BIOGRAPHY

Greg Van Krol (Guitar)
Dave Biss (Guitar)
Chris Roush (Bass)
Rich Innocenzi (Drums)
Chad Guyer (Vocals)
Victory Flag - Greg Van Krol
Victory Flag - Dave Biss
Victory Flag - Chris Roush
Victory Flag - Rich Innocenzi		 Victory Flag are a fine hardcore/metal band from Cleveland, Ohio, USA and have been together since 1997.  I believe the group originated from a earlier local entity called Guttersnipe and indeed Greg and Rich have known each other for even longer (maybe even from high school).

On the recording front, they released a self financed four track demo CD last year called Demo 2000.  Reviewed by Rigsby. This was a limited pressing (of 1000) which unfortunatly is now out of print.

However they have just released an EP CD entitled The Soundtrack To Your Miserable Life, the first release on the newly signed record deal with Sin Klub Entertainment.  This will be the last recording with the original format of Victory Flag, as they have just recruited a fifth member, Chad Guyer on Vocals.  A  full-length album (again on Sin Klub Entertainment), is in the pipeline (indeed it is recorded and just needs the vocals adding) and will be their debut as a five peice outfit.  Release date unknown.

Over the last couple of years they have also been featured on several compilation albums, including Exposed III (Sin Klub Entertainment 2000), WJCU Cleveland Metal Sampler (Auburn Records 2001), Greatest Hymns Volume 1 (Sin Klub Entertainment 2001) and Mechanized Death: An Accused Tribute (Transparent Records 2001)

band website: http://www.angelfire.com/on/victoryflag
band email:    VictoryFlag@prodigy.net

 

MEETING THE BAND - REHEARSALS

I met Greg at a club called 'The Blind Lemon' in Lakewood, Ohio at a Halloween party gig during my visit to Cleveland, USA in October/November, 2000.  He was guesting with the main band of the evening "The Manimals" who play a strange brand of Rock and Roll they call 'Horrorcore' (which came across as a bizarre mix of "The Glitter Band" and "Manowar").   He is good friends with this band and played for three quarters of their set, I was impressed with his general stage craft as he played with dynamism but with full awareness of all the band members around him.
I had a few beers with him afterwards and we seemed to hit-it-off.  Greg was a really nice bloke and even though he was more than a little wrecked (by his own admission) and was becoming louder and louder as the night progressed, you couldn't help but see his unquestionable enthusiasm for music and the genuine kindness he extended to those that shared this passion.

We arranged to meet the next day for a Victory Flag band practice.  This took place at the home of the drummer and here I met the rest of the band assembled down in the basement.  Again, these were nice blokes who on introduction, welcomed me as if we had known each other for years and after attending to the most important task (i.e. equipping me with a beer), they began their practice.

Over the next 45 minutes or so, I was treated to a personal performance that encompassed a lot of their work to date, including two new songs and it all sounded real good.  These new songs showed a marked progression over an already high standard and had a more complex structure with nice changes of pace and aggression.

Normally their songs come about when one of them develops a cool hook, riff or general idea, presents it to the band and if accepted, the rest then collaborate to make the song complete and part of The Flag.  This has worked quite well for them and they have 14 or so full songs that they are happy to play and as mentioned, the new ones in the pipeline.

It was easy to see that they performed very tightly as a group, looked confident and each played their instruments with vigour (even though both Greg and Dave were suffering hangovers!).  I was particularly impressed with Rich (drums), who was on a mission today (it was even remarked by the others) and was showing what a fine player he is.  He had a solid, hard hitting (and at times incredibly fast) style that was equally matched with commitment and precision.  The performance of the whole band was a pleasure to watch and listen, and the full live show promises to be quite an event, so check-em-out if you get the chance!

I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with the band and think it quite an honour that as a visitor to their country, they so readily invited me to sit in on their practice and experience the band (unfortunately, there were no scheduled gigs during my stay).  They were excellent hosts, even sorted me out with a Victory Flag T-shirt for Christ's sake (cheers Dave) and played a big part in making my short stay in Ohio - USA, a real pleasure.  I wish to thank Greg in particular for ensuring that we continued to have a good time (we had a blast at the 'Rock N Roll Hall of Fame' - cheers), who along with Chris got the copies of the demo's to us and of course Rich who allowed me in his home.

So, watch out for these guys, they play good music, they play it well and they play it with passion. Hey, The Flag rock man.....!!!!!

Rigsby.