Pharmerfour interviews Sherri Vengeance of Black Like Vengeance

Black Like Vengeance. If that name does not mean much to you yet, it will very soon. They are responsible for the best Heavy Metal release in Australia, Empty As The Day, and are purveyors of a relatively unique style of Death Metal, that is, one lead by a female singer. Sheri's vocal styles are very in-your-face, from the heavy death delivery to the mezzo-soprano trained clean vocals that create such a fascinating contrast.

Sheri's interview style is also very in your face – if it wasn't for her making me get my shit in order, this interview would be weeks away. So it is we now have the benefit of Sheri's wisdom for all to read, covering such diverse topics as ethnicity in metal, the difficulties of being a metal band in Australia, and various other things that crossed our minds at the time of this conversation.

Empty As The Day

Black Like Vengeance has just released Empty As The Day. Not get it yet? Then get of your fucking lazy ass and find it, there is a reason I gave it 10 out of 10. Let's find out how it's moving . . . .

P4: So, how has the album (Empty As The Day) been selling?

SV: I dunno that's Marty's business. I don't keep track of that kinda thing.

P4: I'll ask it a different way then. How has the response to Empty As The Day been?

SV: It's been surprisingly awesome. I mean I knew this CD was rad but fawwwwwk some dude got a portrait of me as lulu on our cover art tattooed on his butt cheek! I don't know if that's something to be proud of come to think of it...

P4: Nice, I'll google for that. I've been getting questions from overseas fans on last.fm, and myspace wondering when they can buy it in Germany at the local CD shop.

SV: Don't ask me, I'm just the singer! All I do is rock up to gigs an hour prior to stage time, demand my rider of puppies and kittens and spellegrino mineral water.

P4: But that is a good sign . . . .

SV: That I'm the singer or that there are people in Germany who actually want to listen to us?

P4: Germany

SV: It is a bit of a tricky icky. Our label Truth Inc, is still young and progressing sure enough. But they haven't tied down Europe distro as yet.

P4: I can understand that. It is good, though, that there are people from overseas actively seeking out people to ask how they can get the album.

SV: They can purchase the CD off of many online music distributors or off our MySpace through PayPal. Or download it via torrent... *shakes fist*

P4: And that is what they have been told. Unfortunately, some fans have been burned by other bands not sending CDs out when bought online, so some are a little gun shy.

SV: Who are those fans that have been burned by other bands stealing their dough! That's totally grome, not cool. I'll fight them bands! But seriously, no it sucks hey. And that's just a risk people have to take when buying anything online hey.

P4: Internationals in this case, although they didn't mention names, It's obviously a low thing to do.

SV: We're honest kids though. I mean, you know.... forgetting that our drummer is Columbian and all, we've got a guitarist named Drew! And all Drew's are ace. If you can't trust the band, just trust Drew. He's great.

P4: OK, so on the torrent thing you just mentioned - is this something that BLV has encountered as a problem?

SV: I don't know yet, because I haven't been keeping track of sales. I know it's lazy but Marty handles a lot of the admin side of BLV. Obviously for a small band it affects our sales. You don't realise how much hard work goes into creating a record until you've gone through six months of writing material, working out concepts, themes, writing lyrics and spending weeks in a studio when you've got a lot of heavy shit going on in your life... it really is blood sweat and tears. Cuz Marty and I fight a lot too... more blood than the latter.

P4: I think that 90% of music fans have no concept of the work that goes into music, which is why they feel entitled to steal it.

SV: We all want people to be exposed to our music. So what can you do? If you download it and end up liking it enough to buy it then neat. if not, well, meh. We all do it. Everyone has their reasons man, there are kids who seriously can't afford a damn record.

P4: And they are usually the ones who take pride in paying for them!

SV: And there are kids who plan their allowances and wages to buy them. So each to his own. I'm no music-internet nazi.

Artistic Creations

One of the interesting aspects of talking to Sherri is that she is actually a multi-talented artist – almost like a renaissance artist, except she isn't some old dude painting fat naked chicks. Instead, she makes artwork for different bands, not limited to Black Like Vengeance.

