Culture
Masks, Maynard, and moral reckoning: a quick interview with Waylon Reavis of A Killer’s Confession
By: Bradley Cunningham
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Mansfield, Ohio (WOUB) – I caught Waylon Reavis, vocalist of A Killer’s Confession, for a quick moment backstage on Sunday, July 20, shortly after his set at Inkcarceration 2025. Due to Saturday night’s severe weather, the festival schedule shifted to allow for early morning repairs on the grounds.
We found time for the interview during his lunch break, laughing about how it reminded us of the iconic “Sandwich Interview” with Mike Patton of Faith No More. Waylon sat in full monstrous uniform—mask, eerie contacts, and stage makeup—but greeted me with nothing but warmth and sincerity.
Find a transcript of our conversation, edited for length and clarity, below.
Bradley Cunningham: Thank you for this opportunity. How has your experience at INK 2025 been so far?
Waylon Reavis: I’m a creature of habit, so it was a little bit of a nightmare this morning, but it wasn’t anyone’s fault. The weather came in last night during Slipknot’s set—just came down hard. They had to fix the grounds to make it safe. A lot of moving parts. We had to move stages and change time slots.
You’ve mentioned before that your influences range from Maynard to Freddie Mercury to EDM. How do those voices shape you as an artist?
Reavis: I try to shape myself into something I can’t do. If you do something I can do, not that it’s bad—it’s just not inspiring. But Maynard? Freddie Mercury? Phil Collins? Those voices are hypnotic. You hear them and you’re in a trance. That’s what I chase. I want to bring that feeling into metal—even if people expect me to be scary or aggressive. I love that hypnotic quality. I can’t do what Freddie did—nobody can—but that’s what you aspire to. That’s what keeps me pushing forward creatively.
I’m also at a point in my career where I want something different. I’m doing this for me. Not for fame, not for approval—just for the art. I don’t care about being famous. I’m perfectly content playing my PS5. This makes me happy, and that’s enough.
With the upcoming release of your new album Victim 2 (out September 19), you continue this intense, morally complex character study. What inspired you to dive so deep into this persona?
Reavis: After I left Mushroomhead, I spent a year working with kids who were victims of human trafficking. I watched abusers and pedophiles get away with murder—maybe not literal murder, but they killed those children’s spirits. The Victim trilogy is about someone who’s seen enough and snaps. He’s had enough. He says, “If no one else will do something, I will.” It’s a story, but it’s based on real emotion and experience.
The character has a dual personality—one part of him is hesitant, the other is bloodthirsty. In Victim 1, he’s conflicted. In Victim 2, he’s starting to enjoy it. He’s good at it. We’re following that descent. And in Victim 3, we’ll wrap up his story and introduce a new killer. The story will continue, and if people pay attention to the lyrics, they’ll see where it’s headed.
That sounds like Hannibal Lecter meets John Wick—a revenge story with a psychological twist.
Reavis: Yes, very much so. And honestly, it’s the hardest subject I’ve ever tackled. I’m sick of writing songs just for hooks. I want substance. I need to write this for myself. I’ve seen these things firsthand. This is how I heal.
I’ve lost years of my life witnessing what happened to those kids. It broke me. I’ll never be fully healed, and neither will they. But I carry their pain. That’s why I do this.
Besides the music, what helps you maintain your mental and emotional health while working through such heavy material?
Reavis: Giving back. Charity work. Toys for Tots. Spending time making sure kids feel loved, because a lot of them don’t. Maybe their parents failed them, but people like me? I’ll be here. I’m just a man. I breathe the same air as everyone else, but I’ve got a heart, and I want them to know someone loves them.
You mentioned a keyword there: heart. You also covered Nirvana’s Heart-Shaped Box for this album. How does that song fit into Victim 2?
Reavis: It’s the killer realizing he’s fallen onto the wrong side. He’s not a pedophile, but he’s become dark, brutal, heartless. He’s become what he hates. That’s the turning point in the album.
So, in a literal sense, Heart-Shaped Box represents the moment he realizes the box is now empty?
Reavis: Yes. Exactly. And that’s why it’s right in the middle of the album. It’s his moment of clarity—when he realizes what he’s become.
Thank you for sharing all of this with me. I’ve got one last question I’ve been asking everyone: Who is on your Mount Rushmore of music?
Reavis: You ready? Freddie Mercury. Maynard James Keenan. Phil Collins. Waylon Jennings. If I can sneak in one more? Johnny Cash.