Vengeance Resides is a Durban based metal band, consisting of four guys passionate about music.

The band formed early 2009 when Nic Hagan (Vocals, Guitars), Andrew De Croes (Guitars) and Leon Deyzel (Drums) started jamming together.
With Nic’s brutal low and screeching high vocals, Andy’s technical guitar riffs, and Leon’s solid double bass drenched drums, there was instant chemistry.
Gareth Fraser later joined and added a new dimension with his thrash/jazz bass playing.
Playing a mix of thrash/death they captivate the audience with an intense live experience.

In short, Vengeance Resides are:
Nic Hagan – Vocals & Guitar
Andrew de Croes – Guitar
Gareth Fraser – Bass
Leon Deyzel – Drums

Interview by the official voice of South African metal – Scream!

Headbang Today: Welcome to South Africa’s heavy metal portal! Let’s have a very swift round-up and get to know you dudes: Each member tell me, what influenced you and currently inspires you to do what you are doing in the band.

Vengeance Resides:

Leon

My musical influences started from an early age when I got hold of some of my brothers death metal tapes, such as Benediction, Malevolent Creation and Obituary to name a few. I was captivated with metal drumming, especially double bass drums, so I got myself a drumkit and started bashing away. Currently my musical influences include Strapping Young Lad, Behemoth, Therion, Testament, etc.

Gareth

When I was young some of my parent’s friends were muso’s and when I saw them on stage it always gave me the feeling of wishing to be on stage like them, just jamming to the masses. My inspiration comes from purely just hearing a metal riff on guitar with drums and just listening to the raw power and ferocity of it all. It makes me just wanna jam man!

Andy

Well I’ve always been drawn to the guitar. I knew I wanted to play from the age of like 8 but I only went and bought one about a year after I got into metal, which was when I was about 13. These days I listen to a lot of Lamb of God but I’d say I get inspiration from a lot of different bands and genres of metal.

Nic

Hearing heavy metal for the first time inspired me to want to play guitar and vocal in a band.

Headbang Today:  Have you gigged anywhere else besides Durban? If not, are there any plans to do so in the near future?

Vengeance Resides:

Leon

We’ve played at Red Door in Pietermaritzburg for the From the Dark festival. We have also recently played at The Black Dahlia in Joburg and (believe it or not) Cool Runnings in Mellville. It was awesome to see Bile of Man rip up the stage with us at both these venues. We saw some amazed/scared faces at Cool Runnings which is always cool for us.

Gareth

Yeah, we’ve gigged in Joburg. It was awesome and truly an eye-opener for us and showed us how cool the music scene is over there. We hope to go back in August. Hopefully do a few gigs in Cape Town by the end of the year or beginning of next year.

Andy

We did our first Joburg tour at the beginning of March and really enjoyed it. We’ll definitely be going back later this year. There’s also a few shows lined up for the South Coast and in Pietermaritzburg so we’re looking forward to that.

Nic

Yes, we have played in Joburg and Pietermaritzburg and we would also like to go to Cape Town someday.

Headbang Today: Nic’s vocals are pretty awesome. How do you maintain your growling heaviness and how do you warm up before a show?

Vengeance Resides:

Nic

Lots of Beer and biltong!

Headbang Today: As for the outstanding guitar work and solid rhythmic drumming, tell us a bit more about the writing processes involved when coming up with new material.

Vengeance Resides:

Leon

There isn’t any formula set in stone that we use, however the basis usually starts with rhythm guitar and drums. Andy and Nick will have a couple of ideas for riffs, and then Leon will add lay down the options for the most suitable drum patterns. Gareth will add his flavor of mayhem to it all and the vocals follow last. When it comes to changeovers and songs structures the band will usually sit together and discuss some ideas and choose the best ones. Basically we all work together as a band for each song and there is no dictation from any band member.

Gareth

Well Andy and I often sit down and he plays a riff for me that he’s been fiddling with at home then I put a bit of input into it and we add whole new riffs eventually turning it into a song. Leon usually starts adding drums in the mid way of laying down the guitar work. After that Nic comes up with the vocals, and then we pretty much have a whole new song.

Andy

We have a few different methods. Sometimes one person will come in with a couple of riffs and we’ll make a song from it. Other times someone will bring in a song and the rest will add on their parts and some stuff we’ve come up with just by jamming and trying out ideas we might have had.

