Revolver has teamed with Slaughter to Prevail on an exclusive "opaque brown/black with black heavy splatter" vinyl variant of their new album Kostolom. Quantities are extremely limited — get yours now before they're gone!
There are so many bands out there doing so many interesting things, it's hard to know where to turn. That's why we've created Uprising, a recurring feature offering a concise introduction to a band or artist that we think slays, covering their origins, process and vision. Our latest subject is Slaughter to Prevail, a fast-rising Russia- and U.K.-based crew whose slamming nu-metal-tinged deathcore is proudly displayed on their new sophomore album Kostolom (coming August 13th via Sumerian Records).
We recently caught up with guitarist Jack Simmons to find what makes Slaughter to Prevail tick, from the challenges of performing blasphemous music in Russia to channeling Three 6 Mafia and Björk and more.
WHO IS SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL? CAN YOU GIVE US A BRIEF HISTORY ON HOW YOU CAME TOGETHER?
JACK SIMMONS Slaughter was created and first envisioned when I saw a video of Alex's vocals. [Singer Aleksandr "Alex Terrible" Shikolai runs a popular YouTube channel on which he performs vocal covers of metal and pop songs.] Taken back by it, I reached out wanting to start a project with him. Even though we were in completely different countries [Simmons is based in England and the rest of the band live in Russia], we worked remotely to write and put together the first collection of songs that ended up being Chapters of Misery. It just came naturally; we were both on the same page with what we wanted it to be.
IF YOU HAD TO DESCRIBE YOUR BAND'S MISSION STATEMENT, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
To bring extreme, heavy music back to the forefront of music. Making songs that we love without paying too much attention to what else was going on in our scene.
HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INTO EXTREME METAL?
I actually went to a festival when I was 12 to see Guns N' Roses. I then saw In Flames play and just fell in love with the heavier sound. From there, I just got into heavier and heavier music until I discovered Suicide Silence and Nile. It just went from there really.
SOME METAL BANDS — BEHEMOTH FOR EXAMPLE — HAVE EXPERIENCED PROTESTS AND CANCELLATIONS FROM RUSSIAN RELIGIOUS GROUPS. HAVE YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH ANY RESISTANCE LIKE THAT?
We recently got an event canceled in Russia due to "violent and suicidal propaganda" in the music. Alex experiences it much more on the daily due to him living in Russia, but there is a definite difference in the religious powers over there.
SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL HAVE WORN "DEVIL" MASKS IN THE PAST. WHAT DO THE MASKS SYMBOLIZE FOR YOU — AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WEAR THEM?
The Kid of Darkness mask is something Alex came up with back in 2015. At first the band didn't wear them at all but as the band and mask grew, it naturally just ended up coming together to help build the image that we have now.
BEING IN A BAND, WHAT'S THE HARDEST CHALLENGE YOU HAVE COME ACROSS SO FAR, AND HOW DID YOU OVERCOME IT?
I think it's the need for validation of your music. In the back of my mind, I would always write those earlier Slaughter songs wanting people to love them. But I just let go of that, I realized that I was not writing to my true potential and not having as much fun with music. Since then, I've written for myself and we've put together our best, most interesting and fun tracks. It's definitely an inner demon that I think most songwriters and musicians deal with.
YOU LIVE IN LONDON. WHAT'S LIFE LOOKED LIKE OVER THIS PAST YEAR DURING THE PANDEMIC?
Here in London COVID has definitely put nearly everything to a halt until recently. I just took the time to focus on our music and my own personal growth. I think being stuck in lockdown for so long starts to make you look at what you want from life once everything is back to normal.
LIVE SHOWS HAVE BEEN ON HOLD ALMOST EVERYWHERE, BUT BEFORE COVID WHAT WAS YOUR PRESHOW RITUAL?
For me it's a couple shots of whiskey to just clear my mind before it all starts.
WHAT'S THE BEST PART OF BEING ON TOUR AND WHAT'S THE WORST PART OF BEING ON TOUR?
Love playing the shows, gaining new fans and being able to perform. But everything else with touring just isn't that great. Traveling and sleeping in the van is for sure my worst experience of touring.
WHAT'S THE MOST MEMORABLE THING THAT'S EVER HAPPENED AT ONE OF YOUR SHOWS?
The most memorable for me is just the amount of injuries you see while onstage. The crowds definitely like to have fun at our shows, so I've seen a lot of legs get bent the wrong way, broken arms, concussions ...
OUTSIDE OF THE BAND, AND MUSIC IN GENERAL, WHAT ARE YOUR PASSIONS?
Clothing is a huge part of my life as well as running a merch store. I have a big passion for new alt fashion and clothing that comes with it.
DO YOU HAVE ANY MUSICAL INFLUENCES THAT MIGHT SURPRISE LISTENERS — AND HOW DO THEY IMPACT YOUR OWN CREATIVITY?
Yes definitely. I feel that my songwriting right now is inspired by pretty much anything but metal. Three 6 Mafia is a big inspiration for me, as well as Björk and even a lot of movies. A good horror film will get the musical juices flowing.
WHAT BAND OR MUSICAL ARTIST ARE YOU THE BIGGEST FAN OF? ANY SUPERFAN STORIES?
So, I was a huge Dream Theater fan back when I was 14. I went to a festival around then and managed to meet Mike Portnoy, although he was a bit of a dick … but [that] was to be expected. [Laughs]
IF YOU COULD ONLY PLAY ONE OF SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL'S SONGS FOR SOMEONE TO INTRODUCE THEM TO YOUR BAND, WHAT SONG WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
"Demolisher" or "Baba Yaga." Either of these songs represent what we are about the most and where we are taking our sound.
