VENGEANCE RISING - BEFORE THE TIME
with additional commentary by RogerMartinez
VENGEANCE RISING - 1987 - MULLIGAN STEW
This is not an official VR/Once Dead site nor has the band re-united with Roger Martinez...I am a former band member who has made this Tribute site
to an incredibly inspirational band of our era.
"VENGEANCE RISING - Human Sacrifice
This was just as groundbreaking for the christian thrash scene as Stryper's The Yellow And Black Attack was to the Heavy Metal Scene. An album showing the world that christian thrash is just as good if not better than the satanic thrash bands. The album has a megacool cover showing how Jesus became a human sacrifice when he took our sins and died for us on the cross. " ~Metalforjesus.org
"Although one of the leading lights of the Christian Death Metal scene for a lengthy period VENGEANCE RISING would become embroiled in bitter recriminations as vocalist Roger Martinez, now solo, has reportedly disowned his previous beliefs. Martinez, who is reported to be planning another anti- Christian VENGEANCE RISING album to be titled 'Realms Of Blasphemy' as well as an expose treatise The Lixivium Letters, claims to have been duped into believing in and promoting God.
The band was created in 1985 by former SACRIFICE members along with guitarists Larry Farkas and Doug Thieme and drummer Glenn Mancaruso. Martinez, previously with PROPHET, was enrolled as singer the following year. The band was initially billed as VENGEANCE but another act of the same name was discovered. The album sleeves, which featured a close up of a nailed crucified hand- actually that of Pastor Bob Beeman, for the Caesar Kalinowski produced debut Human Sacrifice had to be reprinted with the new logo. Tracks on this album were co-written by DELIVERANCE guitarist Glenn Rogers.
Following the 1990 Ron Goudie produced Once Dead album promotional tour the band splintered. Only Martinez remained to carry on with the name as Farkas, Mancaruso and bassist Roger Dale Martin all quit. Martin founded Biker Blues band TRIPLE ACE whilst the others created DIE HAPPY. Farkas would also figure in SIRCLE OF SILENCE, the band assembled by erstwhile ACCEPT and BANGALORE CHOIR vocalist David Reece.
Meantime Martinez enrolled guitarist Derek Sean and drummer Chris Hyde of DELIVERANCE for the Destruction Comes opus.
For the 1992 Released From The Earth album Martinez employed guitarist Jamie Mitchell, bass player Joe Monsrbnik and drummer Johnny Vasquez. Backing vocals came courtesy of MORTIFICATIONs Steve Rowe, TOURNIQUET men Victor Marcios and David Vasquez and Jimmy Brown of DELIVERANCE. Johnny Vasquez would then join MORTIFICATION for touring.
Touring upon the album release saw DELIVERANCE guitarist George Ochoa as live guitarist. Apparently upon completion of these dates, sometime between 1995 and 1997, Martinez became an atheist. His personal website claimed fresh VENGEANCE RISING recordings were on the way but they did not materialise.
Undettered by the scandal Christian Deathsters ULTIMATUM would cover Burn for their third album The Mechanics Of Perilous Times.
Needless to say VENGEANCE RISING remains a hot topic of debate on the Christian music scene. Re-billed as VENGEANCE the group made a surprise return in 2004. With Martinez conspicuous by his absence the band - guitarists Larry Farkas and Doug Thieme, bass player Roger Dale Martin and drummer Glen Mancaruso announced an appearance at the 'Summer Madness' event on 29th August at Chain Reaction in Anaheim, California. A surprise guest vocalist would fill in for Martinez, Scott Waters of ULTIMATUM, was to rise to the challenge. This grouping of musicians, under threat of legal action from Roger Martinez, subsequently unveiled a new band title of ONCE DEAD."
(Quote from RockDetector.com)
