Cannibal Corpse’s death metal keeps head banging into the mainstream, from ‘Ace Ventura’ to TikTok fame

For almost 40 years, Cannibal Corpse has been a hugely influential and controversial American death metal band. They’ve released 16 studio albums, many of which were banned or censored due to their shocking cover art, song titles, and lyrics. Cannibal Corpse established its name by consistently pushing boundaries and embracing extreme content, even sparking political debates.

But this band isn’t just a cult fascination for the underground anymore.

Cannibal Corpse is consistently selling out concerts, playing everywhere from smaller clubs to huge stadiums and arenas. They’ve been an opening act for popular bands like Amon Amarth and Meshuggah.

With the rise of viral videos and social media, Cannibal Corpse is attracting a new audience through TikTok and memes, and inspiring a new wave of younger metal bands to continue their brutal style. Alex Webster, the bassist and one of the band’s founders, recently talked to The Times while on tour, just before a show in Oklahoma City. They’re currently touring the U.S. with Municipal Waste (a crossover thrash band), Fulci (a guttural death metal band), and Full of Hell, an exciting new hardcore grind band.

Webster discussed the band’s enduring career, sharing his passion for classical music and horror movies – and how these interests influence their song titles and lyrics. He also talked about the physical strain of performing such intense music (noting that vocalist George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher seems unaffected), their long-standing partnership with Metal Blade Records, and the journey of Cannibal Corpse, and extreme metal as a whole, from the obscure underground scene to a place within broader pop culture.

When Cannibal Corpse tours, would you rather perform in large venues like arenas and festivals, or smaller, more personal clubs and theaters?

You know, while playing stadiums and arenas is fantastic when we can, we’ve spent years playing smaller venues, and those are definitely more comfortable for us. A mid-size place, like the House of Blues, is a perfect example – we’re really comfortable in venues like that. But we’re happy to do all kinds of shows. We still play really small clubs occasionally, places with less than 1,000 people. I think we’ll continue to do that from time to time. And of course, when we tour with bigger bands like Meshuggah or Mastodon, we play much larger venues. We enjoy it all, but mid-size venues are really ideal for us right now. I’ve had all sorts of experiences playing shows, and we’re thankful for the opportunity to play stadiums, but I personally prefer the smaller shows because of the intensity and intimacy of being so close to the audience.

With now 16 albums, how does the band go about choosing the set list for each tour?

We generally consider what fans request, like after concerts, and which songs they enjoy. With 16 albums under our belts, there are certain songs we always play, plus a handful of what you might call “hits.” However, a death metal band doesn’t really *have* hits in the traditional sense, since there isn’t a singles chart for our genre. So, we choose songs based on how well they’ve been received over the years. We do have a few songs that are required to be played. We aim to include those popular tracks, and we also like to mix in some deeper cuts that we think people will appreciate. We try to represent our entire career, because we’re proud of every album we’ve created – each one represents a significant amount of effort. At the time, each album was the best work we could produce. So, if you come to a show – like the Anaheim show – you’ll notice the setlist on this tour really spans everything from our early material to songs from our newest album, with plenty from the middle years as well. Unfortunately, we aren’t able to play a song from every album on the setlist. We usually end up leaving a few albums out.

As a lifelong cinema devotee, I often wonder about the supporting acts in life’s grand productions. Thinking about that, I’ve always been curious – you’ve been a touring band for 37 years. In that time, what were some of the most memorable opening bands you’ve toured with? It’s fascinating to consider who shared the stage with you over such a long career and left a lasting impression.

We’ve been lucky enough to tour with a lot of fantastic bands over the years. We’ve done extensive tours with bands like Dark Funeral and Mayhem, both black metal groups. We also toured with GWAR and even the Misfits. It’s hard to list them all! Currently, we’re on tour with Municipal Waste, and we’re thrilled to have toured with them a couple of times – we really admire their music. They’re great people and an amazing live act, just a fantastic band overall. They’re a thrash crossover band, which is cool. We’ve also toured with Whitechapel and played many shows with Suicide Silence. We enjoy a wide range of heavy music – deathcore, grindcore, thrash, black metal, hardcore – anything heavy and extreme that gets the crowd going, even if it’s different from our own style. We’re always open to trying new things. We’re also happy to do a straight-up death metal tour, and we’ve done plenty of those. However, we’ve found audiences really respond well to tours that feature a variety of extreme metal, instead of just bands that all sound the same. This tour is a great example: Full of Hell brings the grindcore, Fulci delivers guttural gore death metal, Municipal Waste is crossover thrash, and we play old-school death metal. It’s a good mix, and you can see the crowd enjoying each band.

