Infecting Our Nation

Leaders of the new wave of thrash metal Evile have been rising in popularity over the past few years. From touring with big-name bands like Exodus and Megadeth to having a downloadable song on the “Rock Band” video-game franchise, these up-and-coming head bangers from the U.K. are a force to be reckoned with. The band’s currently wrapping up its first North American tour with thrash-giants Kreator and Voivod while preparing for the “Killfest” tour with thrash legends “Overkill” in support of their second album, “Infected Nations,” which was released in September. Review Fix was able to catch lead guitarist Oliver “Ol” Drake for a few minutes to ask about the tour, the other tour, “Infected Nations” and other things going on with the band.

Review Fix: You’re coming off your first tour in support of Kreator and Voivod. What has the experience been like so far?

Ol Drake: Mostly, it’s quite different from the touring we’ve been used to. First off, we’re supporting, and there’s six bands every night, so its a lot more hectic than usual. It’s a lot further to drive, but its so great its amazing to play with all these bands and playing at all these cool venues and finally to actually get here.

RF: Is the reaction any different from Europe?

OD: The reaction is very good. In Europe we get quite a good reaction, so we were expecting something a bit less over here, maybe, like, 10 people enjoying it, but that one we played in New York, it was just…the room was full of people and they were enjoying it and we were just blown away, and it was just amazing.

RF: This is in support of your second album, “Infected Nations.” Why weren’t you guys able to tour North America for your first album, “Enter the Grave”?

OD: We tried. I think there were about three or four American tours we got onto and were confirmed for, but about a month or two before we were kicked off, and they had gotten a more well-known American band. We tried our hardest, but that’s what happened.

RF: While we’re on the subject of “Infected Nations,” what was the experience like recording it?

OD: I think after the first one with Flemming [Rasmussen] in such a big studio and it all being daunted and stuff, we knew what to expect, so we came in with more of a clear mind, with a task in hand. Plus, Russ [Russell] made it a lot more comfortable – he’s a really relaxed guy. He didn’t have a plan. He just said, “If it gets done, it gets done”.

RF: The sound has also evolved. There are more influences being heard, such as Sepultura, as opposed to your last album’s heavy Slayer influence. What’s the reason for the change, and whose idea was it to add more to the sound?

OD: I think the original idea was to not make an exact copy of the first album like another typical thrash full on speed all the time. We wanted to add more tempos to it, more musicality to it, and try different chords. Every time we write, we think “What can we do to this to make it more unexpected and more different?” And that’s what happens.

RF: You also did a brilliant cover of Pantera’s “Cemetery Gates” for a special issue of Metal Hammer Magazine, commemorating the fifth anniversary of guitarist Dimebag Darrell’s passing. What was the experience with that, and how did that opportunity come about?

OD: It was quite simple, really. Our manager, Julie Weird, called us and said “Metal Hammer’s putting a Dimebag issue out, and they want you to record a Pantera cover.” And we were like, “Wow. Really? Us?” And we picked the song and went back to Russ and said “Would you like to record this Pantera cover?” And he said “Yes. Definitely.” And we went down, and I think we had 10 hours to record the whole track.

RF: That’s a really short amount of time to record a track.

OD: Russ put a lot of production time afterward. He didn’t add anything. He didn’t change or alter anything or make any new tricks. It was all live recorded.

RF: Did you guys know the song before you covered it?

OD: I knew quite a bit on guitar, so I just had to practice it and re-learn some bits. Mike [Alexander] had to learn a few bass parts he didn’t know. Matt [Drake] just got his voice better, so he was pretty good on doing vocals. And Ben [Carter] knew the drums anyway.

RF: Shortly after the recording, you were met with the tragedy of bassist Mike Alexander’s passing during the Amon Amarth tour. About a few weeks to a month after, auditions were held for a new bass player, much like Metallica did with Cliff Burton. How was the audition process like, and why did you pick Joel Graham?

OD: The process was quite strange and weird. First, people were sending us pictures and videos, and we had a lot, and we picked a select few who we think had everything to be in the band. We rehearsed with a few people, but we knew Joel was right for it. A few of them were really good bassists, but we just didn’t click with them.

RF: Were any of the other auditions from big bands, or were they all local players?

OD: No, they were mostly just local people who just played bass.

RF: And now you’re on tour again. What’s it like opening for Kreator and Voivod – who played the first half of the tour, being replaced by Kataklysm – two of the biggest and most legendary bands in their genre?

OD: Its amazing. I’ve been a fan of Kreator for years, and just to meet them and talk to them…is a huge honor. They’re also really nice guys.

RF: You also toured with Megadeth and Exodus awhile back. What was it like touring with them?

OD: Megadeth was amazing. They taught us a lot about how much work you actually have to do for a tour. It’s a lot more than just turning an amp on every night. They’re really nice guys as well as Exodus. It was all great.

