Today we got to speak with Ryan Beevers from Unflesh!
MPM: First and foremost, how are you doing during the pandemic and those who don’t know who you are, could you introduce yourself to your contributions for Unflesh?
U: For sure! So my name is Ryan Beevers and I am the founder, vocalist/guitarist and songwriter in Unflesh. Also I’m doing great thank you. The pandemic has been quite crazy for everyone but it seems we are coming close to a point where things are becoming more manageable hopefully!
MPM: Your latest offering came out couple months ago being the release of Inhumation and its one of the absolute best releases of 2021 in my personal opinion. Was the writing process and recording of the album little difficult during the pandemic times or was it more easier than the debut album for Savior?
U: Well hey man, thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the album. The writing process was pretty smooth for this album. The recording process was a little tricky and was quite a lot of work but I think it yielded for some great results. Fortunately for us the pandemic did not have any effect on the process of creating this album as it was finished before the pandemic actually hit in March of that year if I remember right. Each album has had its hurdles that’s for sure but in the end it will not stop us.
MPM: One thing I give props to about your music is that you have a technical, blackened and melodic death metal approach on Inhumation which in my review I described it as Necrophagist met Emperor with hints of Obscura and Revocation had a baby it be Unflesh in a nutshell. What’s the inspiration in behind writing the album?
U: The writing of this album was just another step into establishing our own thing sound wise. I don’t claim in any way that Unflesh is reinventing the wheel in terms of extreme metal. However, it has been a goal to try and establish a sound that is nuanced enough to set the band apart from others while being a very honest musical expression.
MPM: Since Unflesh are a independent and unsigned band, has this been a focus and concentrated point to inspire yourself to make music in the future?
U: Not really, but I will always continue to release records for this band as long as I’m around. We’ve talked with some labels in the past but the general consensus seemed to be that they weren’t really interested in what we are doing. Honestly, operating independently can be quite difficult at times but it is no way going to stop this music from coming out in the future.
MPM: What songs would you say off on Inhumation are in your favor terms of consistency, structure and delivery?
U: I see the whole album as a collective. Each song acts as one component in the overall album concept.
MPM: Since most of the lyrics are based off death, suicide, darkness and other subjects, what was the motivation to create songs that not only are impacted with deep meaning but more comprehensive?
U: From the beginning I wanted to write music that derived purely from emotion and feeling. I wanted to make sure that every song meant something much more to me than just a bunch of riffs strung together and some lyrics thrown on top. So with the writing process I’ve just focused on writing the best material I can at that particular time.
MPM: Unflesh has been around since 2014 and reside from New Hampshire. What would you say is the music scene like in the state than most other places in United States?
U: I would say that there isn’t really much of a metal scene here. The part of NH I’m from, it’s mostly a lot of theater and jazz music. There are a few killer rock and metal bands around but it’s not common here really. Massachusetts has an actual metal scene I would say though.
MPM: What was your inspiration to become in a extreme metal band and what albums have encouraged you to sing, play guitar and write lyrics for Unflesh?
U: It came from a search of an outlet when I was quite young. Rock and Metal music in general was kind of like an audiological escape for me and still is. Years later when I started writing my own songs for Unflesh I didn’t feel comfortable with someone else singing the lyrics that I wrote, so I decided to step up to the plate. Some of the people I looked up to that did guitar and vocals were James Hetfield, Jon Nodtveidt, Ihsahn, Chuck Schuldiner.
MPM: Since the future of shows are unlikely gonna be happening anytime soon, what are some hobbies or interests that kept you occupied when not writing music?
U: Besides music I’d exercise and cook quite a bit. I went on a few hikes here and there as well. It was good to get outside as much as possible. There is a trail here, a few towns over that I walk through every now and then so I visited there frequently.
MPM: Since the underground metal scene has grown so much in the last two or so decades, what’s your thoughts on today’s spectrum of bands such as your band and others?
U: I think there is a healthy scene today that is quite strong. At times I think that there is maybe a little bit too much focus on what individuals can do on their instruments and their songwriting takes a back seat. However, there is plenty of great metal coming out all the time. New killer bands popping up everywhere that are totally crushing.
MPM: When shows do make a comeback, what bands would you like to bring on the road with Unflesh?
U: I’d like to be on tours with bands that are bigger than us. We are still pretty unknown by most I’d say so being on a tour with more popular bands I think would aid getting our name out there. To answer your question though, in a perfect world I’d really like to tour with bands like Dead Congregation, Dark Fortress, Naglfar just to name a few. A dream of mine is to do just even a spot show with Emperor, that’d be really cool.
MPM: If Unflesh were to sign to any label of your choosing, what label would you pick and why?
U: At this point I’m really not sure. I think I’d go with a label that believes in what we are doing and would support us.
MPM: What’s your stance on physical media versus digital distribution in music and other forms of entertainment?
U: In my personal opinion, physical media is very important to music. I think it adds an extra dimension to the experience so to speak. Connecting with the music, seeing the artwork and reading the lyrics I think is the best way to experience a record or score or whatever it may be.
MPM: Before we wrap up this interview, I like to personally thank you for doing this and I do hope someday shows can make a return so we can get back to our lives before we all know it. Are there any last words or conclusions you’ll be willing to add for the future of Unflesh?
U: First I’d like to say thank you very much for the interview. I’m hoping as well that this whole pandemic conundrum will be over sooner than later so we can all return to some semblance of normalcy. I’ll conclude in saying that I appreciate all the support that we have gotten on “Inhumation” from all listeners. For Unflesh, there is always stuff in the works so there will be more coming out in time. Until then, cheers everyone and stay safe out there. -Ryan
Interview by Jake Butler
