Over 20 years ago I spoke with Acheron’s Vincent Crowley for Vampire-Magazine. Back then it was mainly in connection with the then just released ‘Tribute To The Devil’s Music’-album consisting solely of covers of bands like Kiss, Iron Maiden, Mercyful Fate and Black Sabbath. Now, some two decades later we speak again and basically on the same subjects. With his Vincent Crowley band, he has released his second album and the influences of the bands covered on ‘Tribute To The Devil’s Music’ are more apparent than ever in the music on ‘Anthology Of Horror’. Of course, I also did not leave out the most recent resurrection of Acheron either…
Hi Vincent, I just checked it back, the last time we were in contact for an interview was in September 2004, well over 20 years ago. Now we are writing early 2025, so if this interview is anything, it is proof that sheer persistence is what keeps the metal scene alive. That previous interview was mainly in response to ‘Tribute To The Devil’s Music’, a collection of covers of your favorite metal classics, which you had just released with Acheron at the time. Of course, little did I know that it could also be the stepping stone to a new interview with largely the same angle, but two decades later. So: welcome back Vincent!
Metal and Darkness never dies! It is great to be in contact with you again. ACHERON released 3 full-length albums and a few other musical releases since then, the band broke up in late 2018, I then started my new band VINCENT CROWLEY, and now ACHERON is back doing shows and recording a couple new songs, while I am still doing the VINCENT CROWLEY band. So, things have been very productive and busy in my world in 2025.
Before we get to the newer material, I’d like to go back to ‘Tribute To The Devil’s Music’, just for fun. I guess that twenty years later is a good moment to reflect a little. The album gained quite some mixed reviews, how do you look back at that particular album yourself?
That was just an album featuring all the cover songs we did on tribute albums or as bonus stuff. All those songs were recorded at different times. It was more of an album for the fans who wanted all that material on one album. Some of those covers I liked, other songs… not so much. But it was a part of the band’s history.
In my welcome I already said that ‘Tribute To The Devil’s Music’ was a bit of a stepping stone that leads us to your current music. Although you haven’t left the Black Metal-flavored Death Metal per se, there is quite a bit more Heavy- and Doom Metal in the music that you release under your own name. Do you see this as a natural progression? Allowing more classic Heavy Metal into your musical spectrum?
The VINCENT CROWLEY band is most definitely more driven musically by traditional Heavy Metal and Doom, as well as the original types of Death Metal from the late 80’s. My vocals are still in a Death, Black and Thrash Metal style, but they are more layered and fitted towards the song themes written about. I like to call VINCENT CROWLEY a Musical Horror Experience of Macabre Metal. It is very much like creating a Horror film, but in an audio way.
With Vincent Crowley you debuted in 2021 with ‘Beyond Acheron’ with its follow-up appearing early last year. For the relative outsider the new record, ‘Anthology Of Horror’ sounds like a pretty natural successor. I am sure that you have a more outspoken opinion on the development of the band, so what would you say is the biggest difference between the two Vincent Crowley albums?
“Beyond Acheron” was the first album I made after ACHERON, so there are still some remnants of that music. When we recorded “Anthology of Horror,” it was a natural progression, and we evolved into a style of our own. We haven’t reinvented the wheel, we just wanted to do something that was musically compatible with something like KING DIAMOND or CANDLEMASS, but with a touch of Death Metal within the vocals and drums. I really enjoy the direction of this band. The creative process is much different than ACHERON was. The whole band has a part in making these tales of terror. And we have no genre boundaries, so anything goes.
As a whole the album was received pretty well with the only side note that the album lacked a little coherence – something that I thought was much better compared to the debut album. Do you care at all about general feedback or reviews? And, now the album is about to celebrate its first anniversary, how do you look back at the overall process of creation?
Most of the reviews for the new album were very positive, although they don’t ever influence my decisions artistically. As for coherence, I would have to disagree with you. “Anthology of Horror” was a very calculated endeavor. It was created to have different stories and music to match the themes. It is very much like anthology movies, having different short films within one title. Like ASYLUM, TALES FROM THE CRYPT, TRILOGY OF TERROR, CREEPSHOW, NIGHT GALLERY and more. I am very proud of that album. It is probably one of my favorite things I have done in my music career. I hope to continue putting out interesting songs and albums for VINCENT CROWLEY
If we view things from a larger perspective, I think ‘Beyond Acheron’ and ‘Anthology Of Horror’ aren’t really miles away from the classic Acheron-formula. Still you have chosen to lay Acheron to rest and start something new under your own name. In hindsight, especially now that you have resurrected Acheron once more, wouldn’t it have been better to just continue Acheron? After all, many bands are evolving and (tentatively) seeking new musical directions…
VINCENT CROWLEY music is its own entity. It is part of my many fucked up multiple personalities. It had to stand on its own feet. ACHERON already had evolved as a band, and I didn’t want to venture too much more into uncharted waters. The horror/death themes needed to stand on their own feet. ACHERON was always more of a Satanic Antireligious War machine. VINCENT CROWLEY is very different, although some of my doomier riffing styles will always be present in what I do.
Something that is an obvious change from the majority of your precious work is that your latest two albums under the Vincent Crowley moniker are primarily based on (classic) horror stories. For example, things like voodoo, lycanthropy, Dr. Jackyl and Mr. Hyde, the masked ball of Edgar Allan Poe and the story surrounding the Amityville killings occur. Were you a little weary of anti-Christian themes? You have left the Church Of Satan around 1999, yet are those anti-Christian sentiments still important in your life?
