Is Next To Die a Return to Classic Six Feet Under Jack Owen

Six Feet Under guitarist Jack Owen joins Metal Mayhem ROC to break down the band’s latest album Next To Die and whether it signals a return to the band’s classic sound. Owen dives into the writing process behind the record, including taking on the majority of the music and lyrics, trimming material that didn’t fit, and leaning into the groove-driven style that defined early Six Feet Under. He also discusses standout tracks like “Approach Your Grave,” “Unmistakable Smell of Death,” and the unexpected direction behind “Ill-Wishings.” The conversation expands into touring differences between Europe and the United States, why he stepped away from playing leads, and stories from his time with Cannibal Corpse, including the band’s appearance in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and life on the road during the ’90s death metal era. Metal Mayhem ROC https://metalmayhemroc.com/ Six Feet Under Official https://www.sfu420.com/ ________________________________________ CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction and Jack Owen joins the show 03:36 Next To Die vs recent Six Feet Under albums 05:13 Writing lyrics and pushing boundaries in death metal 06:02 “Approach Your Grave” breakdown 07:26 “Unmistakable Smell of Death” and guitar work 08:21 “Ill-Wishings”, a death metal ballad? 09:23 Songs that didn’t make Next To Die 10:37 Best Six Feet Under song for new listeners 12:01 Why Jack Owen stopped playing leads 13:45 Touring Europe vs United States 17:43 What songs make the live set from Next To Die 19:33 Cannibal Corpse in Ace Ventura story 22:28 Touring memories and listening to Manowar 26:01 Florida death metal scene reflections