Interviews: Cuttermess

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Crossover band, Cuttermess, from Belgium. Check out the interview and follow the band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Did you plan it or came out just like that?

Kris: Our name, Cuttermess, is a play on words. We were looking for a name that would mean something in Dutch (our native language) and in English. Phonetically, 'Cuttermes' means 'box cutter' in Dutch. A knife, which already has kind of a violent connotation to it (laughs). Adding the seconds created a non-existent English word, but you can give some meaning to it. A mess made by a cutter (somebody who cuts with a knife). The idea just hit us at one point. I am a very conceptual thinker, and it fits the music (which is sharp), the lyrics (cut the mess out of society), and it means something in two languages, so I suggested it. The other guys loved it too.

2. Why did you want to play this genre? 

Kris: It wasn't a deliberate choice to pinpoint a genre. We call ourselves cross-over metal because you do need to label it to give people a main idea of what to expect. For us, it means that we strive to combine – or cross over – several metal genres into our songs, without making it sound forced. That way, every single one has its own surprise, and we can (hopefully) keep the listeners and/or viewers captivated. Both our guitar players have very different styles that they excel in. Usually, one of them suggests a raw skeleton of a song. My most common feedback is that it is too much the same style (laughs). Then we figure out together how we can make it more diverse. “Maybe a nasty black metal part here instead of yet another thrash riff?” “Here you can do a solo.” “This would be a cool chorus, let's try to get this part to return a couple of times.” ...conversations like that.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed? 

Kris: The only people who knew each other beforehand are our new bass player, Ward, and me. That's kind of a nice story, actually. Ward, who is originally a guitar player and our founding drummer, played in a band prior to Cuttermess, where we wrote all the music that would later become Cuttermess songs. When that band disbanded, our drummer and I continued that music as Cuttermess. Without Ward, who at that point did not have time in his personal life for a band. When we needed a new bass player, my first thought was Ward. He knew the songs from the EP., I knew I could trust him and that he had a lot of experience to be a real asset. He was up for it, so after like six years, we were back in a band together (winks). All the rest of us got to know each other by trying out for the band.

4. Each band member's favourite band?

Pieter: As a half-Finnish man, I go for Children of Bodom.

Bram: Metallica, Ghost and Avenged Sevenfold. One is impossible (grins)

Ward: Emperor and Mayhem. Bram is right, you can't have just one.

Kris: Up untill recently, I would have answered Rammstein and My Dying Bride. But since Till is struggling a bit and Aaron has left MDB, my new number one is Iotunn.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs? 

Bram: Literally anything can inspire. I mostly do it to escape inner demons. It's therapy for me.

Pieter: It usually starts with some random improvisation just for fun and relaxation. Afterwards, it develops into more concrete ideas.

Kris: As the diva of the band, I just wait until the guys come up with something good enough for me to sing to (laughs)! No, when there is somewhat of a structure, I start trying out vocal melodies on the returning parts. If I've got a good one, I do it during the rehearsal, and as soon as the jibberish vocals are approved, I pick a societal problem to write the lyrics about. If you see the world and the system as I see it, there's plenty to write about. But apart from simply criticising something, I also explain why it's a problem and come up with a more logical solution.

6. Where was your last gig? 

Kris: This answer will depend on when you guys publish this. Today (November 8th) we will hit the Kid's Rhythm 'n Blues Kaffee in Antwerp. Kind of our home away from home. The week after that, we open up Plutofest with, amongst others: Hiraes, Kozoria, Slaughter The Giant, Traels, Angelic Forces and Bloodmoon. We are still booking for 2026, so if anybody reads this: get in touch! 

7. Where would you like to act?

Pieter: Alcatraz. The second biggest metal festival here in Belgium, and not as commercial as the better-known Graspop.

Dimi: Harder, faster, louder...Wacken! 

Bram: Any big festival would be very interesting. Alcatraz: get in touch!

Ward: I will pick an indoor venue with a long-lasting history: the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels.

Kris: Summer Breeze! But I am willing to start in a small metal bar in Germany and make our way up from the underground. Like we are doing in Belgium. But Germany has SUCH a passionate metal scene...we would fit there like a glove.

