intervstevesmyth

TESTAMENT

STEVE SMYTH

Today I'm chatting with Testament's most recent addition, guitarist Steve Smyth who has been with the band for about four years now. You might know Steve from bands like Dragonlord (Eric Peterson of Testament's black metal project) and Vicious Rumours. Long after this interview was conducted Steve joined Nevermore and later Forbidden. Now over to Steve.

First of all I'm wondering what's up with this guitar lessons you have in San Francisco?

Well, in between jamming with Testament, and Dragonlord, working on the new albums, and various other projects I am doing right now, I teach! I have actually been teaching for about 16 or 17 years now, enjoy it a lot, and try to keep the metal fires stoked in the youth of today this way as well!!!

How did you end up in Testament?

Hmmm. Well, I got a call from Eric while they were on the first leg of the Gathering tour, asking if I would be able to fill in for a few legs of their tour, as they were not getting along with James very well at the time. For good reason, as we all know now the reason why this was: James had a brain tumor that was life threatening, and no one new yet. My guitar tech was out on tour with Eric, suggested me, and since the band that I was with previously, Vicious Rumors, was pretty much down to two members at the time, and re-building the band and restructuring the sound of the band that we had built on the two records previous to that, was not something I wanted to do.

I did two records with Vicious Rumors, Something Burning, and Cyberchrist, released 1996, and 1998, on Massacre Records, and enjoyed my time with the band, but things changed( as they often do), everyone left the band, and there were other matters with the band leader that I won't discuss, but it was time for a change, and here this was! Dude, I am and always was a huge TestAmenT fan, and this was yet another dream come true! I stepped into the band in September of 1999, and we've gone on since then. The new album is being written right now, and we'll be on tour over in Europe here shortly, in support of First Strike Still deadly, celebrating Chuck's return as well, as he has beat cancer the fuck down!!! 

Rapture (2001)

What's Testaments future plans?, both in a touring and album-perspective.

Well, as I said, the new album is being written, and we'll be recording over the summer. We're already doing demos for it now, and it will be released by the end of summer, so I am told! We'll be touring on that for the next year or so, and in between that, we're also working on a follow-up album to Dragonlord's debut, which should be released by the end of the year or early next year. In addition, I am working on a instrumental project, with an old band-mate of mine from some time ago, called The EssenEss( s n s ) Project. This off the beaten path of metal, but still has a rock vibe throughout, so it's still heavy! We'll hopefully get that out by the end of the year!

What bands are you influenced by?

Man, too many to mention. But a few I guess I could mention would have to be TestAmenT, early Metallica, Slayer, early Megadeth, Anthrax, Exo, Death Angel, going on to bands like Priest, Maiden, early Loudness, shredder stuff, you know???

Nowadays, some of the bands I am listening to are: The Forsaken, Soilwork, Arch Enemy, In Flames ( the earlier stuff, like Jester Race), and especially, NEVERMORE!!! I jammed with these guys last year, we did the Bang Your Head Festival in Germany, and I had such a blast jamming with those guys! The new album is the one I'm waiting for, but I love all of their albums!!!

Favorite album that you made?

Well, I've only made three in my career thus far, so I would have to say all of them! But if I had to pick a favorite, I think it's gonna be this new TestAmenT album, it's just has so many killer elements to it, I can't wait until it's done!!!

What's the highlight of your career?

So far, I wouldhave to say playing the Dynamo in 2000 with TestAmenT!!! Man, 45,000 people was what I was told were there, and that was such a blast!!! Just the power of that fucking got me pumped!!!  That was a fun show, and the rest of the festivals we did on that tour ruled as well!!!

What do you think of the thrash metal scene today?

Well, I would have to say it's alive and fucking shaking some skulls, if you ask me! We've seen a resurgence of reunions, thanks in part to the benefit we had for Chuck (Billy) and Chuck (Schuldiner), Thrash of the Titans,in 2001. Vio-lence, Death Angel, and Exodus, have all reformed for the most part, and are back out touring, and working on new albums! This is too fucking much! It's absolutely killer to see this happening. And it's not just here, but you've got bands like Nuclear Assault coming back out again, Voivod, possibly Flotsam and Jetsam again, it's a cool thing I think.

We just got done doing a few shows with Vio-lence, and they're sounding fucking killer, like they never left! Death Angel also played on one of these shows(which were all with Halford), and they positively fucking kicked my ass again, just like they did every time I saw them before! I think it's definitely happening again, and I think with what a lot of the newer bands are doing, putting thrashy elements in their music,only feeds the fire of thrash metal's influence once again!!!

Any good advice for youngsters that want to start a band?

First of all, find people you share influence with. Make sure you're into the same things, musically, for the most part, although a little diversity is good as well. Second, everyone in the band should make sure they have their chops up, especially the drummer, because he/she wil be the one working the hardest! Third, write as many songs as you can, and pick the best ones, ones that you all can agree are the ones that kick ass. Last, but not least, get the fuck out there and gig! Gig as much as you can, but one piece of advice, don't play the same area all the time. If you can, go to neghboring areas and play there as well. Keep your "feelers" out there for gigs, network, get to know people that can help you, and if you can, help them out too.

That to me is the best way to work as a band. Most importantly, watch the reaction of people to your music. After all, it's your music, but the people paying to see you, and to watch you play are the ones that matter at the end of the day. Get feedback, and be ready for some shitslinging sometimes. It's par for the course. Just be openminded, I guess is the best thing to say here.

Do you have any funny metal-story to tell?

Not unless I wanna get my ass kicked by anyone!!!

Any last words to our readers ?

Thanks for your support and belief in Metal, watch out for TestAmenT on tour this April, on the No Mercy festival, and check out the album when it comes out!!! And most of all,

KEEP IT FUCKING HEAVY!!!!

By/ Ruthless 

(20-02-2003)