The New Video – “Escape Velocity”
- “Escape Velocity” is such a powerful title. What does that phrase mean to you personally, and how does it connect to the emotional core of the song?
Mike – We’re all sci-fi and space exploration fans, so, no argument that “Escape Velocity” is a powerful title!
Aside from the scientific definition of the speed required to escape a gravity well, it speaks to frantically trying to get away from all the anger, conflict and pain of 21st century life.
Lyrically, the song is the culmination, of sorts, of a theme that runs through a lot of our songs, such as Lumbering Menace, Ashes, K.I.A., Insurgent and others. That theme revolves around the human penchant for strife and what effect that has on us psychologically, emotionally and spiritually.
On the surface the song is about escaping earth, but when you dig in, it’s about escaping who we are as a civilization, in many ways.
- Mike, you’ve said this track is about pushing forward when the weight of the world is against you. Was there a specific moment or experience that inspired those lyrics?
Mike – Right before James and I started Red Vinter, I’d gone through the darkest time of my adult life and honestly wanted to give up more than once. Down in that hole, I spent a lot of time ruminating on the human condition, why we are the way we are, why we hurt each other so much, why our disagreements so often escalate into wars. And, from that, I had this overwhelming urge to run away from those things – to escape as quickly as possible.
- The video has a very intense and immersive feel. What was the creative vision behind the visuals, and how closely did it align with the song’s message?
Mike – Thanks for saying that! We’re really pleased with how the video turned out. The lyrics drove the visuals from start to finish. We tend to approach songwriting as storytelling, marinated in emotional themes. When it was time to sit and create this video, that storytelling aspect informed the visuals, vibe, etc..
- Doom/death thrives on atmosphere. How did you approach pacing and dynamics in “Escape Velocity” to create that slow-burning tension?
Mike – Yes! We love killer atmosphere in music and bands that create it masterfully. For Escape Velocity, it seemed a natural by-product of the storytelling aspect. I’ve heard many astronauts say launching into space is a violent, frantic, jarring experience at first that gives way to this overwhelming sense of wonder and awe. So, capturing that in the song and video was non-negotiable.
- Susan Mitchell’s (of Wasteland Coven) haunting backing vocals add a whole new dimension. How did that collaboration come about?
Mike – She did such a killer job, didn’t she? Just love the added dynamic her voice brings. When I was creating the vocal arrangements, that part just really seemed like it needed an angelic choir-like voice. After considering that thought for a moment, Susan immediately came to mind as the perfect person to do it.
- Susan, what drew you to this track specifically, and how did you decide on the tone and delivery of your vocals?
Susan – I thought “Escape Velocity” was a really cool song and I liked it a lot. My guitarist Bill Anderson, also from Wasteland Coven recorded my vocals in his basement and we sent them to Red Vinter to be added to the mix. I’m thrilled I got to be a part of it!
- Did the addition of Susan’s vocals change the direction of the song in any unexpected ways?
Mike – As anticipated, she brought a mood/feeling into the song it didn’t have prior to her vocals. Seriously couldn’t be more pleased with what she did.
The Album – Lumbering Menace
- Your debut album Lumbering Menace made a strong impact in the underground scene. Looking back now, how do you feel about the response it’s received?
Mike – Thanks for saying that! Sometimes it’s easy to get lost in the work of creating music and you end up feeling a bit alone on an island. But then you bring your head up for air and read great reviews, hear cool things and see the response right in front of you that makes all the hard work worth every ounce of effort.
- Where does “Escape Velocity” sit within the emotional arc of the album?
Mike – We placed it at the end as sort of a “final chapter” for this album. Earlier songs examine the things mentioned above (Lumbering Menace for example is all about our innate need for strife, Insurgent describes civilization as a man-made death machine that eats lives to produce profits, etc.) and Escape Velocity is the reaction to staring all those other things in the face and wanting to run from it all once the realization sets in that it’s simply inevitable.
- The record blends crushing heaviness with real emotional depth. How intentional was that balance?
Mike – Love that you get that from your listening experience! James and I set out to do two things with this band: we wanted people to walk away feeling the music was really heavy, in more ways than one. Secondly, we hoped just one person, or many people, could find a sense of solace from the rigors of life in our music. Struggle with depression? We can relate. Have anxiety, we’ve been there (and on many levels are still there). Battling overwhelming grief, these songs get you. As music fans, we all likely have that one song that was there for us in a dark hour, and that song will always be there to light the way. Hopefully a Red Vinter song becomes that for someone who needs it.
