Vital Remains to jeden z moich ulubionych deathmetalowych zespołów ze Stanów. Powstali w 1988 roku w Providence z inicjatywy gitarzysty Paula Flynna, który początkowo zatrudnił jako wokalistę swego brata Mike, gitarzystę Butcha Machado oraz basistę Toma Supkow'a i perkusistę Chrisa Dupont'a. Jednak skład ten, nie w pełni zadowolił jego oczekiwania i tak naprawdę dopiero po zastąpieniu Butcha i Mike'a przez udzielających się wcześniej w zespole Somatic Death, gitarzystę Tonyego Lazar'o i wokalistę Jeffa Gruslin'a ruszyło na dobre komponowanie pierwszych utworów, które znalazły się na wydanej rok później taśmie demo "Reduced to Ashes". Od kolejnej demówki rolę perkusisty przejął Ace Alonzo, który m.in. nagrał z nimi w 1991 roku debiutanckiego singla "The Black Mass", Singiel ten okazał się jednym najlepiej sprzedających się materiałów wydanych przez francuską Thrash Rec., mającej pośród swych dużych i małych wydawnictw takie zacne zespoły jak: Convulse, Wombbath, Carbonized, Epitaph, Malediction, Sentenced, Mega Slaughter, czy Sorcery. Fakt ten szybko zwrócił uwagę Peaceville Records, które podpisało z nimi kontrakt i rok później w ich pododdziale Deaf Records ukazał się debiutancki longplay "Let Us Pray", przy którego nagraniu Alonzo występował już jako gość, a role basisty na dłuższy już okres przejął Joe Lewis. Płyta ta doszczętnie mnie pochłonęła. Jeff Gruslin swymi szaleńczymi wokalizami wręcz mnie opętał, generowana zaś przez zespół brutalna, a zrazem techniczna muza, dozująca z niebywałą finezją i wyrafinowaniem sporą dawkę chwytających za ucho melodii, wspieranych gdzieniegdzie klawiszami wytworzyła silnie uzależniający specyficzny mroczny klimat. Od tej pory, a to, co w ich dyskografii najlepsze miało dopiero nadejść, Vital Remains stali się dla mnie nowymi bogami Death Metalu. Na przestrzeni lat skład zespołu wielokrotnie się zmieniał, co raz to zatrudniając do współpracy nowych wokalistów i muzyków, wśród których jednymi z najistotniejszych byli: Dave Suzuki - Drums, Guitars (lead), Vocals (backing) (1997-2009), Bass (2000-2009), Rick Corbett - Drums (1994-1996), Timothy "Thorn" Donovan - Vocals (1999-2003) oraz Glen Benton - Vocals (2003-2009). Do dziś jedynym z zakładających zespół członków pozostał charyzmatyczny Tony Lazaro, dzięki któremu pomimo tego, że już od prawie 10 lat nic nowego nie wydali, a było to niby w planach na mijający rok, wciąż funkcjonują, grając koncerty na całym świecie.
Skład:
Tony Lazaro - Guitars (rhythm) (1988-present) ex-Somatic Death
Gator Collier - Bass (2008-present) ex-Legion Victorious
Brian Werner - Vocals (2012-present) ex-Infernaeon, ex-Monstrosity (live)
Dean Arnold - Guitars (lead) (2015-present) Primalfrost, ex-Will of the Ancients, ex-Eclipse Prophecy (live), ex-Lesion
▼ Byli muzycy
Tom Supkow - Bass (1988-1989)
Chris Dupont - Drums (1988-1990)
Paul Flynn - Guitars (1988-1996) ex-Godless Rising
Jeff Gruslin - Vocals (1988-1996) Godless Rising, Somatic Death, ex-Dethroned, ex-Doom Oath
Joe Lewis - Bass, Vocals (1990-2000) ex-Self Destruct, ex-HeadRot, ex-Belial (USA)
Ace Alonzo - Drums (1990-1994) ex-Self Destruct
Rick Corbett - Drums (1994-1996) ex-Malignance
Chris Ross (R.I.P. 2017) - Vocals (1996-1997)
Dave Suzuki - Drums, Guitars (lead), Vocals (backing) (1997-2009), Bass (2000-2009) Churchburn, ex-Faust, ex-Wolves Under Azurean Midnight, Doosh Bags (live), ex-Deicide (live), ex-Sin of Angels (live), ex-Silent Raven Fell
Thorn - Vocals (1999-?)
