JULY 16, 2025 INTERVIEWS
Steve Evetts: Remain Human
Belleville, New Jersey, is a deceptively quiet enclave up the river from Newark. A beautiful mural here, a grungy secondhand shop there – it's a collision of worlds. A bit like the mild-mannered Evetts himself, who politely offers coffee before dissecting the aggressive sounds he pioneered at the fabled Trax East Recording Studio in the '90s. Through his early work with Incantation, The Dillinger Escape Plan, and Hatebreed, he virtually invented a new genre per album, yet he's also renowned for his emotionally driven pop punk productions with the likes of Lifetime, Saves the Day, and The Wonder Years. No matter the style of music, he stays true to his philosophy of committing to sounds and keeping a human level of excitement in his recordings. We chatted in his colossal live room as Steve was preparing to record Prong's recent album, State of Emergency. (Steve was also previously interviewed for Tape Op #56 online. -Ed) Steve in his new studio in Belleville, NJ.
