Metal Anarchy

When it was initially announced that Veil Of Maya, Brand Of Sacrifice, Gideon, Left To Suffer, ten56., Tallah, Cabal, and BRAT would be heading out on the 2024 Summer Slaughter Tour, many fans blasted organizers for not putting together a stronger lineup with heavier acts. As such, founder Ash Avildsen has further addressed the backlash, saying he thinks everyone’s expectations were too high.

Avildsen told The Punk Rock MBA the following:

“I think — total transparency — I think what happened with the announce, was for anyone that’s seen ‘Game Of Thrones‘. The last episode got a lot of backlash because the second to last episode was so impressive, and climactic and powerful. ‘Dracarys’, and all of the action, and carnage, and drama. So [then] people assumed that the finale was gonna eclipse the second to last episode, and naturally that didn’t happen.

Had it all been one episode it probably would have landed differently with all the fans. I think because the way we teased the comeback of the tour, and showed all the old posters, and all the lore around the tour, and these old lineups; I think a lot of fans assumed because we were returning and everything’s gotta be bigger and better post-COVID… I think kinda everyone had it in their minds there was gonna be some kind of massive lineup with all these big legacy bands. And it’s just not realistic to do tours like that in clubs anymore, unfortunately, because of how expensive it is to tour.

But outside of that, I think everyone was just expecting it’s gonna be so larger than life. And I think I underestimated what the perception of the brand actually meant to people. Because to me, starting the tour was always about, ya know, still having older acts on it. But it was all about elevating the future and helping current younger bands get bigger.”

He also revealed that another lineup was planned:

“Truth be told, we looked at a more legacy, larger than life, big lineup when we were first talked about bringing the tour back. I mean we were looking at Suicidal Tendencies, Dying Fetus, Biohazard triple co-headline.”

He continued:

“It’s tough to take a tour like that in 20-30 cities in a row for a myriad of reasons. All 3 are iconic, timeless bands in their own right. And it got to the point, where we’re trying to see if it was even possible — some bands couldn’t do all the dates. Everyone’s got plans in Europe in the summer. And I just kinda had a heart to heart with everyone involved in the tour. And we’re like ‘dude, we created this tour to help move forward a new era of bands’. Even if we still had Cannibal Corpse and certain older acts headline the tour. I was like, let’s focus on something that is going to do that, and bands that we think have earned the right to be on the top of it.”

He later added:

“To me it was always like a community-based thing where it’s like, ‘hey, let’s champion these bands this year.’ So this, like the backlash. I think some of it’s because they assume it’s gonna be Cannibal Corpse, and they’re gonna bring back Necrophagist, and Meshuggah is gonna be L.A. and New York, and we’re gonna fuckin reunite the original Morbid Angel…”

He also defended the current lineup:

“If you’re let down that we didn’t have a bunch of older bands… I mean, I’m sorry if we let you down, but Veil Of Maya, Brand Of Sacrifice, Gideon, these bands have earned it. They’re fucking great. Give them the opportunity to headline.”

Avildsen even offered to refund fans who don’t have a good time at the upcoming shows:

“I stand by all these bands. If all you ‘Summer Slaughter‘ ledge jumpers aren’t really sure, if you think it’s not worth your time. I stand by these bands we put at the top. If you go to the show and you’re like ‘Veil Of Maya, Brand Of Sacrifice & Gideon didn’t make me feel like I got my money’s worth, email me dude, I’ll PayPal you the money back. These bands are going to deliver man. It’s their time.”

[via The PRP]