Interview with Matt DeVries of Chimaira
By Ellen Gager

EDITOR'S NOTE: This interview was conducted live and has been edited for content and length.

EG: How’s the weather down there, first off (in Chicago)?

MDV: Ah, you know what, yesterday was horrible, but today’s not too bad, the sun’s actually out. But it’s still not summer.

EG: Tell me a little bit about how the tour with Killswitch Engage has been going so far.

MDV: It’s awesome. Today’s actually the last day, so I’m kinda bummed out. It really helps, just the fact that everyone gets along and everyone’s friends on the tour. Like, we’ve been friends with Killswitch forever, and you know, them asking us to be on the tour with them was just great for us, ‘cuz that really helps us out for the first tour on the tour cycle. And every single night has been anywhere from 3 to 6,000 sold out, and it’s just been fantastic. Probably one of the best tours we’ve ever done.

EG: So the dynamic between all of the bands is enjoyable? Do you guys hang out after shows?

MDV: Oh yeah. Definitely, we hang out a little too much. My liver needs a break after this tour. But yeah, everyone gets along; there’s been no issues with any “rock star acts” or anything like that. It’s been real cool.

EG: With the original drummer (Andols) Herrick back in the band, how do you feel the ensemble is working now? So, is this your first tour with him back?

MDV: Actually, he did a couple on the last run, but just to finish up the tour cycle, but this is the first one back where he is back on the record and everything like that.

EG: Is everything working out great, then?

MDV It’s, to be completely honest, better than ever. I think everyone’s much happier, we’re in a better mind set, and you can tell he’s…he’s probably the most enthused to go out on tour, which is crazy, ‘cuz that was usually us and not him. Now it’s like the other way, so it’s fantastic. He’s playing 110% and loving it. You can see he’s happy, and it’s just been awesome.

EG: Yeah, I had read that he had originally left because he was kinda sick of the whole touring gig, so…

MDV: Oh yeah, he’s lovin’ it, he’s lovin’ it. He’s having a good time, actually, you know, hanging out instead of going to his fucking reading. So, it’s cool.

EG: Where‘s the coolest place that you guys played on this tour?

MDV: Let’s see…what sticks out. Cleveland the other night was a big, hometown show, sold out, so that was fun. But I think Mesa, I think that was probably the biggest show. It was an outdoor amphitheater , close to 6,000 and it was just a lot of energy and a lot of fun.

EG: With Resurrection having just come out in March, are you pleased with the reception that it’s gotten?

MDV: Yeah, actually we couldn’t be happier right now. We broke the Billboard Top 50, and we’ve never done that from the first week’s sales, so we were surprised. And all of the reception has been great. We’re playin’ the new songs live and the reviews have been amazing from different magazines, so I’m pretty stoked. Gonna ride it out.

EG: Was there any difference with the writing process on this one as compared to your previous albums?

MDV: Yeah, I think different from the last one especially. Rob, it was pretty much his concept to write most of the self-titled record, whereas this one was pretty much equal between myself, Mark, and Rob, with writing, and I think everyone else putting in their two cents. And then we did something that we’ve never done, we kind of wrote on our own and had our own little Pro Tools rigs and kinda sent MP3s back and forth and didn’t really get together with it for a little bit, just a head start towards the end of the last tour cycle, so it was cool.

EG: That seems like a pretty tricky way to do it.

MDV: Yeah, we’ve never done it like that, but it was fun.

EG: With all of the changes you’ve had, like splitting from Roadrunner, teaming up with Ferret and Nuclear Blast, changing drummers, things are starting to settle down at this point, right?

MDV: Yeah.

EG: Has it all proven to be positive experiences?

MDV: Yeah, it’s kinds funny ‘cuz everyone’s like, “Wow, what a …” It’s not negative record, but a very mean tone, mean…even the melodies are kind of dark, but we’re happier than we’ve ever been, so kids expect us to be just bummed out, but I think it’s, you know, that’s our outlet, which music has always been. But at this point, yeah, we couldn’t be happier as everything turned out to be positive. In the long run.

EG: Does the title itself, Resurrection, have anything to do with the kind of rebirth of the band, or is that something that’s completely non-related?

MDV: No, it’s 100%. You nailed it. We just think that we’re rejuvinized [rejuvenated] and then it is kind of a rebirth, seeing as far as everything we’ve said with Andols back and the new label, new producer, new…you know, kind of a new outlook on everything. Like with this record, when we were writing together, we were just having fun, just like we used to before we were worrying about a label, or numbers, or trying to top the last record or anything. Writing exactly what we want. If people didn’t like ‘em, kind of an F U-type attitude, so it was cool.

EG: Do you have anything else in the works; are you taking a break after this, are you going back into the studio, writing, what’s going on?

MDV: We’re just gonna keep goin’. We’re gonna keep touring as much as we can on this record. We’ve got a small break next month, actually tomorrow, for about 2-3 weeks, then we go to South America and then we’ll be hitting European festivals and back in the States by July. And yeah, just keep touring for now, not really worrying about anything else.

EG: Are you pretty excited to get to go to South America?

MDV: Oh yeah, that’s the first time ever, so it’ll be cool.

EG: Do you expect the audiences to be very different, or don’t even have any idea what to expect?

MDV: I don’t have any idea. I mean, I’ve talked to some bands, but they didn’t really go into detail, I guess there are a lot of fanatics down there. You go down there, you don’t go down there to make money, you go down there to have fun and play good shows. And they really appreciate it, ‘cuz not a lot of bands travel down there. So it should be fun, ‘cuz we’re going all the way down to Chile, so it’s gonna be crazy.

EG: I’ve heard from some of the other bands that’ve done the South American tours that the fans down there tend to be wild.

MDV: Yeah, that’s great. Cool!

EG: Other than that, is there anything else that you would like to add?

MDV: Thanks for all the support and buy the record, [Laughs] Whoever’s reading or listening, get it.