Interview with vocalist and guitarist Mike Alvord
Interview conducted by Luxi Lahtinen
Date online: March 5, 2025
When we think of thrash metal's golden age, the mid-to-late '80s immediately come to mind. This era was defined by high velocity, raw aggression and sonic intensity, with iconic acts like Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth dominating the scene. However, nestled within this thrash metal maelstrom was a band that, though criminally underappreciated in their time, left a mark that still resonates today, Holy Terror. Formed in Los Angeles, the band made their definitive impact with two albums, Terror 
and Submission (1987) and Mind Wars (1988), both of which stand as pillars of aggressive and thought-provoking thrash metal.
The band's debut, Terror and Submission, is a lightning-fast assault of razor-sharp riffs, technical skill, and relentless aggression. Songs like "Black Plagues" and "Mortal Feat" establish Holy Terror as purveyors of thrash with not only speed but also a complex, almost progressive, structure. The album's rapid tempos, blistering solos, and politically charged lyrics became a defining feature of the band's sound, setting them apart from their peers in the thrash scene. Lyrically, they were unafraid to tackle issues such as corruption, war and human suffering, making their music not only powerful but also deeply critical of societal issues. This thematic depth helped elevate them beyond mere thrash stereotypes.
Building on the foundation laid by Terror and Submission, the band's sophomore effort, Mind Wars, further cemented Holy Terror's place in thrash metal history. Released in 1988, Mind Wars upped the ante with a more refined sound yet retained the same ferocity. Tracks like "Judas Reward," "Debt of Pain" and "Do unto Others" pushed the boundaries of thrash with intricate compositions and heightened social commentary. Mind Wars is an album that epitomizes the darker, more cynical side of thrash, a side that would influence many bands that followed, even if Holy Terror themselves didn't receive the same widespread acclaim as some of their contemporaries.
Despite the intense talent displayed on both albums, Holy Terror never achieved the mainstream success they arguably deserved. Their intense political stance and refusal to conform to industry norms made them a band that was, in some ways, ahead of its time; too raw, too sharp for the mainstream thrash scene of the late '80s. Yet their influence on the genre, 
particularly in the more aggressive and politically aware thrash subculture, cannot be overstated.
After Mind Wars, Holy Terror disbanded in the late '80s, fading into relative obscurity. However, in the mid-2000s, a new wave of thrash appreciation brought Holy Terror back to the spotlight. The band reformed in 2005, playing more of a punk-orientated style, sounding very different as a band compared to their past times. The reunion lasted until 2008, until it was all over for this legendary thrash band.
Holy Terror's status in the thrash metal scene, while not as widely acknowledged in their heyday, has only grown with time, as the genre itself has evolved and expanded. Holy Terror's music remains an essential piece of thrash's complex puzzle, standing as an enduring testament to what thrash metal can be when it refuses to compromise, sonically or thematically.
Though their time in the spotlight was fleeting, Holy Terror's legacy continues to influence and inspire thrash metal bands today. For anyone who considers themselves a fan of thrash's classic era, the impact of Holy Terror's two albums cannot be overlooked.
Out of the ashes of Holy Terror came a band carrying the name MindWars, formed in 2013, which consists of ex-Holy Terror guitarist/vocalist Mike Alvord, Rick Zaccaro on bass and Roby Vitari on drums, who took the torch to carry on the legacy of Holy Terror, keeping their legacy alive through MindWars' music and serving as a tribute to Mike's ex-band. MindWars has quickly gained attention for its relentless energy, intricate riffs, and powerful vocals, bringing fans of classic thrash metal a fresh yet familiar sound. Since their inception, the band has recorded five albums, each showcasing their musical evolution while staying true to the roots of heavy, high-octane thrash. With Mike's seasoned craftsmanship leading the charge, MindWars continues to solidify their place in the metal scene, delivering a blend of aggressive riffing and thought-provoking lyrics that resonate with old and new fans alike.
