Slaughter to Prevail has responded to public accusations made by their former drum technician Thomas Finch regarding alleged payment issues and mismanagement during recent tour dates. The details were shared in Finch’s Facebook post and the band’s Instagram response.
Finch’s statement outlined his concerns about working conditions and payment delays during his time with the band.
“A Word of Caution to My Fellow Crew, Techs, and Industry Colleagues Regarding Slaughter to Prevail,” Finch said. “This isn’t about the band personally – they are all WONDERFUL fun loving humans. This is about the current leadership set in place.”
He detailed his experience with payment issues and organizational problems.
“After years of touring, working hard, and running a business that supports artists and musicians, I’ve never felt the need to post something like this — until now,” he continued. “I recently stepped away from a tour with Slaughter to Prevail as a drum technician due to an overwhelming amount of disorganization, mismanagement, financial instability, and blatant disrespect toward crew members.”
Finch described specific incidents involving delayed payments and communication issues with management.
“When I sent my invoice and banking info after the first few shows, I received zero response,” he explained. “I was told the manager was ‘traveling’ and didn’t have email access. After weeks, eventually I was promised payment by the business manager. It didn’t show.”
He also mentioned the tour manager’s alleged response to his payment concerns.
“The tour manager brought that to the band’s manager, whose response was: ‘Tell him to get f***ed,'” Finch stated. “And that I was ‘unprofessional’ for demanding payment and being willing to walk away.”
In their response, Slaughter to Prevail disputed Finch’s characterization of events.
“We always pay our crew,” the band stated. “We do everything we can to run this band properly and fix any problems as they come up. The person who made the public post never raised any concerns during the tour.”
The band suggested Finch’s departure was related to his future employment status rather than the issues he raised publicly.
“We believe the reason he chose to leave was after a conversation with our manager who told him he would not be continuing as our drum tech on upcoming tours,” they explained. “We already have a full-time drum tech based in Australia.”
This controversy emerges during a particularly active period for the Russian deathcore band. The band has maintained significant momentum in the metal scene despite various challenges.
Metal Storm reported that Slaughter to Prevail has maintained a consistent lineup since 2018, including drummer Evgeny Novikov. This suggests a degree of stability within the band despite the current crew dispute. The band’s core members have worked together for several years. This may explain their emphasis on having established relationships with their regular crew members.
The timing of this dispute is notable given the band’s recent activities. Prelude Press noted that Slaughter to Prevail recently released their new album “GRIZZLY” and are planning a major tour with Hollywood Undead, Falling In Reverse, and Sleep Theory from late August to late September 2025. This upcoming tour schedule indicates the band’s ongoing active touring commitments. This makes crew management and payment practices particularly crucial for their operations.
The band’s profile in the metal community has grown significantly in recent years. Lambgoat documented that Slaughter to Prevail has established themselves as a prominent force in the deathcore scene, with their intense live performances and distinctive sound drawing large audiences. This success has likely increased the complexity of their touring operations and the number of crew members required for their shows.
The dispute also highlights broader issues within the touring industry regarding crew treatment and payment practices. Their official Instagram shows the band maintains an active social media presence and regularly communicates with fans. This makes this public dispute particularly visible to their audience and potentially damaging to their reputation if not resolved properly.
Both parties have presented conflicting accounts of the situation. The dispute highlights ongoing discussions about crew treatment and payment practices in the touring industry.
