SOURCE – It’s been five years since the release of Darkest Day – what’s been happening with Obituary between then and now?
Donald Tardy (Drums) – We really wanted to take our time writing the songs for this new album so we took a couple years creating the songs, listening back and tweaking them as we felt needed. We were in no hurry and put no pressure on ourselves with any deadlines or projected release dates in minds. We just let the songs come to us as when they wanted to which was a very cool experience. Not having to rush into writing is a benefit that helped each song take on it’s own character. Then we decided to perform a show playing songs off only the first three albums (The Classic Set List) and that went over so well it turned into an entire tour which kept us busy for some time.
After that we jumped back into the studio and continued writing new material for working in blood.
We never planned on being away for this amount of time in between albums but it’s just the way it worked out which is fine with us because obituary is a band that never puts pressure on themselves and think that we have to always release records every year. We allowed the music to find us…
SOURCE – Did you guys produce the new album Inked In Blood yourselves?
Donald Tardy (Drums) – Yes we recorded the new album on our own. In fact the last two albums (Xecutioner’s Return and Darkest Days) we tracked on our own at our studio as well but this time we really went for it and mixed and produced it ourselves as well. We’ve always been very hands-on in the studio with all our records throughout our career so this just seemed to be the next step that we were wanting to do and looked forward to the challenge.
SOURCE – Tell me how you came to sign with Relapse Records for this album.
Donald Tardy (Drums) – We knew that we did not want a typical album contract, that’s why we did the crowd funding campaign and we were able to record and produce the album without the help from a record label. Relapse understood the position we were in and simply made it clear what their role would be for this band and it all made sense to us. We simply used their engine to get the album out to the people along with their brilliant marketing campaign that they have executed perfectly. It is not a band on a record label it is a partnership between two companies and we are super excited about this release and the future with Relapse.
SOURCE – This is your ninth full-length album and Obituary has been around for about a stunning 30 years now! Did you ever think the band would come this far, and where do you think it’s headed in the future?
Donald Tardy (Drums) – In 1984 when we were recording our demo tape I never would have imagined that the band would stay together for three decades. Simply amazing. The good thing is we are having more fun now than we ever have and the songwriting seems to get better and better. It is a very bright future for obituary and our fans. We are looking forward to this year and many more years of releasing albums and touring the world.
SOURCE – Looking back to the early days of Obituary, what stands out for you as some of the highlights?
Donald Tardy (Drums) – I’m very fortunate to be in a band with my brother and Trevor because we are and always have been best of friends so there is too many highlights to speak of… Every night is a highlight with us because we always make the best of the situation and always have a blast on stage.
SOURCE – How much material from Inked In Blood are you playing, and how has the response to those tracks been?
Donald Tardy (Drums) – We have been playing a few songs off the new album life for the past half year and the response has been unbelievable. The fans really seem to like the new material and are loving them even thought they do not own them yet. We are looking forward to playing more new songs for the fans on this upcoming world tour along with making sure we keep the Classic Songs on the set-list as well.
SOURCE – Other than your own album, what’s on your musical rotation lately and there is anything coming out soon you are excited for?
Donald Tardy (Drums) – Carcass (Surgical Steel), Lamb of God (Resolution) Danko Jones (Rock n Roll is Black n Blue), Dust Bolt (Awake the Riot) and Dio (Holy Diver)
SOURCE – Will you be coming to Brazilian tour in 2015?
Donald Tardy (Drums) – Yes. We are working on the entire world tour schedule now. All the fans can check all confirm dates on our website. www.obituary.cc
SOURCE – Nobody watches metal videos on TV any more. It’s all on the internet, but do you think because of the accessibility of the internet that more people are actually seeing your videos today than would have back in the heyday of MTV?
Donald Tardy (Drums) – Yes I do believe everyone around the world are on their phones and computers watching videos of their favorite bands more than ever. Unfortunately everybody is streaming songs of their favorite bands for free on the Internet as well and not actually buying the records. This is something that will never go away…we just hope that our fans understand how important it is to us to have their support by simply buying the new album. We put our heart and soul into this new album and hope that everybody wants to support it by buying themselves a copy.
SOURCE – Is there anything else you need to mention?
Donald Tardy (Drums) – 5 last words: GO BUY INKED IN BLOOD!
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