UN: What might come as a surprise to a lot of people is that Vicious Circle has been together for over 15 years now. Has it been hard to keep the band together this long?

Vinny: No, not at all. Don't get me wrong, there's ups and downs, but we're all like brothers. Plus, we love what we do.

UN: It seems like the vocalist position changes with each release. Has it been hard to keep a stable vocalist?

Vinny: Let's just say that each of our previous vocalists had their own share of issues and agendas. Darrell was the missing link that we needed. We've all been friends since the beginning of VC anyway, so we were tight already. He finally took the vocalist position when the slot was open in 1998.

UN: Are you still motivated by the same goals as when you first started the band?

Vinny: Yes, to a certain degree. We started the band because we loved to play music. That's the only reason anyone should be in a band. If it's about the money, it's not a true passion. It's more about getting respect as a musician. However, the money would be great too! Maybe someday we'll have that problem.

UN: When you started the band did you have any long term goals?

Vinny: Yes, we wanted to do this full time for as long as we could play. Although, reality reared it's ugly head. So, we all work fulltime jobs to survive. We do this simply because this is also a part of who we are. We will always pursue the ultimate goal, but it can't consume what we have to do to live day to day.

UN: Do you feel like you’ve accomplished a lot over the years?

Vinny: Yes, but not as much as we could have. The down time with vocalists and keeping our personal lives together played a big part in the lapse of time between releases and kept us from more intense accomplishments with our career. Now it's time to make up for some lost years.

UN: How did Neoblast come into the picture for the band?

Vinny: When the CD was mastered and ready to shop, I found Neoblast on the internet and wanted to see if they would like to discuss some business. My friend, Johnny P from Mortal Decay also gave me a heads up on them. I emailed them with a request to submit some material and they responded quickly. That to me is a sign of good business. So, I sent them a sample of our material and the rest is history.

UN: They release quite a few high quality bands from Quebec, so I was a bit surprised to see an American band on the label. But you guys are right up there quality wise and offer a bit of a different approach then what one would expect from Neoblast.

Vinny: Thank you, Mike. I really appreciate you saying that.

UN: Was the Neoblast deal only for The Art of Agony or can we expect more albums to be released by them in the future?

Vinny: Yes, we signed a deal for a worldwide release of "The Art Of Agony" only. You may see our next release on Neoblast, we'll see what happens. Personally, they are a great bunch of guys and we are happy to be a part of the Neoblast Family thus far.

UN: How many dates are going to be on the bands Spring tour in Canada?

Vinny: There are 6 dates booked that I know of so far, and Neoblast is looking to add some more to the list before the tour starts.

UN: Will this be the bands first time travelling up to Canada to play?

Vinny: To actually play, yes. We were booked on a show in Canada with Pungent Stench, Brutal Truth and Acid Bath back in 1994, but something happened and we were called in mid-travel to be made aware of a cancellation. I don't know if the show happened or not, but we didn't play it. We ended up getting a motel room and traveled to Boston in the morning to meet back up with the same lineup at another club. We never got around to asking them what happened. No big deal, the Boston show was off the hook! We are looking forward to this Canadian tour, for sure.

UN: Will you guys be playing shows on the way up here along the way?

Vinny: As of now, no. However, that could change by the time of the tour.

UN: One aspect of the Vicious Circle style that I find refreshing is that you guys aren’t constantly playing fast. You used a wide variety of tempos. Do you think it’s important to keep things fresh and interesting tempo wise?

Vinny: Absolutely. You have to keep things interesting or you will be bored by your own material. There's nothing that would be worse than that for us.

UN: Do you think that might be a bit of the old school approach coming out?

Vinny: Yes, without a question. You have to remember that we started in 1988. Our influences were different than what is out there now. Plus, we listen to many styles of music besides Metal. You have to, or your material will get stale, like I mentioned before.

UN: Back in the early 90’s death metal wasn’t all about speed.

Vinny: I agree. That's what was so appealing about it. Each song had a different effect on your mood. I was always a big fan of that growing up.

UN: Do you think that with this new album and Neoblast backing the band you’ll be able to take the band further right now then you ever have been in the past?

Vinny: Yes, I think we will accomplish a lot of positive things this time around. Neoblast is doing a great job for us, so far. The potential for growth is there, we just have to take advantage of the opportunities as they occur.

UN: Are you hoping to use Neoblast as a spring board to hopefully move on to a bigger label?

Vinny: Let me say this, it's not about the label. It's about the deal that is offered by the label. We have to view this as a career move and handle it like a business. Whoever offers the best deal for your goals and needs as a whole, you have to take it....period. That's the only logical decision to be made. At this point, it's Neoblast Records and if they offer the best deal for our next release, that's who gets Vicious Circle. I'm not impressed by the size of the label, but the way they conduct their business. Smart business is always profitable for both parties involved. I'm not out to rip anyone off, but I expect 100% from that label to help us achieve our goals in any way they can or none of it is worth it. If you don't get 100% from your label to help advance you in this industry for the better, then why would you do business with them? We're at a stage in our lives where we need to pay close attention to any decision that we make for this band. So, that's the plan for our future.

UN: You guys have already begun work writing the next album; can we expect any changes or any surprises?

Vinny: You will get the best of our ability for every new song written. It will always be a reflection of what we are feeling at the time. It will be brutal and to the point, as always.

UN: Would you say that it will be in the same vein as The Art of Agony?

Vinny: I'm sure there will be a resemblance; we have a certain style of song writing. You'll know it's a Vicious Circle release no matter what.

UN: There has always been quite a gap in between albums in the past for the band. Can we expect the follow up to The Art of Agony to come out in a more timely fashion?

Vinny: I think so. We already have a few songs done, so we're staying focused. If everything goes as planned, we will release a new CD in a decent amount of time. We were never a band to rush material, but we seem to be cranking them out.