Dave: The new album (The Burning South) is a champ, man. Was it pretty painless to record this time around?
Ben: Always painful. Mostly for Vince but always long, rewarding but long. He`s got this thing about getting the songs "just right." Uptight prick. Fucking around man, we obviously wouldn`t do it any other way. I like the record too.
Dave: Are you happy with the new label?
Ben: Very man, very. We got a feature in the next Metal Maniacs and shit, that`d never happen before. We got in the euro mags like Terrorizer and Metal Hammer, but it`s cool to see over here and all. Seems real fair. We don`t ask for a lot though.
Dave: You`ve got a wide range of vocal styles in your bag. Who`d you listen to when you were learnin`?
Ben: I don`t know if I ever "learned" or anything. LG Petrov is a definite. The two Van Zants. I mostly listened to a lot of rock, but never mimicked it or anything. Man I was singing in church and all before puberty (and before I quit churching), so I`ve been at it, always. The opportunity came around to sing with dudes playing original rock and I said "what the fuck" and here I stand today. Famous and shit. Ha.
Dave: The Southern rock / metal vocals concept seems like a no-brainer! Why don`t more bands do that?
Ben: Couldn`t say. Lacking imagination. Maybe a lot of bands either don`t like Southern rock or don`t like metal. We just write songs and they come out "this way" or whatever. Vocal wise, I started out as an over the top growler sort, I morphed into this other shit as my confidence grew. More willing to explore. More to come.
Dave: The band sure can whoop some butt live. Any plans for some roadwork in the future?
Ben: Plans, yes. Serious six week type shit, no. But I plan on hitting up CT or Jeff or Reid or whoever about Jan 23 in Lrock. That`d cover you anyway. I`m trying to book about a ten day thing in Jan. We liked Little Rock. If we played a Sunday, you reckon folks would show up?
Dave: If I checked your CD changer or turntable right now, what would I find?
Ben: Mmmm, new Hidden Hand, new Mastodon, new Pig Destroyer, Ratt`s Out of the Cellar. Turntable, honestly has the old Mastodon pic 7" with Slick Leg on it. I don`t know that a lot of folks have that. I also have the two Holy Terror vinyls laying around the machine.
Dave: The Oldest Interview Question: If you could only bring three albums with you on your life sentence to Devil`s Island, what would they be ?
Ben: Two friends and I did this just the other night, so it`s fresh for me.
1) Slayer - Reign in Blood
2) Maiden - Live After Death (double LP, lotta bang for the buck)
3) AC/DC - Highway to Hell.
Honorable mention: Deep Purple’s Machine Head, Entombed’s Wolverine Blues, Kiss’ Alive.
