Troy Medlin (or simply T.Roy) is no stranger to the East Coast and Dirty South heavy metal scenes. As far back as 1993, T.Roy was fronting influential sludge metal outfit Sourvein, who came together under the banner of “old gear, dirtweed, [and] the love of Black Flag/Black Sabbath/Robert Johnson/filth/doom.” From 1996 through 1998, he was the touring sample man for Richmond, VA’s own legendary sludge metal pioneers Buzzov-en. Yes, Mr. Medlin has earned his street cred.
Between tours in the late 90’s, T.Roy earned his income and satisfied his boredom by booking bands at the Dixie Tavern in New Orleans, where he met and became fast friends with metal gods like High on Fire. Soon after, in 2000, Sourvein intended to release their debut album, Salvation, on Frank Kozik’s label, Man’s Ruin. Unfortunately, though, the label folded, and the record was instead released by the Game Two label. After relocating several times (living at one time or another in New York, New Orleans, Texas, Los Angeles, and North Carolina), Sourvein released their second album, Will To Mangle (2002), on Southern Lord. Things were looking up.
However, by 2003 Sourvein’s future seemed as murky as the ever-present swamp water. With only a few releases to their name, and in light of the departure of his former fiancée and Sourvein co-founder Liz Buckingham (ex-13, currently in Electric Wizard), T.Roy had a lot of thinking to do. Would he disband Sourvein completely, or regroup? The answer was an easy one, as it would be for any lifer: Regroup, motherfuckers!
Seven years, several split records (two with Church of Misery, and one each with Rabies Caste, Blood Island Raiders, Weedeater, Hogjaw, and Thee Plague of Gentleman), three EPs (Emerald Vulture, Ghetto Angel, Imperial Bastard), a new project (Hail!Hornet–more about them below), a track on the EYEHATEGOD tribute album For The Sick, and a new Sourvein album (Black Fangs, on Candlelight Records), T.Roy has every reason to give a shiny, gold-toothed smile and lift his freshly cracked 40oz. in the air.
Troy Medlin (or simply T.Roy) is no stranger to the East Coast and Dirty South heavy metal scenes. As far back as 1993, T.Roy was fronting influential sludge metal outfit Sourvein, who came together under the banner of “old gear, dirtweed, [and] the love of Black Flag/Black Sabbath/Robert Johnson/filth/doom.” From 1996 through 1998, he was the touring sample man for Richmond, VA’s own legendary sludge metal pioneers Buzzov-en. Yes, Mr. Medlin has earned his street cred.
Between tours in the late 90’s, T.Roy earned his income and satisfied his boredom by booking bands at the Dixie Tavern in New Orleans, where he met and became fast friends with metal gods like High on Fire. Soon after, in 2000, Sourvein intended to release their debut album, Salvation, on Frank Kozik’s label, Man’s Ruin. Unfortunately, though, the label folded, and the record was instead released by the Game Two label. After relocating several times (living at one time or another in New York, New Orleans, Texas, Los Angeles, and North Carolina), Sourvein released their second album, Will To Mangle (2002), on Southern Lord. Things were looking up.
However, by 2003 Sourvein’s future seemed as murky as the ever-present swamp water. With only a few releases to their name, and in light of the departure of his former fiancée and Sourvein co-founder Liz Buckingham (ex-13, currently in Electric Wizard), T.Roy had a lot of thinking to do. Would he disband Sourvein completely, or regroup? The answer was an easy one, as it would be for any lifer: Regroup, motherfuckers!
Seven years, several split records (two with Church of Misery, and one each with Rabies Caste, Blood Island Raiders, Weedeater, Hogjaw, and Thee Plague of Gentleman), three EPs (Emerald Vulture, Ghetto Angel, Imperial Bastard), a new project (Hail!Hornet–more about them below), a track on the EYEHATEGOD tribute album For The Sick, and a new Sourvein album (Black Fangs, on Candlelight Records), T.Roy has every reason to give a shiny, gold-toothed smile and lift his freshly cracked 40oz. in the air.
RVA: Hail!Hornet, your second band, is a Who’s Who of American underground heavy metal players: Erik Larson (ex-Alabama Thunderpussy, Birds of Prey, Parasytic, Might Could), “Dixie” Dave Collins (Weedeater, Buzzov-en), and Vince Burke (Beaten Back to Pure). Many people would sell their first born to share a stage with these guys. Who are some musicians that you’d kill to jam with?
T.ROY: Yep, them dudes are good players! Um, jam with Lemmy (Motorhead), haha. I have before, as he produced our demo. Matt Pike (ex-Sleep, High On Fire)–I’d like to sing on some of his riffs. I’d like to front Doom (UK crust punk). Mark Morton (Lamb of God)–I’d like to scream on his breakdowns. Scott Kelly (Neurosis, Shrinebuilder) for sure. So many, really. I like jammin’.
RVA: Cape Fear, NC is where you are from and currently reside, but you’ve also shacked up in New Orleans, New York, and for a while in Jackson Ward, here in Richmond. Were there any particular reasons for returning to your roots or was it as simple as being homesick?
