The Beast Returns

An Interview with Alex Terrible of Slaughter to Prevail

Interview by: George Archibald
Photos by: Andrew Bastion

It has been a little under a year since Slaughter to Prevail has visited Cleveland, Ohio. This past May 19^th the Agora Theater played host to some of the heaviest bands in Deathcore today. Alex Terrible at the helm was prepared to drop his Misery Sermon on a sold-out crowd for the night. All in attendance were anticipating the band who have just released a new album earlier this year. The band did not disappoint, coming on stage sporting their trademark devil masks, the band laid down their version of Russian Hate. I was fortunate enough to catch up with the King, Alex Terrible and see how things have been since their debut to the United States in last year’s Summer Slaughter Tour.

GA: First off welcome back to the US, you dropped an album since the last time I we talked.
AT: Thank you. Yeah… The new album is heavy as fuck man. It is pure deathcore. When I was 15 years old, I really wanted to do music like this, and now here I am.

GA: Well it seems like you had a lot of fun doing the album. Do you want to tell me a little about the recording process for this album?
AT: We actually wrote half of the album about four years ago. We first released the EP album, then worked on the second half of the full length. It started out with me doing vocals at home, rough demos mainly. Then I went to England, along with my drummer Anton, to record vocals and drums. We also have a second guitarist Jack, who isn’t touring with us, he wrote his parts and recorded them. Jack is like the father of this project along with me. We then sent everything to Will Putney, our producer, and he mixed it all.

GA: How is touring different in the US this time, as opposed from when you came here for Summer Slaughter last year?
AT: Summer Slaughter was a huge tour, it was one big thing for the whole year for us. I was surprised at the reaction we got from a lot of people, and we made a lot of new fans. This tour, has been awesome, because it has been selling out every night. The fans reaction now is really fucking sick. Especially when we play Death and Hell, the crowd is going crazy! It’s really awesome when the crowd screams into the microphone with me during our set, because my lyrics are in Russian, and these guys are hitting them spot on.

GA: It’s crazy how that pans out. You give the fans a bit of time, and they will learn your songs and react. Andrew Bastion, Empire Extreme Photographer: You could put some vulgar shit in there and people wouldn’t know what you are screaming.
AT: Yeah! (laughing) The fans reaction is why I love Deathcore!

GA: I have to ask. What is the back story behind the infamous devil mask you wear on stage, and in videos?
AT: 3 years ago, I was working out at the gym. During a break, I started drawing… When I was young, I had a thing for superheroes. I loved Spiderman, and Spawn, and they wore masks. The devil mask kind of grew from that. I think a lot of people love the mask concept. So as an artist I wanted to do some sort of image for my band. At first, Jack didn’t like the idea, but after seeing the reaction from it, he is cool with it.

The mask is kind of like my soul, I put all my feelings and hate into to it. It started with the music first, I would put these feelings into my lyrics. I would see the lies all around me, especially inside of myself, and I needed a way to work out all this shit. I see all this shit around me. On the outside I am strong, but my mind is distracted and needs to be focused. It is like I see all the devils around me. So, the mask is a mirror of this world. I just imagined the face of this world, and this is what we came up with.

GA: So, this is a physical manifestation of what you are feeling and seeing?
AT: Definitely! When I am wearing the mask on stage, it is setting myself free. It is like setting my soul free, because I can work through all of this hatred.

GA: You mentioned about lifting while in Russia, and I saw the videos on YouTube of you working out with the band. What is your favorite work out or routine?
AT: I started lifting a few years ago, and I enjoy body building, and power lifting. I lost 20 kg (44lbs), I was a lot bigger. I like lifting because it is work for yourself, everyday discipline, it also helps for a clean mind. I like the results, but I don’t like the weights (laughing). I am not concerned on a certain thing in the gym, I am there to work out. I have tried many different programs; body building, powerlifting, crossfit, everything. I also do MMA, because it is really good for my cardio, and it helps with doing vocals live.

GA: When you are on the road, how do you get your regime in?
AT: It’s impossible, the food isn’t always the best, and we don’t get to have a good sleep most times. I still try to lift, so that my body doesn’t look like shit. I am always trying to do something while on tour.

GA: I am a big fan of your cover of Rammstein’s Sonne. Any plans to continue doing covers in the future, as well as the vocal lessons?
AT: My hobby, has become a bit of a side project doing covers. I think doing covers makes me a better vocalist because, if you try to mimic another vocalist you are training your vocals. You can learn so much from that artists’ approach and style. It can help when it comes time to record your own vocals. People have shown their like for my covers and I don’t want to disappoint them, so I won’t stop.

GA: What is next for Slaughter to Prevail after this tour?
AT: A headline tour, and another Canada and USA tour. Umm… We have a two-week tour with We Came as Romans, and I See Stars. We also have Mexico in the works, I believe it is 3 shows. People have been telling us the kids in Mexico will go crazy if we play there, so I am very excited.

GA: Anything else you want to add before we wrap up?
AT: Check out our new album Misery Sermon, its heavy as fuck! Stay brutal, stay strong, workout for your body and your mind.

Andrew: Say something in Russian, see if we can challenge George.
AT: Здравствуйте друзья (“Hello Friends”, I asked a friend of mine for the translation so if I am wrong I apologize, you will have to let me know Alex)

I would like to thank Alex again for speaking with me, it is always a pleasure. Also, great show to all the band. You guys rocked, and I wish you well on the rest of tour. The are many big things in the works for the Slaughter to Prevail, be sure to check them out when they come to a city near you. Also, to make sure to give the band’s latest release Misery Sermon a listen. For further information on the band be sure to check out their Facebook page.

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George Archibald

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