Interview: Vials of Wrath

Photo by Vials of Wrath

One of the first artists who inspired my love for atmospheric black metal is Vials of Wrath, an artist who captures themes about nature, faith, and eternity within the confines of melodic metal. I was deeply moved when I heard his music for the first time, particularly the elements of nature intertwined within beautifully crafted black metal. There was a sense of calm that permeated from the music that was hard to nail down. All I know is that it was cathartic and restful, which seems counterintuitive, all the while being true.

A few years back, I had the pleasure of meeting Dempsey (Vials of Wrath) for an interview with HM Magazine. Quickly, I learned that he was not just a great artist but also a good human being. We share the same faith and the same love of music, which is a great starting point. Our friendship would later present opportunities to hang out in-person, which were always an encouragement and full of fun conversation. When it comes to artists who have a gift for touching the human spirit, Vials has a special gift.

Blacforje had the honor of asking Vials of Wrath about his music, the inspiration behind Vials, and what drives him as a human being.

Thanks for taking time to speak with us, man! Your music has been instrumental in my love for black metal, so a big thanks first and foremost. I’ve found your music to be very calming in nature, particularly due to that very aspect: nature. You infuse a lot of your music with the sounds of the forest and the mountains, or so it seems. Tell us a little bit about your stylistic influences and how nature plays into that.

First, I’d like to say how much I appreciate your support, and I’m honored I’ve been such a big part in your enthusiasm for this genre. When I was inspired to start this project, I discovered how intertwined my love for darker, more atmospheric metal and nature was. 

I’ve enjoyed hiking (usually alone) for many years. It’s how I reconnect with myself and just “reset” mentally. When I can’t hike, I’ll often go for long drives on remote roads in the mountains. Several of my favorite bands were heavily influenced by nature and often the pagan aspects of nature worship. However, as a Christian, I was often conflicted by being drawn toward this kind of music. Then I realized how important nature can be for my faith. Throughout the Bible, Christ often withdrew into the wilderness to pray and find a bit of peace or solitude. When I realized how important it was for even Him to do that, it just made sense that I could bridge the two into one creative outlet. Most of the nature sounds scattered on my albums comes from field recordings made while on my hikes or drives.

Image by Vials of Wrath

Describing your own music is incredibly hard to do as an artist but amuse me by trying anyway. How best would you characterize it?

I like to think of it as dark atmospheric metal. It’s often called unblack because of my stylistic leanings and faith-based lyrics, but I try really hard to incorporate much more than black metal into my sound. I listen to a good variety of things: post-rock, shoegaze, acoustic folk, dungeon synth, early Swedish death metal, etc. It may not all be readily apparent, but a lot of those genres play a role in the creation of my music.

What bands have influenced you, both as Vials of Wrath and as an individual outside of black metal?

There are so many. The obvious ones I always cite are Agalloch, Wolves in the Throne Room, and Alcest as being the top three musically. If you listen to any those bands, you will definitely hear some of them in Vials.

However, I’ve been into metal for pretty much my entire life, so I’d be remiss to not mention bands like Metallica, Megadeth, and Testament who drew me into the heavier music early on and shaped my guitar playing in its onset. From there I moved on to death metal like Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel, Death, Malevolent Creation, Deicide, and Obituary (a lot of the Florida bands). I also loved the “Gothenburg” sound (still do) of At The Gates, In Flames, and Dark Tranquility. I used to own tons of 90s and early 2000s death metal albums. Needless to say, metal was almost my religion of sorts.

Funny enough, I also listen to some non-metal “oddities” here and there. I really enjoy Bauhaus, Depeche Mode, and some of the 80s goth rock like The Cure, which was a big influence on some of my favorite Katatonia albums (Discouraged Ones and Tonight’s Decision). I’m a huge Type O Negative fan. Then there’s Explosions In The Sky and This Will Destroy You in the post-rock realm. 

I could go on and on. But to say that any bands have influenced me as an individual, I’d have to credit my former band Bloodline Severed when I think about it. Because before I joined them, I had given up on ever playing or writing heavy music. I had not even listened to metal in a few years, because I was convicted to abstain from it when I first found salvation since, as I said before, music was “my religion”. Bloodline - and later, bands like Antestor and Frost Like Ashes - showed me I could use my abilities and love for heavier, darker music as an expression of faith, life struggles, and my passion for nature. It has become an artistic outlet and given me a sense of purpose for all of the years spent soaking up a form of music typically delegated to Satanism and rebellion.

