CHRIS BARNES Talks Different Styles Of Writing Vocals & Confirms SIX FEET UNDER Has A New Record Ready To Go

Six Feet Under’s Chris Barnes: Embracing New Approaches to Vocal Delivery

Six Feet Under, the iconic death metal band led by the inimitable Chris Barnes, has consistently pushed boundaries wiht their brutal and uncompromising sound. Over the years, Barnes has collaborated with a diverse range of guitarists, bringing unique perspectives to the band’s sonic tapestry. From Steve Swanson to Rob Arnold, Phil Hall, and his former Cannibal Corpse bandmate Jack owen, each collaboration has shaped Six Feet Under’s evolution.

In a recent interview, Barnes shed light on his multifaceted vocal process, revealing how his approach has transformed over time.

Breaking New Ground on “Killing For Revenge”

“It was captivating doing that one as it was the first album I’ve ever done where I didn’t write the lyrics,” Barnes explains. “what happened was I said ‘you know Jack, why don’t you let me know in each song where you want vocals?’ Because as a vocalist, I’ll sometimes put vocals where the guitarist or the writer wouldn’t expect them to. I remember [former Six Feet under guitarist Steve Swanson] telling me ‘I didn’t expect you to put vocals in that part.'”

Barnes describes how past collaborations involved more structured approaches: “and then I’ve had guys that I’ve written with like Rob Arnold that he would road map it out for me. You know, he’d put the time like ‘1 minute to 1 minute 30 vocal part blah blah blah’ and do that for each song.”

On “Killing For Revenge,” Barnes and Owen adopted a novel strategy. “So I asked Jack I’m like just you know, tell me where you want vocals as I know I’ll write it somewhere different that you might not like it,” he reveals. “I was like, even if you put a scratch track of like gibberish like and show me where you want the [vocals].That’s what I did on ‘Crypt Of The Devil.’ Phil Hall mapped it out like that. He just did a bunch of gibberish and did a track of it and then I wrote from that, which was way different to make lyrics from gibberish.”

Owen’s Prolific Talent

Barnes was surprised and impressed by Owen’s approach to songwriting on “Killing For Revenge.” “For this album, I said [how I’ve worked with other songwriters in the past] to Jack. All of a sudden Jack sends me a song demoed out with vocals, full lyrics that he just wrote. Its like ‘wow, well geez this kind of takes makes it easy for me you know?’

” Right after he got done with[[Killing For Revenge], then he sent me a whole new album with lyrics and everything already done. I mean, we could have came out with another album five minutes later because it’s already done. it’s just sitting there.”

Barnes emphasizes Owen’s remarkable talent, noting “He’s really prolific. He’s a great writer, great lyricist. You know, even back to [Cannibal Corpse’s 1990 record] Eaten Back To Life, he wrote the first part of ‘Shredded Humans’ and said ‘okay finish it off.'”

A New Era of Collaboration

The seamless partnership between Barnes and Owen on “Killing For Revenge” reveals a new dynamic within six Feet Under.While Barnes’ distinctive vocal delivery remains at the core of the band’s identity, Owen’s songwriting prowess has taken center stage, paving the way for an exciting new chapter in Six Feet Under’s musical journey.

How has Chris Barnes’ collaboration wiht Jack Owen on “Killing For Revenge” impacted Six feet Under’s sound?

Six Feet Under’s Chris Barnes: Embracing New Approaches to Vocal Delivery

Chris Barnes reflects on his multifaceted vocal process and evolution

In a recent interview, Chris barnes, the iconic frontman of death metal heavyweights Six Feet Under, opened up about his ever-evolving approach to vocal delivery. Over the years, Barnes has collaborative with a diverse range of guitarists, including Steve Swanson, Rob Arnold, Phil Hall, and his former Cannibal Corpse bandmate Jack Owen. Each collaboration has significantly shaped Six Feet Under’s unique and brutal sound.

Breaking New Ground on “Killing For Revenge”

“It was fascinating doing ‘Killing For Revenge’ as it was the first album where I didn’t write the lyrics,” Barnes began. “Jack Owen said, ‘Let’s approach this differently. You tell me where you want vocals, and I’ll write lyrics accordingly.'” Barnes explained that while past collaborations were more structured, with guitarists providing detailed roadmaps for his vocal parts, this new approach allowed for greater spontaneity and creativity.

“I remember working with Steve Swanson, where I’d put vocals in places he wouldn’t expect. With Rob Arnold, he’d give me a precise blueprint for each song. But with Jack, it was a new dynamic.I asked him to send me a scratch track of gibberish, showing me where he wanted vocals. It was a bit like writing lyrics from a map, which was refreshing,” Barnes revealed.

Jack Owen’s Prolific talent

Barnes praised Owen’s songwriting skills on ‘killing For Revenge.’ “To my surprise, Jack sent me a fully demoed song with vocals and lyrics. it was so well-prepared that it made my job easier. Right after finishing ‘Killing For Revenge,’ he sent me another complete album! He’s incredibly prolific, a great writer and lyricist. Even back in the Cannibal Corpse days, he wrote the first part of ‘Shredded Humans’ and had me complete it,” Barnes said.

A New Era of Collaboration

The collaboration between Barnes and Owen signals an exciting new chapter for Six Feet Under. While Barnes’ distinct vocal delivery remains the heart of the band, Owen’s songwriting prowess has centered the spotlight. This new dynamic promises an enticing future for the iconic death metal outfit.

What do you think about Chris Barnes’ new approach to vocal delivery and Jack Owen’s impressive songwriting on ‘Killing For revenge’? Share your thoughts in the comments below.