Interviews: Vanishment

On this new occasion, we had the opportunity to interview the Thrash Metal/Heavy Metal band Vanishment from the USA. Check out the interview and follow this band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Did you plan it or came out just like that?

Nate: Brian, Rob, and I were all doing a band for a few years prior to VANISHMENT. Our drummer moved and had to part ways with the other guitar player. We got Woz and Jeremy in the band, and it felt like it was a new start and a new band, so we decided to change the band name. With a bunch of names brought up, and half of them being horrible and shot down by everyone. I was looking at song lyrics and song titles, just trying to find a word or a couple of words that might work. I saw a song title that was “Vanishment”. It had a certain ring to it, so I brought it up to the guys, and it was the first one that instantly kind of stuck with everyone. So we ended up with that, which I feel isn’t too shabby!

Jeremy: It sounds cool.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Brian: I have been playing aggressive music my entire life. I’ve performed in hardcore bands, a death metal band, and several groups with a sound similar to Vanishment. Heavy music has always given me a sense of belonging and provided an outlet for the negativity in the world. It truly is my therapy, and I would not be the same person without it.

Nate: For me, it’s pretty much the same as Brian. I’ve always played aggressive music from Punk Rock, Hardcore, to Metal. I love all styles of music, but it’s what I know and love. It’s a way to release the day to day to day 9 to 5 life that we all have to live.

Rob: Metal has always been my favorite style of music since I was about 13 years old, I believe.

Jeremy: I’ve been playing heavy music since I started playing guitar when I was in middle school. Hell, even before then, I tried playing darker, heavier stuff on cello, upright bass, and piano when I was even younger than that. Always drawn to those minor key, sad, darker sounds. Even when I’ve dabbled in different genres of music over the years, metal is and always will be home for me. And it sounds cool.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Brian: Most of us have played in various bands together over the last 20-plus years, with the exception of Woz, our drummer. This beautiful human entered my life 7 years ago, and he blew us away with what he is capable of doing behind the kit. He is a multi-talented person and just an all-around good guy.

Nate: We’ve all been friends for some time now. Some longer than others, but at this point, we’re all Brothers. It’s the only way to be in a band.

Jeremy: Known some for decades, known some for years, but either way we get along really well, support each other as people first, bandmates second, and in the end… it sounds cool.

4. Each band member's favourite band?

Brian: Man, this is a tough question because so many bands have had a massive impact on me over the years. In terms of longevity and consistently putting out great records, I’d have to say Testament. From a guitar player’s perspective, I love how Eric Peterson writes music, and then you add in Alex Skolnick’s sense of harmony and solos, and bam—you’ve got magic. On top of that, Chuck Billy, who, in my opinion, is the best thrash metal singer out there. He can sing a ballad, deliver death metal vocals, and still have an incredible thrash voice. That covers all the bases for me. TESTAMENT!

Nate: I could name a bunch, but if I’m ever asked, my favorite it’s always THIN LIZZY! It probably has a lot to do with their frontman, Phil Lynott. He was a great frontman and knew how to play the bass so well! They were also probably one of the first bands to do the dueling guitar parts, which is a huge part of metal.

Rob: Hard to say just one. If I must pick, I will ultimately say Judas Priest because they were such a big part of my introduction into metal, and Rob Halford is somewhat influential in my writing.

Jeremy: Hard to pick one, so I’ll pick a metal band to keep it easy. All things considered, my all-time fave metal band is probably… Metallica. Normy choice I know, but really influential to me in my formative years, and when I throw it on, I still get goosebumps on parts. And their classic albums are absolutely classic for a reason. Oh, and it sounds cool! 

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Brian: So many things inspire me. Sitting down to write when life feels a little dark can definitely bring out some good riffs. That being said, being in a really good place can do the same. Sometimes, after seeing a killer show, I can’t wait to get home and play my guitar. Other musicians definitely inspire me to write.

Nate: Being in a band with dudes that are so talented and great at writing riffs! I just try and do my part to keep up. I’ve written parts of songs or a riff here and there, but in this band, I feel like just adding the groove and doing my best to stay up to par with everyone else is my part of “writing”.

Rob: My bandmates inspire me, and all the music I listen to.

Jeremy: Getting in that fugue state, into a flow, playing riffs non-stop, and that’s when the magic happens for me. Inspiration comes more from exploration than anything else. And then when you know you’ve got it, it sounds cool.

6. Where was your last gig?

Woz: Belltown Yacht Club in Seattle. Almost as fancy as it sounds! We played with a Thin Lizzy tribute called Jailbreak. They blew me away.

7. Where would you like to play?

Brian: I would love to tour Europe; it’s been on my bucket list forever. Maybe Vanishment will make that dream come true. It would be amazing!

Woz: Japan and Australia would also be sick!

