PAUL MAZURKIEWICZ (Cannibal Corpse) – Stamina

Noen death metal band lever evig og Cannibal Corpse er et av dem. De skaffet seg tidlig på 90-tallet en lang platekontrakt på mange skiver med Metal Blade Records og denne kontrakten er senere forlenget. De har vært tro mot sin egen stil tiden og tekstene har i alle år siden starten omhandlet blod, gørr og lemlestelse av kroppsdeler. Bandet ble startet opp i 1988 og ett av 2 gjenværende originalmedlemmer er trommeslager Paul Mazurkiewicz. Da Metal Blade løsnet på sine strenge regler mht downloadpromoer og e-mailintervjuer, fikk vi muligheten til å huke tak i denne lavtsittende kannibalen som alltid tar seg tid til å takke publikum etter konsertene. Her er Paul Mazurkiewicz og hans bidrag til The Blast Beast Series.

What is the force behind you being a drummer, that is, what keeps you going?

The love of the music! If I didn't really want to do this I wouldn't. It's really that simple.

You are playing in a genre where both technique and speed, together with groove, are important ingredients. What do you think is the most important of these?

For our band it's a bit of everything. We just try to write good songs. Some are slow, some are fast and some have more groove than others…I think it's important to just mix it up to keep it fresh with a little bit of variety.

Which drummer has inspired you the most throughout the years, and what would you have said to him/her if you had the chance to meet him/her in person?

Dave Lombardo is my idol and I was very fortunate to see him play almost nightly on the Mayhem fest we did with them in the states over the last summer. I was able to talk with him a bit and told him what he means to me and our band! It was great!

Which is best while rehearsing alone: systematic progress or full improvisation?

I really don't practice alone too much, but when I do it's just working on the material at hand which is already been mapped out. Not a lot of improve going on with me these days.

Do you have any "core rehearsal tips" that have given you a lot of progress in your drumming?

Not really. Just practice and never give up!

What is important for you while rehearsing new songs/riffs with your band? Is there something in particular you do or listen for?

Just make everything fit properly and make sure everyone is happy with what I'm doing.

What is, in your opinion, the biggest challenges for extreme drummers (or, generally speaking, drummers), and what can you do to work them out?

Having the stamina to play on a nightly basis for a long time. Again…practice..

Wrists or fingers? Heel up or down? Why?

Every drummer is different and there is no right or wrong. Whatever is the most comfortable way to play is the way to go…trial and error..

You must have rehearsed for an insane amount of hours to be as good a drummer as you are. Do you think it is worth it, and have you ever thought about quitting?

Of course it is worth it! Cannibal is doing better then ever and we made a pretty good career playing our music. Of course there is always going to be some hard times here and there but nothing so bad that it made me want to quit.

While playing at a concert: are you 100 % concentrated about what you are doing, or do you notice some of the mood and energy among the audience?

I try to concentrate on what I'm doing. It's hard with all that is happening at a show, but I try to just play the drums without knowing what is going on around me.

Is it expensive to become a drummer, and what does it take outside all that can be bought for money to become a clever and good drummer in extreme metal?

It's always good to have great equipment. If you don't you just do what you have to, to play and hopefully as time goes by you get some better gear.

And then some about your equipment:

Which snare drum and configuration do you like the best? 12", 13" or 14"? And which material? Wood, steel, brass or bronze?

I have a 14 inch Pearl free floating brass snare that I love!

What kind of pedal(s) do you use? And which "settings" fits your style the best?

I use the Axis longboards, medium spring tension.

As always, we are rounding off with you picking the next drummer in these series. Pick a drummer, and explain why he/she deserves (!) to be one of our Blast Beasts.

Tony Laureano would be my choice because he an awesome death metal drummer and all around a great guy!

 

http://www.cannibalcorpse.net/