Vandallus are a hard rock/heavy metal band from Ohio. They have just released their fourth album titled 4. The album displays an excellent songwriting ability from the group, and a great execution of the material. The songs are very catchy, melodic, and musical. Vandallus are not afraid to take risks and left turns as long as they benefit the songs.
4 is a beautifully crafted record. The album has everything to make Vandallus a force to be reckoned with. As far as the classic hard rock sound is concerned, Vandallus knows how to effectively bring out the purity and class of the music. While their following is respectable, they still might be considered heavy metal's best kept secret.
Vocalist/guitarist, CrazyV (Jason Vanek) and guitar player, Vanik (Paul Vanek) talk all about Vandallus. Both members, who are also brothers in real life, describe their musical drive, the songwriting, and how a band like Vandallus is able to function. The group is completed by Jesse Stown on drums and Tim Frederick on bass.
You just released your 4th album. How would you say the band was developing and
changing throughout the four albums?
CrazyV: By now we have found our niche, it comes very naturally
at this point. The four of us have been
playing together for a very long time and we always have a killer time when we
get together. Not to mention, our studio
is now pretty much a meeting and party center for local bands, haha
Vanik: I think by now we have created an ecosystem for Vandallus. I believe this record tells our listeners that we can maintain our integrity with the sound they are familiar with, however, with the amount of talent and knowledge around the band and Mercinary Studios there is no boundary with this band musically.
As you were getting ready to record this new record, what
things did you want to accomplish with it?
CrazyV: Prior to this recording we acquired a 56 channel Amek Neve mixing console here at our studio in Avon, OH. This was a big inspiration of mine. Just like any Vandallus albums, we try not to overthink it. I set out to accomplish a natural sounding album the way this music used to be, and the way I love to hear it in my head. It just works for us.
What kind of a feedback are you getting now that the album
is out?
CrazyV: Overall fans seem to really enjoy this one. I’ve received great feedback thus far. Someone mentioned it’s not as “Metal” as the previous album, however Vandallus was never meant to be “Metal” in my book. It’s just raw old-school Hard Rock without all the polished over-hyped fluff. We don’t try to be anything in particular; we just do what we love and let the music breathe.
What are the biggest challenges when it comes to getting
your music out and heard by a wider audience?
CrazyV: The biggest challenge for me is dealing with physical
media. This is the first release that
I’ve ever had roadblocks when trying to ship vinyl’s, CD’s, and merchandise to
other countries/distributors. All the BS
pandemic policies have made it almost impossible to ship international
anymore. I still have boxes sitting in
customs that have been there for over four months. I’d say the future certainly doesn’t look
good for these distribution means.
Are you able to do any touring when you release a record or
are those only local shows? Is there
anything being planned to promote 4 to wider audiences?
CrazyV: We haven’t done any touring yet this year, however we have plans to start soon. We’re working on a private release show here at our studio to kick things off with plans to possibly make a live DVD. I refuse to play at places that mandate excessive rules which take away from the energy of the performance especially.
I’ve noticed that members of Vandallus are involved in
several other bands/projects. How are
you able to fit all of it into your schedule?
Also, when it comes to the priorities, where does Vandallus fit?
CrazyV: We all have plenty of other bands/projects that we’re
involved in, and I certainly don’t run out of things to do between all my
powersports and various activities. Yes,
it makes it difficult at times, but luckily, we have the luxury of our own
studio which is a “central” meeting ground for all our bands. We’re able to schedule projects between us
all easily. We help each other out and
get together for jam sessions regularly.
For me, the music of “Vandallus” is in my blood and is always a top
priority of mine. I write songs every week
and have a few more albums worth of tunes already to go.
Vanik: For me, my
full-time gig at the moment is my involvement with the band Midnight.
