by Anders
Lately when I have received music by new Metal Blade Records signings, I've been rather sceptical towards the releases, due to the label signing some "strange" (in my opinion) bands once in a while. It was with that reaction that I threw Paths Of Possession's Metal Blade debut in my player, the first couple of spins didn't do much for me, but then the album started to open and I got into the world of the band. The album "Promises In Blood" turned out to be a great deal of death metal, with both thrash and melodic influences. The band consists of bassist Randy Butman, guitarists Jay Fossen and Jack Goodwin, drummer Nick Goodyear and session vocalist George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher, as you might know from Cannibal Corpse. I hooked up with Randy Butman and got a nice talk about the band, their past, the present and the future.
Hey there, how are things in Florida as we speak?
I'm actually in Czech Republic right now on vacation. But I'm sure it's hot as hell like always and raining. The scene is looking stronger, we always get good shows being in Tampa, most of the bands come through there.
Will you please start off by introducing yourself and tell us why you play skull splitting death metal in Paths Of Possession?
I'm Randy, the bassist, I used to play with Silhaven and a short time with Withered Earth. I have always wanted to have a band like Paths Of Possession, it's the perfect band for me, everyone writes and contributes and are open to change, We come from a variety of influences so it's always exciting to see what we will write next. And to play anything but metal is not an option.
The band has existed since 1999, when it was formed by you and Richard Brunelle (ex Morbid Angel), why did you start the band?
Richard Brunelle and Jay Fossen were already jamming together and had some songs written, when I moved to Florida with Silhaven, the band eventually fell apart. Richard and Jay needed a bassist so I joined them, and when I started doing vocals with them as well Paths Of Possession was born.
What were your intentions back then and what did you want to accomplish with the band?
I wanted to be in a band that would challenge my ability to push me to become a better player, I also wanted to be playing with people who could work together on songs and who actually put effort into the band. I always hated it when you are in a band working hard to try and do something and then you have one or two guys that just want to tag along and don't contribute anything. I knew immediately from jamming with Rich and Jay that this would be a good place for me. And like most bands, I wanted to put out records and play shows.
Do you feel you have gotten near any of that now?
This band has grew a lot over the last 5 years, we have finally got a label to back us and I guess we will have to see where that takes us, but I am really happy with the situation, and the current line-up.
What does Paths Of Possession contribute to the death metal scene?
I think we put out music that crosses the subgenres and we play our fucking guts out on stage, I think Paths Of Possession is accessible to a lot of metal fans but we aren't trying to intentionally write like that. But that's my opinion. I would like to hear what other people think we contribute with.
How would you describe the music of Paths Of Possession to a metalhead who never had heard about the band?
I would probably say that we are part thrash-, part melodic-, part death metal.
You are soon ready with your Metal Blade debut album "Promises In Blood", how do you feel about the album?
I couldn't be happier with the album, I think Erik Rutan (who produced the album) did an amazing job on the sound and we worked real hard on the music. Being in the studio always frustrates me and I can't think about the actual release. But now that its all done and it about to come out, I am really exited.
What do you expect of it?
I am not going to set a goal for it. It's the first time a lot of people will hear of Paths Of Possession. I hope that fans of George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher will pick it up. A lot of them are curious about it. His vocals are a lot different on this album than from his work in Cannibal Corpse.
How has the press so far received the album?
Everything that I've heard has been good. There was one guy that said he was disappointed because it was melodic. But for the most part it's getting a great response
How do you work when you write music and where do you find the inspiration?
I usually just sit in front of the TV with the volume down watching some horror movie or something if I'm alone. I get riffs in my head and try to remember them all day, until I get a chance to get them out. I get inspired by listening to great bands. And sometimes to shitty ones... haha
Are there any specific events that have inspired you, while you wrote the music for "Promises In Blood"?
I get a lot inspired by the war in Iraq. A lot of things or images I see on the news. I can't think of any one event though. We had most of the songs written before we got with Metal Blade Records.
Can you mention 3 bands and 3 songs that have meant the world to you, the way you write music and the sound of Paths Of Possession?
Amon Amarth, Dark Tranquillity and Iron Maiden. I am really into these bands. I think they inspire me alot, I am not trying to mimic them though. Of these bands I would say... 'Where Silent Gods Stand Guard', 'Punish My Heaven' and 'Hallowed Be Thy Name'.
How do you want people to receive your music?
Obviously we want people to like it, I mean we love playing this shit and we put a lot of work into it.
How is your new material compared to your old, how has the band developed?
I think the newer stuff is a lot more thought out. With Jack Goodwin aboard now we have become attuned to each others styles and we write really well together. I am real exited to see what comes out next
It is George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher who growls on the new album, how did you get him aboard?
