Dead Rhetoric: Who came up with the artwork for The Vision, and do you see imagery as another gateway to provide insight into Carnivora’s overall style?
Meehan: The artwork was drawn by an amazing artist who goes by the name Ipoet Poetra. He and his company Five Milligrams do work for lots of metal artists including recently Shadows Fall and Napalm Death among others. He is a true metal dude and a great person to work with. All you need to give him is a theme, a lyric or a single idea and he will come up with a design that blows your expectations away. So far Ipoet has done all of our artwork designs and he kills it every time, make sure you check him out!
Dead Rhetoric: The New England metal scene appears to be much healthier than ever- a broad style of acts and a number of potent clubs to play up and down the six states. What do you think of the talent and support you’ve received through the years – and who are some of your favorites currently?
Meehan: One thing I love about the New England Metal scene is the absolutely undying support of so many people throughout the Northeast! It really does keep bands like us alive. The people who come to shows have created a massive network of friends, fans and bands and wherever we go there are friendly faces of supporters and lovers of metal! Some of our favorite bands from our neck of the woods are Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall, Revocation and Within the Ruins, our local buddies in Begat the Nephilim, and My Missing Half, as well as Barishi, who just recently became members of Season of Mist’s impressive roster of bands!
Dead Rhetoric: Has social media and the Internet levelled the playing field for smaller bands to stand toe to toe with larger acts, if used properly? How do you balance out the promotional end with taking care of the musical/business needs of the band?
Meehan: Social media has without a doubt changed the game. On the one hand it has made mass exposure possible for so many more people, almost to the point of saturation. The world of digital music has nearly killed the physical record – but by the same token, in our genre where the fans love to put their hands on a piece of artwork and read the liner notes and soak in every last detail, it actually makes physical packages more valuable. Social media has given us and bands like us access to more people and resources than ever before. For example, Ipoet, the artist we work with lives in Indonesia. If this was just a mere 10 or 20 years ago, making connections with people like him would have been nearly impossible for us.
As far as managing the professional and musical side of being in a band, the key is that you have to put everything you’ve got and more into it. If you are serious about wanting to be a touring band then your only option is to burn every other bridge and trash every other plan B you have and just go for it. I’m not saying be reckless- you still need to be smart about the risks you take: be persistent in your networking, cultivate an attitude of professionalism, and above all make sure everyone in your camp is with you 100%.
Dead Rhetoric: You’ve been able to receive decent sponsorship support through a number of sources- including Orange amplification, Spectraflex cables, and Coldcock whiskey among others. What makes for a good relationship with these companies, and how does this help in Carnivora endeavors?
Meehan: The best way to get in with any company is to know someone. They say it’s all about who you know, and it’s true. In our case, it was a man named Steve Bello, our original representative from DR strings. He put in a good word for us at Spectraflex, and when we showed interest in Orange Amps he jumped on the opportunity to help because he also endorses Orange. Steve is one of those rare individuals who works very hard and truly wants to see others succeed. We became friends with Steve and in turn, with the other companies – it’s just like you said, developing a relationship is key. You have to be professional and persistent, you have to be grateful for everything a company is willing to do for you and you have to make sure you do everything you can for them in return. Don’t be afraid to shoot for the stars in terms of endorsements, the worst they can do is say no, but no is not the end. And make sure you check out the Steve Bello Band!
Dead Rhetoric: Where would you like to see Carnivora in the next 3-5 years?
Meehan: We are looking to continue touring and playing shows consistently. In the next year or so we will start writing and recording a new album and ideally be able to put it out on a label. Specifically, one of my personal goals is to play an open air festival in Europe, and something we would all love to be a part of is a metal cruise like 70,000 Tons of Metal!
Dead Rhetoric: What would be 3-5 bands or albums that could be guaranteed hits on those long touring excursions that the band agrees to listen to? And what has been the best show memory that you have for metal purely from an audience member perspective?
Meehan: That’s a tough question, because our new van doesn’t have a CD player ha! I know for a fact that the one band we can all agree upon anytime is The Black Dahlia Murder. I can’t wait for their new release because it is going to be awesome! Coincidently, seeing them live with Dethklok was one of the best experiences at a show I have ever had! The best show ever though, beyond a shadow of a doubt, was Iron Maiden on the Somewhere Back in Time tour. I was far away in the bleachers with my big brother at the time, but little did I know that the kids who would become my future friends and band mates were below me in the pit having the time of their lives!
We all listen to a wide variety of music, but some bands we can all agree upon would be Black Dahlia Murder, Gojira, Mastodon, Slayer and Drake. You know how that shit go.
Dead Rhetoric: When you have down time away from music, what hobbies/interests do the band members pursue to recharge their creative batteries so to speak? And do you feel it’s important to have family support for your metal endeavors?
Meehan: I used to play a lot of video games, and neglect my homework, but now that I’ve graduated college and work 40 hours a week, getting to pick up my guitar at home is a blessing, and it is exactly what I need to recharge my batteries and give myself a cathartic release. Family support has been a cornerstone of this band since day one! It’s because of our parents that we have always had a place to practice. Our families were always our biggest fans long before we knew how far this course would take us. Without the support of our families we wouldn’t be able to do any of this, so parents, support your kids, no matter what crazy dreams they have!
Dead Rhetoric: What does the rest of 2015 and early 2016 look like for Carnivora in terms of touring, promotion, videos, etc.?
Meehan: In a few days we embark on our first US tour with thrash veterans Mobile Deathcamp (Toledo, Ohio!) and in late August we will join Shadows Fall on a short run of shows in the Northeast! That same month we will be playing a fully crowdfunded festival in Western Mass called RPM Fest and we have the honor of playing the inaugural date of Full Terror Assault, an open air festival in Illinois!
Thanks Matt for reaching out to us and to everyone at Dead Rhetoric for supporting Carnivora!