Vessel of Light Featuring North Jersey Guitarist Surges Forward

North Jersey guitarist/riff merchant Dan Lorenzo and formidable Cleveland-based singer Nathan Opposition have proven to be a prolific songwriting team, and that’s great news for heavy music fans. Their band, Vessel of Light, left listeners begging for more after releasing their debut, self-titled EP a year ago.

Now, Vessel of Light is set to release its first full-length album, the exceptional “Woodshed,” on Sept. 21. The band will then make its first ever live appearance, opening for Life of Agony at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City on Sept. 29.

“Woodshed” is an intense affair, stocked with Lorenzo’s muscular riffs that set a heavy tone to match Opposition’s powerful vocals that convey chilling, unsettling true crime tales of serial killers and stalkers.

The album starts out strong with Lorenzo’s eerie arpeggios and power chords crashing like a thunderclap on the title track and doesn’t let up. Highlights include “Part of My Plan,” which features a riff reminiscent of early Danzig, the heavy groove of the sinister “Son of Man,” the unrelenting stomp of “Watching the Fire” and the twisting riff work on “Man’s Sin.”

Lorenzo, formerly of North Jersey metal stalwarts Hades and heavy hitters Non-Fiction, had given up guitar for years before hearing a song on YouTube by Opposition’s band, cult rockers Ancient VVisdom. Immediately inspired to play once again, Lorenzo set out on contacting Opposition. From there, a musical and personal kinship took form that has made for some exciting new music.

We recently spoke with Lorenzo.

When you started the band and began writing the Vessel of Light EP did you plan on recording a full-length album or did you think it was a one-off project?

We weren’t really thinking about it. I just thought we’d release the EP ourselves and I would fund it. Then we got a record deal with worldwide distribution (Italy’s Argonauta Records). It happened really quickly. After we did the EP I wrote new songs that were inspired by Nathan’s vocal melodies. I wrote 12 songs and we used 11 of them.

What’s the biggest change in the writing process from the EP to “Woodshed”?

“Woodshed” is the first record I’ve ever done where I recorded the guitars first. I recorded to a click track. I did the guitars and bass and sent it out to Nathan in Cleveland for vocals and drums. I had no drums or vocal melodies to go on. I had no idea how this would turn out but everything worked out really well. I also think “Woodshed” is a little more involved and further developed. I still love the EP and we picked up where we left off but there’s more diversity. I play a lot of different tunings. There are keyboards on one song and an acoustic song. We’re incredibly proud of the album.

How would you describe your and Nathan’s songwriting collaborations?

Musically we couldn't be more compatible and we’re very honest with each other and don’t get offended by each other’s suggestions. There were some songs where Nathan thought he was finished but I said, “You know what, I kind of wished you'd sing those songs differently.” He redid those vocals and they came out so much better. And he’ll be honest with me if he’s not loving some of my stuff.

The lyrics on “Woodshed” are pretty terrifying and gruesome. Nathan sings about some pretty disturbed characters.

The concept of the album is based off of the show “Forensic Files.” The songs are based on true crime, not fantasy. The lyrics are scary, but they’re stories based on real life, not something to emulate. To be honest, whether it's Slayer or Stryper I don't care about the lyrics. What matters is whether the vocalist sounds cool or corny and Nathan is absolutely my favorite singer for melody lines.

Your guitars on the song “Part of My Plan” have a definite early Danzig feel to them

“Part of My Plan” originally had a working title of the Danzig song. I'm a big fan of the first two Danzig albums. But the song isn’t a replication. You have to make it your own. For the song I played a contrary bass motion. While the guitar ascends there’s a descending bass line. Danzig wouldn’t have done that and it’s so much more interesting.

Where and on what formats will “Woodshed” be available?

You can find it digitally and on CD at record stores and on Amazon and iTunes. There’s also a special blood red vinyl version that you can order at www.allthatisheavy.com and www.cobraside.com

Who is rounding out the lineup at the Bowery Ballroom show? Do you envision more Vessel of Light performances in the future?

We’ll have Jimmy Schulman (ex-Hades) on bass and Ron Lipnicki (ex-Hades, ex-Overkill) on drums at the Bowery Ballroom. We’ve gotten other offers, including possibly going to Europe next year.

You’ve said you hadn’t played guitar for years before discovering Nathan and Ancient VVisdom.

It’s really funny. Before I started writing with Nathan I thought that I didn’t really love music anymore. Now I realize I still do love writing songs. I’ll wake up at 4 in the morning and hear a Vessel of Light song in my head pretty fully developed. The only negative is that now I have the worst insomnia.

Vessel of Light Online:

www.argonautarecords.com

www.instagram.com/vesseloflightmusic

www.facebook.com/vesseloflightband

www.danlorenzo.net

Music video for “Son of Man” on YouTube