Slaughter To Prevail frontman Alex Terrible has once again addressed the controversies surrounding his past, including tattoos associated with far-right and Nazi imagery that he has since covered up.
The Russian deathcore vocalist has previously discussed his younger years and the circumstances that led to him getting tattoos including a Black Sun and an Othala Rune. Terrible has said that he became involved with right-wing individuals in Russia during his early 20s, following a period in which he was battling drug addiction.
In a since-deleted 2023 video, Terrible explained that he became heavily influenced by the people he was spending time with, although he maintains that he never personally identified as a Nazi or considered himself racist.
He previously stated:
“I start to consider myself a member of this subculture. But I never identify myself like a Nazi. I never being racist for somebody or some sh*t.”
Terrible went on to explain that his involvement with the group was tied to the person he was attempting to become after nearly dying from drug use.
“I was just f*cking teenager. Lost teenager. And I’m not regret about that. Not at all.”
The controversy has continued to follow Terrible and Slaughter To Prevail as the band have grown considerably in popularity. In a new interview with Metal Hammer, Terrible was asked whether he believes he will ever escape the accusations that he is a Nazi.
His answer was blunt:
“No, because people try to hate me and find any reason to hate me. Which is fine. No matter what I say, no matter how I say [it]… I get used to it.”
Terrible went on to contrast the criticism he receives online with his experiences meeting people in person, pointing specifically to his appearances at festivals such as Bloodstock.
“At festivals like ‘Bloodstock’, in real life, I get nothing but respect from the other bands, other artists, from people in general.”
He acknowledged, however, why the imagery from his younger years continues to affect how some people perceive him.
“I have had to come to terms with that and I am paying the price now. I am paying the price for the stupid decision to get the black sun tattoo and hanging out with the right-wing guys [when I was younger].”
According to Terrible, the people he associated with at the time were not Nazis, but rather right-wing individuals who used certain symbols and imagery as part of the culture surrounding them.
“They were not even Nazis, they were just right-wing guys, but we used these f*cking symbols in Russia to, like, look more tough, and that was our culture. I don’t know. I understand the hate, I really do. I am paying the price.”
When asked whether he would make the same choices if he could return to that period of his life, Terrible said he would approach things very differently.
“If I went back, I would not get any of those tattoos because my mindset [has] changed a lot. I don’t understand why I got that tattoo [in the first place].”
He also rejected the characterization that his past actions make him a Nazi, arguing that his mistakes were personal ones rather than actions directed at other people.
“People call me a Nazi and say that I don’t deserve to live, but I just hung around with these right-wing guys. I didn’t kill anybody, I didn’t stab anybody, I didn’t bully anybody, I just made some stupid mistakes, and I am not a Nazi.”
Terrible added that he does have regrets about the way his past has affected others, while maintaining that he does not want to spend the rest of his life defined by those mistakes.
“I don’t want to live my life full of regrets, but I do regret that there have been times when I have been wrong, you know what I mean?”
The Slaughter To Prevail vocalist was also asked about accusations of homophobia and transphobia, which have followed him after previous comments made on social media were interpreted by some as being hostile toward the LGBTQ+ community.
Terrible disputed that characterization and said that his comments were instead directed at what he considers inappropriate ideological or political influence being placed on children.
“I do not mind if you are gay or trans, that is not my business; that is your business and I support your lifestyle.”
He further explained that he was specifically discussing his concerns about children being exposed to religious or military messaging, particularly in the context of his native Russia and the ongoing war with Ukraine.
“I think it’s bad, the war [with Ukraine] is bad, in general. I understand that history shows us that war is part of human nature, I get it, but I don’t want to be involved in that and I don’t want my child to be told that war is good and that he needs to be patriotic and die for your country.”
Terrible also recounted growing up around family members who expressed openly homophobic views, claiming that he challenged those attitudes as a teenager.
“I was so angry, I told them I was ashamed that they said that… and then people call me homophobic!”
He said his approach to controversial subjects is to question his own assumptions before reaching conclusions, while arguing that people online frequently form opinions based on limited information.
“I have a critical mindset. I ask myself, before I judge something or somebody, a lot of questions.”
The controversy has remained an issue for Slaughter To Prevail as the band have continued expanding their international presence. Earlier this summer, Terrible also made several posts responding to local opposition to the band’s overseas performances, with the vocalist expressing frustration that his previous apologies and explanations have not put the controversy to rest.
Those posts were subsequently deleted.
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