Interview with Backstabber
Backstabber are a death metal band formed in Quebec, Canada around 2012.
Alicia
Can you Introduce the band?
Backstabber
We are a Canadian death metal quartet from a small industrial town up north called Rouyn-Noranda. The project has been around since 2012, but it’s not until 2016 that it really took off as a live band with the release of the Revenge demo. Although we definitely have solid roots into death metal, we have various influences that find their way into our music.
Alicia
Where did the name come from?
Backstabber
Integrity has a price. When interacting with selfish people they will mistake it for treason when you don’t go their way. They will try and call you names in order to steer you back on their path. We just embraced it and stood our ground.
Alicia
Your album just came out can you tell us about the recording process?
Backstabber
Christian (guitar and vocals) had already done the recording work on the previous albums so far, so it was an easy decision to continue like this. Of course, there is also the monetary side that comes into play since we are not signed on any label. As for the choice of Christian Donaldson, it’s a name we all had in mind when we started working on this album. Every artist who works with Donaldson takes their game up a notch. His sound is unique and we wanted to have his touch of magic on our EP.
Alicia
Do you have plans to tour this release?
Backstabber
Due to the 800 km separating us from Toronto or Montreal, it has always been a pain in the ass for us to get booked on a regular basis like bands from the urban areas, but I think this EP will help us get our name out there and hopefully be able to get more shows in the coming year throughout Quebec and Ontario. Playing our music to audiences really is the main driving force behind what we do!
Alicia
Can you tell us about the music scene where you’re from?
Backstabber
As surprising as it might seem, the scene here is pretty healthy around here thanks to Gen from ‘’Production Ça Bûche’’. She has been doing an amazing job for the last 10+ years! Since we are a small community, having more than one promoter can be a scene killer and there is a tacit agreement within the scene where we put our trust in 1 local promoter and God she delivers! There are regular shows once every 2-3 months where we have different bands from the Canadian metal scene, sometimes some tours, and then there are the local Festivals that call Gen in to book a metal show for them. That’s when we get bands like Dying Fetus, Cattle Decapitation, Voivod, etc... And last November we had the absolute honor of playing direct support to Kataklsym!
Alicia
Was music something you’ve always wanted to do?
Backstabber
Yes for sure! We have always been involved in music since a young age. Like Eric (bass) did the security in almost every show in Rouyn-Noranda since early 2000 and always wanted to be onstage. Chris (guitar/vocals) was in a classical music program during high school and his first metal band was at 17 years old. Phil (guitar) and I (Kev, drums) have known each other since the age of 7 and we were also in a classical music program during high school and started our first metal band at 16!
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