MindWars' latest studio album, simply titled V, was released on September 2, 2024, and we here at the home of old thrash farts, The Metal Crypt, were so impressed with it that we contacted Mike to get more insight into the realm of MindWars.
So, let's invite Mike in to continue the story...
Hello Mike! How are things on your side?
Mike: Pretty nice, actually. It's winter in Southern California, but winter in Southern California is 
probably like spring or summer in Finland. [*laughs*]
Yes, you are right about that. [*laughs*] Anyways, you are ready for some questions, right?
Mike: Absolutely.
MINDWARS: A NEW SAGA TO CONTINUE HOLY TERROR'S LEGACY
Alright, here we go then. What was the inspiration behind MindWars as a band name? Did it directly relate to the Mind Wars album from Holy Terror, or was there a deeper meaning to the name that you felt encapsulated your musical direction?
Mike: Yes. I think it's a combination of both. I met Roby, our drummer, in 1989 when Holy Terror was touring Europe with Exodus and Nuclear Assault. He's from the same area that my grandparents are from. We hit it off. When we reconnected through Facebook, he asked if I was still playing, and I said yes. We decided to put a band together and we figured, let's put something together that people would recognize, right?
I had been out of the music industry for a good 20, 25 years and Holy Terror still had some buzz. We tossed around Judas Reward, we tossed around Do unto Others, and then we landed on MindWars. I think because of the recognition of Holy Terror, but also sort of what you were saying, a deeper meaning of the band. There's so much chaos and there's so much anxiety and angst and conflict within each. MindWars is similar to Holy Terror in the fight of your mind and the fight of good versus evil and things of that nature.
THE 80'S STYLE FRAMED WHO I AM MUSICALLY
When you left Holy Terror, did you feel the need to create something that carried on the same intensity and themes from Mind Wars? How much of that album's influence carried over into the new project?
Mike: You know, I love thrash, but I love all music. One of the unique things about Holy Terror is we all 
had similar tastes going back to Deep Purple and even earlier than that. When you write music, hopefully, it comes from within. The style that I play, I think, encapsulates what I like to listen to and what I think I can express musically. I think music more from the '80s is the style that really framed who I am musically. I think by putting together music that I've learned in the past, but also music that I was currently listening to now, it joins the old to the new.
This new album that we have is really is more of a collaborative effort in the sense that our bass player, Rick Zaccaro, and our drummer, Roby, now live in Los Angeles and so we're able to play together more. We're able to get together and actually write music as opposed to me just writing it and sending it over through the internet to somebody in Italy.
There's a song called 'Vultures of the Eighth Wonder" on V, and you have said that the song took about a year and a half to write, with some material ultimately not making it into the final version. This lengthy composition blends influences from jazz guitarist Al Di Meola and progressive rock with metal elements. Would you enlighten me on some of the details about this song, and how hard it was to write this lengthy song?
Mike: I had put together a very different version of what actually made it to the album. Maybe someday that can come out, but I really wanted something that was a multi-part song, like a trilogy-type thing, similar to what the band Holy Terror came out with on the Mind Wars album; "A Fool's Gold/Terminal Humor/Mind Wars." It was very similar to that. I wanted something that was telling a story. If you listen in the middle of "Vultures of the Eight Wonder," you'll hear me speaking words, saying some things in there. It's actually quotes from the movie The Matrix.
WE ARE NOT HOLY TERROR
Considering Holy Terror's significant place in thrash history, when starting MindWars, with the connection to the Mind Wars album, did you feel like you had something to prove, or did you want to step in a completely different direction musically?
Mike: Yes. You're asking some great questions because I think it was a little bit of both. I felt that 
Holy Terror ended too quickly, and because of the way the band ended, I was really disenfranchised with the whole music industry. I was in a very dark and sort of depressed. That's why I checked out of the music industry for so long. When I came back, I wanted people to know who I was because I wasn't that well known. I didn't really have that many close friends in the thrash business. I know people know me, but I wanted to choose a name that people would recognize. That was also sort of a blessing and a curse because we were asked as MindWars to play several European festivals, but they wanted us to play a Holy Terror set.
