Vengeance Rising

    Vengeance Rising

    Also credited as Vengeance

    Los Angeles, California8 reviews across 7 releases

    blues rockdeath metalspeed metalthrash metal
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    Vengeance Rising was a Los Angeles band formed in 1987 as Vengeance, then renamed after another band used the shorter name. Its early records placed speed and thrash metal under unusually severe pressure: the guitars were tightly locked, the leads flashed past quickly, and Roger Martinez delivered scripture-centered lyrics in a raspy howl that sometimes became a death-metal growl. The 1988 debut Human Sacrifice established that approach with a harsh, almost machine-like attack, though the songs could slow into a mosh rhythm. Once Dead retained the speed while bringing forward the group's blues-metal roots and more varied vocal phrasing. On Destruction Comes, the emphasis shifted toward death metal, with cleaner production, vocal samples and Martinez's own vicious rhythm guitar.

    After the 1990 Once Dead tour, Larry Farkas and Doug Thieme left with Roger Dale Martin and Glen Mancaruso, ending the original lineup. The four formed Die Happy, while Martinez kept Vengeance Rising's name and recorded Released Upon the Earth with new musicians. By the time Anthology appeared in 1993, the band was described as apparently gone. Martinez later rejected Christianity, a break with the faith that had governed the band's lyrics, and discussed another Vengeance Rising release from an atheist position. In 2004, former members reunited for a concert but performed as Once Dead after Martinez threatened legal action over the name; they later issued a live DVD. A 2017 reunion used the Vengeance Rising name with Jim Settle singing. Martinez died on June 26, 2025.

    7 releases reviewed