P4: Ok. how many other bands have you done album covers for? (Picture The End and yourselves are the most obvious).

SV: Oh well, I first started that shit for a friend's band many years ago, they were MyOpia, Remorse Code and now settled on Perpetual End. So I started doing art work for them just for fun. But eventually I got good. I was managing a few bands back in 02/03 namely Melbourne eclectic core (ha ha ha) act Dear Lylith, and Synthesist. I did artwork for them.

Then the BLV All Has Blackened four track was the next kinda big thing for me, Be'lakors The Frail Tide; Picture The End's They Swarmed Like Locusts and I'm working on the new Switchblade and Gallows For Grace

P4: Do you have it online somewhere in a single place, somewhere people can check it out?

SV: On my deviantart account. http://thebodycage.deviantart.com/gallery/

P4: Excellent.

SV: It has a collection of just a few of my work. There's too much to upload

P4: What do you use as inspiration for the artwork - the lyrics of their songs, their style of play, or just whatever the fuck you think of . . . .

SV: Their music is my muse, and certain lyrical quotes that strike me. Phrases have always turned into visuals, I'm very literal with my artwork. People look at it and get it. Maybe its a bad thing? But I've always been like that.

P4: What is your favourite?

SV: Ohhh I don't know if I have a favourite because they've all been heaps challenging to do and really really rewarding. I loved working with Be'lakor because we had a rapport and constant back and forth of ideas. They knew EXACTLY what they wanted which was really cool to work to. Picture The End I have to say has been by far the most fun, and it's received overwhelming attention and everybody loves it. I love the boys and loved bringing their concept to life. I shot the model and disfigured the fuck out of her.

P4: What mediums do you use?

SV: I can't tell my tools of the trade!!! Nah, a 24inch iMac (stop drooling) suped up to the Xcore, Photoshop, Illustrator, a canon 350D and lots of nude women. Chicks like getting their gear off for me. I dig it

P4: You must hate having all the nudes - many of them French?

SV: Actually hahahaha the Empty As The Day model's name is Lulu. She's a professional model. She's breathtaking and an absolute delight to work with. Lulu is pretty French yeah? I like French women. But I'm not biased. I like all women. Brazilian girls are nice. French accents are hot. I'm not gay.... Anyway, Artworks kinda taken a backseat as of late cuz I've been really focused on uni.

P4: How long you got left?

SV: Two more classes.

P4: Wow

SV: It's been a shit year.

P4: I remember having one semester to go. It is a huge relief.

Musical Training

What is it about Sheri specifically that makes Black Like Vengeance that much more interesting? If you listen to Black Like Vengeance, you know that she isn't carrying the band. Juan brings his acrobatic skills to the fore to create a very impressive percussive force. While Coxy is new, he is no slouch on the bass, and will bring a soul-shuddering rumble to BLV. And Marty and Drew together should make the Amott brothers sweat to keep topping their creativity and skill. So, what is it then? Is it the clarity of her singing, both clean and death styles? Is it the seeming ease with which she modulates her voice, with tone and inflection not just in the clean, but also in the death metal vocals – it's not just a monotone scream, she actually conveys emotion in all styles. Is it the depth of her lyrics, drawing on both personal experience and history and culture to weave songs that mean more on different levels, not just one-dimensional epithets.

It's probably all of those things, yeah? So to begin with, where does the quality of clean vocals come from? Here is where we find out.

P4: How is it when it dawns on people that you are responsible for the vox in BLV - do you still get asked what it is like to have two singers?

SV: I get the two vocalist thing a lot. That's pretty funny. Roman (Complex Studios) was showing this dude Mike (from that band With Vengeance or Angels With Vengeance from NSW east coast) BLV and Mike was into the vocals. Then Romes pointed out that it was me and yeah it took a lot of convincing. He was like, oh that's you doing cleans?

P4: Haha.