Jake Raymond (R.I.P. 2018) - Vocals (2001)
Glen Benton - Vocals (2002-2009) Deicide, ex-Amon
Scott Wily - Vocals (2008-2012) (R.I.P. 2017) ex-Zircon, ex-Godless Rising (live)
Jack Blackburn - Drums (2012-2014) Accursed Aeons, Entheogen, ex-Esoterica, ex-Lithotome, ex-Soul Reclusion, ex-In Ruins (live), ex-Chaos Moon, ex-Enfold Darkness, ex-Inferi, ex-Manetheren, ex-Imbrued Deceit
Aaron Homma - Guitars (lead) (2013-2014) Annihilator, Killitorous, Erimha (live), ex-Immersed, ex-Today I Caught the Plague
James Payne - Drums (2014-2016) Hiss from the Moat, The DrumHouse, ex-Hour of Penance, ex-The End of Six Thousand Years, ex-Necromega, ex-Awaken Demons, ex-Broken Heart College
Chris Dupont - Drums (1988-1990)
Paul Flynn - Guitars (1988-1996) ex-Godless Rising
Jeff Gruslin - Vocals (1988-1996) Godless Rising, Somatic Death, ex-Dethroned, ex-Doom Oath
Joe Lewis - Bass, Vocals (1990-2000) ex-Self Destruct, ex-HeadRot, ex-Belial (USA)
Ace Alonzo - Drums (1990-1994) ex-Self Destruct
Rick Corbett - Drums (1994-1996) ex-Malignance
Chris Ross (R.I.P. 2017) - Vocals (1996-1997)
Dave Suzuki - Drums, Guitars (lead), Vocals (backing) (1997-2009), Bass (2000-2009) Churchburn, ex-Faust, ex-Wolves Under Azurean Midnight, Doosh Bags (live), ex-Deicide (live), ex-Sin of Angels (live), ex-Silent Raven Fell
Thorn - Vocals (1999-?)
Jake Raymond (R.I.P. 2018) - Vocals (2001)
Glen Benton - Vocals (2002-2009) Deicide, ex-Amon
Scott Wily - Vocals (2008-2012) (R.I.P. 2017) ex-Zircon, ex-Godless Rising (live)
Jack Blackburn - Drums (2012-2014) Accursed Aeons, Entheogen, ex-Esoterica, ex-Lithotome, ex-Soul Reclusion, ex-In Ruins (live), ex-Chaos Moon, ex-Enfold Darkness, ex-Inferi, ex-Manetheren, ex-Imbrued Deceit
Aaron Homma - Guitars (lead) (2013-2014) Annihilator, Killitorous, Erimha (live), ex-Immersed, ex-Today I Caught the Plague
James Payne - Drums (2014-2016) Hiss from the Moat, The DrumHouse, ex-Hour of Penance, ex-The End of Six Thousand Years, ex-Necromega, ex-Awaken Demons, ex-Broken Heart College
▼ Muzycy koncertowi
Chris Dovas - Drums (2018-present) Widows Rite, Seven Spires (live), Winds of Plague (live), ex-FirstBourne, ex-Unflesh, ex-Aversed (live), ex-Rithiya Henry Khiev (live), ex-Sonic Pulse (live)
Zion - Bass Doomsday, Metallian, Sons of Famine, ex-Forest of Impaled, ex-Zalnik, ex-Anti-Human Thesis, Black XIII, ex-Disinter, ex-Nachtmystium
Matt Raines - Guitars
Aaron Weinstein - Guitars (1998)
Kelly Conlon - Bass (2000-2001) Infinity Minus One, Kill Procedure, Pessimist, Shatter Messiah, Sargon, ex-Fires of Babylon, ex-Wynterborne, ex-Monstrosity, ex-Death
