Words and interview by Ali Williams
VINDICTA are heading Down Under this month and are starting a new era by becoming louder, angrier and significantly harder to ignore. Freshly formed by vocalist Grace Pasturini, formally of Dutch band Dogma, Pasturini and other former members are diving headfirst into ensuring VINDICTA hits in all the right spots, following the chaotic demise of their previous band.
Chatting with HEAVY’s Ali Williams, Grace assures that the band’s next chapter is not a polite little adjustment or a cautious shuffle into slightly different shoes. It is a full creative shift, backed by new music, a concept album in progress, a fresh music video, a run of singles and, most importantly for Australian fans, the band’s first ever trip to this side of the world.
Grace made it clear that VINDICTA are moving into a sharper, more aggressive space. Their previous sound carried more melody and power metal brightness, but the new material has a nastier pulse to it. Not in a forced “look how dangerous we are” way either. More in the sense that this time they aren’t going to be singing pretty ot dressing the truth up to look cute.
“We’re pulling a little bit away from our older sound,” she explains. “It’s a bit more aggressive; it’s more honest.”
That honesty seems to suit her voice as much as the band’s direction. While plenty of vocalists treat aggression like something they have to wrestle into place, Pasturini says this heavier delivery actually comes more naturally. The rawer edge is not just better for the songs; it is gentler on her voice. Some singers are out here fighting for their lives, trying to sound melodic, and Grace is finding relief in going harder.
The change in sound also comes with a change in control. VINDICTA have been through a lineup shift, and Grace says the current version of the band now has the freedom to make the choices themselves. The theatrical identity remains, but it has evolved with the music. The old nun imagery has been left behind, with the band stepping into something more powerful, more commanding and far less likely to be submissive and obedient.
“We were nuns, and now we’re priestesses,” Grace smiles.
The shift makes sense for a band that has always understood the value of building a world around the music. VINDICTA are not just throwing on outfits for the sake of looking busy under stage lights. Grace speaks about the aesthetic as part of the storytelling, a way to give fans something bigger to step into. The character, the symbolism and the visual identity all feed into the performance, turning the show into something more immersive than five people standing there politely presenting riffs like a group assignment.
It also gives the audience room to project themselves into the world of the band. She points out that when there is less of the everyday person on stage and more of a figure, symbol or concept, fans can connect with it in a different way. That is where VINDICTA’s theatrical side works best. It is dramatic, deliberate and self-aware enough to avoid diverting to pyrotechnics to impress the audience.
Grace got a good laugh at the suggestion of a ceremonial burning of the old costumes, so don’t be surprised to see the concept in their new music video. Frankly, if you are going to retire a nun era, you may as well make a ritual of it. Quietly folding the outfit and putting it into storage feels underwhelming. Fire has better lighting.
VINDICTA’s fan base, according to Grace, has stretched across generations. Older listeners are drawn to the 80s nostalgia threaded through the band’s sound and image, while younger fans seem happy to charge straight at anything heavy, dramatic and visually committed. The youth may think they discovered half of metal last Thursday through a TikTok clip, but they are here, they are enthusiastic, and that is probably healthier than whatever the rest of the internet is doing.
Keen to see the uncover mythological mysteries of Australia, Grace is unashamedly excited to see kangaroos and tick that off her bucket list. She says the promoters have apparently promised to help with that, which is wise. You cannot bring an international metal band to Australia for the first time and deny them the basic wildlife starter pack.
Beyond the Australian dates, VINDICTA are keeping the year packed. More singles and music videos are planned through the summer, with a concept album expected toward the end of the year or possibly the beginning of 2027. There is also talk of a surprise tour after the summer, although Grace was not giving that one away. Some secrets remain sacred.
For tour dates and ticket info head to https://hardlinemedia.net/vindicta