I just asked him if he wanted to record some songs. We were all friends with George. We have partied with him for years and we knew him really well. He liked what we were doing and jumped aboard
Are you satisfied with his work?
I think George is one of the best. I never tell him that though... I tell him that he sucks and that I'm better... haha. It keeps him on edge. What's cool about his work on this disc is that its totally different style from Cannibal Corpse. He wanted to do a lot of new things to show more of his versatility and it worked.
Has Corpsegrinder written the lyrics or who takes care of them?
George and I wrote all the lyrics for the newer songs. I wrote all the older ones. I think Jack will start writing some on the next disc.
Can you initiate us in the lyrical universe of the band and maybe pick out your 3 favourite tracks from "Promises In Blood" and take us in depth with the music, the idea behind the track and the lyrics?
My favorite track is 'Where The Empty Gods Lie', Jack had initially wrote the bulk of the song but we all contributed to evolve it over time, to what it ended up with. We wanted to do more duel-leads since both guitarists lead and there was a lot of room for them to do it. The trade up turned out quite nice I think. As for the lyrics they are about utter hopelessness. They are about people who put faith in a higher power thinking that they will be saved from whatever doom they are about to face. And in the end there is no one for them.
'Promises In Blood' is another good one. I wrote the bulk of it and Jay some of the riffs. There was no real structure for writing that one. I was working on the intro part and just started adding riffs and arranging them until we liked how it turned out. The lyrics are about a guy who wants absolute power and thinks he can acquire it from a demon summoning. So the demon grants him his power by possessing his body but it is slowly taking over his mind.
'In My Eyes', is the third one. Jay wrote the entire song. That was about the process of that. He came to practice and gave me a CD. Except the music on the disc he gave me was a lot faster. The lyrics are about people taking back their history and roots from the oppression that christianity has laid on the world.
What is covered behind the album title "Promises In Blood", what are your intentions and thoughts behind the title?
The title is based on the lyrics from the song, and the cover as well. You have the guy standing before the portal in which he is doing the summoning. Kris Verwimp did an amazing job on the art. We hope to work with him again next time. We were all really impressed by his work.
You have named the band Paths Of Possession, how did you end up with that name and what does it cover?
There's not really much to tell there. I was trying to think of a name for the band, and it was impossible. So I just started writing words and putting them together. I really wanted the Paths in there because I thought that it represented a lot of the different moods and styles that influence our music.
Your album cover artwork is made by Kris Verwimp, who once again has made a killer painting. Did you instruct him on how to do it or did you pick one of his existing works?
I sent him the lyrics and he had us a sketch in a few days. It was amazing for a sketch. We were all real stoked about it. Like I said before, we couldn't be happier with the art of Verwimp
What are the ideas behind the cover artwork and what do you want to display with it and how does it connect with the album title?
It's the whole concept of the song 'Promises In Blood'. There was a promise of power, but at what cost? The guy gets all that he wants, but in the end he has lost control of his own soul.
Why did Richard Brunelle leave the band?
Rich leaving was a mutual thing. He had a lot of problems in his life and things he needed to straighten out. Rich is a good friend of mine and we all wish him the best. I don't really know what he is doing right now.
You recorded the album in the Mana Studios with Erik Rutan, who have been accused of making too thin productions for death metal once in a while, why did you pick him and what do you think of the result?
We knew that we wanted to stay close to Tampa because we didn't want to use any of our budget for the record for out of town expenses. Erik was our first choice. We have heard his previous recordings and I think they crush. I have seen what he was doing when he first started his studio, and back then it was a really small studio. But now he has grown and has a big place with a lot of great equipment. You are going to see a lot more bands recording there. Actually Cannibal Corpse is recording there for their next release.
How do you look upon the following bands?
Morbid Angel: Great band, I think Steve Tucker is much more brutal than David Vincent.
Slayer: Pioneers, I fucking love Slayer, haven't really got into anything on the last few discs though.
Cannibal Corpse: I love Cannibal Corpse. What's great about them is that I always love the new shit they do.
Testament: I used to really be into Testament but I think I grew away from them, every so often I'll pop them in. I love their writing styles on the older shit.
In Flames: Great musicians, but I'm not really into what they are doing now.
Dark Angel: Again, I'm not really into them but I like what they do.
Do you have some heavy touring ahead of you in support of the new album and when will we see you in Europe?
We are planning a full US tour in February and hope to be in Europe next summer. Nothing is really set in stone yet. We have to work around Cannibal Corpse's schedule. Even though, we want to tour as much as possible.
How do you look upon the future of Paths Of Possession?
I am really into this band and hope to keep recording and touring. I don't really know what the future holds but we will be here
Will you share your 5 all time favourite albums with our readers?
