Author: kostas_gallery

The band was created in Dallas, Texas, USA, in 1983 when members of 2 local bands joined forces. Joey Darcangelo was lead vocalist for the band Sabotage. Ru Spearman and Michael Laurence were the guitar players for the band Rokker. Those three guys were the founding members of Bellicose.
The first track that Joey co-wrote with Ru and Michael was “Run for Cover”. Joey remembers: “In the beginning we lived and breathed Bellicose. We would spend endless hours just sitting around playing guitars and humming melodies and scratching down lyric ideas and drinking lots of beer!! It was a lot of fun back then. There was so much creative energy and music pouring out of each of us, it was sometimes hard to keep up with. It didn’t take long to recognize the magic that was the sound of Bellicose that came from this collaborative nucleus.”
Bellicose recorded various demos on different seasons. Those demos were not released to the public. The sole purpose of any demo track was to shop to the major labels. Bellicose stayed very busy in both writing and recording in order to be able to pitch new material to the labels every three months.
A key point to the band’s career was the signing with MKM management. Upon signing with MKM, they proposed that the band record and release their official debut album privately. The idea was to give the band a more professional polished presence as Bellicose were still trying to get signed by a major label. The band’s debut “Love On Ice” was recorded at Sound Logic Studio in Dallas, TX and released on CD in 1989. Joey remembers: “It took about 6 months to put all the tracks together for the CD. It was a matter of track selection, mixing and or re-recording of some of the songs to 24 track to keep the sound of the mixes consistent. Tim “Chopper” Grugle our drummer deserves a lot of the credit for the end result of the tracks and the sonic sounds that made it to the CD. He spent countless nights mixing and re-mixing the songs on that CD to ensure that when it was ready to be packaged, it was the best that it could be.” Some of the best music that the band was working on since 1983 was finally officially recorded and presented to the fans. Joey points: “Those were the songs that a lot of our fans were familiar with and sang along to at our shows. To think of the CD without them was crazy. If anything, to the band, the CD was a gift to our fans. Bellicose fans were true and very loyal… We fed off their love and energy many nights for many years!”
The “Love on Ice” recording line-up consisted of Joey Darcangelo (vocals), Michael Laurence (guitar), Ru Spearman (guitar), Tim “Chopper” Grugle (drums) and Steven Grillo (bass). The band has faced various lineup changes through the years: Starting from the beginning the original line-up consisted of Joey Darcangelo (vocals), Michael Laurence (guitar), Ru Spearman (guitar), Staley Rogers (bass) and Mike Gage (drums) (1984). Staley left the band just after the first demo was recorded (1985). The band recruited Rick Rivera upon Staley’s departure (1985). Rick was with the band for a short stint before Steven Grillo was recruited for the bass slot (1986). It was shortly after that, that Mike Gage left the band. Upon Mike’s leaving the band auditioned a lot of drummers before finally finding the right guy for the job: Tim “Chopper” Grugle (1986). About a year after Tim joined the band, Steven Grillo (bass) left and Staley Rogers returned to the Bellicose fold (1987). Another year went by and Staley departed yet again leaving the spot open for Zak Johnson to fill (1988). The very last personnel change was Chris Vasquez in the guitar spot upon Michael Laurence’s departure (1991).
So the debut album was out, the band’s management team did in fact launch a promotional campaign soon after the album release. They sent the CD to all of the major record labels, college radio stations, local and national magazines but the results were not those expected. Joey remembers: “1989 was the beginning of the end mainly from a musical landscape perspective, as bands like Soundgarden, Nirvana, Alice in Chains & Hole had already been out and generating a new buzz. It was only when Pearl Jam came along and kicked in the doors that the rest just poured in to become the new “grunge” scene. When this happened, if you weren’t already signed, you probably weren’t going to be. In short, you missed the boat.” Bellicose did not give up: by the 90’s they were still writing new music and the management was diligently still pitching the new material to the labels for a recording contract. New music was born but new difficulties appeared as well: Michael Laurence and the band parted ways, leaving a pretty big void in the “creative nucleus”. A replacement was found on the face of Chris Vasquez, another local player who was very familiar with the band. Joey points: “For the most part it just didn’t feel the same, and with Michael leaving it just didn’t sound the same either. All the years together working creatively with both Michael and Ru forged a chemistry that was sadly non-existent with the new line up. It wasn’t long before one by one we decided to hang it up and find our own ways again.” So that pretty much was the end of Bellicose. Forever? Well… no.
Most of the band members remained friends and still kept in touch. So in 2013 Bellicose reunited! The current lineup is: Joey Darcangelo (vocals), Ru Spearman (guitar & vocals), Eric Keathley (guitar & vocals), Zak Johnson (bass & vocals), Tim “Chopper” Grugle (drums). Some killer live shows and this re release of their out of print debut are the first pages of a new chapter. We all hope and wait for more music by Bellicose! It seems they are back for good!
Chris Papadakis, March 2014