These were topics I always wanted to write about, yet they didn’t fit the ACHERON concept. Yes, there were songs like this here and there within ACHERON albums, but the Satanic, Occultic, and anti-religious concept was what the band was about. I still stand behind most of my views, although I have evolved. I’m not into group mentality or organizations anymore. My Satanic lifestyle is more personal now, and even though I am still very much against organized religions, I’m open-minded enough now to hear other people’s views. I may disagree with them, but as long as they are respectful, I’m open to conversations. My influences philosophically and in the Occult go far beyond what I used to think.
Back to ‘Anthology Of Horror’ then. You have always handled an instrument, besides doing the vocals, primarily the bass guitar. In Vincent Crowley you have chosen to concentrate on the vocals only and leave all instruments to others – at least on this last album. What caused you to make this decision?
I wanted to concentrate 100% on my vocals and lyrics. I did write a lot of music for this album, but I wanted someone else to interpretate it in their own way, to give the music yet another difference from ACHERON. The VINCENT CROWLEY band is not a solo project. It is a band just like KING DIAMOND is. And the members I work with have a lot of input. And I have been working with the same guys now for several years. That alone is different from ACHERON. In ACHERON, I worked with tons of different musicians and almost everything recorded was my decision. That has it place, but it is much less stressful having others to collaborate with this new band.
I’m curious about the creative ideas behind the band. The musical background for Vincent Crowley might be slightly different from what you have done before, although you still have guitarist Art Taylor in the ranks with you. How would you describe the coming together of a song? Is everybody equally contributing ? When I first heard the last song of ‘Beyond Acheron’ I was wondering whether you were thinking of retiring from the scene completely. In ‘Farewell (At Death’s Door)’ you sing about having had a full life but the life force slowly empties, that everything comes to an end and you don’t regret your choices. Seeing that you are well alive and kicking and that you have both of your bands going strong, I guess that was not an autobiographical song after all? But… if you look in the mirror, are there any (musical) decisions you regret making?
Art Taylor and myself were writing songs together at the end of ACHERON. Some that were featured on the VC “Beyond Acheron” album. We just felt they didn’t fit the ACHERON vibe. So when ACHERON broke up, we re-vamped some of the songs we were working on and made a few new ones, setting off in a new direction. Everyone in the band contributes something, even though Art and I have been the main song writers. And we hope that evolves even more on the next album.
The concept behind “Beyond Acheron” was death themes. Every song deals with it in some way, shape, or form. “Farewell” was a song I wrote for just that. I sat down and came up with lyrics to play at my own funeral for when the reaper decides to come. Some friends and family didn’t like it because it sounded like a suicide note, but it was far from it. I was never thinking of retiring from the Metal scene. But if everything ended today, I would be very pleased with the path I had followed. Because all the ups and downs have led me to the place I am now. And I am indeed appreciative to all the experiences that got me here.
A bit of the inevitable perhaps… Last year you have once again revived Acheron, apparently because of high demand. Without wishing to appear disrespectful, at all, I am really curious what was it that you again changed your mind. What was the little spark to lit the fire in Acheron again? And although you have stated that it was only for live shows and to play primarily the first albums, is there any chance for a new Acheron album too?
I started getting more active on my YOUTUBE channel, VINCENT CROWLEY CHANNEL, and started doing Q&A’s with fans. I never realized how many people really followed the band and supported us for so many years. Talking about ACHERON albums made me go back and listen to some of the classics. It got my interest up again. Then I wrote 2 new ACHERON songs. I then decided, why not do both bands? I always love playing live shows, and I may as well do it while I still can. I am still healthy and feel great, and most importantly, I need that Satanic release in my life. Doing select shows will not interfere with VINCENT CROWLEY. In fact, some shows I am doing double duty with both bands. I am more excited to do shows than I have ever been.
As for full-length albums, those days are done. But I do play on doing some new songs here and there. And in a totally underground way! We will be recording a two-song release called “God Can’t Save You”. It will be put out on either a 7” or 10” vinyl. We will announce that when everything is in place. We will be playing the title track at upcoming ACHERON shows.
Later this year you will again be playing live with Acheron. Among other you will appear at Finland’s Steelfest and at Metal Threat as well as a few shows in Latin America at which you will be double-billing with both Acheron and Vincent Crowley. Is there anything in particular that you are looking forward to?
Just playing live at good festivals and shows gets me in a good mood. I’ve only played a few very small shows with VINCENT CROWLEY in the last few years and haven’t played with ACHERON in over six. Being back on stage is something I need and I look forward to doing so.
As mentioned earlier, ‘Anthology Of Horror’ is about see its first anniversary, are you already thinking about a possible follow-up? Do you have any other/new plans besides the scheduled shows?
VINCENT CROWLEY is starting to work on new material for hopefully our third album. It will be called “Grim Tales”. 2025 will be a busy year for us, so hopefully we can have everything ready to record by 2026.
That was it Vincent, thanks a lot for taking the time to walk the path of both Acheron and Vincent Crowley with me. Let’s catch up later again, but not in another twenty years this time. All the best, last words are yours…
Thanks for the support and for having me participate in your webzine. I would be more than happy to do this again. It is great to see people from the past still in the Metal scene. I’ve been doing this since the 80’s, so I’ll keep doing this as long as I can. Beast wishes!