Dark Tranquility - The Gallery
Iron Maiden – The Number Of The Beast
Slayer - Reign In Blood
Amon Amarth - Versus The World
Cancer Slug - Alabama Bloodbath
Thanks a ton for answering my questions, if you have anything to add, feel free to do it now!
Thanks for the interview, and we hope to see you soon!
I'm actually in Czech Republic right now on vacation. But I'm sure it's hot as hell like always and raining. The scene is looking stronger, we always get good shows being in Tampa, most of the bands come through there.
Will you please start off by introducing yourself and tell us why you play skull splitting death metal in Paths Of Possession?
I'm Randy, the bassist, I used to play with Silhaven and a short time with Withered Earth. I have always wanted to have a band like Paths Of Possession, it's the perfect band for me, everyone writes and contributes and are open to change, We come from a variety of influences so it's always exciting to see what we will write next. And to play anything but metal is not an option.
The band has existed since 1999, when it was formed by you and Richard Brunelle (ex Morbid Angel), why did you start the band?
Richard Brunelle and Jay Fossen were already jamming together and had some songs written, when I moved to Florida with Silhaven, the band eventually fell apart. Richard and Jay needed a bassist so I joined them, and when I started doing vocals with them as well Paths Of Possession was born.
What were your intentions back then and what did you want to accomplish with the band?
I wanted to be in a band that would challenge my ability to push me to become a better player, I also wanted to be playing with people who could work together on songs and who actually put effort into the band. I always hated it when you are in a band working hard to try and do something and then you have one or two guys that just want to tag along and don't contribute anything. I knew immediately from jamming with Rich and Jay that this would be a good place for me. And like most bands, I wanted to put out records and play shows.
Do you feel you have gotten near any of that now?
This band has grew a lot over the last 5 years, we have finally got a label to back us and I guess we will have to see where that takes us, but I am really happy with the situation, and the current line-up.
What does Paths Of Possession contribute to the death metal scene?
I think we put out music that crosses the subgenres and we play our fucking guts out on stage, I think Paths Of Possession is accessible to a lot of metal fans but we aren't trying to intentionally write like that. But that's my opinion. I would like to hear what other people think we contribute with.
How would you describe the music of Paths Of Possession to a metalhead who never had heard about the band?
I would probably say that we are part thrash-, part melodic-, part death metal.
You are soon ready with your Metal Blade debut album "Promises In Blood", how do you feel about the album?
I couldn't be happier with the album, I think Erik Rutan (who produced the album) did an amazing job on the sound and we worked real hard on the music. Being in the studio always frustrates me and I can't think about the actual release. But now that its all done and it about to come out, I am really exited.
What do you expect of it?
I am not going to set a goal for it. It's the first time a lot of people will hear of Paths Of Possession. I hope that fans of George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher will pick it up. A lot of them are curious about it. His vocals are a lot different on this album than from his work in Cannibal Corpse.
How has the press so far received the album?
Everything that I've heard has been good. There was one guy that said he was disappointed because it was melodic. But for the most part it's getting a great response
How do you work when you write music and where do you find the inspiration?
I usually just sit in front of the TV with the volume down watching some horror movie or something if I'm alone. I get riffs in my head and try to remember them all day, until I get a chance to get them out. I get inspired by listening to great bands. And sometimes to shitty ones... haha
Are there any specific events that have inspired you, while you wrote the music for "Promises In Blood"?
I get a lot inspired by the war in Iraq. A lot of things or images I see on the news. I can't think of any one event though. We had most of the songs written before we got with Metal Blade Records.
Can you mention 3 bands and 3 songs that have meant the world to you, the way you write music and the sound of Paths Of Possession?
Amon Amarth, Dark Tranquillity and Iron Maiden. I am really into these bands. I think they inspire me alot, I am not trying to mimic them though. Of these bands I would say... 'Where Silent Gods Stand Guard', 'Punish My Heaven' and 'Hallowed Be Thy Name'.
How do you want people to receive your music?
Obviously we want people to like it, I mean we love playing this shit and we put a lot of work into it.
How is your new material compared to your old, how has the band developed?
I think the newer stuff is a lot more thought out. With Jack Goodwin aboard now we have become attuned to each others styles and we write really well together. I am real exited to see what comes out next
It is George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher who growls on the new album, how did you get him aboard?
I just asked him if he wanted to record some songs. We were all friends with George. We have partied with him for years and we knew him really well. He liked what we were doing and jumped aboard
Are you satisfied with his work?
I think George is one of the best. I never tell him that though... I tell him that he sucks and that I'm better... haha. It keeps him on edge. What's cool about his work on this disc is that its totally different style from Cannibal Corpse. He wanted to do a lot of new things to show more of his versatility and it worked.
