Bio

The origins of HOLYCIDE can be found back in 2004 before the new wave of Thrash Metal exploded massively when Dave Rotten (AVULSED) wanted to start up a Thrash Metal project for what he joined Vicente from GOLGOTHA on guitars. The intention, from the very beginning, was to create a very aggressive kind of Thrash, exempt of commercial touches and focusing on the intense side of this kind of music.

However, due to the lack of commitment of Vicente, years were passing on and nothing really came out of it until in 2009 a replacement for Vicente was found in Ricardo Moreno, a friend who was live session guitarist for AVULSED during some shows and a full European tour during that year. Ricardo proved to be a good choice and everything went well, even two demo songs were written and recorded in 2010, but from one day to another, Ricardo suddenly decided to quit after summer of the same year because he wanted to concentrate on a new solo project that needed all his time and dedication.

So again, HOLYCIDE was on hibernation process until in spring 2012, a new guitarist called Miguel Bárez joined the project. Miguel was also live session guitarist for AVULSED, but at the time he was still running his main band INNTRANCE. Songs were being slowly written until in summer 2013, Miguel asked bass player Daniel Fernández to join the project. Dani was longtime friend of Miguel, who played in INNTRANCE some years before ('06-'10) as well as in DARK MOOR ('04-'08 & actually) and was currently playing in VIOLENT EVE although he also left that band a couple of months later due to personal reasons.

The incorporation of Dani was what definitely gave fresh motivation to HOLYCIDE and he helped to finalize the three songs already written plus two new ones. A total of 5 songs that were destined to become the first demo of the band. The intention was always to keep this as a project band using programmed drumming, so the 5 songs were roughly recorded like this during autumn 2013, adding vocals to two of them in December of the same year.

Already in January 2014 we did our first rehearsal as a trio and it went really good, but some weeks later, Miguel suggested the idea of adding two new members into HOLYCIDE and making it a full band with Jorge Utrera (drums) and Salva Esteban (guitar), so in March, the very first official rehearsal of HOLYCIDE took place!! Incredible!! It took 10 years to achieve this point, something we never really wanted to go beyond than a simple project to have fun playing Thrash, now was a full band!!

So now the perspective of HOLYCIDE changed drastically and we decided to keep the two recorded songs with vocals, as the first band's demo releasing it only on cassette format just for ourselves (only 5 copies made, haha!) and then re-recording all 5 songs with the full

line-up for an EP. This EP in form of a 6-song mini CD & cassette entitled "Toxic Mutation", was recorded during the second half of 2014 and release through Xtreem Music in February 2015.

Between 2015 and first half of 2016, HOLYCIDE played some local shows and wrote 9 new songs and a cover of DÉTENTE for their debut full length album “Annihilate… Then Ask!” that was finally recorded during summer 2016 and released on CD, 12”LP and Cassette formats through Xtreem Music in February 2017.

HOLYCIDE was busy playing across Spain (and one show in Italy) during 2017-2019 presenting their new album, sharing stage with bands like FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, ONSLAUGHT, D.R.I., HELSTAR, EXUMER, TRALLERY, ASOMVEL, NO RETURN, GOD DETHRONED, ALKOHOLIZER and many others. At the same time, a new album was being writing and between April-July 2019, HOLYCIDE entered again Cadillac Blood Studios to record their 2nd full length album “Fist to Face” to be released in February 14th, 2020 through Xtreem Music (CD/12”LP/Cassette - World), MDD Rec. (CD - G/A/S) and Spiritual Beast (CD - Japan). Since the album came out coinciding with the start of the covid-19, "Fist to Face" has not been able to be presented live and it is in 2022 when HOLYCIDE intends to "relaunch" said work.

In August 2022, the first line-up change in HOLYCIDE takes place with the departure of Dani Fernández for family reasons, and in his place Vicente J. Payá (UNBOUNDED TERROR, GOLGOTHA, DECRAPTED, BIS NTE, etc…) enters, who in fact, together with Dave Rotten, they formed HOLYCIDE back in 2004, so the circle is closed, and everything stays at home again!! In March and June 2023, due to personal issues, drummer Jorge Utrera and guitarist Miguel Bárez left the band respectively, Santi Arroyo "GoG" joining on drums and HOLYCIDE remaining as a quartet before the recording of the new EP "Bazookiller" which took place between March and August of this year, for its release in September through Xtreem Music.

This new EP means the beginning of a new stage in the band, since now it will be Salva Esteban and Vicente J. Payá, the main writers, who will contribute new ideas for the composition of the 3rd album that will be produced during the second half of 2023 to be released in mid-2024. In October 2023, a 2nd guitarist called Ankor Ramírez joined the band replacing Miguel Bárez, so the sound of the band is now again complete for live shows!!

HOLYCIDE line-up:

Dave Rotten – Vocals Salva Esteban – Guitars

Ankor Ramírez - Guitars

Vicente J. Payá - Bass

Santi Arroyo “GoG” - Drums