Brandon Ellis recently discussed his new position with Cannibal Corpse, where he has stepped in to replace Rob Barrett, in an interview featured on Another Rundown.
Ellis explained his approach to filling Barrett’s role and shared his excitement about joining the legendary death metal band.
“Even though in this position here, I’m mostly playing a rhythm guitar gig, you know, I have a handful like five solos or so in the show or something like that, and I’m mostly just just really doing doing justice to what to what Rob [Barrett] would do,” Ellis said.
The guitarist emphasized that his focus is on honoring Barrett’s contributions rather than showcasing his own style.
“So, it’s not like I’m up there like showcasing all my crazy solo guitar playing or whatever on this, but it’s an amazing opportunity to get that,” he continued. “I’m a Cannibal Corpse fan since I was a teenager. That’s like the first death metal band that turned me on to it. And it’s surreal to be asked to do this.”
Ellis expressed his enthusiasm about performing classic Cannibal Corpse material with the band.
“And I’m just like, ‘Dude, tonight I’m going to go on stage. I’m going to play Hammer Smashed Face with Cannibal Corpse for the first time.’ It’s going to be crazy. It’s really insane. I’m lucky,” he said.
Ellis’s appointment comes at a significant time for both the guitarist and the band. It marks a new chapter in his career following his recent departure from another prominent death metal act.
Metal Insider reported that Ellis will be filling in for Rob Barrett on Cannibal Corpse’s upcoming U.S. tour. The tour kicks off on September 15 in Nashville and runs through October 22 in Charlotte. The tour features support from bands like Municipal Waste, Full of Hell, and Fulci, creating a formidable lineup for death metal fans across the country.
The Metal Detector noted that this tour marks Ellis’s first performances with the band since departing The Black Dahlia Murder earlier this year. His transition from one legendary death metal band to another demonstrates his versatility and reputation within the extreme metal community.
In a statement to fans, Ellis expressed his honor to “help out and put on a killer death metal show for you all” during the fall tour, as Metal Insider documented. This commitment reflects his dedication to maintaining the high standards that Cannibal Corpse fans expect from live performances.
The collaboration represents a meeting of death metal generations. Ellis brings his technical prowess to support one of the genre’s most influential bands. His respectful approach to filling Barrett’s role while maintaining his own musical identity showcases the professionalism that has made him a sought-after guitarist in the extreme metal scene.
