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Info
There are just several world-renowned names on this rotten
planet that devoted their musical career to the blasphemous death metal of the
rawest form. One of the pillars of the genre comes to Trutnov Battlefield this
year. Dear OEF fans, we speak about VITAL
REMAINS !!!
This squad of fiends has been kicking the ass of the mankind since 1988 which
makes them a true legend. The band built around Tony Lazaro has put out 6
full-lengths and countless numbers of other recordings. What is more their most
famous achievement "Forever
Underground"
must be known to every death metal fan.
This year a long-awaited album is to be released. They have
promised a bit shorter songs than in the past but what is important there will
not be less brutality. I do believe them to perform some of the new material at
OEF too. The band underwent a lot of personnel turnover during their existence.
It would be a true sin not to mention the names of former members like Glen
Benton (Deicide), Tim Yeung (MORBID ANGEL), Kelly Coulon (DEATH,
MONSTROSITY). In 2000 they cancelled their show at OEF in the last
moment and it took long 15 years for them to come back. It will be a big event
and All Fiends' Day. So, do not miss that!!!
Bio
Created in 1988 by guitarist Paul Flynn, Vital Remains'
first line-up of guitarist Butch Machado, vocalist Mike Flynn, bassist Tom
Supkow, and drummer Chris Dupont. Searching for better musicians, they added guitarist
Tony Lazaro and vocalist Jeff Gruslin to the band. From there the band became a
driving force in the local death metal scene. Lazaro and Flynn shared the
writing duties in these early days.
Soon after their formation, 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 that
their contract be dissolved. At this stage, in 1997, the band's founder, Paul
Flynn left Vital Remains.
Two years later the band signed a two-album deal with French
label Osmose Records. In order to complete the line-up . Dave Suzuki was
brought in. This led to the release of 1997's 'Forever Underground'. VITAL
REMAINS toured throughout the states in 1997 and overseas this year being held
reign as 'The Fassest Metal band on Stage with Unbelievable Wind-mills of
satanic fury" by Metal Maniacs Magazine. and 2000's Dawn of the
Apocalypse, the latter of which marked a significant step towards a new,
heavier sound which would become more prominent on their following albums.
Vocalist Thorns (Timothy Donovan), who had handled vocal duties on Dawn of the Apocalypse, was soon fired from the band. Joe Lewis explained in an interview, "We liked what he had to offer as a vocalist but we were not happy at all with his activities outside the band that included drugs and alcohol. We did not want to let these problems interfere with our band so we fired him. But we were happy with his performance on the album. He did do a great job with the vocals." Thorns' dismissal from the band led to the addition in 2003 of Deicide frontman Glen Benton on vocals along with original member Tony Lazaro on guitars and Dave Suzuki on drums, and lead guitars. The band's first album with Benton, 2003's Dechristianize, was released to much critical acclaim. The band's next album, released in 2007, was Icons of Evil. Vital Remains also put out its first live DVD, Evil-Death-Live, the same year, 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.[2]
Since Dave Suzuki's dismissal from the band, Vital Remains have been touring
endlessly with frequent lineup changes for five years, with original member
Tony Lazaro and bassist Gaeton "Gator" Collier being the only two
members remaining in the band and keeping it as active as possible. Tony has
stated in several interviews in 2012-2013 that he's been writing lots of new
songs and has "two albums worth of material".
However, on October 8, 2014, Vital Remains announced they
are seeking a lead guitarist, again delaying new album's release to the
2015.
Toronto based Dean Arnold age 18, of Primal Frost ( Vocalist
and Guitarist) has become the lead guitarist of the band. Vital Remains will be
on tour from May 7th through April 19 with lead guitarist Dean Arnold. The
band's tour will be at places such as Chile, Brazil and U.S.A.
Discography
Release date | Release name | Media |
---|---|---|
2007 | Icons of Evil | |
2007 | Evil Death Live | DVD |
2006 | Horrors of Hell | |
2003 | Dechristianize | |
2000 | Dawn of the Apocalypse | |
1997 | Forever Underground | |
1995 | Into Cold Darkness | |
1994 | Live Promo '94 | DEMO |
1993 | Vital Remains / Morta Skuld Split | |
1992 | Live Demo 1991 | DEMO |
1992 | Let Us Pray Full Length | |
1991 | The Black Mass | |
1990 | Excruciating Pain | |
1989 | Reduced To Ashes | DEMO |