Ron Greene - Bass (2000-2002) ex-Leukorrhea
Kyle Severn - Drums (2000-?) Incantation, Shed the Skin, ex-Wolfen Society, ex-Funerus, ex-Divine Eve (live), ex-Acheron, ex-Escalation Anger
Derek Boyer - Bass (2003) Criminal Element, Deprecated, Suffocation, ex-Decrepit Birth, ex-Deeds of Flesh, ex-Dying Fetus, ex-Disgorge
Tim Yeung - Drums (2003-2007, 2009) ex-Shaithus, ex-Windbreed, I Am Morbid, ex-Agiel, ex-Aurora Borealis, ex-Decrepit Birth, ex-Hate Eternal, ex-Morbid Angel, ex-Pestilence, ex-The Tenth Circle, ex-World Under Blood, ex-All That Remains (live), ex-Nile (live), ex-Divine Heresy, ex-Assjack, ex-Death Division, ex-Westfield Massacre
Istvan Lendvay - Bass (2004) Rise, ex-Behemoth (live)
Lord Doomus - Drums (2005-2006) Anomalous, Hunhau Mitnal, Jeff Hughell, Mazikeen, Monumental Torment, Neurogenic, Six Feet Under, Solus Ex Inferis, Abuse (live), Sleep Terror (live), Vörnagar, ex-Brain Drill, ex-Orator, ex-The Faceless, ex-Vile (live), ex-Anthem 85, ex-Apocrypha, ex-Atrocious Hysteria, ex-Dark Heritage, ex-Lord Marco, ex-Numa, ex-Ritual Hatred
Ralph Santolla - Guitars (2006) (R.I.P. 2018) ex-Hollow, ex-Deicide, ex-Memorain, ex-Millenium, ex-Obituary, ex-Sebastian Bach, ex-Toxik, ex-Iced Earth (live), ex-Melechesh (live), ex-Death (live), ex-Devil's Highway, ex-Eyewitness, ex-Ralph Santolla, ex-Redscream, ex-Serpent Seduced Eve, ex-Stare
Anthony Geremia - Vocals (2006-2007)
Brian Hobbie - Bass (2007-2008) Circadian Skizm, Imperious Rex, ex-420, ex-Catastrophic, ex-Broken Hope, ex-Internal Bleeding, ex-Neurotic Decay, ex-Psychomanthium, ex-Pyrexia, ex-Wind Wraith
Antonio Donadeo - Drums (2007-2008) Stench of Dismemberment, ex-Traitor, Crifiu, ex-Ecnephias, ex-Exhumer, ex-Necrotorture, ex-Stillness Blade, ex-Undertakers, ex-Virulent Re-Shapes
Eric Sagardia - Guitars (lead) (2007-2009) ex-Azathoth
Damien Boynton - Vocals (2007-2008) ex-Desolation, ex-Season of Suffering
Keshava Doane - Drums (2008-2009) ex-Gigan
Taylor Fishman - Guitars (lead) (2008-2009, 2009-2010)
Eddy Hoffman - Drums (2009-2011) Cancer Whore, ex-Psychiatric Regurgitation, ex-Incinerate (live)
John Hate - Guitars (2010-2011) ex-Funeral Rites, ex-All the Way to the Bank
Rodrigo Raquio - Vocals (2010) Corporate Riot, DJ Nokturne, Templo Ov Satanae, ex-Nitemare, ex-Psychotic Pulse
Conspirator A (aka Prothesis) - Drums (2011-2012) Repvblika, ex-Mordskog, ex-Nemesis Ocvlta, ex-Blackthorn, ex-Hacavitz, ex-Toxic Hate
Albert Allende - Drums (2011-2013)
Brian Weber - Guitars (lead) (2011-2013) Onus, Sentenced to Die, ex-D.O.T.A.C.
