Corpsegrinder fires back at Chris Barnes: “I’m proud of the death metal scene today”

Ex-Cannibal Corpse vocalist Chris Barnes recently watched and commented on Knotfest’s Death Metal Round Table on featuring vocalists George “Corpsegrinder” Fischer of Cannibal Corpse, Travor Strnad of The Black Dahlia Murder, Chase Mason of Gatecreeper, and Alex Jones of Undeath. Barnes said the video made him “physically ill” and that he “despises what this genre has become.” He then later added that he really does hate modern death metal vocals, the modern death metal scene, and especially hates metal media (HEY!?).

Now in an interview with Little Punk People, current Cannibal Corpse vocalist Corpsegrinder has responded saying modern death metal is pretty great.

Gatecreeper‘s pretty cool. I saw a band Frozen Soul, I saw them. There’s a bunch of bands going out here now. The scene is just as healthy as it’s ever been. It’s just as great as it’s ever been. It’s not dead, it’s not terrible, I’m proud of the death metal scene today. I’m so proud of it, I think it’s amazing. I think there’s so many great bands. Look, we’re going out on tour with Revocation and Whitechapel, and you know – two awesome, great bands.

The scene couldn’t be better. And anyone who thinks otherwise, you know – kiss rocks. Because I’m so proud of the death metal scene. I encourage everyone to go out and you know, listen. Listen to the old bands. Of course. The old way paved the way. Go listen to Possessed. They’re the first death metal band, okay? Go listen to them and listen to everything between. Listen to Kreator, who I think are kind of the bridge between death and thrash that, without Kreator there would be no Cannibal Corpse. Listen to those bands and listen to obviously the old, classic bands like Cannibal, Death, Obituary, Deicide, Morbid Angel.

Then you have Aeon, you have Black Dahlia Murder and Dying Fetus – like I said, newer bands. Like Gatecreeper‘s been around for a while, but you know… dude there’s so much great death metal going around. The scene has never been better and anyone who thinks otherwise, you know… just, you know, I don’t know what to tell you.”Corpsegrinder to Little Punk People

Barnes originally fronted Cannibal Corpse between 1988 and 1995 before being replaced by Corpsegrinder. Prior to leaving, Barnes formed Six Feet Under in 1993 and has been fronting them ever since.