Nic

We get together and bring riffs and let the magic happen.

Headbang Today: When can we expect a full-length album from Vengeance Resides?

Vengeance Resides:

Leon

Well, we are looking at recording a couple more songs before August 2010. We would say early 2011 for a full length album. If we had the money we would do it now as we already have an established repertoire of songs, more than enough for a full length album. Any sponsors out there?

Gareth

I really hope it’s soon as we have enough songs to create a full length album.

Andy

Realistically we’ll probably start putting together an album at the beginning of next year. In the meantime we’ll hopefully have an EP together by the second half of this year. Our main focus is that it comes out sounding awesome so we’ll probably have to be a bit patient with it.

Headbang Today:  Which moral boundaries would each individual band member be willing to cross in order to share a stage with Lamb of God one day?

Vengeance Resides:

Leon,

None. I can’t give two shits about jamming with them. My moral beliefs are too important.

Gareth

As for Nic, Andy and Leon I cannot answer but as for myself I’d suck Robert Mugabe’s cock for a chance on stage with L.O.G!!

Andy

Fuckin’ name one dude!! Haha yeah not too many ey. They are my favorite band ever. Leon likes to give me a bit of stick about it but yeah, you know drummers, that’s what they do.

Nic

I would sell Andy’s BMW

Headbang Today:  The turritopsis nutricula jellyfish is able to cycle from a mature adult back to an immature polyp stage a limitless number of times meaning that it appears to be impossible for it to die of old age. Would you be willing to pose as guinea pigs for an experiment that’ll involve you being injected with this jellyfish’s substances in the attempt to become immortal?

Vengeance Resides:

Leon,

We are already immortal. Ever watched Highlander? Well, we are from the clan “ Metal up your ass”

Gareth

Yes I would as the jellyfish can still turn old if it wants to therefore I could turn old when I want to after being injected, so I can be alive as long as I want and accomplish all my goals. Once I’m done with my goals I can be old then die.

Andy

Depends, would I have to go live in the ocean after that? I’m not a bit fan of the beach. Besides everyone already knows to become immortal all you have to do is kill the Highlander…

Nic

Oooo, yeah!

Headbang Today:  We’ve asked ‘The Hollow’ this question before and due to a slight disbelief on our sides, we need to ask this again: Are Durbanite headbangers the most ferocious breed of metal heads in the country and why?

Vengeance Resides:

Leon

No they are not, they prefer to drink beer and smoke weed outside the venues than rather than supporting the local bands. Are you listening Durban? Get your fucking asses to the mosh pit next time.

Gareth

I can’t say. I’ve seen crazy motherfuckers in the crowd before yet I also see calm and collected metalheads that love listening to the music.

I think there’s a crazy bunch of metalheads everywhere you go in SA.

Andy

A few weeks ago I probably would have said yes, but since Joburg I’m not so sure. Let’s just say I came back with a few bumps. It’s hard to say for sure where the craziest mofo’s are, but a pit in Durban is by no means a safe place to be.

Nic

It’s 50/50. Metalheads are metalheads, it doesn’t matter where you go.

Headbang Today: When can we expect Vengeance Resides to perform down here in the most beautiful country in the world… Cape Town?

Vengeance Resides:

Gareth

I personally hope by the end of this year, beginning of next year.

Andy

Haha Well I spose we’ll have to see if our passports are up to date. We’re really keen to come to Cape Town, mostly likely when we do come it’ll be for a festival.

Headbang Today: Your sickest gig ever was when…

Vengeance Resides:

Gareth

Man there’s so many but probably Metal4Africa with mind assault. That gig was insane!

Andy

For me it would defiantly be the Metal 4 Africa gig at Burn. We even had the dudes from Mind Assault moshing to us. Was an awesome show!!

Nic

Metal 4 Africa

Headbang Today:  You’ve recently jammed with Jo’burg death metallers Bile of Man. How did that go down?

Vengeance Resides:

Leon

Bile of Man is one intense brutal/extreme metal band. Their style is a bit different than ours (understatement), but it was awesome jamming with them. They are fucking nice guys and we will definitely be collaborating with them in the future.

Gareth

They scare the shit outta me but they’re an awesome band. Probably one of the best death metal acts to ever come out of SA.

Andy

Was great! I hadn’t seen them before so I was just happy to finally watch them. They’re a really cool band but also cool dudes to hang out with. Rehan the vocalist was the first person to buy a Vengeance shirt so we were stoked!

