Acheron

Acheron front man Vincent Crowley is an imposing figure. Bald, tattooed and of a large stature, Crowley looks as if he were the death metal incarnation of Anton LaVey—a man with a belief structure once fully embraced by Crowley. Crowley not only has a distinct look, one of the easiest musicians in the death metal realm to identify, he has a strong anti-religion worldview.

The former Church of Satan member has penned many a satanic/anti-religion tune since founding the banding in the late 1980s. While many of these songs found influence through the Church of Satan, and still are, Crowley confesses in the following interview to have quit the COS due to it becoming just another religion institution.

Crowley and his mates in Acheron’s latest unholy rendition, “The Final Conflict: Last Days of God,” offers eleven tracks of heathen brutality. Said album is the first studio full-length since “Rebirth: Metamorphosing into Godhood,” a six-year hiatus. The always outspoken Crowley spoke with Metal Mayhem in the following interview about this new album, his leaving the COS and all things pertaining to his band named after the Hades’ river of woe.

Metal Mayhem: “The Final Conflict” is your first album in six years. How does it feel to get out a new record?
Vincent Crowley: Excellent! It has been long overdue. We were actually ready to record this album a little over 4 years ago, but our former record label Black Lotus Records went out of business. So we ended up putting those plans on and just played shows here and there. We weren’t really actively looking for a label, since we were pretty pissed off about the last one going under. Finally, I wrote to Displeased Records and they were interested. The rest is history.

MM: How does “The Final Conflict” compare to other Acheron recordings?
VC: I’ve said this so many times before, but I still mean it every time. This is by far the best and most well written Acheron album thus far. The band was very tight, the studio experience was awesome and the songs just came to life. I’m very proud of this album in all kinds of ways. The fans have embraced it, and it has awakened new fans to our music. Everyone should buy a copy of the CD!

MM: Kyle Severn of Incantation plays drums on “The Final Conflict.” You also released your album on John’s label, Ibex Moon. Do you have a long running relationship with Incantation?
VC: Kyle has actually been a part of Acheron for about 9 years. He also played on our last album “REBIRTH: Metamorphosing into Godhood”. When I moved to Columbus, I found out Kyle was living five minutes away from me, so we started jamming together and put together the project Wolfen Society. After that, he helped me out with Acheron and later became a full-time member. I’ve known John and Kyle for many years. I even did vocals for Incantation on their 2002 “Summer of Blasphemy” tour. They are an awesome band and killer people.

MM: How do you feel about being on the same label and alongside the artists Ibex Moon represents?
VC: It feels great! There are lots of very talented bands on Ibex Moon. There are many different styles and original sounding stuff. It is nice to be a part of their USA family.