Vengeance Rising

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Vengeance Rising
OriginLos Angeles, California, US
GenresThrash metal, Christian metal (early)
Years active1987–1992, 2000–2004
LabelsIntense
SpinoffsDie Happy
Once Dead
Members
Past members
  • Chris Hyde
  • Derek Sean
  • Jamie Mitchell
  • Victor Macias
  • Jimmy P. Brown II
  • Johnny Vasquez
  • George Ochoa
  • Daniel Cordova
  • Michael Wagel
  • Glenn Rogers
  • Roger Martinez

Vengeance Rising was an American Christian thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California.[1] Fronted by vocalist Roger Martinez, they originally formed as Vengeance in 1987, but changed their name in 1989 to avoid conflict with another band from the Netherlands.[2] Band members Larry Farkas, Doug Thieme, Roger Dale Martin, and Glen Mancaruso left following Once Dead and formed the band Die Happy.[3] Roger Martinez stayed on to record two more studio albums, but aside from him, Vengeance Rising's lineup changed for each subsequent album. While the group was a ground breaking Christian metal band, today Vengeance Rising is known for vocalist Martinez's turning from Christianity to Satanism to atheism.[4] AllMusic describes Vengeance Rising's history as "one of the most entertaining and bizarre stories in the realm of heavy metal."[5]

Biography

The band was known for its fascination with violent themes, as reflected lyrically in their first two albums.

of Christ at their shows.[1] Extreme graphics also appeared in the cover art of the band's albums. Both Human Sacrifice and Once Dead were censored by Christian bookstores at least partially because of their violent graphical content.[7][8] Copies of their third release. Destruction Comes, had a censorship sticker covering the male figure, dubbed "Raegoul", exposing half of his flesh without skin.[citation needed
]

A review of Once Dead in CCM found that the cover of that albums depiction of "resurrection from spiritual death" was "grisly".[9] Musically, the album showed an influence of speed metal, with thrash arrangements on some songs, like the cover of Deep Purple's Space Truckin',[9] and "Out of the Will", which reminded one reviewer of One Bad Pig.[10] While the vocals often sounded "like someone gargling razor blades",[10] the lyrics were found to be "very Bible based,"[10] and matched with the scriptural references from which they were drawn.[9]

Frontman Roger Martinez had a background in the

baptized there.[2][11] He eventually rose to be pastor of a Hollywood area church, though by Released Upon the Earth he had left to pursue music full-time.[2] While there, he began to look into the practice of faith healing, and he claimed to have found it to be a fraud.[11]

In the mid 1990s, Martinez

death threats to individuals he claimed "stabbed him in the back", which included friend Steve Rowe of Mortification
, a band Martinez helped get their first record contract.

Although he has stated that he was working on an album to be released under the name "Vengeance Rising" with more of an anti-Christian, Satanic Atheism theme,[2][11] the album, reportedly titled Realms of Blasphemy, has never been released.[citation needed] The album had a strong satanic and anti-Christian theme, sporting titles such as: "Synagogues for Satan" and "Blaspheme the Holy Ghost".[citation needed]

Vocalist Scott Waters of Ultimatum and Once Dead stated on his metal music review website that

Allmusic lists two releases ... both of which I doubt ever existed ... Former drummer Shannon Frye claims that Martinez was impossible to work with and could not hold on to members long enough to even record a demo.

He also claims that Martinez only kept the name of Vengeance Rising because of "continued curiosity from metal fans and Christians alike".[citation needed] In 2007, Shannon Frye did an interview where they mentioned his time in Vengeance. He stated

I quit shortly after I joined which was 1998. As far as I know, there was no album recorded. But I don't know much about it if there was, because I just wanted nothing to do with that excuse called a "band" after I quit. I thought it would have been a great opportunity at the time I joined, but that faded quickly. I just don't like to get into this subject. This is one of those things I wish never happened and would love to erase that from any history ever![12]

After the

Heaven's Metal Magazine
, with Doug Van Pelt interviewing all of them.

