Getting to Know… Deadly Virtues | Interview

In the 434^th Q&A in our Getting to Know… series, we get the inside scoop from Phoenix, Arizona metal band, Deadly Virtues.

“We offer a little bit of everything in our music while maintaining a traditional metalcore sound.” Rock on, Deadly Virtues! Michael Babuich, the vocalist and guitarist for the metal band expounds, “From blistering verses to soaring choruses the way our compositions are written definitely lean heavier towards metalcore music, but we also have such a broad range of influence that allows us to offer music that can be enjoyed by a variety of people.” Awesome! ‘Mike’ and Brian Conner (lead guitar) answer our burning question about the Phoenix, Arizona band. Of their sound, Brian asserts, “I think we bring a fresh but familiar sound back to metalcore.” From Mike and Brian, we get the inside scoop on the band’s genesis, goals, musical influences, and current and future musical endeavors. So, without further ado, let’s jump right into Getting to Know… Deadly Virtues: Interview No. 434!

For those who may not be familiar with you, what would you say makes Deadly Virtues distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

Mike: We offer a little bit of everything in our music while maintaining a traditional metalcore sound. From blistering verses to soaring choruses the way our compositions are written definitely lean heavier towards metalcore music, but we also have such a broad range of influence that allows us to offer music that can be enjoyed by a variety of people. Whether you like groove metal or thrash, we have a little bit of somethin’, somethin’ for every type of listener.

Brian: I think we bring a fresh but familiar sound back to metalcore. Early 2000s metalcore was the peak of talent, and with the fusion of 80’s metal, we’re bringing a new sound to fans while paying homage to the greats who have come before us that are sure to create a movement for artists to come back to the metalcore genre.

Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did Deadly Virtues form, and what were some of your goals or visions early?

Mike: I always had dreams of being a rockstar as a kid. Growing up I had Chevelle, Mudvayne, and Disturbed posters on my wall. I remember going to Ultimate Guitar to learn Disturbed and Mudvayne tabs to play on my little Squire amp with my RG120 series Ibanez my mom bought me. Those dreams resurfaced after meeting Brian, and it turned out that he was one of the best guitarists I’ve had the pleasure of playing with. The creative process and connection playing with Brian came so naturally that there was no other choice but to move forward with our band goals. You could say it is divine providence.

Brian: I was Mike’s personal trainer and found out that he was a Marine percussionist, and we began talking about music, but I told him that I played guitar, and he mentioned we should get together and jam. The first day we played and hit some AC/DC covers and knew that this was going to go somewhere, so we formed a cover band to play classic rock and metal. After having no luck finding a drummer or bassist to join, we started writing originals, and the rest is history.

Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or your perspectives changed since starting? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

Mike: Starting out just playing fun covers from the greats of the 80’s through 2000’s metal scene, I was just happy I could (sort of) keep up playing with Brian. I had played a bunch of tabs as a kid but I hadn’t picked up a guitar in over 16 years until we started playing together. I was trying to just not suck, and playing and singing had been something that I hadn’t done since playing in church as a kid. I enjoyed the challenge, and eventually, we went from trying to play covers to original compositions. I find myself playing all the time now and writing new songs that not only challenge me as an artist but will convey messages and emotions to our fans so we can relate to all who listen. 

Brian: Initially, we wanted to play local gigs with covers, yet our vision quickly changed to writing original songs and bringing back the early 2000s metal sound that everyone loves. Our focus now has shifted to a grander scale, where we see ourselves playing large festivals and arenas in the near future.

Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Whom would you consider some of your biggest musical influences and how are they influential?

Mike: Growing up in the ’90s and 2000s nu-metal and metalcore were at the height of their popularity, and I listened to a large variety of artists. I really looked up to bands like Breaking Benjamin and Chevelle for their heavy post-grunge sound and composition style. Later, I would develop a passion for more intricate playing like In Flames and Killswitch Engage. Add some nu-metal bands like Korn and Limp Bizkit, with a touch of 80’s heavy metal, and voila, you have Deadly Virtues.

Brian: My biggest influences are Killswitch Engage and John Sykes, the former guitarist from Whitesnake/Blue Murder. They’ve been instrumental in shaping the style of music that we create. Dimebag was also a major influence as well. I would consider those artists to be the greats in the genres that they dominated. I’ve been a fan of their music and listen to them regularly due to the quality and musicianship, and it has made us unique in incorporating those influences into our own music.

Ah, the fun stuff.  What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance?  Feel free to be creative.

Mike: To be honest we just started performing a few months ago. We did things a little differently than most bands by writing our album first and then going out to perform. Besides simple mistakes like writing down the wrong tempo of a song or forgetting to turn on a pedal at the beginning of a song, nothing too crazy has happened…yet.

To this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

Mike: There are two songs specifically that hold a lot of meaning on this debut album. The first is the single “Deadly Virtues,” as it was the first time I had stepped out into the metal realm and tried to make something that was my own instead of attempting to sound like someone else. Once the song was finished, it was like I had begun a new chapter in my life, finally pursuing what makes me feel alive, which is performing and playing music.

“Living with Ghosts” would have to be the other. My Mom passed away a couple of years ago and I really took it hard. Writing “Living with Ghosts” really helped me cope with the loss, and allowed me to share that burden with others who may have been through similar loss. I’m sure my Mom is listening in heaven, and it is comforting to know this song can bring peace and healing to others. What better way to remember her significance in my life.

Brian: “Living with Ghosts” speaks to me as well. I recently suffered the loss of the greatest love I’ve had in my life, and it truly changes you from the inside out. There may be times where others may feel numb or hopeless and I feel that this song allows for both grieving and healing to occur for our fans and all who listen. Anyone who has lost a close loved one will be able to relate to the emotional message that this song delivers.

Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left-of-center we should know about Deadly Virtues? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?

Mike: I’ve always been a performer since I was a kid. I was in the All-State Show Choir during my junior and senior year in high school. I spent four years as a US Marine Percussionist in Japan, where I later went on to become a mambo performer and choreographer, having my own dance company for a few years. I also like to cook.

Brian: I’ve been able to bench 415 lbs. for multiple reps, if that counts. I have it on video, so it has to count, right? I also have a degree in government intelligence which is pretty unique.

What is Deadly Virtues currently working on or promoting that you can share? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure.   

Mike: I’ve been working on compositions for the next album. We should be able to give a little sneak peak of what’s in the works in a few months. Social media development and marketing are also at the top of the list. We need to find the fans who want to hear our music, and that’s surprisingly more difficult than it sounds.

Brian: We are working on trying to get on some festivals for 2025, so if anyone’s interested and wants to hear us live, be sure to reach out so we can hopefully get on a bill in your area soon. Recently we have been working on trying to get a spot on the Creed Summer of 99’ Cruise, so stay tuned. We also are in the process of producing our next album. Be on the lookout for new music content coming soon!

Thank you so much for sharing and taking the time to answer these questions, and best of luck moving forward. 

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Getting to Know… Deadly Virtues: Interview No. 434 [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Deadly Virtues; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Królestwo Nauki, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pete Linforth, Tumisu from Pixabay]