Interview with Vengince lead vocalist Relentless
A Turn For The Worst is the newest release from the extreme metal band Vengince. Recently, lead vocalist Relentless spoke with me about the band, their new CD and their incessant touring of the globe; they have played in 42 states and 20 countries including stints with Slipknot, Disturbed, Mastadon and many other big name artists. Here is how it went.
Your brand new CD, A Turn For The Worst, was released last summer. After having toured the album extensively what has been the fans' reaction to it?
Relentless: I am very proud to say that the fans new and old have given us a great reaction to the new record. Our new release has captured some of our best work to date with a very solid production. The last tours have been great, and we have won over many new fans with these songs.
You worked with Juan Urteaga, a very well known well respected producer. How did you get in touch with him and what was it like working with him?
Relentless: Believe it or not, Vengince’s very first demo CD, 'Hatecrimes,' was recorded by Juan in 1996/1997. The CD only pressed 500 copies and is long out of print. So we knew him from that, and we played many shows with his old band, VILE. When our first chosen producer did not work out because of conflicting schedules, we decided to record locally, and we called up Juan. He did a great job.
Give us some insight into the record, A Turn For The Worst and the meaning behind its title?
Relentless: I think the title really sums up the current political, social and economic situation we the people are facing these days. Along with global environmental issues, and so many good people losing all they have, the title and cover try to really depict a memorable image that might make you think a little.
Give us some insight into the album lyrically. This is a super pissed off sounding record.
Relentless: Thanks! Being pissed off sounding is always a compliment to Vengince. Seriously though, this record mainly deals with the current state of the world and the problems that are faced by regular people. The leaders lying to us all, the pollution, the water not safe to drink, the tax money wasted to pay corporations for their failures. It is about making a change, not a fake change but real change. The internet and media have made it very hard to create a rebellion.
You mentioned the cover. The artwork is quite amazing. How is it tied to the album's title?
Relentless: I think the artwork is striking and can burn into your mind. It is something that we want to pop out when you see it. Vengince has always been an intense band, and it is very hard to capture what an album is all about on a cover image, but this time we felt that it was a good choice for the title.
Your touring schedule is quite busy for 2010. All of that passion that you play with must be tough on you physically. How do you keep up with the physical demands constant touring?
Relentless: It is very true that the touring life is not easy at all. It is fun for those who enjoy it, but most of the time spent can be rough. We like to drink a lot on tour since we are not driving, and that always help pass the down time. We love playing on stage and that reward is almost always worth the wait and travel to get there. I love the feeling of walking on stage, and seeing people excited for our show. We plan on playing for many many more years to come.
A Turn For The Worst is really good. Instead of one or two good songs like most albums coming out these days, this is a solid album with great songs all the way through. What songs do you get the best response to in a live setting?
Relentless: Thanks! On the last tour we did not play “Serrated,” “A Turn For The Worst,” and of course “Changing of the Guard,” but did play all the others. I feel that “Only Depression Remains,” “Greet them and Weep,” and “Bailout” probably make the biggest live impressions on people.
What is your favorite song to perform live?
Relentless: "Torch The Trophy."
What have been the best countries to play so far?
Relentless: With Vengince, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Romania, Denmark, Belgium, Holland, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Serbia, England, U.S of course, and really all the others. With Endrah, I have loved my tours in Brazil.
When you are out on the road, anything can happen and often does. Can you think of any disastrous events that happened while out on tour? How did you solve the problem?
Relentless: I am just going to list a bunch of scary things we’ve dealt with on the road. Crazy guy trying to lock us in his house, Father broke his neck trying to be funny around Justin Timberlake in the Ocean, I broke my ankle on stage in Seattle, and then broke my finger the next week in California on stage. Flatline has tore out his shoulder during a snowboard accident before a show, Dank has been sliced open on stage a few times by rogue bassists, Flatline tore off his toenail on the tour bus and had to play with it all infected for weeks, I caught Giarda (stomach disease) on tour and was sick as fuck for over a month, umm Slim collapsed backstage two years ago after we flew direct from San Francisco to Frankfurt, Germany and played that night. So many good good times. Once Father lit himself on fire in Colorado on stage, he fell off, no one caught him, and he dislocated his knee. I could go on forever. We have broken down so many times it is not funny. I got arrested in Hollywood after a bum attacked us, and the list goes on.
Do you find it difficult being away from family and friends for such an extensive period of time? How do you cope with the separation?
Relentless: It can be a very hard thing to do, and all the artists you go see deal with this. If you have never been away from home for a long time, it can be very trying on you. We try hard to communicate with our loved ones while touring, but it can be hard getting to do it, and there is always a lot of work put in to our relationships at home to make it work.
How do you think the current economic slump affecting your band?
Relentless: It has hit Vengince very hard. We have had relatively bad luck getting in with record labels and big time agents and managers for the most of our years. Now we are getting close to a deal in Europe, and hopefully the rest of the world as well. The fact that 95% of downloads are illegal has really crushed the music industry. The only saving grace we have, is that we are a live touring act, and you cannot copy and download a live show. So as long as people come to see us, we can continue to exist.
Any closing words?
