Vendetta

UK's Vendetta are built on a solid metal foundation. With NWOBHM and 80s thrash influences; the band has created an ass-kicking slab of traditional metal on their sophomore effort, "Heretic Nation."

By e-mail, vocalist/guitarist Edward Box talked about his fondness for metal, Vendetta's aspirations, and why he loves playing in a band.

Metal Mayhem: You're from Newcastle right?
Edward Box: Originally I was born in Kendal, Cumbria but I’ve lived in Newcastle for the last 20 years. It’s a great city and it has a really vibrant rock and metal scene.

MM: Growing up, were you influenced by fellow hometown boys Venom or Raven?
EB: In a word, no, but I was aware of both bands via the pages of rock magazines. When I was young I can remember them being in the Armed and Ready section of Kerrang! when they were both starting to make their mark. Funnily enough, we just had our album launch and Dryll played with us, that is Jeff Dunn’s new band (Mantas from Venom). They are really creating a buzz up here and they put on a great show. Jeff has a fantastic presence on stage and really connects with the crowd.

MM: I have visited the spectacular St. James' Park in 2005 to watch a Newcastle United game; the fans were so passionate. What does it mean to you to be from that area?
EB: The people of Newcastle are wildly passionate about their football club and you can’t help but get sucked into the culture of the Toon army. Things are going great on the pitch and terrible off it at the moment, but as the saying goes, there is never a dull moment when you’re a Newcastle fan. The area has changed a great deal in the 20 years I’ve been there and its industrial past forms a ghostly presence. Like all modern cities, it has loads of bars and restaurants, but if you go out of the city centre you find areas where there has been no real economic development in over 30 years, so it’s a place of extremes.

MM: "Heretic Nation" is such an awesome new album, your debut was good, but this one just kicks so much metal ass! What was your mindset prior to the writing and recording of "Heretic Nation," compared to "Tyranny of Minority"?
EB: To try and build on the positives of the last album, but to make it much better and to show the growth within the band that has occurred since the last recording. We wanted it to be a heavier and more focused record.

MM: Why did it take you 18 months to write?
EB: In actual fact it was a year between writing and finishing recording but it has taken a while to come out so in all that has taken 18 months. Due to other commitments (life, jobs, families etc) we only have time to practice once a week so it takes a bit of a stretch to put it all together.

MM: You have matured a ton musically since "Tyranny of Minority" and have created something spectacular on "Heretic Nation." What, in your opinion, is the main difference between the two albums?
EB: Well I suppose the first thing people may notice is the improvement in my voice. It’s much stronger and diverse now, so hopefully the listener will find it more palatable. Lee Lamb has made his debut on drums and he has formed a really cohesive partnership with Gary Foalle on bass. From a musical point of view, the album is more Brit metal/80’s thrash and there is less of the ‘LA’ sound of the first album.