Every once in awhile a band comes along that demands to be heard. One such band is Damien Black. This band delivers music drenched in power, substance and emotion while still retaining melody ­ something rarely found these days. Damien Black has combined the best ingredients from the wide varieties of heavy metal (classic, power, progressive, thrash) and come up with a sound the offers both bone­crushing music and thought­inspiring lyrics. Damien Black will leave your senses assaulted while delivering hooks that stay with you long after the last note is heard.
Damien Black was formed in Orlando, Florida 1991 and continues to this day. Damien Black built its reputation on the strength of a live show that has been described as “relentless.” Throughout the years, the band’s roster has included members of such bands as Rob Rock, Skrape, Parish and Persian Risk. Today, the core of Damien Black consists of founder, bassist and primary songwriter Scott Mire, guitarist David Gandia and vocalist Michael Caruso, while the rest of the line-up consists of contributing members in locations around the world.
The band’s mission today is the same as the day it was formed: to create powerful, melodic metal that remembers the past while looking towards the future. Damien Black remains single-minded and driven in its purpose of forging a new standard in heavy metal.

Tracklist:
1. The Sky Is Falling
2. When Darkness Falls
3. One Night In Babylon
4. Dead Of Winter
5. Pray For Me
6. One Voice
7. Psycho Drama
8. Run With The Night BONUS MATERIAL
9. The Sky Is Falling (Demo)
10. Dead Of Winter (Demo)
11. One Voice (Demo)
12. Psycho Drama (Demo)

LINE-UP
David Gandia – Guitar
Michael Caruso – Vocals
Raymond Varner – Drums
Scott Mire – Bass

It was in 1988 that drummer Jay Stueve and guitarist Joel Borchers first set out to form a new progressive metal band in Dayton, Ohio. While the line-up went through a few changes early on, the band finally solidified with the additions of bassist Chris Motter, vocalist Nathan Vai and guitarist Randy Davis. In 1989, the band Shadowcast was born.
Influenced by progressive bands such as Fates Warning and Queensryche, and the thrash bands of the time, Shadowcast began to create their own brand of aggressive, progressive music. Over the next year, the band enjoyed local success, playing gigs at bars, festival and union halls in and around the Dayton area. Their popularity with the local crowd won them airplay and interviews with local radio stations and some victories in local “Battle of the Bands”. Shadowcast used the funds they earned to pay for recording, producing original material and demos. With a catalogue of progressive heavy metal original music and achieving local notoriety, Shadowcast disbanded in 1990 to pursue other projects and personal lives.
Chris, Nathan and Jay joined local band Paragon. Randy joined Theropera, with Hillary Blaze (currently with Judas Priestess) and Joel continued his education and pursued career plans.
Today, Jay has a family. He is currently involved with the recording of his second solo album, Just AfterYesterday, and a new project called Gravity of Anger.
Nathan is a father and works as a detective with the city of Dayton.
Joel enjoys spending time with his family and playing with the band Wreckless. He has also been involved with some cyber writing of new material with Chris.
Randy also has a family, and has stayed active in the local band scene, working with bands Rat Bastard, MugsyCroftshire, and collaborating with Chris and Dwight Bowden Music for a new project, Online Crime.
Chris is now the bassist for San Francisco band Clinchfist, recording with and opening shows for Armored Saint and Exodus, as well as his work with Online Crime.

Tracklist:
1. Black Trinity
2. Necropolis
3. Deception Game
4. Prelude
5. Private Reality
6. Word Void
7. Puppets Of Destiny
8. Hell Born On Earth
9. WCWT Interview
1-4 “Demo 1990”, 5-8 “Demo 1989”, 9 “Interview 1989”

LINE-UP
Nathan Vai – Vocals
Joel Borchers – Guitar
Randy Davis – Guitar
Jay Stueve – Drums
Chris Motter – Bass