Dave’s schedule has become increasingly congested with his commitments to both BENEDICTION and ANAAL NATHRAKH as well as his relentless studies for his PhD. Therefore Dave will vacate the role in BENEDICTION he has commanded with such strength for over 20 years. As Dave says,
“With the writing for the new BENEDICTION album almost complete, it sadly became clear that it would be impossible for me to give BENEDICTION the full commitment it so richly deserves, for the album, the release and the inevitable shows and other events around it in the future. To me, BENEDICTION is more than a band, more than a bunch of brothers I never had, more than one of the most important things in my life for half the time I’ve been on the planet. It is an institution. And I genuinely believe it’s in an incredibly strong place, especially with the new material. There are great things ahead for BENEDICTION, and although I’m gutted I can’t be part of them, the guys have my total respect, affection and support”.
BENEDICTION have begun working with his replacement and have already completed the writing for a number of vocal tracks for the new album. But his identity will remain private for the time being. Dave will still complete the shows booked between now and July, and we would like to make it clear that all shows currently booked will happen, both before and after the changeover. A further announcement regarding the identity of the new singer will be made nearer to July.
BENEDICTION would like to take this opportunity to thank Dave for his superb performance and his loyal service over his time with the band and wish him every success in the future and will remain close friends with him long into the future. They comment: “Much respect and many thanks mate”.
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All tour dates are as follows:
27.04. P Barroselas – SWR Barroselas Metalfest
11.05. UK London – Incineration Festival
25.05. USA Baltimore, MD – Maryland Deathfest XVII
19.07. D Bertingen – Rock unter den Eichen
20.07. CZ Tři Dvory- Symbolic Open Air
23./24.08. D Wörrstadt – Neuborn Open Air
02.11. D Hamburg – Awaking Corpses Death Metal Fest
More info:
www.nuclearblast.de/benediction
https://de-de.facebook.com/Benedictionband/
OMICIDA delivers a frenetic and dizzying array of speed and technicality, while maintaining a crushing groove with melodic hooks. OMICIDA‘s main influences have always been Slayer, Testament, Kreator, Overkill, Coroner, Exodus, just to name a few.
The album was mixed and mastered by Ralph Patlan (Megadeth, White Wizzard) at Stealth Sound Studios in Phoeniz AZ.
Tracklist:
1. Hostage In The Pit
2. Violent Resolution
3. Omicida
4. Protect And Serve
5. Divine Uncertainty
6. State Of Terror
7. Burn The Cross
8. Sentenced
9. The Supremacist
10. Unborn
11. Dead Eyes See No Evil
OMICIDA is a new modern-day thrash metal band, as they wear their influences on the sleeves while adding their own unique flare with their extreme precision and break-neck, dual-guitar shredding. The band does not try and re-invent the wheel, they just add some new dynamics to it. Formed in Los Angeles (2014), the band was founded by ex-White Wizzard member Giovanni Durst (drums). Originally OMICIDA was joined by ex-White Wizzard member Erik Kluiber (guitar), along with ex-Devil You Know member Roy LaVari (guitar), Roman Kovalik (bass) and Giovanni Barbieri (vocals) replacing former singer Joseph Michael. The band released their first 7 song EP “Certain Death” in 2015 and continuing to release two more singles “State of Terror”, “Protect and Serve” in 2016, 2017. Since then, OMICIDA has been featured on media outlets to the caliber of Revolver Mag, Bravewords, Terrorizer (track “Disobey” featured on Fear Candy CD) and other outlets creating the strong base for the band to continue their path towards the making of their first debut album.
Due to logistics issues Giovanni Durst (drums) had to relocate to Europe. The band’s future though was far from being over. Instead, OMICIDA relocated to London in 2018 as band’s new HQ. Giovanni Barbieri kept his place behind the mic in the new formation, adding new guitarists Will Wallner (ex White Wizzard), Dan Baune and bassist Dan Bate (Benediction).
OMICIDA is:
Giovanni Barbieri – Vocals
Will Wallner – Guitar (ex-White Wizzard)
Dan Baune – Guitar
Daniel Bate – Bass (Benediction)
Giovanni Durst – Drums (ex-White Wizzard)
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OMICIDA delivers a frenetic and dizzying array of speed and technicality, while maintaining a crushing groove with melodic hooks. OMICIDA‘s main influences have always been Slayer, Testament, Kreator, Overkill, Coroner, Exodus, just to name a few.
The album was mixed and mastered by Ralph Patlan (Megadeth, White Wizzard) at Stealth Sound Studios in Phoeniz AZ.