Nic

It was fucking awesome and I hope to do it again

Headbang Today: Any final words?

Vengeance Resides:

Gareth

Stay in school kids haha! If life’s ever getting you down, put on your favorite metal bands cd, have a smoke and a beer and let the good times roll!!

Andy

Rhubarb

Nic

K-k-k-k-k yeah! (In the words of Dr. Rockso, the rock and roll clown)

The Hollow - HeadbangToday.com

*

The%20Hollow

Quantcast

Quantcast

*

During our journey in befriending the twisted talent in South Africa, Headbang
Today cornered what we consider to be the most dangerous band we’ve faced to
date. The Hollow is a vicious metal band hailing from Durban South Africa. They
promise to scare the shit out of any non-metal fan and most metal fans alike
with their skull crushing melodies and brain popping screams and growls!

With their members in posession of Honours degrees in music and classical
guitar, The Hollow will be a band that will trample the weak and hurdle the
dead in their run for global metal domination!

Interview by: Scream

The Hollow

Published: 2009-10-10

THE HOLLOW ARE:

Wojtek Starzak – Vocals
Dean Thomson – Lead Guitar
Duncan King – Drums
Catlyn McDonald – Bass
Patrick “Fly” Basson – Rhythm Guitar

The Interview

Headbang Today:
//Scream nervously welcomes The Hollow to Headbang Today,
sweating that none of the members break loose from their chains and shackles to
eat him alive//
Welcome to Headbang Today! So…. If you don’t mind… please tell us
more about your band and your musical influences. I’ve noticed a lot of black
metal elements in your songs, yet you consider yourselves as just metal?

Catlyn: “Wojtek and Fly are the youngest and the most rowdy and out of control. *laughs* The old guys (Dean and Duncan) are the ‘responsible ones’………..”

Duncan:  “Yeah, Catlyn changes our colostimey bags and diapers……….Oh yeah by the way we REALLY REALLY LIKE…………Black Label” *clears throat and utters something that sounded like……need sponsors*

Dean: “We all have a lot of different influences ranging from a wide variety of bands, we also don’t just limit ourselves to the metal genre.  Each member of The Hollow has their own preferred genre of music as well as metal and we bring all of those influences together to let the music work itself out when we practice.  This results in the music as a whole that can’t be classified to any one sub-genre, that’s why we classify ourselves as just metal.  For example I’m pretty into Hendrix, Satriani, Steve Vai as well as Children of Bodom, Chimaira and Lamb of God.  I think it’s refreshing for the mind and the creative process to step away from your preferred genre for a bit.”

Headbang Today: You dudes have a chick playing bass in your band! As the daily
trend in our modern world suggests, females tend to be more superior and
dominant than their female predecessors in the past. Does Catlyn teach you guys
a thing or two?
Fly:  “Catlyn is on her own mission, we’ll get a serious beat down if we argue with her!”

Dean:  “Like it says in her bio she’s the pimp of men, she teaches us to shut the F*&$ up and play.  Next question”

Headbang Today: Tell us a bit more about the processes involved in writing
songs for The Hollow.

Wojtek:  “Fly or Dean usually come up with an idea for a riff and bring it to the band when we practice.  We all then put in our own ideas and the music evolves from there.  Either myself, Duncan or Catlyn will add lyrics as the song progresses.  You can sort of feel the direction the song is going, so usually the lyrics just fall into place”

Fly: “Yeah sometimes you can write a song in one practice other times it can take you a week or even a month to get it out, which can be really frustrating, but nothing a Black Label can’t sort out”

*everybody laughs and takes a swig of Label*

Headbang Today: How did your band name, The Hollow originate?

Fly: “One very drunk night at a usual band party, Duncan was shit-faced drunk.  He wandered off to find a place to take a slash and ended up falling off a retaining wall and into a hole.  He shouted out something that sounded to us like: “I fell in the hollow!” followed by some very psychotic laughter.  Later when we were talking about it the name kinda stuck and as been with us ever since!”

Headbang Today: According to your individual band member bio, Wojtek is a
monster in mosh pits during gigs. Tell us about the craziest mosh and what went
down during that specific gig? (I’m sure you have a story to tell)

Catlyn:  “Hahaha yeah we have a couple but I think the best one was when Wojtek dived into the pit and everybody went mental.  The speaker fell on stage, somebody was thrown onto a table completely smashing it and I think someone got a concussion from running into a wall. Hahahaha the sound tech was pretty glad when the song was finished.”