SV: And Romes is all, “She does everything dude” and Mike's like, “All the cleans?” and Romes is like “No dude... cleans... heavies all of it.” The dude was insistent there was a guy vocalist. I have balls you see, but it's just impolite and rude to show them off.

P4: Closed-minded . . . . .

SV: He doesn't listen to metal, so you know.

P4: One of my favourite things about showing people your EP or Empty As The Day is seeing it dawn on them.

SV: I'm really humbled at peoples reactions. I don't think what I do is super awesome or anything new. I've been doing death vocals since like ‘98. The real talent is in the singing, I was classically trained as a mezzo soprano for six years. I really want to sing a lot more. The transitions are heaps difficult. Anyone can scream. But not everybody can sing well.

P4: So you had the mezzo soprano training after you started in death metal?

SV: Yep, it was the reason I got into classical voice. I had always listened to Omm Kalsthumm who is an ancient Arabic Singer from Egypt. She does traditional Arabic .. singing... kinda classical, but her voice is phenomenal. She could sing above a full orchestra with a mike three feet away from her and her voice was AMAZING; it filled the whole auditorium. I wanted to do that kinda shit. I blew out my first powerpoint with my melodic metal band Ophillia in 01.

But anyway, listening to her and lots of Opeth, I was influenced by Mikael Akerfeldt, really amazed at his transition of choir boy singing, clean ranges and his death. But it was Liv Kristine and Tarja Turenen, Jessye Norman who made me do it

P4: One of the points I have made with my reviews of your EP and album is that it's not just your ability with death metal, but the versatility - the ability to do both melodic and death vocals set you apart at this point as a female metal singers.

SV: Singing is beautiful. It's a grace from God, I truly believe it. I get so frustrated at the narrow mindedness of some peoples attitudes that singing doesn't belong in metal. I mean what the fuck? Did we forget about Black Sabbath? I don't remember Ozzy ever doing Guttural screams for fuck's sake! And what about Bruce Dickenson man jeez.

P4: Well, metal fans are generally sheep.

SV: Nah its unfair to say that. People are just set in their ways. Pop fans are sheep ahahaha.

P4: Metal fans are always big on how "open minded" they are, but really, metal fans are the most judgmental people out there.

SV: Yeah its true. Hahaha, There's a lot I can say about it hey. There's a lot of everyone can say. But each to their own. If you don't like it then just don't listen to it.

P4: What other genre has fans that continually attack the bands they should be listening to, which other genre who have fans who say "sellout" more often than give praise?

SV: Point taken.

P4: That's the thing, they listen in private, and bag the shit out of it in public. Anyway . . . . What does your classical singing teacher think of your death metal delivery?

SV: Oh..... Nadia.... she hated it. That's why I had to stop training.

P4: Did it become a problem?

SV: I tell you it's a hard decision to make. I enjoy both extremes so much. I just try and work really hard to not wear myself out or do anything wrong that will damage my voice irreparably. It did back then, because i didn't have the proper techniques to be able to continue what i do. I'm still learning and perfecting it and I still fuck up from time to time.

P4: Which is worse on your voice?

SV: Death vocals. It's easier to shred your chords than classical. I've had nodes from classical singing when i first started. And my first teacher was Fiona Rock, who was trained by that Grahame guy that taught Kylie Minogue... (hahaha lame name dropping). But she was a jazz and classical instructor, and when I developed nodes she made me focus on my breathing and technique and we used that to treat them and they went away. I've sacrificed a section of my range, it's somewhere around my high. Don't think I can hit those high g's with the grace and ease of my younger years.

P4: How often do you have tonsillitis and the flu - do you think it is more often because you sing?

SV: Yep. It is.

P4: That's got to suck

SV: I'm a wuss. I'm really scared of getting my tonsils removed. I was supposed to get them out November 4, 04 but Arch Enemy were in town! And dude I wanted to see AE. I haven't had the guts to stick to another surgery appointment. I use antiinflammatories, I seldom drink anything that's not room temperature, and I make sure to warm up lightly when I'm feeling sensitive and tired. I hate getting sick.

P4: Who doesn't?!?

