Vengeance Rising was an American Christian thrash 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 the Netherlands.[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 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' turning from Christianity to Satanism to Atheism,[4] since he has continuously done interviews about it. Allmusic describes Vengeance Rising's history as "one of the most entertaining and bizarre stories in the realm of heavy metal"[5]
The band was known for its fascination with violent themes, as reflected lyrically in their first two albums.[2] Their first two albums, before the split into Die Happy, are considered their best. Their debut Human Sacrifice was called "the most radical Christian album ever released" by HM Magazine editor Doug Van Pelt.[6] Their penchant for violence extended to the stage, and the band would graphically portray the crucifixion 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 pulled from some Christian book sellers at least partially because of their violent graphical content.[7][8]
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 Pentecostal Foursquare Church, and was 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 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. According to Scott Waters and Steve Rowe, Martinez began to make tapes counteracting the tapes he made during his Christian career. He created a website that renounced his previous output and posted articles portraying Christian leaders in a negative light. Martinez then began making 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 is currently working on future material to be released under the name "Vengeance Rising" with more of an anti-Christian, Satanic Atheism theme,[2][11] no albums have been released. 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 Roger 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]
After the September 11, 2001 attacks occurred, Martinez offered free albums from his website for military personnel to encourage a "holy war against Christians". Former fans and critics believe this to be an attack on former bandmates and Christianity, due to the straining situation of debt that he was left with when band members departed after the "Once Dead Tour".[citation needed]
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.[citation needed] 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]
- Human Sacrifice (1989, Intense Records, Reviews: Cross Rhythms,[12] PowerMetal.de (German))
- Once Dead (1990, Intense, Reviews: Cross Rhythms (1),[10] Cross Rhythms (2)[12])
- Destruction Comes (1991, Intense, Review: Cross Rhythms[13])
- Released Upon The Earth (1992, Intense)
- Anthology (1993, Intense, compilation)
- Many members have participated in other projects.
- Roger Martinez - vocals/rhythm guitar
- Larry Farkas - (1987–1990) guitars
- Doug Thieme - (1987–1990) guitars
- Roger Martin - (1987–1990) bass
- Glenn Mancaruso - (1987–1990) drums
- Chris Hyde - (1991) drums
- Derek Sean - (1991) lead guitar
- Jamie Mitchell - (1991 Session) lead guitar
- Victor Macias (aka Joe Monsorb'nik) - (1991 Session) bass
- Jimmy Brown (aka Simon Dawg) - (1991 Session)
- Johnny Vasquez - (1991–1992) drums
- George Ochoa - (1992 Tour) guitars
- Daniel Cordova - (1992 Tour) guitars
- Michael Wagel - (1992 Tour) bass
- 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 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.
- ^ a b Hale, Mark (1993). "3119". Headbangers (First edition, second printing ed.). Ann Arbor, Michigan: Popular Culture, Ink.. p. 376. ISBN 1-56075-029-4.
- ^ a b c d e f Powell (2002). "Vengeance Rising". Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music. pp. 993–994.
- ^ Powell, Mark Allan (2002). "Die Happy". Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. pp. 256–257. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.
- ^ Majalahti, Michael (2004-03-02). "The Best Kept Secrets in Rock". Imperiumi. Open Publishing. Archived from the original on 2007-10-22. http://web.archive.org/web/20071022075824/http://imperiumi.net/col_2.php?id=42. Retrieved 2007-09-19.
- ^ Torreano, Bradley. "Vengeance Rising Biography". Allmusic. AMG. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p14626. Retrieved 2007-09-22.
- ^ Van Pelt, Doug (November 1988). "Metal Reviews / Human Sacrifice". CCM Magazine 11 (5): 35–36. ISSN 1524-7848.
- ^ Van Pelt, Doug (February 1989). "Mosh For The Master". CCM Magazine 11 (8): 20–21. ISSN 1524-7848.
- ^ Van Pelt, Doug (March 1990). "On The Beat / Metal". CCM Magazine 12 (9). ISSN 1524-7848.
- ^ a b c Van Pelt, Doug (April 1990). "Review / Once Dead". CCM Magazine 12 (10): 50, 52. ISSN 1524-7848.
- ^ a b c d Caughey, Dave (September 1990). "Vengeance Rising - Once Dead". Cross Rhythms (03).
- ^ a b c "Roger Martinez: Where Is He Now?". HM Magazine (66). July/August 1997. ISSN 1066-6923. Archived from the original on 2000-06-20. http://web.archive.org/web/20000620020648/http://www.hmmagazine.com/archives/RogerMartinez.htm. Retrieved 2007-04-30.
- ^ a b Cranson, David (February 1999). "Vengeance Rising - Human Sacrifice/Once Dead". Cross Rhythms (49).
- ^ Cummings, Tony (February 1992). "Vengeance Rising - Destruction Comes". Cross Rhythms (10).