Your last album, Dark Winter Memories, was released through Flowing Downward. Are you planning on releasing anything new through them, or are you exploring other avenues of releasing future Vials records? 

It’s hard to say. I’ve worked with a few different labels in the past, as well as independently released some stuff. I have had great relationships with everyone I’ve worked with and mostly positive outcomes. Flowing Downward has extended an invitation for a second release with them, so I’m not ruling them out, because they’ve been great. However, Vision of God Records has re-issued my early albums on both CD and vinyl with the utmost attention to quality. There have been a couple of other outlets approach me about working with them, but I can’t divulge any details. I don’t want to burn any bridges, because I greatly appreciate all the support and opportunities I’ve been given. However, I don’t want to put any limitations on what could potentially come along. Time will tell.

Are you working on anything new at this moment?

A couple of things. I’ve just now begun writing for my next full-length album, but it’s in such infancy that it’s hard to see where it’s going or how long it will take to complete. A new side project I’ve been dabbling with for about a year also is called Pallidus. I’ve got two songs nearly complete and two small interludes/intros for it. It’s a departure from Vials’ style in that it’s kind of goth rock. In addition to that, Vision of God Records is reissuing an EP from 2018 - Ataraxia - with a part II. These two EPs will be released as one full album, Ataraxia I & II, in early September. Part II is sort of a mirror of Part I, with each part having two full songs and an instrumental that are linked thematically. It’s available now to preorder on CD, vinyl, and limited-edition picture disc through Vision of God Records’ website and my official Bandcamp page.

‘Ataraxia I & II’ by Vials of Wrath

Who are you as a person? I know. Loaded question.

Since you asked, I don’t want to give you an empty answer.

Ironically, I can’t say for sure. Every day changes us in some way – big or small. I like to think I’m open to those changes, so I’m constantly evolving as a person. Learning new things. Embracing new experiences. It’s how we interpret them that shapes us. We can grow, become wiser, or stay rooted and become jaded. I struggle with letting go of the past a lot. I’m very nostalgic – almost to a fault – in that I have to focus on being in the present. And when I am mindful of what’s currently going on, I’m subconsciously storing away events for future nostalgic remembrances.

We’re all so many different things rolled into one. I consider myself an artist (musically and visually), but I’m also a husband, father, son, brother, and friend. I try to be the best I can in each of these roles.

As much as I love hiking and nature, I’m not really an “outdoorsman”, per se. I don’t hunt, fish, or even go camping much – haven’t been in years actually. I obviously enjoy writing and recording my own music, but if time and finances allowed, I’d go to a professional studio for my full-length albums so I could focus even more on the writing process and not have to worry about production and mixing, which I’ve learned about mostly from online tutorials and videos.

I also like to make primitive wood furniture, do some pyrography here and there, and (even though it’s not very “metal”), I’m a huge Peanuts fan. The pumpkin-shaped vinyl of It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is one of my favorites in my collection. 

What role does spirituality and philosophy play in your life as an individual and as an artist?

It’s very important. I’d almost say it’s paramount as to why I even do what I do and how I live. I’m in such a constant state of looking at things through spiritual and philosophical eyes, it can become detrimental to my enjoyment of a situation or moment. It’s a struggle that I’m always dealing with and praying about. I really do try to be thankful in all things (which as Christians, we should), but I’ll admit I complain about the current state of things, the bleakness of the future, etc. - all the while reminiscing about the past. I’ve found myself in spiritually “dry” places more than once, possibly because of my complaining. 

It’s easy to say you’re spiritual and close to God when things are going well. But it’s in the tough times, when life takes a turn that you didn’t expect (much less plan for), that our faith is tested. I tend to become somewhat reclusive once-in-a-while. Not really “antisocial”, so much as I just have to have time alone to reconnect and recalibrate. To reflect on my life and where I am spiritually and form some sort of personal philosophies about issues I may be dealing with. It’s during these times I often write most of my lyrics, form album concepts, and do some sort of faith studies.

Last of all, what is your favorite soda? I saved the most important question for the last.

If you would have asked me that about a year ago, I’d have said cream soda. But after drinking it for many years, I’ve kinda gotten burned out on it, and lately have been leaning toward Dr. Pepper as my main go-to. 

You can follow Vials of Wrath on Bandcamp, Facebook, and Instagram.