SV: Primary school kids? Means they get to stay home.

P4: Nice.

Ethnicity

When Sherri was badgering me to interview her (like I needed the motivation . . . ), she mentioned some things about herself that make her interesting, one of them was her cultural background. Being Arabic, she has had to put up with a lot of prejudice and bigoted attitudes. I suppose it leads to a lot of resentment in your life, certainly fertile grounds for a metal lyricist. But the most important thing for me, personally, is that it doesn't matter to me at all. (There's no segue for that, so here is the conversation from that point on, and I'll take lessons in better article writing later . . . .)

SV: You know I'm an Arab, so that's interesting.

P4: Is it?

SV: Of course it is. How many awesome metal head Arabs do you know?

P4: About as many fijian ones (for those who are not aware, Leroy from Double Dragon is Fijian)

SV: I know one Fijian metal head and one Samoan. Leeroy and an ex's ex

P4: That's like second-cousin distant type stuff.

SV: Ya totally.

P4: An ex's friends dog's vet's cousin . . . .

SV: Ahahhaa. I love those

P4: 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon.

SV: A friend of a guy I used to date who saw a chick hugging this woman who came out of a club during the time that the fight between that dude and his Mrs was going place, and the bottle missed his head and hit that girls head who happened to be a colleague of my aunty's second cousin who went out with my ex boyfriends girlfriend. and junk. Hahahahahhaa. Kevin bacon is so urgggghhh

P4: That's like a bunch of figure eights circling each other.

SV: You're a bunch of figure 8 circling each other.

P4: Do you find being Arabic has any impact whatsoever on your music career?

SV: Won't know until I'm performing in NY or redneck Texas, uhyuck! I deal with racism a lot hey, and since the s11 thing (clarification – S11 is a meeting of world leaders that always attracts protests and riots – this is not a reference to September 11) and that bullshit war on terror started even people I thought were close friends of mine went weird on me. But what do you do? Why change who you are? Sorry your country got bombed. My country did too. I just make music man.

P4: Do you ever find people are surprised, given the stereotypes people have for Arabic women?

SV: Yeah totally, it's heaps awesome to see people's reactions. It's a mixed bag. Today a satellite technician was doing some work on the dish at home and he was doing some shit in my room and I was working on a presentation and had the Picture The End album cover up on my monitor and he just spun out that I created that, GIVEN the stereotype. I don't deck myself out in chokers and spikes and cuffs so I look like a normal chick on a daily basis. But when I'm at shows and I'm decked in my gear people spin out when they learn of my culture and my religious beliefs.

P4: Just pink skeleton gloves . . . .

SV: I like those gloves. They're pink. I like pink. Arabic women are very liberated. Just because a Muslim Arabic woman chooses not reveal her bare limbs and hair, displaying her beauty and sexuality to endorse illicit social behaviours or what not does not make her oppressed. Women have a choice in the Islamic religion. And I have a choice to do what I do. It's the fanatical cultural traditions of fundamentalists that portray the bad images of muslim women, its sickening and inhumane. But you get that in any culture.

Writing

Back to the specifics of Black Like Vengeance, it's interesting to look into the inner workings of the band; how does the dynamic of the band affect the writing process, where do lyric ideas come from, and whether anything new is being formulated yet . . . .

P4: When BLV are writing new material, do you all come together and give your opinions on what sounds good, either musically or lyrically, or does everyone have their place, and fuck anyone who wants to give their 2 cents

SV: This is the BLV writing process. Drew's at his day job. Juan's doing some crazy acrobatics and Sheri is off being a busy li'l beaver. Marty spends a sleepless night writing a song or two that take a lot of thought and work. He then records it and because my life exists online, I'll be the first one to get it because I'm always on this machine.

I decide whether I like it or not and whether I can write anything to it. Drew and Juan get a sniff of it, learn the song. I show up to rehearsal and either wing my way through it... or I've actually got something prepared.

P4: Ok.

