All Interviews
Beecher
Beecher
Posted on Nov 9, 2005
by Anders
Once in a while an insane band with an insane style shows itself on the scene, such a band is Beecher and such a release is "His Elegy, His Autopsy", which the British band released earlier this year on Earache Records. A blend of punk, hardcore and technical metal straight in your face, relentless and demaning attention and a response. I got in touch with vocalist Edward Godby to hear what drives the band forward.
Hi there, how are things in England as we speak?
Cold and wet, but generally pretty good.
Will you please start off by introducing yourself and tell us why you create havoc in and with Beecher?
I'm Edward Godby, I am the vocalist in Beecher, and I suppose I do this because otherwise I'd have nothing else to do. That, and the fact that I enjoy musical creation, I guess.
A small introduction of the rest of the band will be killer as well, and maybe a bit about their favoured drinks and drinking habits!
We have Danny on drums, Daniel on rhythm guitar, Mark on lead guitar and Dave on bass. Danny likes chocolate milk, Daniel likes premium quality lager, Mark likes mineral water and Dave likes ethanol. Personally I'd probably say I enjoy a nice tot of single malt scotch over anything else.
You are ready with your new album "This Elegy, His Autopsy", how has it so far been received by the press and your fans?
Really well I think! All the reviews have been amazing and it's selling like hot cakes, so we must have done something right! I mean, it’s an amazing record so I’m not surprised!
What do you expect from the album?
World domination, an indoor heated swimming pool, a fleet of Bentleys and a mansion somewhere really awesome. That, or some cool shows and a crate of free beer, either way really.
What do you want accomplish with your music?
True progression in intense, aggressive metal/hardcore crossover. It's a scene which I have watched become more and more contrived and stagnant over the last 3 or 4 years, which saddens me. "Metalcore" is pathetic, people should stop ripping other peoples' style off and try to create something of their own, that way we might recover the interesting and varied scene I remember.
Why do you have the band Beecher, and is it for any use?
We are musicians, we have all played in bands for years before this one, and probably will continue to do so forever, in some form or another. Personally, I need it for self expression.
How did you end up with the band name Beecher and what does it symbolize for you?
An original member who is no longer in the band came up with the name. It means nothing to me, it's just a word, which happens to be our name, it holds no relevance to the music at all.
How do you in the band feel about "This Elegy, His Autopsy"?
Very good, we've had a hard couple of years between recording "Breaking The 4th Wall" ,and "This Elegy, His Autopsy", and I believe we've come out the other side with a great record which does exactly what we intended.
How did you come up with that album title, and what do you want to tell with it?
The album is the story of a fictional character's demise and eventual death, which makes it an elegy of sorts, and elegy being a poem or musical tribute in the event of death. It is also an investigation into the psychological reasons for his breakdown, thus, although not scientific or medical, it is in a way, an autopsy. This elegy, his autopsy.
Do you have a message you want to spread with your music and lyrics?
Just make sure that whatever it is that you care about, you put your all into it. More people need to really give a shit about their lives.
Who is the brain behind the lyrical side of the band?
I am.
Which lyrical topics do you touch and how do you find inspiration for your lyrics?
Personal and social observations mostly. This time, as is explained above, I wrote a story, which was very interesting.
Is there anything specific that has made a big impression on you lately, which influenced the lyrics on "This Elegy, His Autopsy"?
Seeing the majority of people wasting away without anything constructive in their lives, to entertain their brain.
Let's turn to the music, who are the main composers in the band?
We write together as a group, and everyone has equal say in what we're doing, although Mark is consistently the major musical contributor.
The music is an insane blend of raw punk, insane breaks, noisy-core metal and math-metal-like composing, how did you end up with such a lethal blend?
Because we're music lovers and we listen to a lot of varied stuff. We're interested in making something new, we don't care for copying our predecessors, or writing that crucial breakdown to hook in the kids.
We are progressively minded when it comes to songwriting.
Where is the inspiration for the music found?
In the deepest, darkest corners of our brains.
Can you mention 3 bands and 3 songs that have meant the world to your way of making music and for the sound of Beecher?
Unfortunately no. That would be impossible, our influences as musicians are far too varied for me to answer that question.
I suppose you in the band like vinyl, as the new album is being released on both CD and as a 5x7" box set, how did you get the idea of getting it pressed to vinyl as well, and why on 5 7"s instead of a 12"?
We're vinyl lovers and it was important for us that a vinyl version be pressed. Earache decided that a special collector's item would be a better idea than a standard 12" LP, and with the excitement surrounding the vinyl version, it seems that they were right.
What does vinyl mean to the band and to you?
I collect it, and I want to be able to show my grandchildren my records on a vinyl format.
What do you see as the pros and cons if you compare vinyl to CDs?
CDs sound better, they are more convenient and are cheaper to manufacture. Vinyl is for geeks. I'm a geek.
How do you look upon filesharing, illegal downloading etc…?
Some aspects are great, the widespread, instant distribution and free access to peoples art are all good things. The fact that some people now think that there is no point in buying records because they're downloadable, will be the eventual death of the music business as we know it.
Are you going to tour Europe in support of "This Elegy, His Autopsy" and what about Scandinavia?
We just finished a long tour and we will be back before the end of 2005. Having only ever played one Scandinavian show, and having enjoyed it thoroughly, we are eager to get back over there.
How do you look upon the future of Beecher?
With optimism! We're in a good position right now and it's only getting better.
Will you share your 5 all time fave albums with the readers?
This question is crazy, I have too many favourite albums to narrow it down to 5. Here are the 5 records I've been listening to most this month:
Witchcraft – Witchcraft
Counting Crows – August And Everything After
Hate Eternal – I, Monarch
Neurosis – A Sun That Never Sets
Circle Of Dead Children – Human Harvest.