We're not Holy Terror. I was one fifth of a band, and I wasn't even the main portion, right? Kurt Colfelt wrote most of the music. He was the one who created the band. Then, really, I think, Keith Deen's vocals are what identifies Holy Terror among all the other thrash bands. He is really, truly different than any other vocalist in the genre. It was a mixture of both, where I felt I had to prove that I could actually do it on my own, but I did want to carry on the legacy of Holy Terror without making the--What am I trying to say? Carrying on a legacy but without destroying the legacy of it.
After the release of Mind Wars with Holy Terror, was it a natural transition for you to explore new musical ground, or did you feel like the name and concept of Mind Wars had more to offer that you wanted to expand on?
Mike: Yes, absolutely. When we were touring relentlessly with D.R.I., we played over, I think, a hundred shows with them, and we were being exposed to many different elements of music. The grunge scene hadn't really started taking off, but it was in there. It was starting to come out. I think if Holy Terror had stayed together and put out a third album, it would have been way different than what the first two albums sounded like. I mean, the first two albums were different. That's how I think about the band MindWars. If you listen to our first album compared to our most recent album, you can tell it's the same band, but it sounds way different.
What aspects of the Mind Wars concept (the album) resonated with you the most? Was there a particular theme or message in that album that you felt continued to define your music even when you formed a new band?
Mike: Yes, a lot of it, which carries over into my lyrics and I think it has to do with how - I don't know where it comes from. A lot of it is against capitalism, not necessarily capitalism in general, but the corporate life. If you listen to the lyrics that Keith wrote for "Judas Reward," scum lizards of fashion pray to their gold lord. Really, it's very appropriate in today's world with what's going on in society with the billionaires controlling things. There are very similar aspects to those lyrics and those meanings in our new album, V.
SOME BANDS NEVER STOPPED BELIEVING IN WHAT THEY WERE DOING
Did you envision MindWars as a continuation of your previous work with Holy Terror, or was it a departure in terms of both style and intent? How would you describe the evolution of your music from Holy Terror to MindWars?
Mike: Yes, so it is an evolution. It's a continuation. There were 25 years or so when I was listening to 
all sorts of styles of music. There were a ton of things in the early 2000s that new metal came out and I'm not a huge fan of it, but I definitely appreciate and listen to a lot of it. I think it had elements of that. I think that the first MindWars album that came out in 2014 was really more of a recycling of music that I had written in the late '80s and early '90s.
Then we started transitioning out of that. We're really trying to find our way. We wanted to bring in elements of the modern sound, but we wanted to pay tribute to what really brought me here and what brought all of us here. It was the new wave of British heavy metal. It was the early years of thrash. It was the time between the late '70s and the mid to late '80s that really defined much of the work that you're hearing now. A lot of those bands, Testament, Dark Angel, Exodus, Slayer, of course, have continued. They never stopped.
If you listen to their entire catalog, they've come full circle too. They never really changed. They never really went into the elements of what was popular at the time, I guess, if you will, but they definitely changed, and they've come back to their roots in their most recent releases.
I agree. Well, in a more personal sense, how did forming a new band under the name MindWars allow you to express your own ideas, themes, and musical influence without the constraints of the past?
Mike: Yes, when the band was in its early stages, Roby and our original bass player, Danny, were living in Italy until 2017, when Roby came to the United States and is now getting his citizenship. Those first several years, it was really just whatever was in my head, whatever I was writing, whatever I was listening to, whatever I was feeling just came out. If you listen to a few of the different songs on our first two albums, they are horrible. There are a couple of songs that are just absolute garbage. I have no idea where they came from other than my emotions at the time. I think I just needed to get it out. I needed to try to find what I was searching for.
