Vital Remains is an American death metal band formed in 1988 in Providence, Rhode Island.

History Formation and early years Guitarist Paul Flynn formed Vital Remains in 1988. The first line-up included Flynn on lead guitar, Butch Machado on rhythm guitar, vocalist Mike Flynn, bassist Tom Supkow, and drummer Chris Dupont. Mike Flynn coined the band's name. Paul Flynn revamped the band with more suitable musicians, adding Tony Lazaro and vocalist Jeff Gruslin. Lazaro and Flynn shared songwriting, and released a pair of demos (1989's Reduced to Ashes and 1990's Excruciating Pain). The band signed with Thrash Records and released the single "The Black Mass" in 1991. Shortly after the release, the band signed to Peaceville's subsidiary label, Deaf Records. Vital Remains released Let Us Pray in 1992, and Into Cold Darkness in 1995. The band requested their release from Deaf Records, citing poor distribution and promotion.

Suzuki joining, Forever Underground, departure of old members and Dawn of the Apocalypse In 1996, Dave Suzuki joined the band on drums. Suzuki eventually contributed guitar work. The band worked on their next album. In mid 1997, Vital Remains signed a two-album deal with Osmose Records. Paul Flynn left the band in 1996 (citing family obligations), alongside Gruslin. The band released Forever Underground in 1997. Bassist Joe Lewis sang on the album, and Lazaro and Suzuki recorded the bass parts. Singer Chris Ross from Cape Cod joined the band. Metal Maniacs said "that no band on the planet put on a headbanging show of satanic fury than Vital Remains." The band released Dawn of the Apocalypse in 2000, with vocalist Thorn. The album was heavier. Lewis left the band that year, and Thorn was fired in 2001. Jake Raymond became the band's new vocalist in 2001, but left later that year.

Glen Benton era and Dave Suzuki's departure In 2003, Deicide vocalist/bassist Glen Benton joined Vital Remains as a session vocalist for their fifth album, Dechristianize. According to one interview, Lazaro had unsuccesfully tried to get Benton to do a feature on a song years before. Benton performed all vocals on Dechristianize. The album received critical acclaim. The band toured around Deicide's touring schedule. The band followed up with Icons of Evil in 2007, with Benton as a session vocalist and continuing the style of Dechristianize. Vital Remains released the live DVD Evil-Death-Live, through Metal Mind Productions. Suzuki left the band after the release of Icons of Evil.

Recent activity, vocalists' deaths and Tony Lazaro's health problems Vital Remains toured for several years following Icons of Evil. They experienced many lineup changes throughout the years. The only permanent member besides Lazaro was bassist Gator Collier since 2008. In several interviews between 2012 and 2014, Lazaro claimed the band had "two albums worth of material."

In late 2014 and early 2015, the band added drummer James Payne, formerly of Hour of Penance, and Dean Arnold of Primal Frost as lead guitarist. Vital Remains toured South America, Europe, and the United States in 2015. In November 2015, a Sanford Florida police officer was fired for singing "Let the Killing Begin" with the band, while on duty and in uniform. A video posted on YouTube shows Officer Andrew Ricks making 'devil's horns' gesture and singing along.

Three former vocalists died between 2017 and 2018. On July 4, 2017, Chris Ross was fatally shot by his brother-in-law. On November 2, 2017, Scott Wiley was reported dead with no cause of death revealed, followed by Jake Raymond on June 25, 2018.

On September 2, 2019, Brian Werner left Vital Remains. The band confirmed his departure on their Facebook. They opened an audition call for a live vocalist for their U.S. winter tour, and stated their intention to finish and release their seventh studio album in 2020. As of June 2025, the album has not been released.

On October 31, 2019, the band announced on their Facebook new lead vocalist Scott Eames for their 30th anniversary tour.

In April 2020, Lazaro had an emergency brain tumor surgery. He spent three months in the hospital undergoing multiple additional surgeries. The tumor caused partial loss of vision and inability to perform on stage. Unable to work, Lazaro sold some of his musical equipment, and, in December 2022, his wife, Natasha Rody, organized a fundraiser to cover the medical costs of his treatment on GoFundMe.

Style Vital Remains earlier work had minor use of keyboards and ambient noise. After Forever Underground, they removed those elements for a purely death metal approach. Elements of their music that distinguish them in their genre are the use of acoustic Spanish-style solos and their construction of very long songs, which is uncommon in the majority of death metal music. Many of the songs on more recent releases approach eight or nine minutes in length. With the addition of Dave Suzuki to the band, the lead guitar work took a much more prominent place within song structure. He also chose to employ a neoclassical style of soloing.

Band members

Current members Tony Lazaro – rhythm guitar (1988–present) Gaeton "Gator" Collier – bass, backing vocals (2008–present) Scott Eames – lead vocals (2019–present) Chris Dovas - drums (2018–present) Caio Kehyayan - lead guitar (2019–present)

Former members Paul Flynn – lead guitar (1988–1996) Tom Supkow – bass (1988–1989) Chris Dupont – drums (1988–1990) Jeff Gruslin – lead vocals (1988–1995) Ace Alonzo – drums (1990–1994) Joseph "Joe" Lewis – bass (1990–2000), lead vocals (1996–1999) Rick Corbett – drums (1994–1995) Dave Suzuki – lead guitar, drums, backing vocals (1997–2007), bass (2000–2007) "Thorn" – lead vocals (1999) Glen Benton – lead vocals (2003–2008)

Former live members Chris Ross – lead vocals (1997; died 2017) Aaron Weinstein – lead guitar (1998) Jake Raymond – lead vocals (1999, died 2018) Bobby Wheeler – lead vocals (2000) Kyle Severn – drums (2000) Taylor Fishman – guitars (2008–2009) Ron Greene – bass (2000, 2005) Kelly Conlon – bass (2000–2001) Derek Boyer – bass (2003) Tim Yeung – drums (2003–2007, 2009) Istvan Lendvay – bass (2004) Marco "Lord Doomus" Pitruzzella – drums (2005–2006) Anthony Geremia – lead vocals (2006–2007) Damien Boynton – lead vocals (2007–2008) Rodrigo "Jugulator" Raquio – vocals (2010) Brian Hobbie – bass (2007–2008) Antonio Donadeo – drums (2007–2008) Keshava Doane – drums (2008–2009) Alberto Allende – drums (2011–2012) Jack Blackburn – drums (2012–2014) Dean Arnold – lead guitar (2015–2019) Aaron Homma – lead guitar (2013–2014) Eugene Ryabchenko – drums (2016–2017) Scott Wily – lead vocals (2008–2011; died 2017) John Hate – lead guitar (2010–2011) Brian Weber – lead guitar (2011–2013) Eddy Hoffman – drums (2009–2011) James Payne – drums (2014–2016) Brian Werner – vocals (2012–2019)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums Let Us Pray (1992) Into Cold Darkness (1995) Forever Underground (1997) Dawn of the Apocalypse (2000) Dechristianize (2003) Icons of Evil (2007)

Video albums Evil Death Live (2007)

EPs The Black Mass (1991)

Compilation albums Horrors of Hell (2006)

Demos Reduced to Ashes (1989) Excruciating Pain (1990)

Notes

References

External links

Vital Remains on Encyclopaedia Metallum Scott Wily of Vital Remains interviewed on metalrulesradio.com