SV: Now it's not that I'm lazy, but my writing style has changed a lot over the years; I've been in bands since I was 14 so I dare say sometimes I feel like my ideas are stale and I'm being repetitive so I always leave my input till the end. Until everybody has worked on the song.

Honestly, everyone has a say. These guys work SO damn well together, that there is seldom anything I dislike. And they're not as precious (as I am about my lyrics or melodies) about riffs and chordal progressions. They know how to write for my voice now. So there's hardly any disagreements.

Lyrically. Everyone can get fucked.

P4: Nice

SV: Except Drew, cuz he's the best and he loves everything I write about. hahaha. Nah, Marty has a general interest in what I write about, he likes to kinda patrol my themes make sure I don't write anything offensive for the sake of being offensive, which is very beneficial. I personally don't believe in being a cunt just because I can.

P4: How do you come up with your lyrics - you seem to have a good grasp on both current events and history . . . .

SV: I read a lot when I was a kid. I didn't really fit in because I was the Arab girl, and I went to a school that was a Maltese Parish and a lot of kids were Asian, Italians and Maltese. My little brother and I were the only Arabs. I was alone a lot. So I sought refuge in books a little beyond my years. And I developed a passion for words, expression and meaning... all that gay shit. Marty bags me about stuff like that.

P4: You do a good job of putting a theme to your lyrics, for instance, the Black Medea, which is not directly about Medea, but obviously is about someone killing someone precious . . .

SV: I love that play. I studied it in my senior highschool years and had to write essays on it for my VCE and it was such a brilliant play. Greek tragedies are phenomenal.

The story is just brilliant. Metaphorically speaking too. And you're right it's not directly about Medea, and it is about destroying something precious. It's about human nature. Medea's actions were barbaric to the Hellians and they're barbaric to our society today, but they are undeniably human nature.

P4: This is something I appreciate, especially in metal, because I have a fairly broad knowledge base - so things like this, I get the background, makes the song that much more interesting

SV: I was thrilled when I learned that you got it.

P4: Cool. Do you ever delve into personal shit for lyrical inspiration? Do you write about things that are personal to you?

SV: I don't write about anything false.

P4: That's not what I meant.

SV: I know, I'm just answering it in a different way.

P4: Personal experiences etc

SV: Everything I write about does stem from personal experiences. I've lived years beyond my age, and like many people have encountered betrayals and calamities. I think these things hit me especially hard because of my upbringing. To strive for perfection, loyalty and honesty.

P4: Would you write lyrics that deliver a personal message to someone, that you didn't feel comfortable talking to directly? You know, if there was some fucked up shit going on that you could not directly address, would you write lyrics that stated your position, see if they could get the point?

SV: Three out of four of All Has Blackened was written that way, as well as a few songs off of the new one. So yes. And they do get the point. We played against the grain this year, and for almost 5 years I've battling some serious demons attained from a destructive relationship I'd had with someone a very long time ago. I was able to finally put closure on the whole disgusting ordeal, because the person in question was at the show. I sent out the song, with a dedication, and everybody heard it. So did he. It might sound stupid but sometimes there's really no other way to drill a message through someone's head.

P4: OK. Have you started on anything for a follow up release, or do you have tracks left over from Empty As The Day?

SV: We've got nothing left over from Empty As The Day thank god.

P4: You sound relieved.

SV: Dude, you really have no idea what went into this recording. Everyone was experiencing total shit. Marty didn't sleep for like a week. I had this flu that stayed with me for months after the CD, my mum was in and out of critical conditions in hospital, I was trying to study for uni, and I was in a terrible financial position too. I couldn't afford to BE at rehearsals I had so many responsibilities. And I was terrified for my mum, you know? Didn't know whether she'd be around and all that. Recording that CD with all those stresses and the flu from hell. I was recovering from tonsillitis as well. Anyway ahahhaa that's my bitch.

P4: Have any of the songs you left off All Has Blackened ever seen the light of day?

SV They have man, but they got scrapped when Snuff is My Business & Empty as The Day was written. I really liked them, they had great umph but they're so far away now from what we're writing.

