Continuing our series of interviews with those crazy Cropsy Maniac’s, Meddlefan has a chin wag with vocalist, and another great guy to boot, Kevin Reece about all thing’s one can imagine! Meddlefan, as always, asking the questions no-one else dare ask! Prepare thyself!
Hi there! Let’s start with an easy one, so first off Kevin where are you from?
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia but I left the nest and moved to the Great Northwest in 1999. Life became a modern day Oregon Trail adventure for me.
What got you into performing Death Metal?
My first band was when I was in high school. We didn’t have a PA yet so trying out was pretty much me yelling into a karaoke machine playing Sepultura‘s – “Refuse Resist“.
Who would you say is your largest influence when it comes to Death metal?
Well, of course, Kam Lee IS the Godfather of the Growl and none of us would be doing this without his inspiration, but I also love the super low lows of Dave Rotten from Avulsed.
Do you write the lyrics once you have received the music or do you already have them written out and then find the music to sing them to?
I write lyrics after the music is completed. Vocal icing on the metal cake.
You guy’s have a great lineup in Cropsy Maniac. What makes you guys tick? Who or what is the oil in the machine called Cropsy Maniac?
Thanks! We all just click. Aaron Whitsell is the original mastermind behind what has become Cropsy Maniac. Aaron had recorded some demo tracks and was floating them around in the early days of Facebook. Travis Ruvo and I have been in bands together since around 2005, so when Aaron approached us about getting Cropsy Maniac off the ground we jumped on the chance to start a new project. Jonny Pettersson from Henry Kane, etc has been a great addition for bass duties.
Where is your favourite place to eat? And what do you eat there?
I love anywhere you can get some tasty tacos y margaritas.
Do you like to fish, climb mountains, Motocross, anything like that?
Oregon is great because within an hours drive either direction we can experience ocean side beaches or mountainside Bigfoot forests. I use both mostly for escaping and resetting purposes with some light hiking and casual fishing, just enough to soak in the right views.
What type of movies are your favourites? Who would be your favourite horror character?
I watch mostly comedies, fantasy and horror. Well, Cropsy of course.
If you had a favourite weapon, what would it be.
“Did he fire six shots or only five? Well to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I kind of lost track myself. But being that this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well do ya, punk?” – Inspector Harold Francis Callahan.
Do you like Conan the Barbarian?
Fun fact: The last time I tripped on acid a few years back I watched Conan the Barbarian by myself and became fully immersed in the ways of Crom.
What can you say about the new E.P. that will make the hordes want to rush out and buy it?
Cropsy Maniac – “Carnage” EP, eight tracks of 70’s-90’s Horror Infused Metal. For fans of old school gore i.e. Haemorrhage, General Surgery, Dead Infection, etc. with album cover art by Kam Lee.
Do you play video games ?
Yes, but solo campaign mode only…I’m not going to go to online multiplayer style just to have some twelve year old’s, I don’t know, try to talk trash through some shitty headset. No thanks kid.
Do you have a favourite live gig you have played?
One of the coolest experiences has got to be playing Maryland Death Fest 2011 with Bloodfreak in Baltimore, Maryland.
What would you say is the craziest shit you have ever done?
If I told you, I’d have to kill you. Joke ha-ha.
can you share with us one of your favourite memories whilst in the band?
Meeting Lou David, Cropsy, from “The Burning” movie, and seeing him wear one of our band shirts…pretty surreal.
What is the your favourite track on new the release? What is your favourite Cropsy release?
The third track on the EP is based on David Cronenberg‘s “Rabid” 1977. I usually enjoy whatever our most current release happens to be the most. Our 2018 split with Gruesome Stuff Relish on Animate Records is a gem.
What is your favourite beer? Do you smoke a lot of weed?
I’m more of a Kracken rum guy, but for beer I do love me some Stella Artois. And in the immortal words of Nate Dogg ‘Hey, ay, ay, ay…smoke weed everyday.’
Any other music projects besides Cropsy Maniac?
Nothing but Cropsy Maniac at the moment. We are currently busy writing our second full length album due for release winter 2018 or spring 2019, so keep an ear out for that!
What do you think about the new bands trying to sound like the early nineties Death Metal?
It’s cool, I get it, there are/were tons of killer early 90’s Death Metal bands to enjoy and draw inspiration from. That said, it’s hard not to be too derivative or to stand out among the sea of Death Metal clones, much less the original greats.
Do you have a toy collection? Or cars , knives , swords, heads? Lol, joking man, what do you do as far as hobbies go?
Not much of a collector. My music, movies and friends take up most of my time.
Okay then, what is your favourite style of Death Metal and why?
I’m a DeathGrind kinda guy. Its like a PB&J…Death Metal can turn into sticky peanut butter with maths heavy technicalities and Grind can often be super sloppy like jelly but together can make one hell of treat!
When can we get our hands on this new Cropsy and where?
Sometime this year. Jonny (Pettersson) is finishing up bass tracks now and mixing it all down for our own digital release the eight tracks. Mike Juliano at Horror Pain Gore Death Productions will have physical media copies of the EP available soon after.
Well, that’s pretty much a wrap, so thanks Kevin for your time, it is very much appreciated. We are all really excited about the new one here at The Metal Wanderlust, it kicks some serious arse to be sure (It’s out now, the editor is lazy and wasn’t fast enough posting this). Great band, great blokes, and music scary enough to make even Freddy Kruger think twice before daring to beleive he is the most horrible thing to ever exist! Stay tuned for the final interview soon people!
While waiting, get your filthy muckrakers on some of this!
The Metal Wanderlust 