Interview with Matt Riley-Drake (Formerly Of Evile)

Ever wondered why Matt left Evile?
Ever wondered what he is up to now?
Mick 'The Beard' gets a candid interview with Matt

[@OrlovKruskayev]

Man, the man’s voice and rhythm guitar style absolutely will stick with me forever. His work is fantastic. I’m really glad he is doing well now.

[@BetaIX9]

Please, go back to Evile. We miss you so much Matt!

[@BrutalAggressions]

Good to hear from him. Always be a big fan of Evile. Honestly, really miss him on vocals but still a great band. God Bless Matt and family is everything so I understand 💯

[@LambChopper678]

Evile is up there with one of my favorite bands of all time. Such a shame that the juice isn’t worth the squeeze for these guys. Thanks for the interview 🤘🏻

[@Alex-yq2uy]

Yeah that's a damn shame. Evile's sound is just perfect in all aspects as far as thrash metal genre goes for me

[@goncaloferreira72]

You sir, are a legend! Your videos are great. Nowadays guitat playing on youtube is faked through but your videos are just very real, fun and really the love, care and attention to this music. Thank you and hope for many more videos :)

[@joshcheriton7555]

Would love Matt to release his solo album!!

[@dzaijn]

In Dreams of Terror is in my opinion a top 3 thrash metal song ever written. How can my man be this fucking humble after having written some of the best music of all time? Infinite love to you Matt, you absolutely eternal legend.

[@frederikvieira2571]

That fucking riff Man.... Absolutly amazing

[@brunobortoluzzi307]

One of the best thrash metal vocalists of all time, it's a shame he's not in the band anymore

[@MetalGodsTV]

Sadly I'll health and family commitments make it impossible for him now plus heavy metal makes no money to live unless you are in the select 5%

[@HarvesterOfPizza]

Fair play to Matt for doing what is best for his health and general well being. The statement he put out was very genuine sounding and well written. He always comes across as a decent guy. I was lucky enough to meet Matt at The Parish in Huddersfield when Evile played there in March 2022

[@fartspoo4244]

That’s a bummer. Glad to hear he’s ok and it wasn’t a bad blood thing

[@mulemanism]

So sad the money isn’t in it for musicians. I gave up playing due to lack of money . I saw evile live a few times and they were amazing .

[@goncaloferreira72]

Evile is one of my favourite bands. Loved Matt's voice and their songwriting. Learned so musch by playing their songs

[@alm5266]

I was at the Rebellion gig in Manchester 2021. It was an absolutely beautiful send-off for Matt and a passing of the torch to Ol. A lovely fella and I hope he's doing well healthwise.

[@lesliemills1780]

Extremely cool individual. Evile's 1st 4 albums are as good as thrash metal gets.

[@UnbendingPuppetsMusic]

Matt, you are a very unique vocalist in this genre. So sad you are not a part of evile anymore. But we all have a life beside all of this. All the best to you. Greetings

[@MoveitorLoseit2]

Always really liked Matt's vocals. Too bad he is not in Evile anymore. OL is a great guitar player but Matt was a much better vocalist

[@Failhaid]

check out the new Evile Album then.....i didn't expect it, but Ol has improved MASSIVELY as a singer. I guess, not everyone will like the slower, groovy direction, but Ol developed a sound where his voice fits perfectly. It kinda continues where Five Serpents Teeth ended😉

[@marcoipoqlo9294]

Matt is Evile

[@ErWo75]

I loved Evile with Matt’s vocals. I still prefer his cleaner style… but I will continue to support and be a fan of the current incarnation of Evile. Ol seems to be improving already. And his guitar playing speaks for itself!

[@Failhaid]

check out the new record.....Ol's vocals have improves MASSIVELY. Overal the album has an interesting approach. Slower, Darker....not everyone will like it, but i think it's quite awesome😉

[@magnushenriksson9607]

Matt are so missed in the band! Saw Evile supporting Megadeth in Stockholm, they were so great!

[@knave8561]

"Hell unleashed" didnt really click for me, I miss Matts vocals

[@rockdogization]

i agree totaly...

[@machina4279]

Way better than the earlier stuff.

[@3nderoX]

@@machina4279 What Hell Unleashed? Hell Unleashed is their worst album easily.

[@3nderoX]

New Evile just isn't the same it's like Metallica without Hetfield that's how good Matt Drake is.

