I Prevail have brought heavy music to millions of people around the world. Catchy choruses, ripping riffs, and an energy that makes you want to Kamehameha everyone in your way have made the twice Grammy-nominated band one of the most unmissable acts in all heavy music. I had the opportunity to speak with vocalist Eric Vanlerberghe and guitarist Dylan Bowman about their love of Dragon Ball Z , musical inspiration, and getting inked up, anime style. Can you tell me a little about your anime journey? How it started and where you are now? Eric : Growing up I was the oldest child, so I didn't have any big brother or sister introducing me to anything cool. It was my next-door neighbor and his older siblings that showed me all the cool stuff. Among all the things I learned from them, Dragon Ball Z was a huge one. After I'd get home from school and all during the summer, we'd hang out and watch Dragon Ball Z . Dylan : I remember watching Dragon Ball Z for the first time staying after school with a friend. I had never seen anything like it before but was completely hooked immediately. I had to go home and search on the internet for all of the lore and had to know every character's backstory. Are there genres you gravitate toward? Eric : I tend to really like action and science fiction anime. Dylan : I would say I've stayed consistent in the genre types that I enjoy. It always seems to come back to shonen. What is your favorite anime series or movie of all time? Eric : That's a tough one. Fullmetal Alchemist holds a special place in my heart, but I think Attack on Titan might take the number one spot. Dylan : Some of my favorites include Gundam , Bleach and of course anything Dragon Ball . Did you get into music around the same time as you got into anime? Were they seperate interests for you or does one inform the other? Eric : Music was always around when I was growing up, whether it was just the radio on in the house or my dad playing his stuff on road trips. But around the time I was learning about Dragon Ball Z I was also hearing bands I've never heard through the same friends that showed me Dragon Ball Z . It wasn't too long after I found bands like Linkin Park and Blink 182. Dylan : I got into music when I was, I think… 7? My uncle played in a cover band and I don't remember which event they were setting up for but I watched them in complete awe. I would say they were seperate interests for me, half of the time I was in my room playing with Dragon Ball action figures, the other half of the time I was pretending to be Derrick Whibley or Mark Hoppus in my room. RELATED: Spite's Ben Bamford on How He Fell Hard For Anime What do you think it is about your style of music, and heavy music in general, that draws anime fans to it? Eric : I think the dramatic moments in metal, like the tempo changes, breakdowns, and fast riffs, all scratch the same itch that anime fans have when they're sucked into the big fight scenes. Some metal music also can have this theatrical feeling and I think it attracts the same type of fans who love attention to detail in anime. Dylan : The energy. That feeling I get when I'm at a show or watching a band I love, the hair standing up on your arms, chills, whatever you want to call it. It's so similar to that resolve on a show or movie where you see the character or subject overcome the conflict in the story. So satisfying. Who are some of your musical inspirations? Eric : Metallica, Linkin Park, and Slipknot were massive influences on me growing up. Have you learned or been inspired by any anime openings, endings, or OSTs? Eric : I definitely have. I found the band Maximum the Hormone through Death Note and that was around the time I was really diving into heavy music. Dylan : A few video games come to mind actually, the original Mega Man X game for the SNES and Sonic 3 for the Sega Genesis were games that I realize looking back were fun, but the soundtrack to the games were what cemented the experience into my brain. Do you find your interest in anime influences your approach to songwriting or lyrics at all? Eric : That's a good question. I can't say there's been a specific anime or scene that's influenced a certain line or song, but I do tend to watch more anime while we're in between writing sessions. So probably subconciously there's some influence haha. If any of your songs could be used in an anime, which song would you want and what type of show would it be? Eric : I think any of our more dramatic or explosive songs could work well. Maybe there's "Fear and Letting Go" or "Bodybag." I think it would have to be a show like Chainsaw Man or anything with big monsters and explosions. Dylan : I'd love to see our song "Bow Down" get picked up for a shonen type of show. I feel like the lyrics and vibe lend itself to the genre of overcoming a tough villain. Maybe not for an intro to the show, but the background for the final epic battle. If any character from any anime or manga you've watched/read could join I Prevail, who would you like it to be and what would they do in the band? Eric : I'd love for Denji from Chainsaw Man to join I Prevail. I think his character is hilarious and I just feel like you have a good metal voice if he tried. Dylan : Give me any Saiyan from Dragon Ball Z because I know they can hold out screams for three episodes. I think aesthetically it would be cool to have Ryuk from Death Note on stage with us, although, would anyone actually see him? RELATED: Ankor on Learning Music Through Anime Openings and Endings Have you encountered many other anime fans in other bands? Eric : Half the bands we've toured with I feel like are all anime fans. It feels like a culture that is quickly growing and I'm here for it. Dylan : Yes! I have Shenron tatted on my hand so I'm quite often getting kudos for it, it's a great icebreaker to know that I can start yapping about favorite sagas and movies. Is there anything you'd like to plug or say to the Crunchyroll audience out there who may not be familiar with your music? Eric : If you love big choruses and heavy breakdowns, and you are a fellow anime fan, give us a listen and hopefully we get the chance to meet at a show. Then you can recommend me any anime you think I'd like. Dylan : Thanks for taking the time to read this interview, I hope you get the chance to check out some of our music. As fans of supernatural and outlandish storytelling, we take pride in making our music with that same mindset of anything is possible. If you happen to catch yourself at one of our shows or an event and you run into me, please feel free to talk anime and recommend movies or shows! I'm always looking for great stories to see. Listen to I Prevail here . Catch I Prevail this summer .
