From Riffs to Reality: Spotlight on The Art of Deception and Thin The Herd VA
- ginacopello
- 18 hours ago
- 4 min read
Written by: Gina Copello
Photo Credits: icmvisuals, Toddi Babu
The Art of Deception is a metal mixed with deathcore band based in Pennsylvania, and was formed in 2015 with the lineup of Nolan Mateer, Jared Moser, and Travis Stine. They have 3 EPs – ‘The Art of Deception’ debuted in 2015, ‘Searching for an Escape’ released in 2017, and ‘Imminence’ released in 2025. The band lives by one goal – to make music they love and share it with the world. Their lyrics come with power and emotion, and emerge from mental illness, self destruction, and personal struggles.
I first discovered this powerhouse band with their song ‘Despondency’ off their EP ‘Imminence’, and all I could do was make that “stank face” and immediately add it to my playlist.
Of course I had to ask some questions to get to know the band on a deeper level.
1. What's a part of being in a band that no one prepared you for?
People often underestimate the time, energy, and effort it takes to make a band function. Coordinating schedules, coming together to agree on musical ideas, aligning on release timelines, booking shows, networking, and financially investing in the project all require constant work. Being in a band is much like being in a relationship. It demands communication, trust, and consistent check-ins to ensure everyone’s vision remains aligned.
On the management side, it requires the ability to adapt when plans fall apart, compromise when necessary, and make decisions that serve the long-term health of the project. It’s more than just writing and performing songs. In today’s landscape, you also have to think like a business owner and a content creator, navigating the realities of social media and modern music marketing.
2. What do you hope someone feels when they listen to your music?
On the surface, we aim to make music that makes people bang their heads and move. On a deeper level, our lyrics explore personal struggles, mental illness, and self-destruction.
Attachment and feelings, relatable. Finding hope in hopelessness.
3. What's the strangest thing you've used for a sample in a track?
We’ve used the signature R2-D2 yell and SpongeBob-inspired sounds. While it wasn’t a direct clip from the show, we searched for samples using terms like “spongebobmeboy” and manipulated those sounds into a layered element within a track.
4. What's something you love that isn’t metal at all?
Travis - cooking and fly fishing. very peaceful
Nolan - Arcade's, gaming, repairing and modding older gaming consoles
Jared - Sad girl indie and sad dad rock
5. Is there anything you wish that the scene did differently - how would you change it?
Honestly, there’s already a lot of good happening in the scene. One thing we’ve seen work especially well is keeping shows to no more than four bands on a bill, which helps ensure every band actually gets seen. We also believe consistency is important, but bands shouldn’t play too frequently or in the same areas back-to-back. It’s already difficult to get people out to shows, and in our experience, focusing on more intentional, one-off shows has led to better attendance.
Keep your eyes open on their social media for their upcoming single, releasing on April 3rd!
Thin The Herd VA is a metalcore band from Virginia formed in 2024, with the current lineup of Levi Holmes (Vocals), Caleb McLain (Guitar), John Francis (Bass), and Elijah Ferguson (Drums). They have one EP out called ‘Herd Mentality’ and debuted in 2024.
I discovered Thin The Herd VA when they were promoting their newest single, ‘Fester’, which was released in July 2025. The intro gets you hooked instantly and leaves you wanting more.
Here are a few questions I asked the band to get more on a personal level.
1.Are there any lyrics that one of you didn't want in a song - but stayed anyway?
Levi - In Avarice we definitely were concerned with the "it's time to thin the f****** herd" breakdown callout being too corny to stay in the song. It's funny now to see bands be unashamed of name dropping their own band name in their songs and no one bats an eye or even have it be the highlight of the song. So needless to say I'm glad the guys let it stick around.
2.Is there a riff or breakdown you've written that gives you chills when you play it?
Caleb - The “it’s time to Thin the F****** Herd” breakdown in Avarice always gets me hyped!
John - The “no redemption” breakdown in Fester is riveting and gives me the chills every time.
3.What's the strangest thing you wish you could bring on tour?
Levi - Definitely my dog, there's not a moment I want to spend apart from her.
John - Maybe some sort of intercom or walkie talkie system for the van. It gets hard having to yell from the front seats to the back and vice versa.
4.If your music had a hidden agenda, what would it be?
Caleb - Not necessarily a hidden agenda, but I want Thin the Herd to inspire others to pursue their dream regardless of what it is.
Levi - My agenda will and always be to create a space where people feel free to express themselves and share their experience with people around them. The reason I wanted to start a band was because of what the scene did for me, it gave me a place to forget about whatever was going on that day and just experience music. So if I can just be a small part of that for someone else. Mission accomplished.
5. Are there any "out of the norm" things that influence your sound the most?
Levi - I think overall we just allow ourselves to be sort of musical sponges. We just kind of absorb everything and that kind of spit out the parts that resonate with us. I know lyrically I want people to know exactly what I am talking about so my main influence really is just the way I naturally talk. I just want the words I speak and the music we write to be extensions of ourselves.
Thin The Herd VA will be out on the ‘Heretic Anthems’ tour with Smile On The Sinner and opening with different bands throughout the tour, starting on May 8th in Houston, TX. Go check them out!
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