Vital Remains
are an American death metal band from Providence, Rhode Island formed in 1989.
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VITAL REMAINS TICKETS
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History
Formed in 1989, Vital Remains' original line up was guitarists Tony Lazaro and Paul Flynn, vocalist Jeff Gruslin, bassist Tom Supkow and drummer Chris Dupont. However, since then the group has been through several line-up changes and Tony is the only original member left today. The band's major influences include
Venom,
Bathory,
Sodom,
Destruction,
Celtic Frost, and
Mercyful Fate.
Soon after forming the band released a pair of demos (1989's
Reduced to Ashes
and 1990's
Excruciating Pain
) which led to a contract with French label Thrash Records, who in turn released the single
The Black Mass
in 1991. Shortly after the release of the single, which proved to be the band's first and only release with the label, the band signed to Peaceville's subsidiary, Deaf Records. A pair of releases followed for the
Peaceville label, 1992's
Let Us Pray and 1995's
Into Cold Darkness. However after poor distribution and a lack of promotion from the label the band requested their contract be dissolved.
Two years later the band signed a two album deal with French label Osmose Records which led to the release of 1997's
Forever Underground and 2000's
Dawn of the Apocalypse, the latter of which marked a significant step towards a new, heavier
brutal death metal sound which would become more prominent on their following albums.
Following the success of
Dawn of the Apocalypse
however the band would see a significant change in the line-up, with bassist Joe Lewis (who had also performed vocals on
Forever Underground
) departing from the band and vocalist 'Thorn', who had handled vocal duties on
Dawn of the Apocalypse
being fired from the band due to a drug problem he had developed. This led to a revamped line-up in 2001 with original member Tony Lazaro on guitars, Dave Suzuki on bass, drums and lead guitars and featuring
Deicide's frontman
Glen Benton on vocals. The band's first album with the new line-up
Dechristianize was released in 2003 to much critical acclaim. The band's latest album, released in 2007, is
Icons of Evil
. The band's first live DVD
Evil Death Live
was released in Europe on 9 July, and in the US on 31 July through Polish label Metal Mind Productions.
On November 21, 2007, Vital Remains announced they are seeking a bassist and lead guitarist. No further information was given.
[1] On March 29, 2008, the band announced their latest tour line-up, excluding Dave Suzuki.
[2] It is presently unclear whether Suzuki is removed from the band permanently or if he is merely unable to tour for the time being.
Style
Vital Remains earlier work was considered to be
blackened death metal, with minor use of keyboards and ambient noise. After Forever Underground though, they went for a purely death metal approach. One element of their music that distinguishes them in their genre is the use of acoustic Spanish-style solos.
Members
Current
;Live
- Scott Wily – lead vocals
- Eric Sagardia – lead guitars
- Tony Lazaro – rhythm guitars
- "Gator" Collier – bass
- Kaish Doane – drums
;Studio
- Glen Benton – lead vocals
- Tony Lazaro – rhythm guitars, bass
- Dave Suzuki – lead guitars, drums, percussion, backing vocals
Former
- Jeff Gruslin - vocals
- Taylor Fishman - session lead guitars
- Joe Lewis - vocals, bass
- Tim Yeung - drums
- Marco Pitruzzella - session drums
- Rick Corbett - drums
- Chris Dupont - drums
- Ace Alonzo - drums
- Kyle Severn - session drums
- Derek Boyer - session bass
- Istvan Lendvay - session bass
- Kelly Conlon - session bass
- Anthony Geremia - live vocals
- Thorn - vocals
- Damien Boynton - live vocals
- Brian Hobbie - live bass
- Antonio Donadeo - live drums
Discography
- Reduced to Ashes
(Demo, 1989)
- Excruciating Pain
(Demo, 1990)
- The Black Mass
(EP, 1991)
- Let Us Pray
(1992)
- Into Cold Darkness
(1995)
- Forever Underground
(1997)
- Dawn of the Apocalypse
(2000)
- Dechristianize
(2003)
- Horrors of Hell
(2006)
- Icons of Evil
(2007)
- Evil Death Live
(DVD, 2007)
References
- Vital Remains - Seeking New Bassist/Guitarist
- BLABBERMOUTH.NET - VITAL REMAINS Unveils New Touring Lineup; Photos, Video Footage Available