Matt Connell

 

Keep up with Matt here:

www.myspace.com/connelldrums

www.myspace.com/descendintonothingness

 

 

Connell’s drumming first surfaced when he began playing with the previously drum-machine driven Canadian grind band FUCK THE FACTS.  Joining the band in early 2001, he appeared on 2 full length releases and a plethora of split CD’s and 7 inches before parting ways with the group in 2004.  While in FTF, Connell also became a part of Ottawa based politcal hardcore band Experiment In Terror, who saw the end of their run in the spring of 2005. Shortly after his departure from Fuck The Facts, Connell was announced as the new permanent drummer for “Gore Metal” legends EXHUMED.  Shorty after joining the fold the band recorded its last full length album to date; “Garbage Daze Re-Regurgitated”.  After touring for the album during 2005 the band then released a spilt CD with Ingrowing in early 2006 which coincided with an indefinite hiatus for Exhumed.

Not to be slowed down, Connell joined Baltimore based band Strong Intention as a fill-in drummer for a 2006 winter USA tour with Neuraxis.  Shortly after returning home from tour Connell formed a new side-project known as Drudgery in his home of Guelph, Ontario with members of other local bands Arise and Ruin, and Dear Black Diary. Drudgery is currently in the middle of preparing material for their first release. Matt has most recently teamed up with the newly re-formed melodic death metal act DESCEND INTO NOTHINGNESS, who have just finished recording a 4 song EP with acclaimed producer Yannick St.Amand(Despised Icon).

 

 

Matt Connell Interview:

 

SD.com: When did you start playing drums?

MC: I got started a bit late in my drumming at around age 19/20.  I was originally a guitar player and a vocalist, but had the chance one day to buy one of my drummer’s old kit for $50.  I planned on just keeping it around to dick around for fun here or there.  When I got it home I set it up and didnt come out of my basement for 4 days straight, I was hooked!  7 years later, the trend only continues as I still can’t get enough!

 

 

SD.com: Do you play in a school band or any drum corps?

MC: I never played music in school really.  I took guitar classes in junior high, but they didnt offer that in high school, so during my teens I mainly just jammed with friends on my own.  I grew up in Canada, and up here we don’t really have drum corps or marching bands setup in our school system, so the opportunity for that never really presented itself.  I enjoy practicing and playing around with certain drum corps type rhythms and techniques on my own, but thats as far as its ever really gone.

 

 

SD.com: Have you ever taken any lessons?

MC: I am for the most part self taught.  About 2 years into my drumming I took about 3 months worth of lessons, but didnt really enjoy my teachers teaching style so I stopped.  I have taken no formal lessons since, but would someday like to take more from the right teacher.

 

 

SD.com: Who are your top 5 influences?

MC: Dave Witte, Mike Mangini, Paul Bostaph, Derek Roddy, Flo Mounier.

 

 

 

 

SD.com: Assuming that influences doesn’t mean favorites, who are your favorites?

MC: Dave Lombardo, Pete Sandoval, Tomas Haake, Neil Peart, Dave Grohl

 

 

 

SD.com: Let us know 5 CD’s that are in your current rotation

MC: Necrophagist – Epitaph, Raised Fist – Dedication, Regina Spektor – Begin to Hope, Misery Index – Discordia, Strapping Young Lad – The New Black.

 

 

SD.com: Do you practice any specific rudiments or combo’s regularly?

MC: While I practice single strokes the most, I’ve always spent alot of time on various double stroke rudiments. Lately I’ve been working on alot of triple stoke rolls, and swiss army triplets. As far as combos go, I’ve been wokring alot of call and answer type stuff with my hands feet, along with working on alot of syncopated foot rhythms.

 

 

 

 

SD.com: What is your favorite part of your drum kit?

MC: My ride cymbal.  It’s an older 22″ Sabian Hand Hammerred Heavy ride.  I’ve always preferred the volume and cut of a nice heavy ride cymbal, but this is the only one that I have found that gives me the cut I like and still retains an excellent amount of warm tone and musicality to it.  I love it and will probably have it forever.

 

 

SD.com: If you could give one piece of advice to younger drummers, it would be…

MC: Learn to walk before you run.  I find that most young drummers get too ahead of themselves and dont build a solid foundation.  When I started out I was over ambitious myself, and after a while had to take a few steps back in order to keep moving forward, and even injured myself pretty badly at one point due to pushing myself too hard with sloppy technique.

 

 

SD.com: Who gave the best live performance you’ve ever seen?

MC: Mike Mangini.

 

 

SD.com: Aside from drumming, what else do you do with your life?

MC: I do alot of studio work recording albums for bands, and I also do some studio voice over work on the side.  Producing is my other main activity outside of drumming, but when I’m not doing either of those I like hanging out with friends, and I watch a lot of movies.