P4: One of the things I find as a reviewer is that some bands don't know when to decide between spending money on production quality, and leave a few songs for later, or just record as many as possible, to the detriment of the production. I wish they would choose quality over quantity

SV: Depends on who they are.

P4: Most of the cases are unsigned bands.

SV: Can you blame them? Do they know any better? All any aspiring act wants to do is make a record and for it to be heard. Everyone thinks what they're doing is precious.

P4: Actually, I can blame them, because they need to learn as quick as possible.

SV: We had a hard time with the four track. We had some other great songs we wanted on there. They will learn once they record and release, those bands don't listen to advice too often, they need to learn the hard way.

P4: Unfortunately not all bands are as good as BLV, so they need to get the product as good as possible.

SV: Hahahaha dude. I'm not saying we're in the same league as the red shore, but DUDE. The Red Shore... I heard some of the new demo'd tracks off their coming album and it is BULLSHIT. They will be the band to put this country on the map.

P4: Until the record companies wake up to themselves, unfortunately no metal bands will ever have that success in Australia.

SV: Oh. Australia. Look... It's hard. This country is so fickle. I can't exactly say metal has no place in Australia, because thanks to Soundworks, Kelli Wright Publicity, Riot, Michael Chugg and Blue Murder they've put Australia on the map and as of 3/4 years ago, we've been bombarded with world class international acts.

P4: That is the thing, it is all the fucking hard work of these people on the ground that keeps metal alive here, but until someone with some commercial clout pays some fucking attention, it's always gonna be hard to get good Aussie acts off the ground.

SV: I don't know. Maybe our local scene has dwindled? But its not just record companies, its the punters themselves. They've seen it all. They want to see something different. They don't want another Soilwork or another Arch Enemy, god knows what they want.

Vanishing Point took themselves overseas and toured with Sonata Arctica. Alarum, I Killed The Prom Queen, Parkway Drive and Daysend did the same thing. They took it upon themselves to make a name for themselves in europe and the states and that is the reality of the industry.

P4: See, back on the subject of metal fans. Fucking fickle!!!! Imagine the success if those bands started in Europe rather than here.

SV: It would be a lot more competitive. Look how long it took Lacuna Coil to crack the international market, and they've been around for over a decade. We were listening to them since Unleashed Memories and Half Life.

P4: Maybe I'm just too hard on the Australian recording industry.

SV: I know this is a shit thing to say but because of Evanescence's popularity Amy Lee's infiltration of the mainstream shed some light on bands like Lacuna coil & Leaves' Eyes.

P4: It is a hard thing to deal with - perceived integrity combined with commercial success.

SV: It's double edged. It would be easier to tour; that's the thing in Europe and America. We've got 6 states, a huge fuck off country and a handful of cities. And every city is so far and few in between, if you were in Europe dude, 3 hours drive and you'd hit the border of a completely different country, with a different crowd to play to. Same for the states.

P4: I always like to ask, would you do something like Australian Idol, if it meant the exposure you received got BLV more exposure?

SV: No. Idol is wrong. It's really wrong.

P4: Hahaha

SV: It makes me sick in the stomach, it really does. I watched the finale to see The Divinyls played then channel ten fucked it up and didn't even get to see all the performance.

P4: OK, what about something like Rockstar (which is also wrong IMO)?

SV: Yeah Rockstar, that American one hosted by Brooke Burke? With Dave Navaro. Ahahahaha that's totally awesome.

P4: The one that started with INXS, yeah

SV: It's a piece of shit show. But Brooke Burke is hot.

P4: Yup, but the exposure is immense.

SV And the set up is so glam and rockstar. Hell yeah. I love Ryan Star.

P4: I did not watch - can't stomach it. I have the CD, but only because of the bass . . . . . .

SV: Well I watched it cuz it was just so different. And those dudes all have great personalities. They're all rockers and so different. Ryan Starr was awesome. He has an awesome voice. It sends chills through me. I can't stress enough how wrong idol is. it's so bad.

P4: Well, from what I heard, yeah, they were at least more than one-dimensional like Idol.