8. Whom would you like to feature with? 

Dimi: Godsmack, if they are willing to open for us (winks).

Ward: Mayhem. But they have to promise not to spill their corpse paint everywhere (laughs).

Bram: I am repeating myself: Ghost (laughs).

Pieter: Behemoth, so we can borrow their pyro stuff (laughs)

Kris: Doesn't matter, we are going to outstage them anyway (laughs)! No, let's do Amon Amarth, so we can pillage some villages afterwards. Or for our Spanish readers: Angelus Apatrida. Love those guys!

9. Whom not? 

Ward: What kind of question is that (laughs)!?

Bram: Milow. If you don't know him, consider yourself lucky (winks).

Kris: Electric Callboy, Jinjer, or one of those other hyped up bands where half of their music is on the backing track.

Pieter: Eminem. It just wouldn't match, and we don't want to clean up Mom's spaghetti.

Dimi: Anyone is welcome.

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that? 

Bram: Only at my first gig ever. If you rehearse and master your playing until you're comfortable with it, then the rest comes naturally.

Pieter: Yes, me too, the first few times. Just have fun playing and do not fear the fans. They are not there to eat you, unless you're playing for a tribe in the rain forest or something (laughs).

Kris: Same as our guitar players here. The first one ever I had a lot of stress, and it sits on your voice. But it went away after a minute or so. I think the best way to beat it if it is a lasting problem, is to get into the mindset of “I know what I'm going to do, I did my best to prepare, I can't do more than that.” Even then, I understand that for some people it will always be there. Then you need to consider whether or not going through it is worth it.

Dimi: Drink some beers and enjoy yourself with your band mates or other friends who are there. Or do what I do: go look for cigarettes 20 minutes before showtime and return five minutes too late, so you don't have time to stress (laughs).

11. What bands have inspired you the most? 

Ward: too many! Mostly death/thrash bands.

Dimi: Lamb Of God, Tool, Panzerfaust.

Bram: Have I mentioned Metallica, Ghost and Avenged Sevenfold yet in this interview (grins)? They include a lot of melody in their music, and that's my cup of tea.

Pieter: Children of Bodom, Behemoth, Stam1na, Rammstein, and many more. 

Kris: Damn it, Pieter, now I can't say Rammstein anymore (laughs)! Approximately during the same period I got into Rammstein, I was into Queen. So let's drop that name. I steal a lot with my eyes from Freddie, and my main vocal style kind of resembles his. He was a lot better at it off course.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

Pieter: “Can I pet your hair?”

Ward: People don't talk to me, I'm just the bass player (laughs).

Kris: Some dude actually brought a box cutter to one of our shows and asked me to sign it (smiles).

13. What do you think of your fans?

Dimi: They are very tolerant of our music shows. If you see what we do on stage, you know why that is very courageous (smiles).

Bram: Indeed, we're always grateful and slightly amazed if people leave their couches for us.

Kris: Fans may be a big word, but to all who have ever done anything to support us – whether it is going to a show, listening to us online, following us on our socials, buying our stuff...- I take a humble bow.

Ward: I agree. They are the best people in the world because they actually care about music.

Pieter: They are great! Thanks for supporting us folks!

14. What do you think of our site?

Ward: Until today, I have never heard of it, but it seems like a very interesting website. I will read into it.

Kris: Being a voluntary metal reporter myself, I know how many bands you get offered every day. So for you guys to pick us out of that bottomless pit...wow! That shows excellent instinct and taste. I love the special concepts you use to cover the music: the track-by-track and behind-the-scenes. Very creative. Curious what you are going to write about our album Lie/Sense (winks).

15. Something to add?

Ward: This was the stupidest interview I've had. Ever (smirks).

Kris: Don't mind him, he is just the bass player, he doesn't know any better (smiles). You guys are from Spain, right? Shouldn't we have been offered tapas and sangria by now? No, seriously, from all of us: huge thanks for interrupting your siesta to read this, and we hope that you will listen to our album Lie/Sense on your favourite streaming platform or on our Bandcamp. The Breathing The Core guys like it, so will you! Oh, and next time Spain plays against Belgium, please let us win (laughs)!