T.ROY: Yeah, I was in RVA to rehearse and record. Simple as that. I lived in Brookland Park for four months–big ups, Charlie O–and Jackson Ward for a month. A couple of friends of mine moved there with me. I returned home for the ocean I grew up on, and family, and, well, being homesick.
RVA: Vince Burke has recorded the debut for Hail!Hornet, the new Hail!Hornet album, Weedeater’s God Luck & Goodspeed, and several Sourvein releases at Sniper Studios in Moyock, NC. He seems to be your go-to guy. What is it about Vince that keeps you coming back? Who would be a second choice if Vince were unavailable?
T.ROY: We did all the EPs and our newest LP (Black Fangs) with him. Vince is mean on the controls and the mix, bro. You’ll be hearing his name more in the future. He’s got a good ear and gets what our sound is! And he’s helped us out in many ways. We’ll always record with Vince. If he wasn’t available then we’d come back the next time. Sniper Studios is a cool spot and Vince knows his shit. Hit him up if you want it to crush.
RVA: Ghetto Sludge/Blues Doom has been your sound of choice since the 90’s, with Buzzov-en, Sourvein, and more recently Hail!Hornet. You are also an avid fan of gangsta rap. Is there any genre of music you’d like to toy with, or is metal pretty much where your heart is?
T.ROY: Yeah, I like down South stuff. I used to work with Lil’ Wayne’s uncle Tab at Lucy’s, in the CBD (Central Business District) in New Orleans, in ’99. His son Turk was in the Cash Money Hot Boys so I heard all that fresh and it sunk in. I love Wu-Tang as well. I’ve done a few different things and I’ll explore more I’m sure, but for now it’s doom, bro.
RVA: Randy Blythe from Lamb of God guests on the new Sourvein record. Did he pen his own lyrics or were they yours?
T.ROY: Randy’s a good, old, friend of mine. He’s from Cape Fear, his brother Mark B. tour-managed us, so I asked him to scream with me, because he does “Black Zorlac” and “Emerald Vulture” with us when we see him, and I’ve been told by many our voices mix really well. I came up with a working title, “Yonder,” and he liked it so it stayed. He wrote his own lyrics of course, I’d never let anyone write mine. He used a crazy night we had together for the subject. We drove from Haddad’s Lake after Best Friends’ Day ’09 to the Fan with no brakes and one headlight and I had lost my shoes. Wild ride. Good times.
RVA: What is your inspiration for lyrics?
T.ROY: The streets. Day to day abuse. Reality, struggle, being broke, ya know. The pain inside from the loss of loved ones and friends to drugs. On the other hand it’s about the fast lane, sex, and the wildest party ever! Down to songs about Sharon Tate. And on the new one, Black Fangs, we explore vampires and all kinds who suck you dry! But the immortals have black blood and it is sour to the vampires. Dark poems of thoughts and life lived city to city.
RVA: Is Black Fangs the final installment for the EP trilogy which began with Emerald Vulture and Ghetto Angel? How does Black Fangs differ from the two?
T.ROY: No. Imperial Bastard was the third installment. It’s out now on Candlelight Records. The trilogy is a study of good, bad, and ugly. The good was Imperial Bastard, the bad was Emerald Vulture, and the ever ugly Ghetto Angel. We went in and recorded what came out each time, with nothing written. It don’t get more real that that! Well, Black Fangs is a little different than all the EP’s. It’s more riffy with lots of vibe and hooks. I moved into an old boarding house at the beach and wrote all my parts. Every kind of person you can think of would be around there. A lot of sad stories and fallen dreams. It really opened my eyes to what I had to do, because they don’t have a tour coming up. Everything wasn’t OK! It humbled me. I lived out the lyrics to this record. It’s written from the bottom of the bottom of my heart.
RVA: What is the title of the new Hail!Hornet record? When is it going to be available in stores or digital download? How does it differ from the debut?
T.ROY: The new Hail!Hornet record is called Disperse the Curse and it’s coming out on Relapse Records. It’s something an old friend would say. It has lots of meanings, really. They will have it all up. This record is killer. It’s faster in parts and way more heavy. It’s mean. Larson wrecks the drums and Dixie pummels the bass and Burke did a stellar job. It’s a beast, Make sure y’all check it out.
RVA: Any music been ruling your world?
T.ROY: Witchcraft. Nachtmystium. Church of Misery. Doom. Ramesses. Saviours. Pentagram. Shrinebuilder. Free. Curtis Mayfield. Charlie Parker. Samhain. Coffins. Peter Tosh. Off! Darkthrone’s Hate Them. Waka Flocka Flame. I like a lot of music.
RVA: Shrinebuilder is the tits, man. “Solar Benediction” off that record has been my shit for a while. I’m no longer allowed to play it in the car because i keep it on repeat. How’s the new Nachtmystium?
T.ROY: Shrine rules. The new Nacht rules as well.
RVA: Werd!