Nate: I’d love to go see a different country and play festivals! Locally, I’d really love to play The Showbox! It’s one of my favorite venues in town, andit  would be a huge dream come true

Rob: I agree, a small European tour would be nice.

Jeremy: Europe is an obvious choice, but I also wanna play one of those crazy as fuck South American shows.

8. Whom would you like to tour with?

Brian: Another loaded question! Power Trip, Warbringer, Testament, Sacred Reich, Deadguy, Lacabra, Baest…the list could go on forever. I’ll stop now before it gets out of hand. Ha!

Nate: Slayer, Testament, Biohazard, Lacabra, Charger….way too many to list.

Rob: I'd be happy to tour with Coroner in Europe

Jeremy: People who aren’t dicks, like to have fun, minimal to no egos, are key for me. So… Megadeth? Hahahaha.

9. Whom not?

Brian: I’m not falling for this question. Ha!

Nate: Disturbed (Unless they were playing a sold-out stadium show….then ya I would)

Rob: Probably not any band that doesn't really fit our genre of music.

Jeremy: Five Finger Death Punch, or similar styled bands.

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

Brian: I’ve definitely suffered from stage fright, and if I’m being honest, I still deal with a mild case of it almost every time we play. For me, it’s more about the lead-up to the show, but once I get on stage, it goes away and I just do my thing. The way I handle it is by practicing the hell out of our songs so I don’t have to think too much about playing them—I want it to be pure muscle memory. Sometimes I’ll also exercise before a show or go for a quick jog to quiet my mind. Most importantly, I remind myself to breathe and to be grateful for the opportunity to share my art with others—whether that’s 10 people or hundreds. 

Woz: I only get nervous playing for people I know, so I exclusively play for strangers, ha ha… But seriously, it’s repetition. Exposure therapy. The more you do it, the less it sucks!

Nate: Beer

Rob: I don't really get stage fright. I'd say if it's a really good, large enough crowd I get amped up and excited. A good way to deal with any stage fright is just to dive in and do it, and keep doing it until it goes away.

Jeremy: Been a very, very long time since stage fright. My 3 tips would be:

1. It gets easier over time, so don’t sweat it too much.

2. Be able to play your shit, forwards, backwards, upside down, opposite-handed. Confidence is built when playing the material is second nature.

3. Remember that the people are in the audience to see YOU, so return the favor as a way to say thanks for their time, and kick some ass for them. It sounds cool. 

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Brian: The bands that first made me want to pick up an instrument and start playing when I was younger were a lot of the ’80s bands—Mötley Crüe, Ratt, and Cinderella. From there, it moved on to Slayer, Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, and Testament, and then to Carcass, Obituary, Death, and others. I still listen to all of that stuff, I love it!

Nate: I first started playing, mostly trying to just learn songs from Guns N' Roses, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, and a lot of blues. They moved on to more hardcore, like Sick Of It All, Madball, and then Metal. I love the bass guitar on a lot of old school soul and funk records.

Rob: Judas Priest, Slayer, Celtic Frost, Metal Church, Nevermore

Jeremy: Yikes, too many to count. Sub-genres instead. 80s and modern goth bands, new wave/no-wave/post-punk bands, 80s metal, 90s alt rock, 70s prog-rock, 90s/00s euro death metal, baroque and late romantic era classical music, North African desert blues, 70s funk, and…Ratt. It sounds cool.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

Brian: Nothing too strange yet, but we will update this as needed. Ha!

Nate: It’s not weird, but always a shock when someone asks for an autograph! It’s flattering, but I’m a nobody in this music world. Haha!

Rob: Someone wanted my shoe, my left shoe.

Jeremy: Autograph their tits.

13. What do you think of your fans?

Brian: They’re people who love metal as much as we do. They have a real passion for music, and with so many shows to choose from in the Seattle area, it’s always an honor when they choose to come to ours. We’re looking forward to adding even more to that list with the release of our new record.

Nate: I always feel honored when someone is into our music enough to show up and keep showing up. It’s literally the best compliment a band can get!

Jeremy: Love ‘em! I’m super appreciative of people coming to see us live; it’s where the magic is, that interaction. When they’re stoked, I’m stoked. Hearing their praise, it sounds cool!

14. What do you think of our site?

Brian: The Breathing the Core site is great and musically diverse. One of the features I really enjoy is Behind the Artworks. Album artwork is such an important part of a release, and the artists who create it are incredibly talented and deserve more recognition. Amber Finnegan of Fossilized Sap Art created our artwork, and she did an amazing job. Thanks for shining a spotlight on these artists—it’s such an important piece of putting out a record.

Jeremy: It sounds cool!

15. Something to add?

Thank you for the opportunity to share a little bit about ourselves. Let’s catch up in the future after the record is released. Cheers!