Interviews
Interview with Larissa Stupar Of Venom Prision
UK natives Venom Prison is currently out with the Devastation on the Nation tour with Aborted, Psycroptic, Ingested, Disentomb, and Arkaik. The band fronted by vocalist Larissa Stupar, began in 2015 and has been a force to reckon with in the metal scene. Venom Prison incorporates a sound using a mix of death metal, grindcore, and hardcore, into a symphony of breakdowns and blast beats, which is an animal in and of itself. I was able to speak with Larissa after their set to learn more about this powerful band.
GA: I was looking online for information on the Venom Prison. I found that the band started around 2015 and had two Eps prior to dropping your full Length with Prosthetic Records in October of 2016. Can you tell me a little more about the band and its beginnings?
LS: We all have been in hardcore bands before, so this is our first metal band. When we started we weren’t quite as extreme as we are now. We have progressed a little bit. Currently we are writing our new album and out on this five-week tour. This is after doing a seven-week tour with Trivium, so we are enjoying our time in America.
GA: I listened to Animus and I must say it is a banger of an album, there are so many different elements that keep the music moving along and interesting. What is the bands’ writing process when coming up with newer material?
LS: We all come together in a home studio and write what is on our minds. Then we will record rough tracks, and sort of puzzle songs together. While the guys write the music, I will work on the lyrics. Then, we will do preproduction before we go to record, so we all know what we have to do. If we have to change anything we don’t like, we have the time and means to do it before the recording process. That is what we are doing right now for our next album.
GA: Out of all the elements of metal the band has at their disposal what has to be your favorite thing to write, i.e. slams, breakdowns, grinds, technical riffs?
LS: If I am going to speak for everyone I am going to say the technical parts and the slams.
GA: You mentioned there is a new album in the works is there anything you can tell me about it?
LS: It will be out on Prosthetic Records again. The band is going to record in July when we get home from Devastation on the Nation. So far it is heavier, more technical, and the lyrics are more brutal and intelligent that our previous releases.
GA: What makes touring in the United States different from touring in the UK?
LS: I think the biggest difference is we have never toured the US before, and it is exciting going to new places, meeting new people, and seeing what it is like for the band. So far it has been great. People that have come to the shows are amazing. The crowds mosh and have fun, and they are less reserved then they are in Europe I would say.
GA: Any city you are looking forward to visiting while on this tour?
LS: Everything pretty much!
GA: Venom Prison has shared the stage with many heavy hitters in the past. What is it like for the band to be a part of such a massive tour as Devastation on the Nation?
LS: It is amazing. This is one of the most extreme tours around and being a part of this line up is cool as fuck. Every band slams and is heavy as shit. We enjoy being a part of this.
GA: Are there any type of warm-up techniques, or pre-show rituals you do to get ready to perform?
LS: I usually do warm ups when I have the time, or when I have the space to be on my own because I don’t like doing them when others are around. It is kind of weird. That is pretty much it, the guys warm up as well with their instruments.
GA: Does the band have any equipment endorsements you would want to mention?
LS: We are endorsed by Blackstar amplification, and Jackson guitars. Our drummer also uses Paiste cymbals.
GA: Where can people keep up with the band online, and if they want to purchase any merch where can they find your store at?
LS: Venom Prison .com (http://www.venomprison.com/) is where are merch is at. We also have a US shop with Holy Mountain (https://holymountainprinting.myshopify.com/collections/venom-prison). We are also active on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/venomprison/), Instagram (@venomprison), and Twitter (@venomprison).
GA: Anything else you would like to add?
LS: We love it in America, and we hope to come back soon.
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Interviews
INTERVIEW WITH MERCURY OF PRIEST
Empire Extreme got to sit down and talk to Mercury of Priest when the band came into PA at LoveDrafts.
The show was amazing all the bands that we seen put on a great show for the fans. Vampires Everywhere killed it once again. Last time we seen Priest we only got to see them open for Powerman5000 and got like 6 songs, this time Priest was headlining and we got to see much more which I was excited to see.
Priest played a good mix of old and new and even a few songs off the album “Dark Pulse” which is out in May. We got to see 13 songs played and even Mercury come out into the crowd a few times and when they played “Obey” even blessed some of the crowd. It was great hearing songs like “BlackListed”, “Signal in the Noise”, “History in Black” and “Vaudeville”. It was such a great night of music and a great conversation with Mercury. If you get a chance to see this band play in ur town, it’s a must
About Author
Interviews
INTERVIEW WITH OF VIRTUE
Where does the band name come from? Wanting to be the best version of yourself at all times. The name is a reminder to hold ourselves accountable.