SV: Yep.

P4: I almost died inside when I heard Metallica was covered one season. . . . it's a painful thought

SV: I don't understand man, what's with Australian producers writing for those artists, like what the hell is with Casey Donovan? She's a rocker and she's singing some fucken song about flying or ... life... or some shit. Why the hell would anyone in their right mind compose such an awful song for someone so talented and TOTALLY NOT suited to that genre.

P4: $$$ That's because there is such a thing as over exposure, they drop them like a stone the second the show finished

SV: It's the producers that fuck those kids up its disgusting.

P4: Oh yeah. One of the original contestants this week said you should not be allowed on below the age of 21. I didn't read it, but I thought that is a fair cop, because it really is a form of prostitution

SV: Yeah it is. And they're never gonna get their Britney Spears / Ashlee Simpson or Justin Timberlake out of these kids.

The new addition, Coxy, and the mundane questions I always ask

For those who are not up on the latest with Black Like Vengeance, Mike has left the band to travel a bit and join the Police Force. This now means new recruit Steve Cox has stepped in to fill his boots. So, what better time to find out how he's fitting in, than now?

P4: How is Coxy going?

SV: He's great!!! Aww, you know he's no Mike. But I think we made a good choice. He's so friendly and easy going. Steve and I go way back. He needs to come to rehearsal though. . . drunk. Women and booze will be the death of him. He's so right for BLV; him and Marty are just evil together. Exchanging war stories...

P4: haha

SV: We've played in a band together before, so I know his capabilities, he's a remarkable musician, he's a great writer and he's essentially metal. And it was really important for the new member to get that.

P4: He seemed to gel well at Night Of Darkness.

SV: Yep, he's a stage whore. He loves the spotlight.

P4: That can only be good for BLV's stage presence

SV: We're divas. But we've met our rivals. Electrik Dynamite, those kids can rock a crowd man.

P4: On to some more mundane shit then, what advice would you give to bands trying to make it in the Australian metal scene?

SV: I haven't made it, so I don't think my advice would matter. Saying that, my only advice is for musicians to just be true to themselves and their music.

P4: Which bands should we be keeping an eye out for?

SV: Oh I love this part. THE RED FUCKIN' SHORE, this new album is going to shit on everybody. Switchblade's new one is going to be a real kick in the teeth as well, Electrik Dynamite, who are the only band in the country doing what they do and doing it with such talent and conviction it's mind blowing. I love watching Picture The End play, their shows are always really tight and energetic.

Also, The Abandonment's eagerly anticipated full length will be very different to what we've all heard, with a new frontman under their belt their music will be really intense. I also love watching Ne Obliviscaris and Be'lakor. They're vltra tr00.

P4: What albums can you not live without?

SV: Oooooh one of the BLV's party krew members made me an awesome W.A.S.P compilation that contains the best of the best and I can't live without that. Whitesnake, In The Still Of The Night, Evergrey's A Night To Remember, Disarmonia Mundi's Mindtricks, Mors Principium Ests' Liberation Termination and The Unborn, Opeth's Still Life, Soilwork's A Predators Portraits, Dark Tranquillity's The Gallery,

P4: WASP. Hmmmm. alright,

SV: Bloodbath, Belakor's The Frail Tide, Mercenary 11 Dreams, All of Katatonia's back catalogue (like swedish metal much?) my Tori Amos back catalogue, Stevie Nicks Best of and Electrik Dynamites Myspace tracks.

I love live CDs. I like how raw and free the music flows and the vocalists voices are always superb.

P4: Well, BLV should make one . . . . . .

SV: No way. I sound better on record ahahahaa. I have harmonies and shit on CD dude!!!!

P4: I thought you managed to do all that natural. . . .

SV: I'm not one of those crazy monks that can do harmonies from one tone.

P4: haha.

P4: Any last thoughts for your fans then?

SV: We have started writing for the new one btw, its going to be epic and brutal. There will be a choir.

P4: Excellent. Thanks heaps for putting up with the questions.

SV: No worries thanks for tonight!!!!