These are by no means my favourite albums.
Thanks a ton for answering my questions, if you have anything to add, feel free to do it now!
Thanks for the interview! See you soon!
Cold and wet, but generally pretty good.
Will you please start off by introducing yourself and tell us why you create havoc in and with Beecher?
I'm Edward Godby, I am the vocalist in Beecher, and I suppose I do this because otherwise I'd have nothing else to do. That, and the fact that I enjoy musical creation, I guess.
A small introduction of the rest of the band will be killer as well, and maybe a bit about their favoured drinks and drinking habits!
We have Danny on drums, Daniel on rhythm guitar, Mark on lead guitar and Dave on bass. Danny likes chocolate milk, Daniel likes premium quality lager, Mark likes mineral water and Dave likes ethanol. Personally I'd probably say I enjoy a nice tot of single malt scotch over anything else.
You are ready with your new album "This Elegy, His Autopsy", how has it so far been received by the press and your fans?
Really well I think! All the reviews have been amazing and it's selling like hot cakes, so we must have done something right! I mean, it’s an amazing record so I’m not surprised!
What do you expect from the album?
World domination, an indoor heated swimming pool, a fleet of Bentleys and a mansion somewhere really awesome. That, or some cool shows and a crate of free beer, either way really.
What do you want accomplish with your music?
True progression in intense, aggressive metal/hardcore crossover. It's a scene which I have watched become more and more contrived and stagnant over the last 3 or 4 years, which saddens me. "Metalcore" is pathetic, people should stop ripping other peoples' style off and try to create something of their own, that way we might recover the interesting and varied scene I remember.
Why do you have the band Beecher, and is it for any use?
We are musicians, we have all played in bands for years before this one, and probably will continue to do so forever, in some form or another. Personally, I need it for self expression.
How did you end up with the band name Beecher and what does it symbolize for you?
An original member who is no longer in the band came up with the name. It means nothing to me, it's just a word, which happens to be our name, it holds no relevance to the music at all.
How do you in the band feel about "This Elegy, His Autopsy"?
Very good, we've had a hard couple of years between recording "Breaking The 4th Wall" ,and "This Elegy, His Autopsy", and I believe we've come out the other side with a great record which does exactly what we intended.
How did you come up with that album title, and what do you want to tell with it?
The album is the story of a fictional character's demise and eventual death, which makes it an elegy of sorts, and elegy being a poem or musical tribute in the event of death. It is also an investigation into the psychological reasons for his breakdown, thus, although not scientific or medical, it is in a way, an autopsy. This elegy, his autopsy.
Do you have a message you want to spread with your music and lyrics?
Just make sure that whatever it is that you care about, you put your all into it. More people need to really give a shit about their lives.
Who is the brain behind the lyrical side of the band?
I am.
Which lyrical topics do you touch and how do you find inspiration for your lyrics?
Personal and social observations mostly. This time, as is explained above, I wrote a story, which was very interesting.
Is there anything specific that has made a big impression on you lately, which influenced the lyrics on "This Elegy, His Autopsy"?
Seeing the majority of people wasting away without anything constructive in their lives, to entertain their brain.
Let's turn to the music, who are the main composers in the band?
We write together as a group, and everyone has equal say in what we're doing, although Mark is consistently the major musical contributor.
The music is an insane blend of raw punk, insane breaks, noisy-core metal and math-metal-like composing, how did you end up with such a lethal blend?
Because we're music lovers and we listen to a lot of varied stuff. We're interested in making something new, we don't care for copying our predecessors, or writing that crucial breakdown to hook in the kids.
We are progressively minded when it comes to songwriting.
Where is the inspiration for the music found?
In the deepest, darkest corners of our brains.
Can you mention 3 bands and 3 songs that have meant the world to your way of making music and for the sound of Beecher?
Unfortunately no. That would be impossible, our influences as musicians are far too varied for me to answer that question.
I suppose you in the band like vinyl, as the new album is being released on both CD and as a 5x7" box set, how did you get the idea of getting it pressed to vinyl as well, and why on 5 7"s instead of a 12"?
We're vinyl lovers and it was important for us that a vinyl version be pressed. Earache decided that a special collector's item would be a better idea than a standard 12" LP, and with the excitement surrounding the vinyl version, it seems that they were right.
What does vinyl mean to the band and to you?
I collect it, and I want to be able to show my grandchildren my records on a vinyl format.
What do you see as the pros and cons if you compare vinyl to CDs?
CDs sound better, they are more convenient and are cheaper to manufacture. Vinyl is for geeks. I'm a geek.
How do you look upon filesharing, illegal downloading etc…?
Some aspects are great, the widespread, instant distribution and free access to peoples art are all good things. The fact that some people now think that there is no point in buying records because they're downloadable, will be the eventual death of the music business as we know it.
Are you going to tour Europe in support of "This Elegy, His Autopsy" and what about Scandinavia?
We just finished a long tour and we will be back before the end of 2005. Having only ever played one Scandinavian show, and having enjoyed it thoroughly, we are eager to get back over there.
How do you look upon the future of Beecher?
With optimism! We're in a good position right now and it's only getting better.
Will you share your 5 all time fave albums with the readers?
This question is crazy, I have too many favourite albums to narrow it down to 5. Here are the 5 records I've been listening to most this month:
Witchcraft – Witchcraft
Counting Crows – August And Everything After
Hate Eternal – I, Monarch
Neurosis – A Sun That Never Sets
Circle Of Dead Children – Human Harvest.
These are by no means my favourite albums.
Thanks a ton for answering my questions, if you have anything to add, feel free to do it now!
Thanks for the interview! See you soon!
Beecher website
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