RF: Before you were Evile, you were a thrash-metal tribute band known as Metal Militia. How did the band form, and when did you start doing your own songs? Tell us more about Pre-vile!

OD: [Laughs] Pre-vile? It started with Matt and Ben just jamming in school. Then they just got a little jam bit to mess around with. I went to a few rehearsals and it was really loud and cool, it made my stomach hurt, so I thought it was quite cool. I picked up Matt’s guitar and started learning that. It got to a point where he said, “Why don’t we get together and jam a few songs? You can do solos.” And I was in. Then we said, “Oh, this sounds really good. Now we need a bass player.” Then we put up an ad in a local shop saying we needed bass players. The first person was Mike, and we met up and rehearsed, and it just clicked right away. We went from there, and then we got very bored playing Metallica songs, so we started writing our own, putting them in the set, and it went down really well, and we put the covers down and started doing our own stuff.

RF: How long were you doing that?

OD: We started around ’99 and we finished in 2003-2004, so it was quite a while. Just playing around England playing Metallica songs.

RF: From 2004-2006 you produced two EPs – 2004’s “All Hallows Eve” and 2006’s “Hell Demo” – which garnered underground success. What were those experiences like, and why didn’t some of those tracks such as “The Living Dead” and “Russian Roulette” transfer to albums?

OD: I think ’cause when we recorded them, we weren’t a band trying to make something to shop to labels. We did it merely for a laugh and because we were making music. When we got signed, it was like, “We have to step up our game a bit,” and we looked at the songs on the demos and compared them to the ones we were writing, and they just didn’t stand up. We just wanted to leave them on the tracks where they were made and just keep them on the EP.

RF: Is there any chance of them resurfacing and getting recorded again, and do you still play them live?

OD: No, we don’t play them live anymore…I think we might take a few riffs or parts from songs, but we don’t play them in their entirety.

RF: For a period of time, you were touring and playing shows and festivals as an unsigned band. It wasn’t until Bloodstock Open Air that you got noticed, and shortly afterward signed to Earache Records. What was it like touring without the backing of a label, and how did that change once you got signed?

OD: It started out with people we know driving us and making no money. Just showing up at venues, playing and getting paid with four beers or something. Nothing changed at first when we got signed, but once we started making a name we started getting a bigger fee, actually getting paid for playing. Conditions just improved, and then when we got more popular, it just got better.

RF: Evile has been known for being close with their fans. In 2009 you had a fan come onstage and play “Enter the Grave” with you, and you also ran a contest for the fans to design a shirt that would be sold on a then upcoming tour. You were also taking requests from fans to name one of the songs that would appear on “Infected Nations” before its release. Why do you do great things like this?

OD: I think personally when I was growing up listening to bands, they always had a barrier that was just a mystery that you don’t know them and they don’t contact the fans. They just play, and I wished that they would, so I just thought when we started getting fans that we should just bring them in a little bit more. That’s what I wanted when I was younger, so I thought, “Why not?” So we just always think about what we could do to make fans happier, really.

RF: You are also going to embark on the “North American Killfest” tour with Overkill, Vader, Warbringer and others in April. Are you excited, and how do you feel about the tour and lineup?

OD: I cant wait, because we just toured with Warbringer in Europe, and we got along really well, so it’ll be great to see them again and tour with them in their country. Overkill – I can’t wait to see them live every night for a month. I’m looking forward to it. There’s so many different kinds of bands on the tour. It’s going to be great.

RF: After the tour, what are your plans for the future of Evile?

OD: Basically, just tour and write. We’ve already begun writing the new album. We just want to get as many tours as we can and just get the name out there and play music. Simple as that.

RF: Do you have any songs written for the next album?

OD: I’ve got about four songs that aren’t properly put together yet. I don’t know what the other guys have got, but Ben’s got two, he just said.

RF: Any lyrics or anything else you’re throwing around out there? Any possible song titles, or is it up in the air?

OD: Between ourselves we’ve got a possible album title and a possible album-cover design, but its not final, so I really don’t want to say it yet.

RF: Any idea of who’s going to be drawing the album cover?

OD: We’re going to use Russ again because it was just very amusing. In our own country he’s a friend, and it was all relaxed. Definitely use him. I know Michael Whelan wants to work together again. I don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t, because he’s amazing.

RF: What do you do in your leisure time, and do you have any hobbies that no one would expect you to have?

OD: I do a lot of work with music and guitar. I try to learn a lot. Other than that, I watch films, go out with friends and play video games on Xbox and stuff.

RF: What are your favorite movies?

OD: My all-time favorite movie would probably be “Aliens,” the second “Alien.” Or “Terminator 2,” probably. The ones around that time were made so well.