Since hearing them back in 2012, Ohio based thrashers Vindicator quickly became one of my favorite bands. Vindicator is one of those bands that are much like bands like 3 Inches of Blood and Holy Grail in that they are preservationists. They are a band that is keeping the spirit, sound, grit, and attitude of classic era thrash metal alive and doing so as well if not better than many of the bands that inspired them.
In 2014 Vindicator released their latest EP titled Sleeping With Evil which was one of my favorite releases of the year. I had the opportunity to speak on the phone with singer/guitarist/songwriter Vic Stown which was like talking to an old friend. Vic and I talked about his 10 year stint with Vindicator, why it’s tough being a metal band in Ohio, and just why Elijah Wood pisses him off so! This was a really great time talking with Vic and I hope you’ll enjoy getting to know Vic Stown and Vindicator.
Mr. Vic Stown. We’re finally making this interview happen my friend.
Yeah, I know. It’s been too long. I’ve been looking forward to this one. I feel like it’s been years in the making [laughs].
======================================================
It has been years in the making but no shitty CGI animation here dude. It’s just raw metal.
[Laughs] I don’t know man. Some CGI can be so much fun though [laughs].
======================================================
So how are ya these days?
I’m great man. I’m just sitting here with my kid and she’s being loud like a kid. She’ll probably interrupt several times during this interview [laughs].
======================================================
That’s ok. I’ll be sure to transcribe all the “wahs” and whatnot.
[Laughs] Yeah, man. Get it.
======================================================
Vic, I have to commend you on a fucking spectacular release with the Sleeping with Evil EP.
Thanks so much, Don. Yeah, it came out earlier this year and was totally under the radar per usual. That’s kind of how it usually goes with us [laughs]. The reviews that we’ve been getting have been really good so I’m happy.
======================================================
For those that don’t know, Vindicator is not a new wet behind the ears band. You guys have been at this a little while now.
Well, we started in 2005 and we’re coming up on our 10 year anniversary and I’m pretty proud of that. Not too many bands these days last longer than 3 years. A lot of people really thought we’d be one of those bands so we had to really earn the respect. We’ve gone through a plethora of members but what band hasn’t [laughs]. I don’t really want to stop yet. We’ve been doing this for a while. We’ve hit plenty of potholes, setbacks, and member changes but here we are today still putting out the work.
======================================================
Former White Wizzard/Holy Grail guitarist James J. LaRue was one of those former Vindicator members. How did you guys actually get together?
A metal label called Heavy Artillery approached us so we signed with them and put out The Antique Witcheries. That album came out in 2010 and the label folded in 2011 or ’12. We ended up doing a month long tour in support of that album and that’s how we met James who was in Aggressor at the time. When we heard he was interested in joining we were really excited about that.
======================================================
I remember when he joined you guys and I was shocked that his involvement with Vindicator didn’t make more of an impact to the general public.
We were really amped about James joining us because he was carrying the White Wizzard and Holy Grail namesakes. We thought for sure that would get us some leeway in the press in the metal media but it did nothing [laughs]. I remember doing a college radio interview out here at WJTU and the guy that runs the metal show. We were so stoked to announce that James was in the band and he was like, “Uh huh.” [Laughs] I was like, “Are you serious? Have not hot heard White Wizzard’s High Speed GTO? You are blowing my mind with your lack of knowledge of what’s going on right now.” It blew my mind.
What did working with James LaRue bring to the table for Vindicator?
James brought a lot of stuff to the table for us and was a great help during the writing and recording for United We Fall. The guy writes killer solos from start to finish. I have never been disappointed with one of his solos. I’m not the type of writer that sits down and says, “I want you to do this…” James just makes magic. He wrote the whole interlude for the track “United We Fall.” I just told him that I wanted an interlude for that song. I described it to him and then I walked down the road to get a coffee. When I came back ½ hour later he had this beautiful structure. He always knew exactly what I wanted to do but couldn’t do myself. He brought a skill set to the band that we never had before. Aside from bringing the technical skill on the guitar he brought the recording skill as well as knowledge of the industry. He just brought all kinds of experience to the table while he was in the band.
======================================================
United We Fall was the first album that you really sang on right?
Correct. Well, we did the demo for “Bastards of Noise and Aggression” before that. It was the first track written for United We Fall. I wanted to get it done fast because I wanted to strike while the iron was hot. Even though we weren’t getting a lot of press because of James joining, we just wanted to put something out to show people that we mean business.
======================================================
Was taking over as the singer somewhat of a liberating thing for you?
I really didn’t want to do it. I never started this band with the intention of ever taking over the lead vocal slot. Vindicator had a month and half long tour planned and Marshal (Law; former Vindicator vocalist) ended up bailing on us and it put us in a tight spot. We tried people out and they sounded terrible and I just didn’t want to do it. I just said, “I wrote the bulk of these songs and lyrics and I know how they need to go. Even the ones I didn’t write I’d been playing them for 5+ years.” I just practiced every single day and just went out at it. Being on the road for a month gave me the confidence and I continued to improve as a singer. I’m happy that this all worked out though because it’s just one less person I have to concern myself with. Once I got comfortable singing I didn’t, and still don’t, mind being there. Sometimes I wish I wasn’t singing for the band just because I enjoyed my period where I was just playing rhythm guitar and I could move around a lot more and just focus on my playing. It’s actually not an easy task to sing and play at the same time.
======================================================
One of the things that really drew me in as a fan was your vocal attack and the level of songwriting. Is it safe to say that you are a huge Dave Mustaine fan?