Headbang Today: When can we expect an EP or even an album from The Hollow?

Duncan:  “We battle to find sponsors to help us out with cash.  Recording can be quite a costly exercise especially when you also have other costs to take care of such as petrol, strings, skins, sticks and not to mention merch and marketing.  It’s definately a tough market to crack if you don’t have some sort of backing.”

Wojtek:  “Yeah but we’re saving up and we are hoping to record a couple more songs in the forthcoming months.  Keep checking our myspace, facebook or reverbnation pages for all our up to date news gigs and general info.”

Headbang Today: Do you have any pre-gig rituals that you guys do before hitting
the stage? What do you do to amp yourselves up before a show?

Dean: “Well we usually like to go to a quite corner of the club and cut ourselves with razor blades to get the adrenaline pumping so we’re super pumped on stage……………….. not really!  We don’t really have a pre-gig ritual.  I suppose we all grab a drink, high five each other and laugh our tits off – then get ready for a brutal show.”

Catlyn:  “Hahaha Yeah and after the chaos we slap each other on the ass and say; GOOD GAME!!”

Headbang Today: What are your lyrics and music about in general? Does something specifically have to piss you off before you decide to destroy the subject in a song?

Duncan:  ” Yes, significant things have to happen for an emotive response.  For example; getting a 5 piece meal from KFC when you pay for a 6 piece…….Fail!.  But seriously most of our lyrics usually come from stuff thats happening, or that has happened in our lives as well as everyday shit that just irritates us or that effects us emotionally.  Combine that with a sick sense of brutality and a warped reality and you have our lyrics!”

Wojtek:  “As for our song names, they’re usually titled before we even have lyrics written for the song, well the majority of the time any way.”

Catlyn:  “Yeah like ‘Eat your Pancakes’ and ‘Ja-Ja the Arab Scarab’.  We don’t want to come across as a joke or ripping off metal, though.  We do it to take the serious edge off a hectic subject.  You could also think of it as a marketing ploy, people will usually remember a strange name for it’s absurdity rather than one that sounds generic.”

Headbang Today: Name 3 bands that you ultimately would love to play with at a
festival.

Local:

Warthane, Erebus and Betray the Emissary

International:

Lamb of God, Cradle of Filth and White Chapel

Headbang Today: Is there life after death?

Wojtek:  “One night after a good night out I saw a hobo get smashed by a truck……….I decided, no.  But if you really really want to know we have ways to help you find out, none that you’ll probably like though!”

Headbang Today: After spreading the darkness in Durban, have you guys toured
and gigged elsewhere in the country yet and if so, what was the response like
from spectators?

Fly:  “Yeah, we’ve played up in Joburg a couple of times.  The crowds up there are awesome.  We’ve seen some insane circle pits and big ass brawls break out.”

Dean:  “Yeah, the people up there are seriously on edge haha, makes for some fun moshing though!”

Headbang Today: How do you feel about illegal file sharing – Great Marketing
Strategy For Bands OR Utter Disrespect Towards The Band And Their Hard Work?
(elaborate on your chosen answer)

Dean: “We believe that it’s a great marketing technique, there is no better advertising than word of mouth and the more people that hear our stuff and spread it the better.  It does suck at the same time though, when you spend so much money, time, effort practicing, playing, carrying equipment around and so on, to not be able to recover costs.  But there is no better feeling than being on stage and jamming for the people and to be honest the pro’s definately outweigh the cons in the end!  Also if people really like our stuff  they will go and buy an album anyway.  I guess you could take that as a measure for how good you are (or how popular you are) as a band, if people buy your stuff even though they can download it for free, that says to me you’re doing something right!”

Headbang Today: Are you going to eat me?

Wojtek:  “Are you finger-licking good?”

Headbang Today: Give us your thoughts summarized into two words for the
following:

The metal scene in Durban:

Fucking Brutal!!!

The future of The Hollow:

Liver Tranplants

Sadomasochism:

Family Orientated

The lethal mentality of your fans:

Fucked Up!!!

*

The%20Hollow

Quantcast

Quantcast

*

Band Artwork by Garyck Arntzen

INTERVIEW BY:

scream@headbangtoday.com