SDM: So when is the new Morbid Angel record coming out?
Pete: This is for sure now, we are recording this album this year, in 2009. We have most of it written and we have a lot of other stuff that we just need to fix. The album might come out by the end of the year, but to be honest with you, I think early 2010 is more likely. Our focus is to finish it this year, but 2010 is my honest answer.
SDM: The song Nevermore sounds like it was largely influenced by Covenant; was this done on purpose, or is this just the writing style you guys took for the song?
Pete: It's just the writing style that we took for the song. Trey wrote the song, came up with the whole composition. His influence is Trey, Covenant was Trey. So Nevermore has a lot of what I do, Pete Sandoval blast beats, skank, double bass. That song contains a lot of that plus Morbid Angel Trey-type style of music that we play. We never sell out, we want to be extreme no matter what.
SDM: What are some of your favorite death metal drummers out there today?
Pete: Nowadays it's hard to tell, you only get to know the guys people are familiar with. Guys on YouTube, there are so many videos; of course George Kollias is one guy who came after me, but before him, Derek Roddy also really brought this style into his own technique, he brought it up, too, and does it well. He's not my favorite drummer, but he's a good drummer. He's doing something I created for years, so I don't really get blown away for something that I do. There are a lot of black metal drummers like Mayhem, there are a lot of death metal drummers that I respect and I support. I tell them, "go for it; don't give up!". It's amazing how fast they can get quick, and I didn't realize how young some of these guys were. When I was doing this, I was pretty much the only one besides me and the guy from Napalm Death. Death metal drummers, there are so many of them; I don't know many bands are out there, I just hope everyone focuses on their own lives and go for it! Most of these guys are carrying this style of drumming with their own technique.
SDM: What do you think of bands using triggers so much nowadays, and do you think you were one of the main influences in people using triggers?
Pete: I think that's a part of the new generation. It's just a way for the music to come through much more clearly. Your beats are much more clear and defined, and your ears can distinguish more double bass; one kick drum, that's why a lot of bands are using triggers. Death metal is very crunchy, dirty, fast music, and it wouldn't be so easy without the triggers. Triggers help you with speed, and it's not cheating, it's enhancing it. It's better than microphones. You can pick whatever sound you want, as far as why bands are using them for the purpose of sounding better, and a lot of bands are using them. It's the truth, it's to make things better for the kind of music that they play.
SDM: What is your reaction to Jared Anderson's passing?
Pete: That was one of those things you would never expect. He's such a young guy and healthy guy, and he's gone like that. We didn't know he had any kind of problem. It's sad, like many other people that have the same fate happen to them. It just makes you go "wow". We have a connection with the dude, because he was a part of Morbid Angel for a short time, and I pay my respects to his family and friends, his family especially. He was such a nice person and an incredible musician. Life is cruel.
SDM: What do you think is the fastest speed you can reach on double bass?
Pete: To tell you the truth, I couldn't tell you in numbers. Some shows are faster than others. It's as fast as Morbid Angel is, as fast as I can fucking hit it! Fast as hell!
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