This interview was conducted with guitarist Ol Drake at Dante's in Portland, OR on October 22, 2010.

British Thrashers EVILE had a tumultuous time after the release of their sophomore album, Infected Nations, last year with the sudden death of bass guitarist Mike Alexander while on tour in Sweden. Since then they have soldiered on, gaining strength in the face of this loss and tragedy and have toured consistently throughout Europe and North America.

Phil: First off, how's the tour been so far?

Ol: Awesome. Last time we came, we were out for about two months. It was great then. It was very hectic, though. Now it seems a lot more relaxed, we know what we're doing, there are more people at gigs this time around and it's just been great.

Phil: I understand you guys have been working on some new material - tell us a bit about that.

OI: I think we've got about fifteen songs on my laptop downstairs. It's pretty much a mixture of the first and second albums with new ideas. Got a really good feeling about this - it's just very angry, progressive, heavy… I don't know any buzz words.

Phil: When do you think you're going to get a chance to record?

OI: We're recording in March with Russ Russell again, it should out in July, late July maybe and just in time for festivals. And hopefully come back here, end of the year.

Phil: How many of the songs do you think are going to make the final version of the album?

OI: I think all of us want an eight or nine track album, 'cause when it gets near ten it's a bit… you just forget what tracks are, so hopefully around eight or nine.

Phil: You recently had Infected Nations reissued; tell us about the bonus material for that.

OI: Um… we genuinely don't like reduxes or reissues, so we only went along with it 'cause they put a lot of stuff in, so there's a live CD with two sets; one from Hammerfest with our old bassist, Mike, and the live in the studio thing which we kind of took a piss on 'cause we always hate how bands say a live album's live and it's blatantly just done in the studio.

Phil: In the great tradition of JUDAS PRIEST and early METALLICA.

OI: Yes. So we called it "Live in the Studio" and pretended it's live, like speaking to the crowd out there, so just tongue in cheek a bit. And then we put a patch in and a competition to win one of Matt's guitars. Oh, and the "Cemetery Gates" cover, the PANTERA thing. So yes, it's pretty good for a redux.

Phil: It's been about a year since the tragic passing of Mike; how has the band been able to come to terms with that and did you find it difficult to carry on in the aftermath?

OI: I think in a way, we still haven't come to terms with it 'cause it was such a shock - it was just straight away, there was no warning, no anything. So it's still a bit strange, but Joe's doing great and it's great to have him with us. It was tough at first, I think, because he died in Sweden, so that meant we had to a four or five day drive home and it was just silent the whole time; couldn't really think of what to say and then someone said, like "Do we want to carry on?" and as soon as someone said that, we thought "Yeah, of course." We're kinda doing it for Mike, but also doing it for ourselves because the last ten years would be a waste if we just quit.

Phil: Okay, recommend a book for our readers and then explain why you recommend that particular work.

OI: Any kind of book?

Phil: Any kind of book.

OI: [pause] I think one that changed my life musically was… Alex Skolnick actually recommended it to me, called "Effortless Mastery." It's by Kenny Werner, he's a Jazz pianist, and it's about being more confident in yourself in playing and actually adapted it to life, not just music, so I definitely recommend that. Just a very cool book.

Phil: I understand you recently went bungee jumping dressed as a cowboy.

OI: Yes [laughs] At one point, we were nominated for an award, Metal Hammer, I think it was Best UK Band; I think we were up against JUDAS PRIEST and BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, so we weren't going to win that, so I said something like "Oh, if we win, I'll bungee jump dressed as a cowboy," 'cause that's just as ludicrous that it would happen. But then we won another award, so I didn't specify which award, so I had to bungee jump dressed as a cowboy. That was it basically. We did it for the British Lung Foundation 'cause Mike died of a pulmonary embolism and just to raise some money for their cause; that's it, really.

Phil: What do you think is one thing a person can do to make a positive difference in their life and the lives around them?

OI: I think try and treat everyone the best you can. Treating people like shit and being an asshole doesn't get you anywhere; it always comes back to ya and no bad can come from being good, so if everyone to eachother, the world would be a better place then.

Phil: Where do you see EVILE in a year?

OI: A year… maybe just back here, just touring off the next album 'cause that's all we want to do is write an album, festivals, tour, album, just repeat. That's all we can do, really. That's all we're good at… well, some people don't think we're good at it, but that's all we want to do. So here in Portland. [laughs]

Phil: All right, is there anything else you'd like to add?

OI: Check out the new Infected Nations redux; if you don't like it, don't buy it. If you do, turn it up really loud and annoy people. [laughter]

Evile's Oliver "Ol" Drake

Interviewer: Philip A. Wickstrand

TO THE TOP

*By clicking "Submit" you agree to the following Terms of Use. You agree not to post any material that is obscene, slanderous, or threatening, or that may violate any law of your country of origin or the United States or of international law. Should you wish to restrict viewing of your email address by third parties, you must select "Hide My Email." You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Metal Psalter from any claims, actions, suits, damages, or other costs arising out of any breach of these Terms of Use.

*Comments:

Formed: 2004
Huddersfield, England  UK
Label: Earache Records
Genre: Thrash Metal

CURRENT LINE-UP:

Matt Drake: Vocals & Rhythm Guitar
Oliver "Ol" Drake:  Lead Guitar
Joel Graham:  Bass
Ben Carter:  Drums

DISCOGRAPHY:

All Hallows Eve EP (2004)
Hell (Demo-2006)
Bonus Demos (2007)
Enter the Grave (2007)
Infected Nations (2009)

November 6, 2010

(Click on Photo to Enlarge)

PHOTOS BY PHIL A. WICKSTRAND

(Click on Photos to Enlarge)