Death metal is a genre known for its intensity, technical skill, and aggressive sound.Given how physically demanding it is, what impact does playing this kind of music have on a musician’s body?

Headbanging is a key element of our performances, and it used to be simpler when we were younger. It definitely becomes more challenging as we age, but we still do it. I think the drummers really feel the strain the most. I can manage my energy and moderate my headbanging, saving the really energetic moments for specific times. But our drummer consistently works incredibly hard throughout the entire show. That’s just the reality for drummers in extreme metal. They have it the toughest, without a doubt. I’m aware that I’m no longer 25-I’m 55 now-and after all these years of headbanging, I sometimes feel things give way. We just try to pace ourselves. However, when it comes to George (Corpsegrinder), he seems to have endless energy. Honestly, I haven’t seen him slow down at all. He’s still performing at full speed for every single show.

Playing and performing this music is very physically demanding. We also see a lot of energy and movement from the audience, and even in the pit. I’ve witnessed some incredibly acrobatic things happening out there. However, as you get older, you need to make some adjustments. Regardless, we always strive to maintain the highest possible energy level in every performance.

Did you know about the couple who got married in the pit at your show in Pittsburgh last April?

Oh, I was aware of that! I actually met the couple and their friends at a bar right across the street – I was having dinner with some friends before the show. They mentioned something about it, but I didn’t quite grasp what they meant. It was pretty noisy, and I just assumed it might be a marriage proposal. Then we found out the next day they actually got married in the pit – that’s amazing! As far as I know, that’s a first, unless someone kept it a secret. But yeah, it was a really cool thing, and we’re sending the couple our best wishes.

Have there been other crazy incidents or injuries at shows?

Honestly, injuries are pretty rare at these shows. Everyone really looks out for each other in the pit – they help each other up when someone falls. But the really fun part is always the costumes. Just the other night, I saw two guys dressed as giant, bright yellow bananas in the mosh pit! I have no idea why, but you always see a surprising number of banana costumes at big festivals. I guess you could say they were in the pit, “going bananas.” It’s always a good time!

Looking back to when you initially formed the band, did you ever imagine Cannibal Corpse would endure for so long and achieve such widespread recognition, even becoming ingrained in popular culture?

No, we really had no idea this would happen. We’re incredibly thankful it did! It’s amazing to see so many bands from our time still going strong – bands like Morbid Angel, Deicide, Obituary, and many others we grew up with. When we formed in 1988, heavy metal was only about 20 years old, starting with Black Sabbath around 1968. There was no expectation that subgenres like thrash, death metal, or black metal would have this kind of lasting power. Now, after more than three decades, it’s still happening, and we never could have foreseen it. We’re deeply grateful to the fans who continue to come to our shows, buy our music and merchandise, and support bands like us, helping to keep death metal alive and thriving.

Do you think Cannibal Corpse could ever make the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or win a Grammy?

It would have seemed unlikely in the past, but these days organizations are starting to recognize extreme metal more and more. It’s possible we might even see a nomination someday – you really never know. Other metal bands, like Lamb of God, Slayer, Motorhead and Mastodon, have been nominated before. I think Megadeth even won an award. I don’t follow it closely, but after decades, even something as intense as death metal becomes a recognized part of the music world. Eventually, respect is earned, even from organizations that initially ignored it. They pretty much have to acknowledge it now. I don’t think it’s out of the question for a band like Cannibal Corpse, but I’m not expecting it. I’m just glad to see other metal bands getting the recognition they deserve. It’s a positive sign for the genre.

Do you get celebrities like athletes, actors, comedians or pop music stars come up to you as fans?

It happens very rarely, but we know there are people in all sorts of professions – actors, comedians, chefs, and athletes – who enjoy death metal and bands like Cannibal Corpse. One example that stands out is Janne Niinimaa, a Finnish hockey player who played in the NHL during the 2000s. He played for the New York Islanders and the Edmonton Oilers. We thought that was really neat, especially because we’re from Buffalo, and our drummer, Paul, is a big hockey fan. He was really excited to learn that an NHL player was a fan. He’s a great guy and a true metalhead. Every now and then, people will tell us about these connections. It just proves that famous people from politics, sports, or entertainment can also be into this kind of music. It’s been around long enough now that you don’t need to be deeply involved in the underground scene to know about it or enjoy it. So, yes, people from all walks of life, including celebrities, are into extreme metal.

