411Mania Exclusive Interview: Justin "Slo" Maggard

Posted by Brandon Ratliff on 02.21.2007

Unearth bassist sits down and discusses everything from labels, Slayer, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and pie. Read on.

I recently had the chance to catch up with Unearth bassist Justin "Slo" Maggard on their current tour with Slayer. We had numerous things to discuss, and instead of giving you the typical quick wrap-up, I'm just going to say read the damn review. That's why you clicked on the link in the first place right?

Brandon Ratliff: Okay, can you introduce yourself?

Justin "Slo" Maggard: I'm Slo from Unearth.

BR: And what do you do in Unearth?

JM: I play bass guitar.

BR: Okay. Well, right into the shit. Well, the first thing I had to ask you is who had the idea to switch over to Terry Date to produce In The Eyes Of Fire? I know you guys were working with Adam D. from Killswitch Engage before that.

JM: It was our choice to switch over. We just wanted to try something new as a band, and we were able to go record the album in Seattle for a couple of months and just kind of keep ourselves away from home and families so there's no outside distractions or whatever, so working with Terry was perfect for that.

BR: How do you guys feel you've grown as musicians from the beginning when you first got together to now?

JM: Well, you know...with years of playing we just got better at our instruments, and we get a more solid idea of what we want to play, and just get better on every level. It's just been a progression of it all.

BR: What do you feel are the primary differences between The Oncoming Storm and In The Eyes Of Fire?

JM: The Oncoming Storm was recorded to a click track; it's more of a polished record using Protools as a medium to record it. In The Eyes Of Fire wasn't done that way. Everything on the record was actually played; there wasn't any outside Protooling, if you will, to get it in the right place. We actually played everything ourselves just take after take after take until we got it (Most bands nowadays will record each riff of a song once, polish it up with Protools, and just lay it down for every verse, chorus, et cetera. He's not suggesting that other people ever played their music for them in the recording. - Ed.).

BR: Obviously you just said a few minutes ago that you've been on this tour for a week and a half. So what has it been like touring with Slayer? And are there any particular bands you guys liked touring with in the past that you would like to go out with again?

JM: Yeah, all of them. We get along with everybody really well. This tour has been really cool since we've been in front of a lot of metal heads that we haven't been in front of before, or if we have, it's been like in front of the Ozzfest type of crowd. There's just so many bands at a thing like Ozzfest that a lot of things get lost in the mix, so to be able to come back in front of that crowd again and under more personal circumstances, whether it's a two band bill or a three band bill, you get more attention and more time to play. I just think it's better overall.

BR: Have any funny stories from the road that you care to share?

JM: Oh god, every night is another funny story. Yeah, the other night we took our video camera outside and told people we were filming for the Slayer DVD, and some people just do some crazy shit. It's hilarious. There's people doing belly flops on the ice and shit.

BR: Wow, I don't think I could do that. So, going through the recording of In The Eyes Of Fire you were releasing clips from the studio every so often showing what you guys were doing; you'd maybe hear a riff here and there. Because of that, there was a lot of internet hype building over the record. Did that kind of stuff affect you guys at all? Did you get worried that maybe people wouldn't like it or anything?

JM: No, we didn't ever really worry whether people were going to like the stuff or not. We just play what we like to hear. If nobody likes that, at least we do still. I guess we won't be doing it as a job any more after that point though. *laughs* But no, as long as we're cool with what we're playing then there's nothing to be embarassed about for sure.

BR: Cool. Okay, how do you guys tend to write? Do you come together and do it all as a band in a room or do you write separately and maybe bring riffs together?

JM: There are many, many different ways. Sometimes ideas are just brought together at practice and we all jam on them together and iron them out that way. Sometimes one of the guys will write riffs at home to a drum machine and come in with that. There's all different types of ways to wite. We definitely pursue all of them at this point.

BR: How long of a set do you guys get on this tour?

JM: About forty-five minutes.

BR: What kind of stuff do you play? Any really old stuff, any covers, or anything like that?

JM: No covers. We rotate a bunch of songs from The Oncoming Storm and In The Eyes Of Fire and occasionally we throw in a song or two from Stings Of Conscious.

BR: Okay, and the very cliche interview question: how did you guys get together originally? Where did you meet and so on?

JM: Massachusetts in 1998 the band formed. Previous to that we were all in a bunch of different metal bands in the area and we played with each other and got to know each other. Then everyone wanted to do something different and these guys got together in 1998. I ended up joining in 2001. Mike, our drummer now, joined two or three years after that right before The Oncoming Storm was released. So yeah, we all played in a lot of different Massachusetts bands and got together over time you know?

BR: So...influences? Whether listening or any particular movements of music that you take active influence from?

