By day, he’s Dustin Boltjes: Drummer extraordinaire for such underground staples as Skeletonwitch, Demiricous, and most recently, Flesher. By night, he’s Dee Wrathchild: Wild frontman for Indianapolis-based trad metallers, Sacred Leather. We caught Mr. Wrathchild, in all his leather-clad glory, in the midst of some truly glorious times. Wrathchild and his fellow bandmates are currently riding high off the release of Sacred Leather’s long-awaited sophomore album, Keep the Fire Burning. And when he offered to share some words with little ole us, we figured, what better way to close a banner year of interviews? Like a Christmas gift wrapped in leather and studs, we present to you our final interview of 2025, a conversation with the ever-charismatic Dee Wrathchild.
I’d like to start with some background on Sacred Leather. What events led to the band’s initial formation?
Dee Wrathchild: I can only speak on my formation with the band, as I joined after the initial lineup. When the band started, it was a 3 piece, more in the vein of Motörhead, Venom, etc. As the band evolved, they wanted to delve more into a much more traditional heavy metal sound, but no one had the pipes for it. I had been singing in an 80’s heavy metal tribute band called Iron Diamond, and they approached me about singing. I heard the material they had been writing, and was sold!
It’s been 7 years since we last got a full length from Sacred Leather. What has the band been up to in that time?
DW: That is a long, complicated story, my friend. In a nutshell, our former guitar player insisted on doing things very unconventional for a band trying to stay active. He derailed a lot of plans, as well as refused to commit to anything other than his way of recording an album, which ultimately killed the band. We had an entire record written that got scrapped, once (bassist) Magnus (LeGrand) and I had decided we couldn’t work with him anymore. So we basically put the nail in the coffin, but fate led us to crossing paths with Lynn (St. Michaels), and it was clear from that moment, the band was not finished. Within a span of a year, we wrote and recorded Keep the Fire Burning: A true testament to how powerful the current lineup of this band is. All guns blazing…
Last Friday saw the release of the band’s long-awaited second album, Keep the Fire Burning. Was there anything the band set out to achieve with this one to set it apart from your last album, Ultimate Force?
DW: Yes sir! We are so thrilled to have it out! And for sure! Most importantly, we just want to let the world know, we are back with a vengeance! This record is just the beginning of a rebirth forged in the flames of heavy metal! Sacred Leather is here…here to stay!
Keep the Fire Burning boasts a fair share of both high speed headbangers and more melodically inclined cuts. How important is it for you and the band that an album maintains a certain level of variety?
DW: Absolutely the most important thing is the diversity within the material. We all come from different influences, so as we write an album, those come out in their different forms. The best heavy metal records are the ones that take you on that journey with plenty of peaks and valleys. It keeps you engaged. It makes you wanna keep taking the ride.
There’s even a couple power ballads in the form of songs like “Wake Me Up” and “Tear Out My Heart”. What would you say is the key to a compelling power ballad? Furthermore, is it just me, or do I hear shades of Whitesnake ‘87 on these songs?
DW: Great question, man. A great power ballad starts with a great hook. And as that hook gets established, you then have to sink into the emotional side of the music itself. The guitar melodies paint a picture that then, as a singer, I need to tell that picture’s story. I need you to feel what I’m saying. That is my formula for a powerful ballad. And you nailed it, man. David Coverdale is my biggest influence, next to Rob Halford. So much soul in his voice. All I can do is try to absorb what I can from that legendary powerhouse singer, and try to inject that influence into what I do. I love that you picked up on that.
Whereas both past and active bands have seen you handling drums, Sacred Leather sees you stepping out as a frontman. Did you initially have any apprehension about making this shift, or was this your vision from the beginning?
DW: Becoming a singer was a huge challenge. The pipes were there, but it was a major challenge to not have a drumkit to hide behind, and learn how to be more vulnerable on stage. At first, I would have to basically get blacked out drunk, or eat a Xanax to get the nerves out and get on stage, but as I gained confidence, I realized, I can do this. Do I still get nervous? Sure! But it shakes off quick. I have been performing completely sober for quite some time, and it rules! I remember everything now *laughs*.
Expanding upon the last question, who are your biggest influences as a lead singer?
DW: Rob Halford, David Coverdale and Geoff Tate. There are certainly others, but those 3 have absolutely shaped the way I have developed my voice.
This one might be unfair, but I must ask: Judas Priest or Iron Maiden, and why?
DW: Judas Priest. They’ve been here longer, and they are my number one favorite band. Love Maiden, but Priest takes the crown.
Sacred Leather have gone through some personnel changes over the years, but this lineup seems quite locked in, both onstage and in the studio. How does this current incarnation compare or contrast to past lineups of the band?
DW: We are firing on all cylinders. Everyone in this band knows exactly what to bring to the table, to make this metal machine what it needs to be: The songwriting, the live show, the imagery. We are exactly who I’ve always wanted this band to be.
In closing, what does 2026 have in store for Sacred Leather?
DW: Live shows as much as humanly possible! And we hope to land in some new territories that we’ve yet to play: Europe, Central and South America, Canada, Asia! We are ready to rock you! And if all goes as planned, we will also be releasing album number 3 in 2026! Cheers!
The new Sacred Leather album, Keep the Fire Burning, is available now on King Volume Records. For more information on Sacred Leather, click here.