By Sean Maldjian, Contributor

Meet VAULTWRAITH

Self-portraits by, VAULTWRAITH

Would you rather…

spend 48 hours inside a Target or inside a Petco?

The Warlock: Definitely a target. Toys, snacks, video games

Esteban Walpurgis: Target for blu-rays, toys, food

Some questions with VAULTWRAITH

Stoked to have you do an interview. Can you tell us about your project? Who is VAULTWRAITH?

The Warlock: On the surface, Vaultwraith is Billy and I. In our albums the Vaultwraith is the vengeful spirit of a dead composer.

Esteban Walpurgis: We started in 2012 but didn't get a first demo out until 2016. We have done 2 albums on Hells Headbangers and split EPs with Nunslaughter and Acid Witch. We play a style of metal that is like if Mercyful Fate had death metal vocals, basically. Lots of melodies and guitar solos.

Have you ever had a nickname? Why?

The Warlock: Willie, because my grandparents liked it. I still go by it today.

Esteban Walpurgis: Billy. Only teachers at school or bosses at jobs would call me William.

You recently released a split EP with Acid Witch. What was it like working on that release?

The Warlock: It was great getting to share a release with a band as unique and loved as Acid Witch. Trying to write riffs for two songs with the time limit in mind was a fun challenge

Esteban Walpurgis: It was awesome and a lot of fun. I released the first Acid Witch album on my old label Razorback Records back in 2008 and have been friends with them ever since.

What would the title of your memoir/biography be?

The Warlock: "Thoughts On My Favorite Albums That You Never Asked"

Esteban Walpurgis: I already wrote it. Check out my book on Amazon called WASTE CITY: Splatterific & Sleazeotronic Movies

VAULTWRAITH makes many references to occult imagery and stories in its music. Where do you go for inspiration when writing or creating new stories?

The Warlock: I don't write any of the lyrics.

Esteban Walpurgis: Old horror comics, old horror films from Europe circa 1970s. Anything with Paul Naschy, Jess Franco, Spanish horror, Hammer horror, etc.

Do you cook at all? What dish are you most proud of making?

The Warlock: I make a really good black bean burger from a recipe I found online.

Esteban Walpurgis: We cook flesh over a Satanic grill from hell, of course!

Huge fan of the horror comic ascetic of the album artwork for your recent split EP with Acid Witch. What was the collaborative process with Shagrat for its creation?

The Warlock: Shagrat made it and I said it was fucking killer.

Esteban Walpurgis: Fantastic! Shagrat is a great friend and very easy to work with as we are all fans of the same stuff. Oldschool metal, horror comics, zines, books, movies, etc. Creepy, Eerie Publications, Skywald, all the old '70s and '60s horror comic books from the good old days. Hand painted, drawn work. No digital.

If you had to get a full back tattoo right now what would it be?

The Warlock: I don't know, painful.

Esteban Walpurgis: NO thanks! Not a fan of tattoos.

Who are the best Metal Bands coming out of NYC right now?

The Warlock: I honestly couldn't tell you. I'm slow to get into newer bands. I love Evoken but they're certainly not new and they're from New Jersey.

Esteban Walpurgis: Mortician from the Bronx is still my favorite NY band.

Any final comments? (This is your electronic soapbox for one last answer.)

The Warlock: Thanks to anyone who picked up any of our previous releases and is still following what we do! I hope you like what we have coming up. And thank you for the interview.

Esteban Walpurgis: We have our 3rd album "Decomposing Spells" coming out next from Hells Headbangers. Thanks for the support! band camp here https://vaultwraith.bandcamp.com/