JM: Well, for us, musically, two of our biggest influences would be Iron Maiden and Crowbar. We all listen to a lot of different stuff though.

BR: Any Britney Spears fans?

JM: No...no Britney Spears fans. I occasionally listen to something like Rhianna, but that more for laughing reasons that anything. *laughs* But no, I listen to a lot of different classic rock, like I'm a big Rush fan. I like the Black Crowes too, Zepplin. I listen to a lot of that stuff, but I'm just old though. *laughs*

BR: When Metal Blade originally approached the band was it kind of weird to be approached by a label that was primarily a death metal label at that time?

JM: Yeah, that was kind of strange. At the time there was a lot of different labels that were looking into us, and we actually had a deal that was really close to being signed with another label. They then came in with an offer we really couldn't refuse, like they gave us 100% of control over what we do musically and whatnot, and we didn't have to put up with any A&R bullshit. So we went with them. But at the time it was kind of strange because, like you said, at the time it was predominantly a death metal label that was just on the verge of spreading out in different directions. They really liked the band, and we really liked the contract and how it was going to end up working out, so it ended up being okay, like we really have had no problems with them. But yeah, I love Metal Blade. They've been great to us, and I don't think we're going to leave any time soon.

BR: I remember interviewing As I Lay Dying last year and they said it was always cool because they were one of the largest independent labels out there, but they were still an independent label, so they have no problem letting bands have creative control.

JM: Absolutely.

BR: So I don't think they are really so much worried about selling millions of records on every album they release.

JM: They have such an enormous metal catalogue overall that they label is going to be around forever you know? But if you sell really well as a metal band in any way, that's cool.

BR: I don't think you guys are doing too bad...

JM: No, we're doing fine. As I Lay Dying is doing great too. Just between us two we're definitely helping out Metal Blade in that right. But like I said their catalogue is just enormous and their roots in metal...they're a cornerstone label in metal, so they're definitely not going anywhere.

BR: Who else approached you guys about signing?

JM: Uhh...I wouldn't want to say that out loud.*laughs* Yeah, you kind of just guess and probably be right.

BR: Roadrunner?

JM: Mehh...

*everyone laughs*

BR: Okay, I'll take that response as a "no comment." Okay, this is more of a personal curiosity, but on the last track from In The Eyes Of Fire, the instrumental track, where did the name "Big Bear And The Hour Of Chaos" come from?

JM: Because it was the last hour we were recording drum tracks in the studio, and that would be the "Hour Of Chaos" part. Getting all of the backbone of the music down on tape in the last hour, and we were all drunk on 40oz. malt liquor called Big Bear.

BR: Wow. Not quite what I was expecting.

JM: Yeah, so that's why the song is called "Big Bear And The Hour Of Chaos."

BR: And the 411Mania Random Question...what's your favorite kind of pie?

JM: What's my favorite kind of pie?

BR: Yeah.

JM: Wow.

BR: No sexual jokes behind there. I mean that's a literal question.

JM: *laughs* No, uhh...apple pie I guess? Apple pie. I'm not usually a pie fan though. I don't usually do sweets but if I had to do any of it, it'd be apple pie, or maybe some peach cobbler.

BR: Is there anything in particular you'd like to say, add on or whatever?

JM: Just the usual: thanks to everyone out there for listening to us and keeping us on the road and keeping us working. We really appreciate it, we really love making music and we want to keep making music for years to come, but without any of the listeners we wouldn't be able to do that, so thanks to all of you.

BR: Okay, one last thing. In The Eyes Of Fire just came out last August, which was actually the day after my 21st birthday...

JM: Well happy birthday...back then.

BR: *laughs* Thanks. But have you guys been writing anything new yet?

JM: We've got some ideas on the table for the next record. Nothing crazy, we've been really busy touring and whatnot though. We did record one new song for the Aqua Teen Hunger Force soundtrack. That came out great though, we all really dig that song. So that'll be on that soundtrack; we did that over the Christmas break. That was a crazy time for all of us, being home for the holidays for a few weeks. We did that, then flew out to LA to record a new video for Sanctity Of Brothers, which will be out soon. But as for writing a new album, we've got ideas down, we've got a bunch of different things going on, but nothing solid yet. Probably this summer we'll sit down and start writing and hopefully have half the album hashed out before we do any fall touring and then we'll come home in the winter and finish the album.

BR: Do you plan on going out and headlining any time soon?

JM: That's still up in the air. We're going to go to Europe and headline there, and then we're going to come back to the states, and it's still up in the air as to what we're going to do. It's almost 100% solid, but I can't really say just yet what we're doing, but it'll probably be on our website very shortly.

BR: Well, then I guess that's it. Thanks for your time and everything.

JM: Not a problem man.

BR: And as always, this is Brandon Ratliff for 411Mania Music, signing off.