This week Texas Thrash bastards, Warbeast head out on the road with Phil Anselmo and Down. Warbeast and Anselmo released a four song split EP on January 8–”War of the Gargantuas“. Two songs from each artist to give fans a taste of their individual 2013 full length efforts. Frontman Bruce Corbitt dropped by to chat about the EP, forthcoming album, new tour, the passing of Mike Scaccia and the as-yet unreleased Rigor Mortis album, as well as sharing his favorite “go to” album.
Warbeast plans to release its sophomore album, “Destroy” sometime in March. The album will feature founding members vocalist Corbitt (Rigor Mortis), guitarist Scott Shelby (Gammacide) and drummer Joe Gonzalez (Demonseed). In addition, new bassist Dre’ Karst (Infernal Aggression) makes his debut along with new guitarist Bobby “Junior” Tillotson (Demonseed).
"War of the Gargantuas" features two new Warbeast tracks why did you choose them for this split?
“They were actually like the first two songs we wrote after the debut album, “Krush the Enemy“. Phil [Anselmo] was working on his solo album and writing that, and he came up with the idea for the split. So we said, well we got a couple songs. ”Birth of a a Psycho”, I just kept hearing this one riff that reminded me of a song I wrote like 20 years ago that never got used. I think the lyrics would fit so I brought it out of the archives. Then on “IT” I kind of always wanted to write a song with Phil Anselmo—Team up and do some lyrics. So I asked him if he wanted to write that one with me so we just waited till we got there to record them, and while they were recording the music tracks, me and him sat around one afternoon and came up with the lyrics for “IT”. It’s really cool cause we really went in and recorded those songs before we had ‘em down as a band and I think they turned out pretty well.”
How much have you guys grown as a band since the debut album and how does that growth play?
“I think we came a long way. We’re proud of that first album, but we were such a new band at the time we were writing those songs. So we were just happy to come up with some new material at the time and start adding to the set instead of just playing Rigor Mortis and Gammacide stuff. We replaced a couple of members since that first album. And Rick Perry who was also from Gammacide, he was Scott Shelby’s partner for 20 years . So when we lost Rich, who wrote like half the music on the first album, it left it all up to Scott. What its done for him is it’s allowed him to reach new levels of greatness and push him to do things he wasn’t able to do before, because he had to write pretty much all the music for the new album. Like anybody, you just hope you improve–Your live shows, your writing. And that’s what happened. We’re just finding ourselves more, so we’re just kind of unleashing ourselves to be heavier than we were on that first album.”
On the evening of December 22, while performing for Corbitt’s 50th Birthday Bash at the Rail Club in Fort Worth, Texas, Rigor Mortis/Ministry guitarist Mike Scaccia tragically passed away at 47.
What was it about Mike Scaccia’s playing that set him apart?
"First of all the man can play any kind of style there is and that’s a rare thing to find out there. The sound that he brought to Rigor Mortis still, I hope you agree, don’t sound like any other band. He created his own unique picking style which is a very rare thing. Just the fact that he was able to do so much and create his own sound and then be versatile enough to go play in several different kinds of other bands. You know he just got up there and played his guitar, wearing what he wears every day, and he wasn’t like, ‘Hey look at me hit this note’, you know? He was just a cool guy, a great guy and he loved playing guitar more than anyone I’ve ever met. He wasn’t competitive. He was authentic.”
Do you have sort of a “go to” album you listen to to keep you inspired, pick you, up, etc?
“When I was first wanting to be in a band. When I got to be like 15 and I was thinking about it, I was the biggest Aerosmith fan in the world. Still am. I love early 70s Aerosmith so much. So I would have to pick Aerosmith “Rocks”. Cause it brings me back to those days: My first sex drugs and rock and roll years. Getting my first car and driving around listening to 8-tracks and putting in Aerosmith’s “Rocks“. There was nothing better. It starts out with “Back in the Saddle”, then its got “Nobody’s Fault”, “Rats in the Cellar”, “Sick as a Dog”…it’s just a great album from start to finish."
Listen below to hear the full interview and check out our review of “War of the Gargantuas“.
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Rustyn Rose is a veteran music journalist who owns and operates Metalholic Magazine and Metalholic Radio.
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