Has Corpsegrinder written the lyrics or who takes care of them?
George and I wrote all the lyrics for the newer songs. I wrote all the older ones. I think Jack will start writing some on the next disc.
Can you initiate us in the lyrical universe of the band and maybe pick out your 3 favourite tracks from "Promises In Blood" and take us in depth with the music, the idea behind the track and the lyrics?
My favorite track is 'Where The Empty Gods Lie', Jack had initially wrote the bulk of the song but we all contributed to evolve it over time, to what it ended up with. We wanted to do more duel-leads since both guitarists lead and there was a lot of room for them to do it. The trade up turned out quite nice I think. As for the lyrics they are about utter hopelessness. They are about people who put faith in a higher power thinking that they will be saved from whatever doom they are about to face. And in the end there is no one for them.
'Promises In Blood' is another good one. I wrote the bulk of it and Jay some of the riffs. There was no real structure for writing that one. I was working on the intro part and just started adding riffs and arranging them until we liked how it turned out. The lyrics are about a guy who wants absolute power and thinks he can acquire it from a demon summoning. So the demon grants him his power by possessing his body but it is slowly taking over his mind.
'In My Eyes', is the third one. Jay wrote the entire song. That was about the process of that. He came to practice and gave me a CD. Except the music on the disc he gave me was a lot faster. The lyrics are about people taking back their history and roots from the oppression that christianity has laid on the world.
What is covered behind the album title "Promises In Blood", what are your intentions and thoughts behind the title?
The title is based on the lyrics from the song, and the cover as well. You have the guy standing before the portal in which he is doing the summoning. Kris Verwimp did an amazing job on the art. We hope to work with him again next time. We were all really impressed by his work.
You have named the band Paths Of Possession, how did you end up with that name and what does it cover?
There's not really much to tell there. I was trying to think of a name for the band, and it was impossible. So I just started writing words and putting them together. I really wanted the Paths in there because I thought that it represented a lot of the different moods and styles that influence our music.
Your album cover artwork is made by Kris Verwimp, who once again has made a killer painting. Did you instruct him on how to do it or did you pick one of his existing works?
I sent him the lyrics and he had us a sketch in a few days. It was amazing for a sketch. We were all real stoked about it. Like I said before, we couldn't be happier with the art of Verwimp
What are the ideas behind the cover artwork and what do you want to display with it and how does it connect with the album title?
It's the whole concept of the song 'Promises In Blood'. There was a promise of power, but at what cost? The guy gets all that he wants, but in the end he has lost control of his own soul.
Why did Richard Brunelle leave the band?
Rich leaving was a mutual thing. He had a lot of problems in his life and things he needed to straighten out. Rich is a good friend of mine and we all wish him the best. I don't really know what he is doing right now.
You recorded the album in the Mana Studios with Erik Rutan, who have been accused of making too thin productions for death metal once in a while, why did you pick him and what do you think of the result?
We knew that we wanted to stay close to Tampa because we didn't want to use any of our budget for the record for out of town expenses. Erik was our first choice. We have heard his previous recordings and I think they crush. I have seen what he was doing when he first started his studio, and back then it was a really small studio. But now he has grown and has a big place with a lot of great equipment. You are going to see a lot more bands recording there. Actually Cannibal Corpse is recording there for their next release.
How do you look upon the following bands?
Morbid Angel: Great band, I think Steve Tucker is much more brutal than David Vincent.
Slayer: Pioneers, I fucking love Slayer, haven't really got into anything on the last few discs though.
Cannibal Corpse: I love Cannibal Corpse. What's great about them is that I always love the new shit they do.
Testament: I used to really be into Testament but I think I grew away from them, every so often I'll pop them in. I love their writing styles on the older shit.
In Flames: Great musicians, but I'm not really into what they are doing now.
Dark Angel: Again, I'm not really into them but I like what they do.
Do you have some heavy touring ahead of you in support of the new album and when will we see you in Europe?
We are planning a full US tour in February and hope to be in Europe next summer. Nothing is really set in stone yet. We have to work around Cannibal Corpse's schedule. Even though, we want to tour as much as possible.
How do you look upon the future of Paths Of Possession?
I am really into this band and hope to keep recording and touring. I don't really know what the future holds but we will be here
Will you share your 5 all time favourite albums with our readers?
Dark Tranquility - The Gallery
Iron Maiden – The Number Of The Beast
Slayer - Reign In Blood
Amon Amarth - Versus The World
Cancer Slug - Alabama Bloodbath
Thanks a ton for answering my questions, if you have anything to add, feel free to do it now!
Thanks for the interview, and we hope to see you soon!
Paths Of Possession website
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