Tracklist:
1. Hostage In The Pit
2. Violent Resolution
3. Omicida
4. Protect And Serve
5. Divine Uncertainty
6. State Of Terror
7. Burn The Cross
8. Sentenced
9. The Supremacist
10. Unborn
11. Dead Eyes See No Evil
OMICIDA is a new modern-day thrash metal band, as they wear their influences on the sleeves while adding their own unique flare with their extreme precision and break-neck, dual-guitar shredding. The band does not try and re-invent the wheel, they just add some new dynamics to it. Formed in Los Angeles (2014), the band was founded by ex-White Wizzard member Giovanni Durst (drums). Originally OMICIDA was joined by ex-White Wizzard member Erik Kluiber (guitar), along with ex-Devil You Know member Roy LaVari (guitar), Roman Kovalik (bass) and Giovanni Barbieri (vocals) replacing former singer Joseph Michael. The band released their first 7 song EP “Certain Death” in 2015 and continuing to release two more singles “State of Terror”, “Protect and Serve” in 2016, 2017. Since then, OMICIDA has been featured on media outlets to the caliber of Revolver Mag, Bravewords, Terrorizer (track “Disobey” featured on Fear Candy CD) and other outlets creating the strong base for the band to continue their path towards the making of their first debut album.
Due to logistics issues Giovanni Durst (drums) had to relocate to Europe. The band’s future though was far from being over. Instead, OMICIDA relocated to London in 2018 as band’s new HQ. Giovanni Barbieri kept his place behind the mic in the new formation, adding new guitarists Will Wallner (ex White Wizzard), Dan Baune and bassist Dan Bate (Benediction).
OMICIDA is:
Giovanni Barbieri – Vocals
Will Wallner – Guitar (ex-White Wizzard)
Dan Baune – Guitar
Daniel Bate – Bass (Benediction)
Giovanni Durst – Drums (ex-White Wizzard)
The strong new line up was ready to move forward again and recorded the debut album “DEFRAUDED REIGN”. An 11 tracks album mixed and mastered by Ralph Patlan (Megadeth, White Wizzard) that proves the band maturity since their first EP release.
www.facebook.com/omicidaofficial
Answer: A bit of both.
Last year’s debut, For the Fallen, from former Bolt Thrower members Karl Willetts (vocals) and Andy Whale (drums) and their Benediction compadres Frank Healy (bass) and Scott Fairfax (guitars), showed an obvious tendency towards a stylistic connection with the now defunct death metal juggernaut as well as the perhaps slightly less popular, but still widely recognised death metal combo Healy and Fairfax still adorn. This tendency was not surprising and in no way regrettable! There were elements of more crust influenced metal, which surprised me, but it worked very well, and the whole affair had a lot of clout and atmosphere.
The same is true of The Silent Vigil, MEMORIAM’s latest offering, which will be out shortly. The veteran warriors seem to be more prolific in terms of inspiration and writing material than ever, and they surprise again by being able to twist the Bolt Thrower/Benediction recipes to produce a fresh and unique output.
Both slow, fast and mid tempos are explored to a further degree than on the debut, kicking off with the latter-mentioned pace as ‘Soulless Parasite’ waltzes out of the speakers. What you immediately notice is that the raw and direct sound of the debut also prevails on The Silent Vigil. All four instruments stand out loud and clear, and Willets sounds unpolished, raw and brutal.
The tempo variation already shows with the second track, ‘Nothing Remains’, where Whale hammers away. Fairfax’s riffing is utterly infectious on this song, and there are a few totally heavy parts.
‘From the Flames’ also begins in an up-tempo fashion, but is structured around a slow, almost dragged-out, melodic riff. A good solid piece, which offers no surprises, unlike the title track of the album; ‘The Silent Vigil’ is nothing like anything you heard on a Bolt Thrower or Benediction album. To begin with, it’s raw, almost naked in its expression. Simple, to the point where you think ‘where is this heading?’, and then you’re released into more familiar musical territory for a minute or so, before you are being taken back into the naked feeling of the raw guitar, bass and drums.
‘Bleed the Same’ hauls us back into Bolt Thrower country, a brutal and waltzing piece of old school death metal with a few melodic riffs and a sample of Martin Luther King’s ‘I’ve Been to the Mountaintop’ speech.
‘As the Bridges’ burn crushes on in up-tempo with a few breathers where the old school soldiers slow down a bit, only to relentlessly hammer on again. There is no less hammering on with ‘The New Dark Ages’, a varied piece, which clearly has Willetts venting his anger against all the wrongs of the world as we know it. Sure, it’s screwed up, Karl, but it fosters a lot of great music, you have to admit that…
‘No Known Grave’ brings the tempo down considerably at first and focuses on a fairly simple, ephemeral riff. The tempo picks up and the riffing intensifies, drops again, rises again, and then turns into a kind of funeral march four minutes into the song. Chilling stuff.
The Silent Vigil ends on a brutal and stomping old school note with ‘Weaponised Fear’ and thus provides a suitable full stop for another accomplished effort, which lifts the heritages of Bolt Thrower and then some.
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