[@GrandAlcoholicThrawn]

Well said

[@GubernatorMD]

It's how I felt back when Hell Unleashed dropped, but The Unknown shows how much Ol improved vocally. Can't wait for the full album.

[@nunodarrell6606]

A grand or two each per year?? 😯 That’s insanely low income. Specially for a band like them. I make that in the tribute scene in 5/6 gigs

[@TerrorFront.]

Life has been so fucking unfair with Matt and Evile in general. It's a so fucking good band. This guys are the real shit. I still can't understand why they don't make it to a greater league, to be massive...It feels very unfair.

[@Jasonk89]

Totally agree, I guess it's a matter of being born in the wrong decade. Had they been an active thrash band in the 80s, I'm sure they'd end up in the same league as some of their predecessors. Although one could argue they'd miss out on their influences too much. I think their first three records are some of the best stuff released in the late 2000s.

[@Chaz4543]

@@Jasonk89 Doesnt matter how good you are at what you do if what you do isn't currently in fashion. This applies for all genres of music.

[@Failhaid]

@@Chaz4543 well, you gotta say, we are at a musical state where pretty much everything has been done before. Back in the 80's the Thrash Movement was completely new, over the years it evolved into more progressive styles, later people evolved it into Death and Black Metal, in the 90's the "old" Bands mixed it up with more groovy/grungy stuff or hardcore influences.....but in fact right now there isn't much room to bring out something groundbreaking - i think you can just try to figure out your style and do it the best way you can perform it. But the reason the Thrash Bands of the 80's got that iconic is, that they simply were there, when this genre got born and evolved. Still i love the "new wave" playing that style, because i don't expect 'em to bring out something groundbreaking - when they write good songs, i'm down with it😉

[@ThrashRebel]

Hopefully, Matt will still continue to play, write and record for himself. He developed into a very good thrash vocalist. I cannot listen to Evile without singing along. Matt’s vocal melodies, harmonies and style of growl spur me to sing. But, I’m partial to that style, because I developed my style from singing along to early Metallica and Testament (and Anthrax with John Bush). I used to be able to emulate people’s voices. I just wish I would’ve done something with all the songs I’ve written. Played in bands, but never did anything much more than playing bars/pubs. Had a chance to play a festival with the first band I was in, but it all went to sh… when the band broke up beforehand. ☹️ At least Matt has those memories of those big shows, their music inspiring massive pits. At least he has well produced albums he can listen to and play for his kids. That is one thing I want to do: record my songs as my testament, something my loved ones can listen to when I’m gone. If anything, Matt, Ol, Mike, Ben, and Joel created something wonderful that people will remember them by, long after they are gone.

[@iXboxbanter]

I was fortunate to meet Matt at his house and buy a guitar from him which I still have and was used to record rhythm parts on skull album and he signed it for me

[@rez_afire]

that's awesome! the silver jackson king v i guess?

[@kenfrederick6223]

Great interview. I spoke with Matt when Evile played Dallas. Cool guy. Glad he's dong well.

[@MetalGodsTV]

Thanks glad you enjoyed it

[@biffbutkus8185]

Sad they don't make any more than that with the music they were putting out. They should have been headlining metal concerts.

[@MetalGodsTV]

They were well on their way

[@HammerHeart3229]

It's good to see Matt is doing well. Can't say I blame him for not missing the travel aspect of touring really, even more so when he and the band were only making peanuts while touring! Hopefully he puts that solo album out though. I'll be keen to hear it!

[@ablazingrat3493]

why did you cut the part where he's about to talk about ol drake's vocals?? 18:34

[@djg0603]

I first heard these guys on Rock Band... Thrasher. What a fuckin song haha. Been a fan ever since, they definitely have their own sound. Infected Nations is such a great album. Miss Matt of course, but I think Ol is doing a great job channeling his inner Jeff Waters.

[@Noxfera]

Wait!! 2k per year??? Somebody heard the same???

[@Goldie1977]

Matt - yeah he’ll do 😜

[@Apomorph]

To be honest, I'd rather go listen to Matt's solo stuff with his voice on it than new Evile stuff without his voice

[@elektroskeptic481]

Hey, interviewer guy! Can you please wear a HEADSET so that what you say is audible?

[@MetalGodsTV]

I'll look into it