Interview: Burial Path

Interview with Matthew McClure (AKA h8strings) of Burial Path.

What first got you into music?

My very first exposure to music was back when I was about 11 years old. My parents signed me up for classical guitar lessons. At the time I despised using my evenings learning something I didn't want to, however, now I look back and I'm glad my parents planted that seed. When I was 14, I saved up enough money to purchase my first guitar; a cheap B.C. Rich Warlock from Musician's Friend for $137. The next year or so I spent just messing around on the fret board and seeing how I could write something cool (at the time I didn't want to incorporate classical elements which was stupid of me). Then I learned about the program Guitar Pro. That completely opened up my music world. I learned a LOT of Billy Talent and then eventually moving on to Lamb of God. 

How would you describe your music to someone who hasn’t heard it before?

It's high energy, bouncy, low tuned, rhythmic music. The dynamic of the drums really drives the music; ranging from 200+ bpm blast beats down to 90 BPM breakdowns. There are orchestral elements in each song to augment the listener’s experience; similar to how cinematic soundtracks augment what the audience is seeing. 

Was there a defining moment when you realized music was your calling?

For me it was the realization that after years and years of failed projects, my ambition/passion for music remained. I have actively been participating in bands since 2007. I learned a lot in each band; however, each band never made it. Each one had the building blocks, and each successive project made it a little further, but the end result was always the same. By the time I started up Burial Path in 2023, I realized that my ambition and passion hadn't really diminished. After 16 years of failures my passion still pushes me forward. 

Where do you find inspiration for your lyrics or melodies?

For our lyrics, Aïcha will spend a considerable amount of time reading and researching on a topic that the instrumentals inspire her on. She does a good job of jotting down cliff notes of what her research is about which allows the rest of the band to have a good understanding of what her lyrical concepts are. For melodies I don't entirely know how to articulate my thought process, but I'll randomly get a short melody or chug pattern in my head. I'll rush to my computer and record the idea, or as close as I can get, before it disappears. 

How do you balance personal expression and creating something your audience will love?

Fortunately for us, just about everything we've released has been an accurate representation of our passion for the music and the message, and the audience so far has loved it. I'm sure that'll change down the road, in which we would have to spend a little more time in the song writing process. We of course want to keep the audience happy and deliver what they want to hear, but at the same time we are going to try very hard to keep it genuine to us as artists. I believe the best way to achieve this is to lay out what the audience has voiced that they want to hear, and then see how we can seamlessly incorporate elements that truly exhibits our expression.  

What has been the most rewarding moment of your career so far?

It hands down has been meeting new people and the opportunity to see new places. Although I am somewhat torn on what it takes to be an artist in the online era, it has made it increasingly easier to meet other artists from around the world. Before I always felt that I HAD to find band members in the same state, but Aïcha is a great example of how online social media really opens up that opportunities to meet and work with new people that we might not have ever met in person. Getting to work with other artist from around the world also gives me deeper insight into their background and how music is intertwined in their in their culture.  

Are there any specific milestones you’re working toward in your career?

The major milestone is to eventually be able to do music as a full-time job. I can't imagine a better life than to travel the world with friend, play the music we've so passionately created, and to share our message with everyone. Another big milestone is to headline a big U.S. tour and to either headline or co-headline a bit out of country tour. There are many, many more milestones, but those are my biggest goals. 

How do you prepare for a show or tour?

We have not had the opportunity to play live yet. But if we were about to play a show/tour it all starts with planning. The logistical side of travel for either Matthew to get down to Texas or for Aïcha and Jack to travel up to Nebraska. Then equipment functions check, rehearsals, and then some good band hangs. For a tour the logistics would be more involved, but very similar to what was previously mentioned. 

What’s the most unusual or memorable thing that’s happened to you on stage?

We don't have any on stage stories yet, but for The Luminary music video shoot in San Antonio, we went to a shoot site and one of the two vehicles had to leave. We were able to fit 6 people, a full drum kit, two guitars, and other MISC. equipment all into my Honda CR-V and drove for about an hour to get back to the Air BnB. We definitely became "close" friends after that. 

Can you tell us about your latest project or release?

Burial Path hasn't released a track recently, but we've got a couple single releases planned for 2025. My latest project, my old band Keeper of the Morgue, are releasing The Tomb World Trilogy that I had a big hand in writing with them on April 1st! 

Are there any collaborations in the works you’re excited about?

Aïcha has a few big collaborations that she has had the opportunity to do, however, we are not at liberty to talk about those quite yet. I haven't had the opportunity for a big collaboration yet, but I am working on a short clip with Kaly Paradise, vocalist Eyes of Paradise (Spain), Arlindo Cardoso, who is the senior producer at Comendatio Music Fest, and drummer for Pantno and Ohat (Portugal). As well as a djent track with Ben Fleming, vocalist of Under Society and a heavy song clip with Ghostiee, vocalist of Unwithered. I'm excited for all of these because again one of my favorite things in the world is getting to work with new artist on music! 

What message or emotion do you hope people take away from your music?

I want people to walk away knowing that they're not alone. The lyrical content revolves heavily around personal growth/betterment. I know life throws a lot of curve balls at us, and a lot of time people have said they never felt comfortable being vulnerable around people to open up because it feels like others have not experienced/gone through what they have. I, as well as the rest of Burial Path, want everyone who hears our music to know that they are heard, they don't have to walk the path alone, and for the music to be a catalyst for their personal growth. 

Who are you listening to right now?

Usually I'm listening to metal, but recently I've been hooked on In My Room by Julia Wolf. That style of music and lyrical content will always have a soft spot in my heart/soul. 

How do you see your music evolving in the next few years?

We work had to keep the core of the songs adjacent to Deathcore/Death Metal, but we are working on shaping the songs to be almost like a cinematic experience. We still want to see the moshing, but we also want to develop an environment where the music absorbs the listener and takes them on a journey. 

How do you handle the balance between commercial success and artistic integrity?

For the time being, we have not been placed in a situation where we had to make a decision like this. When it does roll around, I'd assume we will attack similar to balancing personal expression and creating something the audience will love. Just spending a little more time in the planning phase to sort out details on how we can create work plans to keep up commercially successful while at the same time not lose sight of who we are as artists. 

What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects, tours, or surprises?

Nothing too major. I have a side project called "Deceitful by Nature" that I occasionally will write softer tunes, and then find artist to feature on the track(s). My heavier, djent side project, "Mercy is Treason", is preparing to drop its debut single in May. We've discussed a tour in Burial Path, but for the time being, while we do some rearranging in the band, that is just something on the horizon for now. Burial Path is planning on dropping a single(s), so keep your eyes peeled for that! 

Anything You'd Like Your Fans to Know.:

Thank you for hanging in there with us! We are very eager to start playing shows so we can meet as many of you as we can. Nothing would make us happier than some good brews and good conversation. We've got a lot planned for the future, so keep your eyes peeled and your ear holes ready!   

https://linktr.ee/burialpath