Ditchwater is a metal band that comes from Chicago and mixes diverse influences into a unique style (grunge, metal, hardcore). Their album "Breakdown" has been out for awhile and they are recording new material to prove people that they are one of the best bands in the Chicago metal scene. We talked with Mark Anderson (guitar) and Bill Matthews (vocals) to see what is going on with the band

Are you mixing death metal, grunge and hardcore into your own music?

BM:We mix a multitude of styles, and death metal, grunge, and hardcore all play a big role

How were the beginnings of the band?

MA: The name Ditchwater has been around since 1993, but me and (drummer) "J.J." Romero started seriously around 1996. We found (bassist) Bret Basick in 1998 through a former singer. (vocalist) Bill Matthews joined in late 1999.

BM: I decided I wanted to sing in a serious band, and I went to place an ad at a local record store. I grabbed a flier for a band that was looking for a singer (obviously Ditchwater), and I called the number.

Are you recording new songs now? How are they compared to "Breakdown"?

MA:Yes we will have a new 4-song CD out around late February/early March.

BM:. The songs are close to the ones on "Breakdown", except for a few things.
For one, we're a lot better(talent, tightness, and song writing ability), and
for two, we've had a lot more studio experience, hence the overall product
will be ten times better in the sound area.

How is the Chicago metal scene? Do you consider yourself a part of it?

BM: .The Chicago metal scene is bigger than ever, but not necessarily better
than ever. There's a thousand Disturbed spin offs, and that just makes it
harder to get shows! We have our friends, bands like us that understand that
it's a brotherhood, not a competition. Those bands are the ones we prefer to
do shows with. I love Chicago, and like they say, "If you make it here, you
can make it anywhere!"

MA: Well we are somewhat a part of it, but still go about as if we were on
the outside looking in. There is a tremendous amount of ego, and gossip that
goes on between bands. Also it is extremely political in the Chicago scene. If
you don't know the right people you'll have a very hard time getting anywhere
in it. But that is really the case in almost everything it seems!

Are your lyrics inspired by real life situations?

BM: All of my lyrics are inspired by real life situations. If I tried to write anything else, it wouldn't feel like metal to me.

MA: Well Bill writes about 80% of the lyrics with me writing the other 20%. I
tend to write about how I am feeling at that particular moment.


How has Ditchwater´s music changed with the addition of Bill Matthews?

MA: Well with a stable line-up we are able to be more consistent. And with
that we are allowed more freedom and can be more creative, and as a result we
write better songs. it is very hard to concentrate on making a song the best
it can be when you are constantly starting over. We searched 4 years for the
singer to bring our music to the next level and we believe we have achieved
that.

And how have the lyrics changed?

MA: Well I used to write the majority of the lyircs before, and still have
input in them so in that aspect they haven't changed much. Bill's lyrics have
meaning and aren't put there just to fill up a song which is something we
have always strived for.


Do you think that Ditchwater is a band that is better playing live or in
studio?

BM: Ditchwater is a band that is best experienced live. Our full energy and
emotion can pretty much only be expressed and experienced in person at a
show. With all that said, I personally think that we are one of the few
metal bands out there that can capture that live energy in the studio,
without sacrificing sound quality.


Which is your live and studio equipment?

MA: We use the same equipment live as we do in the studio. Lots of bands
sound great on their albums, then you see them live and you wonder if it's
the same band! We don't have that problem. I use Gibson Guitars with
Marshall Amplification. Bret uses Ibanez Basses with Hartke Amplification and
"J.J." uses Pearl drums.

Which of this things are more important to Ditchwater´s music: aggression, melody or dynamics ?

BM: .Aggression, melody and dynamics are all equal parts of our music. The fact that we incorporate all of those areas into our music is what makes us so unique.

Anything more that you want to say ?

BM: Well, in closing, I'd like to say that the heavy music scene is in for a jolt of real emotional music! Whether or not people want to be a part of it is up to you, the fans!! p.s., thanks for the interview!

Interviewed by Federico Marongiu

Bill Matthews - vocals

Mark Anderson - guitar

J.J. Romero - drums

Bret Basick - bass