Brian Werner - Vocals (2011) ex-Infernaeon, ex-Monstrosity (live)
Bill Hudson - Guitars (lead) (2012) Circle II Circle, Jon Oliva's Pain, Stardust Reverie, Consortium Project (live), Doro (live), ex-The Supremacy, Emphatic, I Am Morbid, ex-Aquaria, ex-Avian, ex-Cellador, ex-Ian Parry, ex-Power Quest, ex-U.D.O., ex-Kobra and the Lotus (live), ex-Nightrage (live), ex-Epicurean (live), ex-Written in Blood, ex-Savatage (live), ex-Westfield Massacre
Rob Holden - Bass (2016) Conquer, Operus, ex-Left Hand Creation
James Payne - Drums (2016) Hiss from the Moat, The DrumHouse, ex-Hour of Penance, ex-The End of Six Thousand Years, ex-Necromega, ex-Awaken Demons, ex-Broken Heart College
Eugene Ryabchenko - Drums (2016-2017) Banisher, Castrum, Locracy, Angerseed (live), Belphegor (live), Obliterate (live), Afgrund, ex-Posthumous Blasphemer, ex-Waldschrat, ex-GAZ-66 Intrusion, ex-Crucify Me Gently, ex-Displease, ex-The Symbioz
Zion - Bass Doomsday, Metallian, Sons of Famine, ex-Forest of Impaled, ex-Zalnik, ex-Anti-Human Thesis, Black XIII, ex-Disinter, ex-Nachtmystium
Matt Raines - Guitars
Aaron Weinstein - Guitars (1998)
Kelly Conlon - Bass (2000-2001) Infinity Minus One, Kill Procedure, Pessimist, Shatter Messiah, Sargon, ex-Fires of Babylon, ex-Wynterborne, ex-Monstrosity, ex-Death
Ron Greene - Bass (2000-2002) ex-Leukorrhea
Kyle Severn - Drums (2000-?) Incantation, Shed the Skin, ex-Wolfen Society, ex-Funerus, ex-Divine Eve (live), ex-Acheron, ex-Escalation Anger
Derek Boyer - Bass (2003) Criminal Element, Deprecated, Suffocation, ex-Decrepit Birth, ex-Deeds of Flesh, ex-Dying Fetus, ex-Disgorge
Tim Yeung - Drums (2003-2007, 2009) ex-Shaithus, ex-Windbreed, I Am Morbid, ex-Agiel, ex-Aurora Borealis, ex-Decrepit Birth, ex-Hate Eternal, ex-Morbid Angel, ex-Pestilence, ex-The Tenth Circle, ex-World Under Blood, ex-All That Remains (live), ex-Nile (live), ex-Divine Heresy, ex-Assjack, ex-Death Division, ex-Westfield Massacre
Istvan Lendvay - Bass (2004) Rise, ex-Behemoth (live)
Lord Doomus - Drums (2005-2006) Anomalous, Hunhau Mitnal, Jeff Hughell, Mazikeen, Monumental Torment, Neurogenic, Six Feet Under, Solus Ex Inferis, Abuse (live), Sleep Terror (live), Vörnagar, ex-Brain Drill, ex-Orator, ex-The Faceless, ex-Vile (live), ex-Anthem 85, ex-Apocrypha, ex-Atrocious Hysteria, ex-Dark Heritage, ex-Lord Marco, ex-Numa, ex-Ritual Hatred
Ralph Santolla - Guitars (2006) (R.I.P. 2018) ex-Hollow, ex-Deicide, ex-Memorain, ex-Millenium, ex-Obituary, ex-Sebastian Bach, ex-Toxik, ex-Iced Earth (live), ex-Melechesh (live), ex-Death (live), ex-Devil's Highway, ex-Eyewitness, ex-Ralph Santolla, ex-Redscream, ex-Serpent Seduced Eve, ex-Stare
