In Decibel‘s June issue cover story, we offered several examples of well loved and respected authors of extremity who dig the Noisem sound and overall ethic. Blake Harrison of Pig Destroyer, Matt Harvey of Exhumed and Gruesome, and Bill Steer of Carcass all sounded off on their enjoyment of the, uh, blossoming band.
Carcass drummer Dan Wilding also had a few things to say about the band, and while we weren’t able to fit them into the article, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t hear about them anyway. Here now, for your reading pleasure, are Mr. Wilding’s thoughts on Noisem from the time he spent touring alongside them.
Just for kicks, we’ve also included a couple comments from the Noisem boys on Carcass, as well as a recent video (by a dude called Tyler Osborne) from Noisem’s D.C. show with Repulsion.
How did you meet the guys in Noisem? What were your impressions?
Dan Wilding: I first met the guys when we played with them in Texas on the Decibel tour. It wasn’t the first date, but as with most tours it takes you a few days to get to know everyone. It was a boiling hot day and I was just stood out in the car park and they just came up and introduced themselves. They were super friendly and “normal”, just seemed like nice guys. They were super switched-on, relaxed and mature, as if they’d been touring forever. The longer the tour went on the more we found out how organised and clued in they actually were. More than can be said for a lot of “experienced” bands that I’ve played with along the way. They had a great grasp on touring and a massive music knowledge, both new and old and it was truly refreshing to see guys of their age thinking in this way.
What were your thoughts when you first heard the debut album? Or when you first heard them play live?
Wilding: Before the Decibel tour I’d honestly never heard of them. I was told by a bunch of people that they were young guys playing old school thrash. After both Bill [Steer] and our guitar tech Alejandro told me some great things, at that same Dallas show where I met them, I checked them out and was absolutely blown away! It wasn’t what I was expecting at all, it was a million times better. It was heavy and aggressive and just insanely intense. Old school grind/death metal with a new energy. It was something refreshing I hadn’t heard or seen in a long time. They were totally comfortable on stage too. They were completely different from the friendly guys I’d met a few hours earlier. I was an immediate fan. It was later on that tour that I got their album from them and it became my car stereo mainstay for a month. It’s amazing! It’s totally aggressive and intense but well played with great songs and riffs. It’s just incredibly refreshing to see a new young band not obsessed with what’s “cool” at the moment and doing something that is honest and credible but still extreme.
Has your opinion about their music shifted at all since you first heard it?
Wilding: My opinion on them hasn’t shifted at all really. If anything, I’m liking them more and more. The second time we toured with them I think I almost forgot how intense they were live and they pretty much blew me away again. There aren’t many bands these days that are better live than on record, but Noisem definitely are and that’s a hard thing to do.
What are the guys like on tour?
Wilding: The guys are super chilled and friendly but get their shit done when they need to. They are hilarious fun to hang out with and they always have some insane stories of house shows they’ve played or crazy situations they have found themselves in. One of my favourite days was when we arrived somewhere freezing cold on the Inked in Steel tour (I can’t remember which city) and Tyler and Billy came running up to me asking if I’d seen the new Taylor Swift video and how great it was, ha ha. (They will probably hate me for that.) It was also pretty hilarious witnessing Tyler beat Bud from Exhumed in a wrestling match too. Most days were filled with some kind of hilarity and I’m sure I have a million stories, but I can’t recall many now. Sebastian joined us onstage at the last date of that same tour to play “Keep on Rotting” which was really fun! He is a really great player!
Have you seen their behavior change between the first tour you did with them and the second time out?
Wilding: Their attitudes haven’t changed a bit. They were still 100% dedicated and hardworking as the first time we met them. Once again it’s just so refreshing to see a new band understanding what it means to work at it. A lot of bands think they are owed something or that because they have 100,000 Facebook likes that justifies them having egos and demands. They play honest music that they love and you can see it in everything they do. They understand it’s not about following the flavour of the month but doing what’s true to you and it’s just awesome!
I have told them many times that they are hands down my favourite new band and that still rings true. They have a long, positive future ahead of them and I wish them every bit of luck and looking forward to seeing them again.
Noisem On Carcass:
Sebastian: It was crazy getting to talk to Bill Steer. I’m such a fan of his playing, even in Firebird, I really like his rock and roll stuff that he does, too. I got to talk to him about it! I never thought I would be able to. That was pretty sweet. And we still have to be professional, too. “We’re on your tour… but could we get drunk with you tonight? Please?”
Tyler: It was dope.
Sebastian: They were really nice guys. They were always down with hanging out. I mean, Jeff was a little bit more to himself, but whatever. I don’t think we’ve ever toured with a band who was really standoffish. It makes for a better time for everyone.