How is the music scene in Michigan? The Michigan music scene has always been vibrant and in my opinion, important. Do we get the credit we deserve? Absolutely not. But for the state that brought you Motown, Eminem, Lizzo, The White Stripes, I Prevail and so many other incredible artists – it’s kind of hard to believe that Michigan remains a hidden gem.
How’s the reception from the fans of the latest album “Omen”? It’s been incredible. From seeing people singing along at shows to us seeing new supporters of all different ages, colors, and creeds joining the journey. Omen has been a pivotal album in our career and we’re proud of it!
If you could tour with 2 bands, which bands would you want to tour with? Spiritbox and Bad Omens. They’re both making waves, changing who the metal audience is, and surely they’d be fun to hang around with.
Where do you draw inspiration for the lyrics? Honestly, the lyrics are our stories. The stories of our struggles, our trials and our tribulations.
What’s been your favorite tour or show? We just got off of a tour with our labelmates, Any Given Day. They treated us to a handful of sold out shows over in Europe, which at this point we call our second home. Those were great shows, but any show we’ve done in Europe is typically one for the books!
If you could bring back a dead musician, who would it be? Prince for sure. An incredible musician I would love an opportunity to chat or make music with!
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Interviews
INTERVIEW WITH TWIN TEMPLE
Being Married and being in a band together. Do you feel that makes it easier or harder?
We love to do the Devil’s work together so for us its a match made in hell.
What’s your favorite horror movie?
That’s hard to narrow down but the first few that come to mind are Rosemary’s Baby, The Devil Rides Out, Wickerman, The Devils Reign featuring Anton Lavey, Mario Bava’s Black Sunday, anything starring Vincent Price. We also got to see an advance screen of “Late Night with the Devil” featuring a very evil performance from our friend Dave Dastmalchian. We’re also looking forward to Bryan Fuller’s “Dust Bunny” and are positive it will be a new favorite. The list goes on…..we are huge horror fans.
Favorite Non Horror Movie?
Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca (which is horror/noir adjacent) and The Burbs (also horror adjacent…haha.)
All of Quentin Tarantino’s films- our latest favorite is Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, because 1960’s LA…
What misconception of Satanists would you like to educate people on?
We’re not here to proselytize, force our beliefs on people, or educate people on them Selves, Satanism or anything else. If people are interested in exploring Satanism, we encourage them to do their research and question everything.
If you could bring back any dead musician, who would you pick and why?
We would have loved to do a song with Ronnie Spector who recently passed. Also would have been amazing to collaborate with Jack Nitzsche who arranged so many amazing songs.
If you could tour with any 2 bands, who would you want to tour with?
The Ronnettes & The Shangri-Las.
What has been your Favorite Tour so far?
The God is Dead Tour that we’re currently on is definitely the most evil and blasphemous tour yet. We find it very pleasurable to be able to continue expanding the rituals and seeing our nightmares come true on stage.
You were on “Dragula” with the Boulet Brothers, how was that experience?
It was a fiendish delight to collaborate with some of our fav monsters.
What was it like Touring with Danzig?
Another nightmare come true! We’ve both been fans for a long time and we’re obviously inspired by the wicked world Glenn has conjured. So to get to spend time with him and watch him live every night and to now call him a friend is completely surreal. He’s a legend— but was also one of the coolest, kindest, most unholy people we’ve had the carnal pleasure of touring with.
How’s the reception of the last album “God is Dead”?
Personally, we love the record and are very proud of what we’ve accomplished. As far as other peoples’ reactions…. we don’t know and don’t care! We pleasured ourselves and that’s what matters most.
What got you interested in the style of music you play? And how would describe your music?
We’ve always loved classic American music from jazz to blues to country to rock and roll and so on. We also love the pageantry of heavy metal and theatre. So for us it was a very organic culmination of our obsessions. Rock and roll has always been the devils music.
Have you visited the Satanic Temple in Massachusetts?
No we have not but Lucien did attend one of our rituals so we had a chance to share where we get our babies blood and all things Satan.
Have you had any bad encounters at shows because of the misconception of satanism?
No! We purposefully foster a live show environment where all are welcome, all should come being the most important person in the world which is themselves, whatever that may be. Even Christians! We believe music is meant to bring joy, transcendence… We just want to share the things we love; pink, rhinestones, big hair, great rock ’n’ roll, Satanic ritual, you know… but we have had churches assemble outside our shows, screaming through distorted PA speakers that God is not dead & wishing us all a “terrible time”. Why would their God not want us to have fun? This kind of behavior is only makes us more proud to be who we are and do what we love.
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