Former founding members of Vengeance Rising along with Ultimatum vocalist Scott Waters reformed in 2004 to play a reunion show at a small club called Chain Reaction in Anaheim, California.[13] Since Martinez owns the rights to the name "Vengeance Rising", they used the name Once Dead. They released a DVD of that show called Return with a Vengeance.[citation needed]

On August 6, 2017, it was announced that Human Sacrifice was being reissued and a reunion show, with the band's original lineup, with Jim Settle, vocalist of Hand of Fire, filling-in on vocals for Martinez, would be performed at SoCal Metal Fest 2 on August 12.[14]

Discography

Studio albums
Compilations
  • Anthology (1993, Intense)

Members

Many members have participated in other projects

Current

Name Instrument Years Other groups Additional notes Ref
Larry Farkas Lead Guitars 1987–1990, 2017–present Die Happy, Neon Cross, Deliverance, Holy Soldier, Once Dead, Sanctuary Celebration Band, D.O.G., S.A.L.T.
Doug Thieme Rhythm Guitars 1987–1990, 2017–present Die Happy, Once Dead
Roger Dale Martin Bass 1987–1990, 2017–present Emerald, Holy Right, Die Happy, Once Dead, Sanctuary Celebration Band
Glen Mancaruso Drums 1987–1990, 2017–present Die Happy, Once Dead, S.A.L.T.
Jim Settle Vocals 2017–present Tantrum of the Muse, Bore, Hand of Fire[14]

Former

Name Instrument Years Other groups Additional notes
Roger Martinez rhythm guitar, bass, lead vocals 1987–1992 Prophet
Chris Hyde drums 1991 Deliverance, Holy Soldier deceased 2015[17]
Derek Sean lead guitar 1991 Mortification
Johnny Vasquez drums 1991–1992 Mortification (live), the Blamed
Glenn Rogers rhythm guitars 1987[18] Hirax, Deliverance, Heretic, Once Dead, Final Decree, Primal, Steel Vengeance, Viking
Sharon vocals 1987[19]
Steve Bertram drums 1987[19] Final Decree
Michael Betts drums 1987[19] Neon Cross

Session musicians

  • Jamie Mitchell - (1991) lead guitar (Scaterd Few)
  • Victor Macias (aka Joe Monsorb'nik) - (1991) bass (Tourniquet, Deliverance)
  • Jimmy P. Brown II (aka Simon Dawg) - (1991) (Deliverance)

Touring musicians

Side projects

  • Larry Farkas, Doug Thieme, Roger Martin, and Glenn Mancaruso played in Die Happy. All the aforementioned also formed Once Dead with Scott Waters in 2004.
  • Jamie Mitchell played in the punk band Scaterd Few.
  • Larry Farkas, George Ochoa, Jimmy Brown, Chris Hyde and Victor Macias played in Deliverance.
  • Daniel Cordova made a guest appearance on "Sons of Thunder" CD by Driver.
  • Roger Martinez produced a demo for the band Ritual in 1991.
  • Macias also performed in Tourniquet.

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 1-56075-029-4
    .
  2. ^ a b c d e f Powell (2002). "Vengeance Rising". Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music. pp. 993–994.
  3. ISBN 1-56563-679-1
    .
  4. ^ Majalahti, Michael (2004-03-02). "The Best Kept Secrets in Rock". Imperiumi. Open Publishing. Archived from the original on 2007-10-22. Retrieved 2007-09-19.
  5. ^ Torreano, Bradley. "Vengeance Rising Biography". Allmusic. AMG. Retrieved 2007-09-22.
  6. ISSN 1524-7848
    .
  7. ISSN 1524-7848
    .
  8. ISSN 1524-7848
    .
  9. ^
    ISSN 1524-7848
    .
  10. ^ a b c d Caughey, Dave (September 1990). "Vengeance Rising - Once Dead". Cross Rhythms (3).
  11. ^
    ISSN 1066-6923. Archived from the original
    on 2000-06-20. Retrieved 2007-04-30.
  12. ^ Frye, Shannon (May 29, 2007). "Avenger of Blood - Annihilation Continues ..." Interviewed by Luxi Lahtinen. Metal-Rules. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  13. ^ Interview with Vengeance at the Wayback Machine (archive index). June 12, 2004. Retrieved on October 3, 2016.
  14. ^ a b Beard, Mason (August 9, 2017). "Vengeance Rising reissue and reunion show". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  15. ^ a b Cranson, David (February 1999). "Vengeance Rising - Human Sacrifice/Once Dead". Cross Rhythms (49).
  16. ^ Cummings, Tony (February 1992). "Vengeance Rising - Destruction Comes". Cross Rhythms (10).
  17. ^ "Drummer Chris Hyde dies at 50".
  18. ^ Rene (February 20, 2013). "A True Heretic-Interview with Glenn Rogers". Thrash Head. Retrieved August 26, 2016.
  19. ^
    Heaven's Metal
    . Retrieved November 16, 2017.

External links

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