Next in line for me is Vandallus and VANIK. All are different in
their own way. I honestly prefer having separate bands with different sounds
and they all bring something to the table that the other project doesn’t. With Midnight,
it’s a very fast, rock n roll band that’s meant for the adrenaline junkies. VANIK
is for all the heavy metal horror freak who love old school horror movies, comedy,
and thrash metal. Vandallus is a band that is reminiscent to the sound
of rock music when it was at its height in our world cultural. Back when music
was something people wanted more than anything. It was an escape from the real
world. People were watching these shows in stadiums. This is the idea of Vandallus.
To keep the sound true to that time while keeping the attitude intact.
Tell me about the Cleveland scene. It seems like it has a lot of great bands,
and a great network.
CrazyV: This is indeed correct!
We have a great network and always have a pool of musicians ready to
help each other out at any given time. I
listen to a lot of bands from Cleveland as I’m sure my brother can vouch for as
well.
Vanik: Destructor,
Breaker, Shok Paris, Manimals, Black Death, and all the Auburn Records
stuff. Bill Peters released a lot
of classic local albums back in the eighties and he still plays newer bands on
his 88.7 WJCU radio show.
You have an incredible sense of melody musically and
vocally. What are your immediate
influences? Have they changed over the
years?
CrazyV: I’m honored, cheers! My influences are constantly changing, I have songs in my wild head all hours of the day, but my roots always seem to stay intact. I like organic recordings, lots of melody, music that takes me places, and has plenty of room to breathe, especially when I’m out on a long motorcycle stroll or snowmobiling in the mountains. When I’m working in the garage or at the fab shop I want to listen to Mercyful Fate or Overkill, but Rush, Foreigner, and Bad Company always tends to sail high on my influence list. April Wine, MSG, Robert Plant, Axe, Australian Crawl, Blue Oyster Cult, The Cars, Great White, GTR, Icehouse, Saga, The Outfield, Fastway, Yes, Dokken, Kansas, Leatherwolf and even some Heart and Roxette at times, I could go on for hours… haha
What kind of philosophy do you subscribe to in Vandallus, or
simply what makes you tick?
CrazyV: Our philosophy is quite simple: we don’t try to be something we’re not. We don’t try to fit into any particular category or genre. We play old-school rockNroll that comes from the heart. It’s about having a good time and bringing back the vibes of the classic era we love and feeling those SSL comps in your soul haha.
Where do you hope to take Vandallus in the next couple of
years?
CrazyV: Many more albums and far away from here... Haha, this music comes with ease to me, so I’ll just keep on writing about my experiences and doing what I love! It’s my escape!
Being in a band with your brother can be sometimes
tricky. How does that work for
Vandallus?
CrazyV: Fortunately, we have very similar musical backgrounds and
have been playing together for a very long time. Even though we have two completely different
lifestyles; when we unite for music we always tend to click and work very well
together. It’s always nice having
someone setup up my shit for me and making my coffee, lol
Vanik: The hardest
part about any band is its members. Having to track everyone down to practice,
play a gig, making sure their heart is in the same place or their attitude for
that matter. Having a brother sometimes makes it easier. Easier to track down.
Some of my favorite bands had brothers in it which is pretty kick ass.
With record sales being very uneven, and no guarantee for a
better tomorrow career wise, what motivates you to keep going?
CrazyV: Something about tracking and mixing with a real analog console, it’s almost like a drug addiction for me. Honestly, my love for seventies and eighties music and keeping this alive by passing it down to the upcoming generations is a strong driving force, not to mention, most of the new music I hear sounds like a cassette dipped in spaghetti sauce…
Provide some information as how potential fans can get hold
of your recordings.
CrazyV: The easiest and most up to date is always via our website
at www.vandallus.com. Digital is
available on all platforms, and we will certainly do our best to ship out
physical goods globally as efficiently and quickly as possible (even though
international shipping is a mess now).
We will begin playing live shows very soon once I don’t have to comply
with all these stupid mandates and rules so that we can provide you the quality
show Vandallus is all about.
Mark Kadzielawa
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