Vigilhunter is bringing classic Heavy Metal and US Power Metal back to life. Founded by Alexx Panza—known for his work with Hitten and Jack Starr’s Burning Starr—the band draws inspiration from the late ’80s and early ’90s, echoing the sounds of Queensrÿche, Fates Warning, Savatage, and more.

In this interview, we caught up with Alexx to talk about the band’s origins, the metal scene in Turin, their creative process, and what the future holds for Vigilhunter.

Interview

TheNwothm: Can you introduce yourselves and tell us a bit about what Vigilhunter stands for?

Hi, Alexx Panza here, singer/guitarist but mostly a heavy music fanatic born and raised in Turin (Italy) mainly known for working with Hitten and Jack Starr’s Burning Starr. 

Alexx: VIGILHUNTER is a project born many years ago (around 2011) by an idea of mine of doing some late 80s classic US Heavy Metal music. After spending years working on the songs and an album almost ready, the project had been put on ice for various reasons (time..priorities..life…) but recently reawakened and after some work finishing the last arrangements and retouches, finally recorded and unleashed to the world. 

TheNwothm: How did you all meet, and what was the vision behind starting the band?

Alexx: We all go way back… Marcello “Cell” Leocani was my drummer in my very first band, we met in high school. Mirko Negrino was the bass player of Endovein, that was kinda THE Thrash Metal band in Turin back in the 00’s, and which I joined as singer around 2011-2012 until the split up in 2014.

Mattia Itala was the singer of a local Thrash act called Acidity, which I recorded and produced their debut and only full length with my old label Nightbreaker Productions around 2014.

Anyway, in a way or another we’re all great friends since 15+ years. We all have similar tastes and they all know very well the particular sound I was aiming for Vigilhunter. 

TheNwothm: How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?

Alexx: VIGILHUNTER pays tributes to the sound of the late 80’s/first 90’s American Power Metal, even labaled as US Power/Prog Metal… Where the “Prog” element is more a “classy” touch than progressive metal per se… Think about bands as Queensryche, (early) Fates Warning, Savatage or Crimson Glory. It’s old US Power Metal thorugh and through, where the song is always at the center of the composition. 

TheNwothm: What are some of your biggest influences, both musically and thematically?

Alexx: As said, for sure Queensryche, Fates Warning, Savatage and Crimson Glory….but also Vicious Rumors or Riot (Thundersteel/The privilege of Power era)… I would add also lesser famous bands like Lethal or Titan Force. 

TheNwothm: How did you land being signed to High Roller Records? 

Alexx: I work with HRR since several years now through Hitten, and I’ve always been happy with them, so it was the obvious choice to drop them an email introducing my new project and they made us a great offer right away. 

HRR is one of the best labels around for old school heavy metal. 

TheNwothm: If you weren’t playing music, what do you think you’d be doing instead?

Alexx: I mean, I don’t make a living with music if that’s what you mean.. I never even tried honestly. I have an on going career in cybersecurity as penetration tester, and I like the fact that my music is my hobby and I can do it because I like it and not because I HAVE TO, if you know what I mean… 

That said, if I wasn’t investing that much time in music I would probably spend more time on sports, since is something I always loved. I used to be a tennis player… Before music took over eheh… But I love almost every sports…European/American football, hockey, basket… 

TheNwothm: If you could give your younger self one piece of advice before starting this journey, what would it be?

Alexx: Believe in your singing I guess… I discovered that I wasn’t that bad of a singer few years late… But still, I’m very happy and proud of everything I have achieved in life especially musically speaking. 

TheNwothm: If you could form a supergroup with any musicians (alive or dead), who would be in it?

Alexx: Oh gosh, that’s hard, there are too many! 

Let’s throw some names trying to stay within the genre we play … at the drums Bobby Jarzombek (Riot/Fates Warning) .. Guitars Críss Oliva (Savatage) and Paul Gilbert (Racer X/Mr Big) … on the bass Joe DiBiase (Fates Warning) and I guess it should be me on vocals right? Ahah.. But I would let myself out to have Midnight (Crimson Glory). 

TheNwothm: Do you have any bucket-list goals for the band that you’re dying to achieve?

Alexx: Not really, I’m happy enough to have the chance of making my music and having people out there interested in what I do.. I simply hope to reach as many people as possible with it. 

TheNwothm: So now the album is out what are your touring plans for 2025?

Alexx: We’re not and will never be a touring band. Vigilhunter is born as a studio project.. But never say never, if there’s enough interest in the future we might think of making few selected live shows for some special occasions. 

TheNwothm: How can our readers buy your music and merch?

Alexx: Directly on High Roller Records webshop you can find LPs (in 3 different colors), CDs and MCs. HRR has a great distribution and their stuff can be find in several distros/stores around, so especially for whoever wants to buy it from outside Europe, search for local distributors, I’m sure you’ll find something. 

The digital version can be bought on our bandcamp or can be streamed on all major streaming platforms. 

TheNwothm: Where can fans follow you online?

Alexx: You can find us on Facebook or Instagram. 

TheNwothm: Anything else you would like to mention?

Alexx: Thanks for your time and to whoever reach this point if you went so far in the reading. Thanks to everyone who bought the record and supported us, throwing money on music is the only way to keep alive what we love.