- Doom/death metal can be incredibly cathartic. Do you see your music as a form of release—for yourselves and for fans?
Mike – Yes, you hit the nail on the head with that one. We often joke that band practices and live shows are our therapy. The volume, beat, melodies, and moments where you can just scream at the top of your lungs, bring a much needed release for a lot of built up stress.
Songwriting & Sound
- Walk us through your songwriting process. Does the riff come first? The mood? The lyrics?
Mike – Yes! (laughs) But seriously, it’s really all of the above. Sometimes a quick flash of riff inspiration – like you start hearing something in your head, or playing something on your instrument that gives you the “stank face” which leads to an entire song. Other times it’s a desire to give voice to a feeling or a need. Fully fleshed out lyrics usually come last, but the words to The Cell Inside, on our upcoming 2nd album Ghost in the Fog, started as poetry that J wrote while battling the loss of a loved one.
- How do you maintain that massive, crushing tone while still allowing space for melody and atmosphere?
Mike – Thanks for noticing that! We’re very mindful of contrast in our songwriting. If everything was just violent, massive, gravel crushing riffs, it would start to lose its luster. Those moments of heavy, grinding tonal assaults need something to compare to, such as hooking melodies or delicate clean parts. We often talk about size, as in “make this part small so the next part sounds super huge” when working on the music.
- J and Dylan — how do rhythm and lead interplay when building such dense sonic landscapes?
- James — doom/death drumming is about feel as much as power. How do you approach tempo and restraint?
James – For this music, yes restraint is paramount. It’s super easy to overplay. I have to listen carefully to the drumless tracks, and then place the minimum number of drum notes that I can to accentuate the riffs. I frequently use a half-time feel to take the perceived tempo down even slower, but some well-placed 16th notes or 16th note triplets can give a fill just the right amount of pop before settling back into the slow groove.
- Mike — how do you balance vocals and bass without sacrificing the weight of either?
Mike – (laughs) I’m not sure I’ve figured that out yet. I’ve been performing metal vocals all my life, for the most part, but playing bass and singing at the same time is fairly new to me. A friend referred to what he does as “compound learning” meaning he mashes the guitar parts he plays into the vocals he sings to create one thing in his mind. I try to follow that as best as possible, but sometimes find myself focusing more on bass than vocals or vice versa. Definitely brings a whole new level of respect for the people who have mastered doing both.
The St. Paul Metal Scene
- You’re representing St. Paul, Minnesota — how has that local scene influenced Red Vinter’s sound and identity?
Mike – It’s really both St. Paul and Minneapolis, as the Twin Cities have one big, very, very cool scene. I don’t think any of it has really influenced what we play or how we play it, but the reception from others in the scene has certainly been a welcome game changer for us. From the other bands we’ve played with like Living Through Ghosts, Enigmatus, VolsungaSaga, Waar Party and many others to the “pillars of the community” like Josh Kellerman, Bill Hansen, Will Maravelas, Greg Chilton and more, it’s been great to feel like part of such a talented and amazing music community.
- What sets Red Vinter apart in today’s doom/death landscape?
Mike – I like to think it’s our unique perspective and my old school roots. Having been part of the metal underground since its inception brings a connection to the foundation of it all. Mix that with our desire to “feed” off of all sorts of inspiration while creating music that hits a lot of what people struggle with day to day head on and you get a blend of old and new, familiar and unexpected that seems to catch a lot of people off guard.
- Doom and death metal have strong roots in the early ’90s. Which bands laid the foundation for what you’re doing now?
Mike – I was the main songwriter in Scab, a Washingrton, DC area death metal band in the 90s, and we were heavily influenced by Venom, Celtic Frost, Hellhammer, Bolt Thrower and early Obituary and VoiVod. Those same influences are still at the heart of who I am, but James, who speaks into our work and writes all the drums for us, brings his love of Lamb of God, Tool and a few others into the mix. Oddly enough, an old friend, Ed Farshtey, pointed out that we sound a lot like early Godlfesh, which was never on our minds, but after listening, we can’t disagree with him.