As a longtime listener, I’ve always wondered about this. It’s remarkable to me that you’ve remained with Metal Blade Records throughout your entire career. Was sticking with a single label a deliberate choice, or did it just happen naturally?

Yes, we’ve decided to remain with Metal Blade Records. It’s pretty rare these days, as most bands switch labels several times throughout their careers. We connected with the people at Metal Blade immediately. It’s a label where you can easily reach the top decision-makers. We quickly got to know Brian Slagel, the owner and founder, and he’s incredibly passionate about metal – more so than anyone I’ve ever met. That level of dedication isn’t always found at other labels. We’ve consistently been pleased with Metal Blade; to us, it genuinely feels like family. The entire team there are also true heavy metal fans – they aren’t just doing a job, they’re passionate about the music. It’s been a perfect match, and we’ve never even thought about going elsewhere. We’re with Metal Blade for life.

Do horror films still inspire your lyrics?

Yes, they often do, but it’s not always a direct copy. When I write lyrics, I generally start fresh, not by adapting movies. However, inspiration can strike from anywhere – films, current events, or books. These days, the news is filled with disturbing stories that really get our creative juices flowing. Sometimes, these true events are even more shocking than anything you’d see in a horror film. It all stays with you, and it naturally comes out in your writing. We’re all big fans of horror movies, and I enjoy seeing new ones, but I especially love classics like “Gates of Hell,” “The Shining,” “The Exorcist,” and other timeless films. Horror entertainment is something that might frighten some, but many appreciate it as a true art form.

I heard you were into classical music? How is it similar to death metal?

I’m a big fan of classical music; I’ve enjoyed it for as long as I can remember. Composers like Beethoven, Bach, and Mozart created truly incredible music. The best classical pieces are full of intricate details, beautiful harmonies, and sometimes, a surprisingly dark and powerful feeling. In fact, some of these pieces are so intense they foreshadow metal music – Holst’s “Mars, Bringer of War” is a great example, and it’s popular with many metal fans. Classical music was the extreme music of its era, demonstrating that you don’t need electric instruments or shocking lyrics to create something truly heavy.

Death metal used to be male-dominated. Do you notice more women getting into extreme metal now?

I absolutely agree and fully support that! It’s fantastic. Our goal is for everyone to be a part of this music, no matter their gender. Metal truly brings people together, and gender shouldn’t matter at all. It’s great to see bands like Crypta, Nervosa, and Castrator – and many others – emerging in death metal and thrash, proving that musical ability is what counts. These women are creating some seriously impressive metal music. I’m not entirely sure *why* we’re seeing more of this now, but I’m very happy that we are.

Do you have any bucket-list goals left for Cannibal Corpse?

We feel like we’ve accomplished a lot as a band, but we’re still driven to create the best albums we possibly can. When it comes to touring, getting to open for Metallica would be a dream come true. We’ve never had the opportunity to play with the biggest metal band in the world. We’ve also had some amazing surprises along the way, like playing Red Rocks with Amon Amarth – it was incredible! Performing at Madison Square Garden and the Forum in L.A. with Meshuggah was another huge honor. Ultimately, our focus is always on making the best music possible, and everything else just falls into place naturally.

What accomplishments are you most proud of with Cannibal Corpse?

We look back on our career with a lot of pride and joy. It’s been an incredible journey! Some moments really stick out, like when we appeared in the film “Ace Ventura” back in 1994. Another highlight was touring with Slayer in 2019 – it was a long-held dream. We were also fortunate enough to perform in South America, Asia, and Australia on multiple occasions. All in all, we’re incredibly grateful to our fans worldwide for helping us achieve everything we have.

What’s one misconception people have about death metal fans?

A common concern is that people see our imagery and lyrics and believe we support violence. That’s simply not the case. Our fans are everyday people, many of whom are big fans of horror. Just as people don’t assume horror movie fans *approve* of violence, they shouldn’t assume the same about those who listen to horror music. In fact, it’s a really positive experience for both the musicians and the fans. If anyone is feeling unsure, anxious, or scared about metal music, I suggest coming to a live show. You’ll see lots of smiling faces, and how much fun and energy everyone has. You’ll witness the sense of camaraderie and all the headbanging. People might be surprised.

Cannibal Corpse will be performing on Saturday at the House of Blues Anaheim, and they’ll be joined by opening acts Municipal Waste, Fulci and Full of Hell.

2025-10-03 22:37

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