Last week in our continuing search for brutal tone, we talked with Suffocation’s bass player Derek Boyer. In this weeks edition, we turn to Guy Marchais, the brutally fast guitarist for Suffocation.

How did you get started playing guitar?
“I started playing guitar when I was 16, so about 27 years ago. I was always attracted to guitar and metal music, I listened to Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Slayer, Metallica, Frank Zappa, Iron Maiden, Pink Floyd and many others.
I saved up $200 dollars and bought my first guitar –  it was an explorer shaped Takamine electric that I bought from my local mall. I didn’t have an amp so I somehow found a way to hook it up to my home stereo and used that until my mom bought me a combo amp for x-mass later that year. I taught myself for about 6 months then took lessons for 6 more months and then quit lessons and taught myself again ever since then.”
How did you come to be in Suffocation?
“In short, back in like 1988, another friend and myself placed an ad in a local magazine as two guitarists seeking a Death Metal singer, bassist, and drummer. Well, Frank Mullen(vox) and Josh Baron(bass) answered the ad and we started a band! We had a “fill in” drummer, just to jam with in the beginning. And now to make this story even shorter – Mike Smith joined the band and I left to start the band Pyrexia. Suffocation then proceeded to get Terrance Hobbs and Doug Cerrito, they went through a few line up changes and put out some of what I believe to be the best Death Metal ever before breaking up in like 1998. So when they reformed in 2003, they asked me to play and I said yes! The rest is history.”

Your sound has some serious intensity and brutality, which guitars, amps and pickups do you use to get your tone?
“As for guitars, I use my signature model B.C. Rich and my hand made B.C. Rich Guitars. As for amps, I use Peavey models, 3120 and XXX with a Maxon OD808, Boss NS2 and a Sonic Research ST-200 Tuner. I use Kahler Guitar trems, Vader Guitar cabs, Line6 wireless, Intune guitar picks and the BEST guitar pick up in the world! Duncan Distortion Humbucker SH-6b.”
How many B.C. Rich Guitars do you have?
“Right now I own 9 B.C. Rich Guitars. Six are USA hand mades. I have four Warlock guitars one of witch is a Signature Guy M model, one BC Rich Bitch and four ASM Signature Guy M Assassins Models.”
What are your current plans for recording/touring?
“As of right now we are still writing the new Suffocation CD which will be released in 2012 and we have a few shows and tours lined up for 2012.”
For more information on Suffocation and tour dates, please visit: http://www.facebook.com/suffocation