I still don't know what I'm searching for. I think we're all trying to figure out our way through this world, but as we've been able to rehearse together more, as I was saying earlier, it's definitely more of a collaborative effort now. I think some bands can rely on one person to do all the writing and it works. I just don't think that that's the best material. I think the real best material that bands put out is when they put it out as a band.
I think this most recent record really identifies that because it's a culmination of our past, but it's also a blend and a collaborative effort of three different individuals.
THE LAST DAYS OF HOLY TERROR
I can absolutely agree with you 100% on this. Were there any specific personal or professional events that made you decide it was time for a fresh start with a new band, rather than just continuing with Holy Terror or pursuing other projects?
Mike: Yes. Kurt and I reconnected in the early 2000s and at the time he was putting Holy Terror back together. Keith Deen was the real singular factor, I think, that identified Holy Terror because if you hear his voice, you know what band that is. He wasn't available to join. Kurt never asked me to join the reformation. He was in Seattle and me in Los Angeles. He did manage to put that band together and they played, I think, one show, maybe two. When I got back to him and we reconnected, he said it just didn't work.
Then, I started communicating with Keith around 2008 through 2010. Then I lost communication with him. Then I
found out when he passed away in 2012 from cancer, that's probably why we stopped communicating. After Keith passed, I knew there was no hope for Holy Terror ever reforming. That's what motivated me to put a band together.
Did you ever feel like Mind Wars was a chapter that needed to be revisited, either thematically or musically, when you formed MindWars? What was your goal when you chose to carry the name forward?
Mike: Yes. There's a couple of songs on our first album, The Enemy Within, that I had written while we were on tour with D.R.I., and while we were on tour with Exodus and Nuclear Assault. I'm pretty sure those two songs would have been on a third Holy Terror album. I continued writing for quite a few years in the early '90s and then just put my guitar away. I chose to do other things with my life. When I heard about Keith Deen passing, I was reconnected with Roby after all those years through Facebook. I did want to write what was going to be the next chapter, but actually I think I look at it more as a new book than another chapter. The book closed and ended with the passing of Keith Deen and then a new book, not really a sequel or an extension, began when Mindwars was formed.
Looking back to the formation of MindWars, do you think the decision to name the band after your former band's album was a form of tribute, a statement, or more of a symbol of continuity and change?
Mike: It was more of a tribute. It was more of a tribute and some form of recognition that, okay, there's something else associated with that band Holy Terror.
GIGGING PLANS FOR 2025
Okay, I have just one more question for you. What kind of gigging plans do you have set for this year? Which part of this world have you planned hitting and do you have some festival appearances planned here in Europe this year?
Mike: We leave at the end of March for a four-gig tour in Japan. We'll be there for about a week. Like I
mentioned at the start of this interview, we would love to play festivals. We played Storm Crusher last year in Germany. We played True Thrash Fest in Japan two years ago. Unfortunately, some of the festivals in Europe that we've communicated with, they want us to play a Holy Terror set. I think that it's an injustice for the fans. I know I wouldn't want to go see Iron Maiden with just Dave Murray. I love Dave Murray, and I think he's great, but that's not Iron Maiden. I think it would be an injustice for the fans for us to do anything other than a few songs. We do play a few Holy Terror songs, but playing a full set is just not right.
I'm hoping that with interviews like this one, with the promotion from High Roller Records, and with other interviews that I've done, I'm hoping that people give us a chance and listen to our new album, V, and we can make some statements at some festivals in the near future.
Oh, before this chat, I managed to hear your new album a couple of times, and I honestly have to say I was pretty darn impressed by what I heard on V. The album sounds quite varied and there are many different layers to the songs and, of course, there was also this nice, somewhat familiar twist to Holy Terror's music in there as well, which I really found cool.
Mike: Oh, thank you so much. I really appreciate your polite words.
I just need to dive deeper into the songs on it to form a better opinion. Anyways, thank you so much for this conversation with you and have a great day, man. Bye for now.
Mike: All right. You, too. Take care. Bye-bye.
| Other information about MindWars on this site |
| Review: V |
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