Vengeance Rising

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Vengeance Rising

Background information
Origin	Los Angeles, CA
Genre(s)	Thrash metal Christian metal
Years active	1987 - ???
Label(s)	Intense Records

Vengeance Rising was a Christian thrash metal metal band from Los Angeles, CA.^[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 Holland.^[2] Band members Larry Farkas, Doug Thieme, Roger Dale Martin, and Glenn Mancaruso left following Once Dead and formed the band Die Happy.^[3] Roger stayed on to record two more studio albums, but aside from him, Vengeance Rising's lineup changed for each subsequent album.

The band was known for its facination with violent themes, as reflected lyrically in their first two albums.^[2] Their first two albums, before the split into Die Happy, are considred their best, and their debut Human Sacrifice was called "the most radical Christian album ever released" by HM Magazine.^[2] Their penchant for violence extended to the stage, and the band would graphically portray the crucifixion of Christ at their shows.^[1]

When the band began, frontman Roger Martinez was the pastor of a Hollywood area Foursquare Church, though by Released Upon The Earth he had left to persue music full time.^[2] In the mid 1990s, Martinez left the Christian faith, telling HM that he was a "committed atheist" in 1997.^[2] Today, Martinez has obtained rights to the band name for future projects, and is currently working on future material to be released under the name "Vengeance Rising" with more of an anti-Christian, Satanic Atheism theme.^[2] Updates can be found on his blog, and on his message forum, listed as links at the bottom of this article.

Former members of "Vengeance Rising" have continued under the new name "Once Dead," originally with the addition of Christian thrash band Ultimatum vocalist Scott Waters.

1 Discography
2 Members
3 Trivia
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Discography

Human Sacrifice (1988, Intense Records)
Once Dead (1990, Intense)
Destruction Comes (1991, Intense)
Released Upon The Earth (1992, Intense)
Anthology (1993, Intense, compilation)

[edit] Members

Many members have participated in other projects. These are listed under Trivia.

Roger Martinez - vocals/rhythm guitar

Jamie Mitchell - (1992 - 1994) lead guitar
Joe Monsorb'nik - (1992 - 1994) bass
Jonny Vasquez - (1992 - 1994) drums

Chris Hyde - (1991) drums
Derek Sean - (1991) lead guitar

Larry Farkas - (1987 - 1990) guitars
Doug Thieme - (1987 - 1990) guitars
Roger Martin - (1987 - 1990) bass
Glenn Mancaruso - (1987 - 1990) drums

[edit] Trivia

Larry Farkas, Doug Thieme, Roger Martin, and Glenn Mancaruso played in Die Happy.
Jamie Mitchell played in the punk band Scaterd Few.
Chris Hyde played in the band Grindstone from 1998 until 2001 and also in Deliverance.
Roger Martinez created a demo for the band Ritual in 1991.
Ritual Consisted of Vic Mendoza, Tim Haase and Larry Lucero. In 1992 Ritual consisted of Vic Mendoza, Tim Haase, Larry Lucero, Willie Stenner and Demian Bridwell.

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b Hale, Mark (1993). "3119", Headbangers, First edition, second printing, Ann Arbor, Michigan: Popular Culture, Ink., 376. ISBN 1-56075-029-4.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Powell (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music, 993-994.
^ Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music, First printing, Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 256-257. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.