Hollywood - In an exclusive recent interview with Buzznet, Murder by Death, on tour with the heavy blues masters Clutch, spoke candidly about the origins of their new record, the inevitable comparisons to Johnny Cash, and the surprising news that they're trying to get on the soundtracks for two upcoming Cormac McCarthy film adaptations!

Murder by Death just released Red of Tooth and Claw on Vagrant Records and we caught up with them at the Henry Fonda Theatre. Their show happened just a week after their new album hit the shelves. How was the audience of such an eclectic tour responding to the new material?

"[There are] a couple of songs that people have really responded to...so we play those ones more often," frontman and guitarist Adam Turla laughed. Red and Tooth and Claw finds MBD at their most electric and their most deliberate in terms of lyricism. In regards to the "story" that binds the record, Adam said, "This is just a story of a long journey home where there's all these obstacles in his way and he's basically on a sort of revenge quest. It's this sort of dark, evilly-motivated trip."

(Click on each images below to check out video clips of Buzznet's interview with Murder by Death.)



This musical journey demonstrates a marked departure for the band, as the record is blatantly rock and roll and Turla's vocals have never sounded so low. "I don't think it really changed the melodies that much because I still like to have a big range, or as big as I can handle," he explained. "I like to wail sometimes and sometimes I like to just do the baritone thing. I would say the only negative way it's affected us is when I get the endless Johnny Cash comparisons, which some people mean as a compliment and some people think I'm trying to clone it."

As for being compared to both Cash and Nick Cave, Turla said, "I used to be really flattered [by the comparisons], because I'm not a huge listener of either of those acts, but I have major respect for them. I used to think, "What a cool person to be compared to!" But then I think it's been used negatively against me as well, which is frustrating as well because, well...my vocal teacher just told me to sing like this! Damn you!

"But then again, I suppose to be a second-rate 'great' is still more than I expected to be complimented as a singer," he added. "I'm not too upset about it."



Since Murder by Death write miniature "stories" that evoke strong mental images, it only makes sense that the band would be pursuing work for movie soundtracks. "We really want to get in movies!" Turla exclaimed excitedly. "I'm really trying to push to get us in "The Road" and "Blood Meridian," which are Cormac McCarthy novels. People have been emailing me for probably 5 or 6 years, saying, 'Your songs are just like Cormac McCarthy's books.'"

Drummer Dagan Thogerson added, "It even mentions, 'Ash falling from the sky!'"

Turla explained the weird coincidence found in the song "Ash." "I read 'The Road' last week and Dagan was like, "Adam check this out." We wrote a song about the same thing. It's just this weird counter thing...here's this 70-year old guy and I'm 26 and somehow we came up with some similar ideas. I've only been reading his books for two years...based on fan recommendations. I think it would be fun to do that."

"I really am trying to push us for Cormac McCarthy's work," he said. "It's just so perfect."


Murder by Death are currently on tour with Clutch before embarking on a headlining US tour. Make sure to check out all four interview videos on their Buzznet page!