Anthony Geremia - Vocals (2006-2007)
Brian Hobbie - Bass (2007-2008) Circadian Skizm, Imperious Rex, ex-420, ex-Catastrophic, ex-Broken Hope, ex-Internal Bleeding, ex-Neurotic Decay, ex-Psychomanthium, ex-Pyrexia, ex-Wind Wraith
Antonio Donadeo - Drums (2007-2008) Stench of Dismemberment, ex-Traitor, Crifiu, ex-Ecnephias, ex-Exhumer, ex-Necrotorture, ex-Stillness Blade, ex-Undertakers, ex-Virulent Re-Shapes
Eric Sagardia - Guitars (lead) (2007-2009) ex-Azathoth
Damien Boynton - Vocals (2007-2008) ex-Desolation, ex-Season of Suffering
Keshava Doane - Drums (2008-2009) ex-Gigan
Taylor Fishman - Guitars (lead) (2008-2009, 2009-2010)
Eddy Hoffman - Drums (2009-2011) Cancer Whore, ex-Psychiatric Regurgitation, ex-Incinerate (live)
John Hate - Guitars (2010-2011) ex-Funeral Rites, ex-All the Way to the Bank
Rodrigo Raquio - Vocals (2010) Corporate Riot, DJ Nokturne, Templo Ov Satanae, ex-Nitemare, ex-Psychotic Pulse
Conspirator A (aka Prothesis) - Drums (2011-2012) Repvblika, ex-Mordskog, ex-Nemesis Ocvlta, ex-Blackthorn, ex-Hacavitz, ex-Toxic Hate
Albert Allende - Drums (2011-2013)
Brian Weber - Guitars (lead) (2011-2013) Onus, Sentenced to Die, ex-D.O.T.A.C.
Brian Werner - Vocals (2011) ex-Infernaeon, ex-Monstrosity (live)
Bill Hudson - Guitars (lead) (2012) Circle II Circle, Jon Oliva's Pain, Stardust Reverie, Consortium Project (live), Doro (live), ex-The Supremacy, Emphatic, I Am Morbid, ex-Aquaria, ex-Avian, ex-Cellador, ex-Ian Parry, ex-Power Quest, ex-U.D.O., ex-Kobra and the Lotus (live), ex-Nightrage (live), ex-Epicurean (live), ex-Written in Blood, ex-Savatage (live), ex-Westfield Massacre
Rob Holden - Bass (2016) Conquer, Operus, ex-Left Hand Creation
James Payne - Drums (2016) Hiss from the Moat, The DrumHouse, ex-Hour of Penance, ex-The End of Six Thousand Years, ex-Necromega, ex-Awaken Demons, ex-Broken Heart College
Eugene Ryabchenko - Drums (2016-2017) Banisher, Castrum, Locracy, Angerseed (live), Belphegor (live), Obliterate (live), Afgrund, ex-Posthumous Blasphemer, ex-Waldschrat, ex-GAZ-66 Intrusion, ex-Crucify Me Gently, ex-Displease, ex-The Symbioz
Dyskografia:
1989 - Reduced to Ashes [demo]
1990 - Excruciating Pain [demo]
1991 - The Black Mass [EP]
1992 - Live Demo 1991 [demo]
1992 - Let Us Pray
1993 - Morta Skuld / Vital Remains [split]
1994 - Live Promo '94 [demo]
1995 - Into Cold Darkness
1997 - Forever Underground
1999 - Dawn of the Apocalypse
2003 - Dechristianize
2006 - Horrors of Hell [kompilacja]
2007 - Icons of Evil
2007 - Evil - Death - Live [video]
MA: https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Vital_Remains/720
BC: https://osmoseproductions.bandcamp.com/music