Relentless: Please go to our website and order a copy of A Turn For The Worst direct from the band. You can order it from many other sources as well, but when you order direct, you give the most to the band members as we eliminate the middleman cut. Thank you for the interview opportunity and thank you readers for your time and checking out Vengince. Hope to see you all on the road this year! Much Love. RELENTLESS, Vengince vocals. [ END ]
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Your brand new CD, A Turn For The Worst, was released last summer. After having toured the album extensively what has been the fans' reaction to it?
Relentless: I am very proud to say that the fans new and old have given us a great reaction to the new record. Our new release has captured some of our best work to date with a very solid production. The last tours have been great, and we have won over many new fans with these songs.
You worked with Juan Urteaga, a very well known well respected producer. How did you get in touch with him and what was it like working with him?
Relentless: Believe it or not, Vengince’s very first demo CD, 'Hatecrimes,' was recorded by Juan in 1996/1997. The CD only pressed 500 copies and is long out of print. So we knew him from that, and we played many shows with his old band, VILE. When our first chosen producer did not work out because of conflicting schedules, we decided to record locally, and we called up Juan. He did a great job.
Give us some insight into the record, A Turn For The Worst and the meaning behind its title?
Relentless: I think the title really sums up the current political, social and economic situation we the people are facing these days. Along with global environmental issues, and so many good people losing all they have, the title and cover try to really depict a memorable image that might make you think a little.
Give us some insight into the album lyrically. This is a super pissed off sounding record.
Relentless: Thanks! Being pissed off sounding is always a compliment to Vengince. Seriously though, this record mainly deals with the current state of the world and the problems that are faced by regular people. The leaders lying to us all, the pollution, the water not safe to drink, the tax money wasted to pay corporations for their failures. It is about making a change, not a fake change but real change. The internet and media have made it very hard to create a rebellion.
You mentioned the cover. The artwork is quite amazing. How is it tied to the album's title?
Relentless: I think the artwork is striking and can burn into your mind. It is something that we want to pop out when you see it. Vengince has always been an intense band, and it is very hard to capture what an album is all about on a cover image, but this time we felt that it was a good choice for the title.
Your touring schedule is quite busy for 2010. All of that passion that you play with must be tough on you physically. How do you keep up with the physical demands constant touring?
Relentless: It is very true that the touring life is not easy at all. It is fun for those who enjoy it, but most of the time spent can be rough. We like to drink a lot on tour since we are not driving, and that always help pass the down time. We love playing on stage and that reward is almost always worth the wait and travel to get there. I love the feeling of walking on stage, and seeing people excited for our show. We plan on playing for many many more years to come.
A Turn For The Worst is really good. Instead of one or two good songs like most albums coming out these days, this is a solid album with great songs all the way through. What songs do you get the best response to in a live setting?
Relentless: Thanks! On the last tour we did not play “Serrated,” “A Turn For The Worst,” and of course “Changing of the Guard,” but did play all the others. I feel that “Only Depression Remains,” “Greet them and Weep,” and “Bailout” probably make the biggest live impressions on people.
What is your favorite song to perform live?
Relentless: "Torch The Trophy."
What have been the best countries to play so far?
Relentless: With Vengince, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Romania, Denmark, Belgium, Holland, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Serbia, England, U.S of course, and really all the others. With Endrah, I have loved my tours in Brazil.
When you are out on the road, anything can happen and often does. Can you think of any disastrous events that happened while out on tour? How did you solve the problem?
Relentless: I am just going to list a bunch of scary things we’ve dealt with on the road. Crazy guy trying to lock us in his house, Father broke his neck trying to be funny around Justin Timberlake in the Ocean, I broke my ankle on stage in Seattle, and then broke my finger the next week in California on stage. Flatline has tore out his shoulder during a snowboard accident before a show, Dank has been sliced open on stage a few times by rogue bassists, Flatline tore off his toenail on the tour bus and had to play with it all infected for weeks, I caught Giarda (stomach disease) on tour and was sick as fuck for over a month, umm Slim collapsed backstage two years ago after we flew direct from San Francisco to Frankfurt, Germany and played that night. So many good good times. Once Father lit himself on fire in Colorado on stage, he fell off, no one caught him, and he dislocated his knee. I could go on forever. We have broken down so many times it is not funny. I got arrested in Hollywood after a bum attacked us, and the list goes on.
Do you find it difficult being away from family and friends for such an extensive period of time? How do you cope with the separation?
Relentless: It can be a very hard thing to do, and all the artists you go see deal with this. If you have never been away from home for a long time, it can be very trying on you. We try hard to communicate with our loved ones while touring, but it can be hard getting to do it, and there is always a lot of work put in to our relationships at home to make it work.
How do you think the current economic slump affecting your band?
Relentless: It has hit Vengince very hard. We have had relatively bad luck getting in with record labels and big time agents and managers for the most of our years. Now we are getting close to a deal in Europe, and hopefully the rest of the world as well. The fact that 95% of downloads are illegal has really crushed the music industry. The only saving grace we have, is that we are a live touring act, and you cannot copy and download a live show. So as long as people come to see us, we can continue to exist.
Any closing words?
Relentless: Please go to our website and order a copy of A Turn For The Worst direct from the band. You can order it from many other sources as well, but when you order direct, you give the most to the band members as we eliminate the middleman cut. Thank you for the interview opportunity and thank you readers for your time and checking out Vengince. Hope to see you all on the road this year! Much Love. RELENTLESS, Vengince vocals. [ END ]
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