Thanks, Don. I tried my hardest to stray away from sounding like Dave Mustaine but it just wasn’t happening. I still work on my vocal technique but it’s going to happen. The guy’s a big influence on my writing in every aspect.
======================================================
So how hard is it being a metal band living in Ohio?
Yeah, it’s kind of hard. It’s not a bad place to be. There’s a great metal scene here but it’s just very divided. There’s a lot of death metal bands here and there is a pretty big hardcore/punk scene here but for metal, anything traditional or doom or thrash, there are bands here that play that stuff but it’s rough. Our location is pretty good though. We have easy access to Toronto and Ottawa. It’s only 5 hours to Ft. Wayne and they have a great metal scene there. It’s just when it comes time to find players, that’s where it’s hard. Our area just seems to be pretty void of players. We have the same issue here that bands in all cities have: trying to get people out to shows.
======================================================
Getting people out to shows just seems to be a fucking task in itself these days.
This is true but there are so many reasons for that. Too many bands on one fucking bill, shows starting way too late during the week, etc. Sunday night shows shouldn’t be starting any later than 7pm and I think it should go that way until Thursday night. I think there should be early shows during the week. There are all kinds of reason. Oversaturation, too many bands, shows starting too late, etc. There are so many reasons as to why nobody goes to shows any more. People have so many excuses to not go to shows but the thing is that you have to keep playing. We play Cleveland a lot just so we can stay active but people complain about that. They say, “You play too many shows.” Yeah, well maybe you can make it to at least one of them? Just one time? [laughs] The excuses are so huge and there are so many of them.
======================================================
Vindicator, in my opinion is every bit as good if not better than just about any thrash band out there and I hate it that you’re not more popular. Are you ok with staying at the level that Vindicator is at?
I’m never ok with that [laughs]. If anything drives me nuts and grinds my gears it’s where we are but at the same time, I’m ok with that. I’m not complacent though. I’d much rather be doing bigger and better things but it’s just how it is and sometimes it’s just a lot healthier to go with the flow. This is what we have right now so yeah, I’m happy with where I am at in my career and with what I’ve accomplished. I also want to do the bigger and better things. I want to do the European tour, some more big tours. I’d love to open for a big national touring act.
Vic, what is it that keeps you doing this?
My love for creating the music that I love and being with people that are willing to play this music with me. I really love the fact that I did at least 75% of the shit I said I wanted to do when I was in high school. I set out to create an album that I could put in my collection amongst various artists that I love and have it look and sound on the same level as those artists. I did that three times now and that keeps me doing. I do love playing live and I enjoy performing them. I have so much more to say and do musically in Vindicator and that’s what keeps me going. I still haven’t done that one thing where I can say, “Yeah, I can be done now.” I have a lot to accomplish with my writing and with Vindicator overall. It sure isn’t the money and fame [laughs]. It’s my sheer will to continue.
======================================================
Ok Vic. Let’s go back in time dude. At what point did you know you wanted to be a musician?
My dad was always in a band so as a kid growing up there was always a band playing in my basement. I was always interested in and it was just engrained into my DNA. I got my first guitar when I was 12 and my dad showed me 3 power chords on the guitar and taught me with those three songs I could play “Smoke on the Water” and “Cat Scratch Fever”[laughs]. I told my parents I didn’t want to go to college so when I graduated high school they gave me that money and I went and bought some better equipment and what not.
======================================================
If you could play in any band of any era for just one night who would it be and why?
Oh man. If I were good enough, I’d probably play in Megadeth or Annihilator. I mean, I think that would be fun but then again, who wouldn’t want to play in Iron Maiden [laughs]? They have the best stage show and the best energy. I could throw my guitar in the air a lot and do leg kicks. I can run with a guitar. Man, honestly, I would love to be in any band, big or small, in the 80’s. That was just open to so much opportunity and creativity. That era was just no holds barred. The crowds were awesome and venues were packed. Hell, you’d read reviews of some no name band and it would be like, “The place was packed wall to wall!”
======================================================
If Hollywood was to make a movie about you who would play you and why?
Oh man, that’s a good one but it’s a no brainer. Elijah Wood would play me because I look exactly fucking like him [laughs].
======================================================
Holy shit dude, you do.
[Laughs] You know what’s even more crushing. Up until this year I thought I was older than him and I was like, “Haha bitch. You look like ME!” and then someone told me that he was older. Sonofabitch. I didn’t want to look like him. I wanted him to look like me!
======================================================
What celebrity would you like to see in the Wall of Death?
[Laughs] Man, that’s a terrific question. There are so many! I would have to say Nicki Minaj. I’d throw her out there. I don’t like how she sounds. I don’t like how she looks. She’s just a big ass ball of bother. That would just be great [laughs]. Just to see her oblivious standing there as a tidal wave of bodies go running at her.
======================================================
Finish this sentence: If I wasn’t a musician I would be _________________.
Lame [laughs]. That’s really all there is to it. Music has encompassed my whole life. I would just be that guy who works at a factory who watches sports. I think I would do something in another field that makes no money [laughs]. I wouldn’t be smart enough to be a vet but I could clean up Elephant shit at the zoo or something. I would still be broke. That’s what I would be. If I wasn’t a musician I would still be broke [laughs].
Vic, this has been fun. Thanks so much for doing this my friend.
Don, thank you. Thank you so much. This was a lot of fun. I hope you can decipher anything out of my rambling [laughs]. Keep in touch!
For more on Vindicator, head on over to http://www.vindicatormetal.com.
About The Author
