Vengeance Rising

Infobox musical artist
Name = Vengeance Rising


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Background = group_or_band
Origin = Los Angeles, CA
Genre = Thrash metal
Christian metal
Years_active = 1987 - 1992
Label = Intense Records
Associated_acts =
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Current_members =
Past_members =

Vengeance Rising was a Christian thrash metal band from Los Angeles, CA.cite book |last=Hale |first=Mark |title=Headbangers |year=1993 |publisher=Popular Culture, Ink. |location=Ann Arbor, Michigan |edition=First edition, second printing |isbn=1-56075-029-4 |chapter=3119 |pages=376] 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.cite book |last=Powell |title=Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music |year=2002 |chapter=Vengeance Rising |pages=993-994] Band members Larry Farkas, Doug Thieme, Roger Dale Martin, and Glenn Mancaruso left following "Once Dead" and formed the band Die Happy.cite book |last=Powell |first=Mark Allan |title=Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music |year=2002 |publisher=Hendrickson Publishers |location=Peabody, Massachusetts |isbn=1-56563-679-1 |edition=First printing |chapter=Die Happy |pages=256-257] 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, nowadays Vengeance Rising is known for vocalist Martinez' turning from Christianity to satanism to atheism,cite web |author=Majalahti, Michael |title=The Best Kept Secrets in Rock |publisher=Open Publishing |date=2004-03-02 |work=Imperiumi |url=http://www.imperiumi.net/col_2.php?id=42 |accessdate=2007-09-19 ] 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" [ cite web |url= http://wm07.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:k9fwxqe5ldse~T1 |title= Vengeance Rising Biography |accessdate= 2007-09-22|last= Torreano |first= Bradley |work= Allmusic |publisher= AMG |quote= ]

Biography

The band was known for its fascination with violent themes, as reflected lyrically in their first two albums. 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". Their penchant for violence extended to the stage, and the band would graphically portray the crucifixion of Christ at their shows.

Frontman Roger Martinez had a background in the Pentecostal Foursquare Church, and was baptized there. 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. While there, he began to look into the practice of "faith healing", and he claimed to have found it to be a fraud.cite journal |year=1997 |month=July/August |title=Roger Martinez: Where Is He Now? |journal=HM Magazine |id=ISSN|1066-6923 |issue=66 |pages= |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20000620020648/www.hmmagazine.com/archives/RogerMartinez.htm |accessdate=2007-04-30 ]

In the mid 1990s, Martinez left the Christian faith, telling "HM" that he was a committed atheist in 1997. 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, 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."

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".

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. Since Roger owned the original rights to the name "Vengeance Rising," they used the name "Once Dead." They released a DVD of that show called "Return with a Vengeance."

Discography

* "Human Sacrifice" (1989, Intense Records, Reviews: " [http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Vengeance_Rising/Human_SacrificeOnce_Dead/10405/ Cross Rhythms] "cite journal |last=Cranson |first=David |title=Vengeance Rising - "Human Sacrifice/Once Dead" |journal=Cross Rhythms |month=February |year=1999 |issue=49 |pages= |accessdate=2007-07-16] , [http://www.powermetal.de/cdreview/review-626.html PowerMetal.de] De icon)
* "Once Dead" (1990, Intense, Reviews: " [http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Vengeance_Rising/Once_Dead/10916/ Cross Rhythms (1)] ",cite journal |last=Caughey |first=Dave |title=Vengeance Rising - "Once Dead" |journal=Cross Rhythms |month=September |year=1990 |issue=03 |pages= |accessdate=2007-07-16] " [http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Vengeance_Rising/Human_SacrificeOnce_Dead/10405/ Cross Rhythms (2)] ")
* "Destruction Comes" (1991, Intense, Review: " [http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Vengeance_Rising/Destruction_Comes/28593/ Cross Rhythms] "cite journal |last=Cummings |first=Tony |title=Vengeance Rising - Destruction Comes |journal=Cross Rhythms |month=February |year=1992 |issue=10 |pages= |accessdate=2007-07-16] )
* "Released Upon The Earth" (1992, Intense)
* "Anthology" (1993, Intense, compilation)

Members

:"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

ide projects

*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 created a demo for the band Ritual in 1991.

References

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/vengeancerisingofficial Vengeance Rising] at MySpace
* [http://www.nolifetilmetal.com/vengeance.htm Info on the Christian-Era "Vengeance Rising"] from a fan