- Is there a modern band you feel a kinship with stylistically?
Mike – There are definitely some we admire and think we’d be a great fit with on a tour, like Crowbar, Mammoth Storm, Monolord, Conan, Ahab, Church of Misery, etc.. Just love what all those bands have done and are continuing to do.
Momentum & What’s Next
- The press release mentions upcoming shows and festival appearances. What can fans expect from a live Red Vinter performance?
Mike – The crowd tends to tell us we were the heaviest band of the show – not always – but we hear that a lot. We also like to hit the stage, hammer the songs in quick succession and leave the crowd wanting more.
- Does “Escape Velocity” hint at the direction of future material?
Mike – Yes and no. When we plot out an album, we try to make sure we have different song types. With that in mind, there will be more songs like Escape Velocity in the future.
- Are you currently writing new music, or are you focused on pushing Lumbering Menacefurther?
Mike – We’re going back in the studio on February 17th to start recording our next album, Ghost in the Fog. It features eight, brand new songs and an intro that’s something of a continuation of the end of Escape Velocity. If all goes well, that will drop in May or June of this year.
- What’s one goal Red Vinter wants to accomplish in the next year?
Mike – Give the crowds the best performances we can at our upcoming festival appearances, as well as really make the smaller, more intimate clubs shows something to remember for everyone makes it out.
- If someone is discovering Red Vinter for the first time through “Escape Velocity,” what should they know about this band?
Mike – We’ve polled a number of our followers and there’s a wide array of answers to “what’s your favorite Red Vinter song?” So, give them all a listen before making up your mind which track speaks to you the most.
Fun / Rapid Fire (Great for Radio Energy)
- Heavier: studio or live?
Mike – Definitely live. Unless you have an old school stereo system that cranks at high volumes, it’s hard to beat the 115-120db wall of sound at a live death/doom show when it comes to heaviness.
- Favorite riff on Lumbering Menace?
Mike – Oooh – good question! Definitely, in the title track, the bridge that comes in around 3:55, with the vocal line “Fighting – Killing – Dying – Again”.
James – For me it’s also in the song Lumbering Menace. The melodic part in that song is definitely the one. 100%.
- Vinyl, cassette, or digital?
Mike – Another good question! I’m old school and absolutely love vinyl. So many memories tied to listening to the needle crackle and staring at the big album cover art. But, the convenience of digital is a game changer, for sure.
- Doom metal is best enjoyed: headphones, car stereo, or in a dark room alone?
Mike – None of the above. It’s best enjoyed live in a room filled with doom metal fans. Nothing beats that community of like minded people being moved by the music. There’s really no other feeling like it.
- One word that defines Red Vinter in 2026?
Mike – Heavy, with all its definitions.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Red Vinter Unleashes New Video “Escape Velocity” Featuring Susan Mitchell of Wasteland Coven
St. Paul doom/death metal juggernauts Red Vinter return with their latest sonic assault, Escape Velocity , from their critically acclaimed debut album Lumbering Menace . The track showcases haunting backing vocals by Susan Mitchell of Wasteland Coven, adding an extra layer of depth to the band’s signature crushing riffs and raw intensity.
Escape Velocity continues Red Vinter’s relentless exploration of doom/death landscapes — slow-burning, heavy, and emotionally gripping. Fans can stream the track on all major platforms or grab it on Bandcamp, where lyrics are also available: https://redvinter.bandcamp.
Mike Bullock , bassist and vocalist of Red Vinter, says:
“ Escape Velocity is about pushing forward when the weight of the world is against you. Susan’s vocals added a haunting edge that really elevates the track.”
About Red Vinter:
Since emerging from St. Paul, MN, Red Vinter has quickly become a formidable presence in the doom/death metal scene. Their debut album Lumbering Menace established the band as a force to be reckoned with, blending crushing heaviness with emotional depth. With new music, upcoming shows, and festival appearances on the horizon, Red Vinter is only accelerating their rise.
Band Lineup:
Mike Bullock – Vocals, Bass
J LeBrasseur – Rhythm Guitars
Dylan Jones – Lead Guitars
James Achilles – Drums
Listen & Watch:
Escape Velocity is available on all streaming platforms. For lyrics and direct support, visit Bandcamp: https://redvinter.bandcamp.
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