Keep up with Matteo here:
I picked up drums a few years ago because I wanted to play in the band Marco was putting together, our masterplan was to become the Italian version of the Cavalera brothers, or something like that (without eventually splitting up of course at the highest of our success). I took a few lessons back then but nothing special, playing to my favourites was much more instructive and fun. Some may be wondering about my surname, which clearly doesn’t sound Italian, I will explain. Some 150 years ago one of my relatives, just when he was about to be buried, woke up like a zombie. He had experienced a case of apparent death. Since then my family has been called “la razza della morte” which translated is “the deathbreed”. I think it’s pretty cool so I wanted to keep it.
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Matteo Deathbreed Interview:
SD.com: How old were you when you started playing?
Matteo: Well I started playing when I was 14, I’m 18 right now so it’s been four years.
SD.com: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?
Matteo: My one and only band has always been FOMENTO. I mean, come on, Marco (bass/vocals) is my brother so I guess the choice was quite obvious from the beginning, eheh.
SD.com: Who are your top 5 influences?
Matteo: I would say: Chris Adler, Dave Lombardo, Joey Jordison, Paul Bostaph and believe it or not Lars Ulrich.
SD.com: Assuming that influences doesn’t mean favorites, who are your favorites?
Matteo: Besides those that influenced me in developing my style I always loved Raymond Herrera’s drumming. Cyberwaste is probably one of my favourite songs ever. It has everything, it’s brutal, it’s fast and it leaves you breathless. I think Dustin Schoenhofer from Walls Jericho is an amazing drummer too. He’s so consistent and eclectic, everything he does just sounds right.
SD.com: Let us know 5 CD’s that are in your current rotation
Matteo:
Testament – The Formation of Damnation
Heaven Shall Burn – Iconoclast
Fear Factory – Obsolete
Slayer – Diabolus in Musica
Fomento – Either Caesars or Nothing
SD.com: What do you do to warm up before a show?
Matteo: Nothing in particular actually. I usually have a snack or something and I do my best not to get wasted before getting on stage.
SD.com: Can you remember a night you think was your best playing ever? If yes, when and where?
Matteo: I’d say that our last gig, when we released our new album Either Caesars or Nothing, was the best one ever. We played in a club called Spartaco here in Rome with Roman hardcore legends Payback. The place was overcrowded and hot like hell, but there was just so much adrenaline in the air. I had a blast. I had finished recording the album a couple of weeks earlier, so I just couldn’t wait to play the new songs live.
SD.com: Do you have a favorite brand of drums or cymbals?
Matteo: O course I do 😉 I’m currently playing and abusing an all black Pearl Export drumkit with Remo heads, Axis double-pedal, Ahead sticks and Paiste Rude cymbals.
SD.com: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be…
Matteo: It’s not like a feel that old to give away advices, but if I really had to do so I would say: “Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, sometimes the worst mistakes become eventually the best drum fills in the song.”
SD.com: Who gave the best live performance you’ve ever seen?
Matteo: I couple of years ago I saw Exodus play here in Rome with Tom Hunting behind the kit. That man is the shit. It’s just a whole other level of drumming. You can feel that he’s one of those that invented thrash metal and how it is supposed to be played.
SD.com: If you had to stop drumming, what would you want to do with your life?
Matteo: Oh man if it all goes wrong I would try to become a professional soccer player or something . I’m pretty good.
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