Merciless Death
Encyclopedia
Merciless Death is an American
thrash metal
band from Canyon Country
, California
.
In an interview with Dan Holder in 2007 and available here, Dan said it all began when he met Andy during their sophomore or junior year in high school. They had a class together and Dan had just received a leather jacket for his birthday and Andy took the opportunity to say “hey, nice jacket man”. After that they started hanging out and slowly started the band.
Before Dan met Andy and Cesar he wrote music and lyrics and saved them because he knew that one day he would meet someone who shared the same desire he had and that happened when he met them. Merciless Death played their first show on March 24, 2004 at the Chicago Bar in Santa Clarita
, California
.
After recording a self released Demo, Annihilate the Masses, and self released album Evil in the Night
, the band soon signed to Heavy Artillery Records and re-released their debut album Evil in the Night
with a new layout and cover artwork by Ed Repka
(Evildead
, Megadeth
, Nuclear Assault
, Toxik
, Venom
). Merciless Death appears on the Speed Kills…Again compilation with Avenger of Blood, Enforcer
, Hatred, Toxic Holocaust, and Warbringer
. They toured the US in August and September 2007 to promote the critically acclaimed re-release of Evil in the Night
and supported At War in October 2007.
Some have guessed that the name "Merciless Death" comes from the song Merciless Death by Dark Angel
. However, in an interview with Andy Torres in 2007 and available here, Andy said the band's name originated from a conversation with Dan Holder in which Dan came up with a possible name for the band “Merciless Onslaught” and Andy asked him about replacing the word 'Onslaught' with 'Death'. From that point on they called themselves “Merciless Death”.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band from Canyon Country
Canyon Country, Santa Clarita, California
Canyon Country is a community and district within the town of Santa Clarita, located in northwestern Los Angeles County, California, United States....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
History
Originally founded by Dan Holder and Andy Torres in March 2003, Merciless Death was soon joined by Torres's brother Cesar on drums and Mike Griego on guitars in September 2003. Mike eventually quit due to personal differences.In an interview with Dan Holder in 2007 and available here, Dan said it all began when he met Andy during their sophomore or junior year in high school. They had a class together and Dan had just received a leather jacket for his birthday and Andy took the opportunity to say “hey, nice jacket man”. After that they started hanging out and slowly started the band.
Before Dan met Andy and Cesar he wrote music and lyrics and saved them because he knew that one day he would meet someone who shared the same desire he had and that happened when he met them. Merciless Death played their first show on March 24, 2004 at the Chicago Bar in Santa Clarita
Santa Clarita, California
Santa Clarita is the fourth largest city in Los Angeles County, California, United States and the twenty-fourth largest city in the state of California. The 2010 US Census reported the city's population grew 16.7% from the year 2000 to 176,320 residents. It is located about northwest of downtown...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
After recording a self released Demo, Annihilate the Masses, and self released album Evil in the Night
Evil in the Night (Self Released)
Evil in the Night is American Thrash metal band Merciless Death's debut album limited to 100 copies. It self-released on May 5, 2006 at the “Thrasho De Mayo I” show held at the Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood, California with cover artwork by Andy and Cesar Torres.In an interview with Dan Holder...
, the band soon signed to Heavy Artillery Records and re-released their debut album Evil in the Night
Evil in the Night (Re-Released)
Evil in the Night is American thrash metal band Merciless Death's debut album, re-released on March 20, 2007 on Heavy Artillery Records with a new layout and cover artwork by Ed Repka .-Track listing:...
with a new layout and cover artwork by Ed Repka
Ed Repka
Edward J. Repka is an American artist best known for creating album covers for heavy metal music bands as well as shirt designs, including those featuring Megadeth's mascot Vic Rattlehead. Repka's portfolio also includes Dark Angel's logo and model designs for the Hellraiser films...
(Evildead
Evildead
Evildead is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1987. The band was originally composed of members of two former bands, Agent Steel and Abattoir, including guitarist Juan Garcia, who is their only permanent member member...
, Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
, Nuclear Assault
Nuclear Assault
Nuclear Assault is an American thrash metal/crossover thrash band formed in 1984.-History:After the release of Anthrax's debut album Fistful of Metal, bass player Danny Lilker, a founding member of the group, was fired by the band...
, Toxik
Toxik
Toxik is an American thrash metal band from Peekskill, New York. The band plays a style of thrash metal with elements of progressive metal, which would later be named "progressive thrash metal". Initially active from 1985 to 1992, the band reformed in 2007....
, Venom
Venom (band)
Venom are an English heavy metal band that formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Coming to prominence towards the end of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Venom's first two albums—Welcome to Hell and Black Metal —are considered a major influence on thrash metal and extreme metal in general...
). Merciless Death appears on the Speed Kills…Again compilation with Avenger of Blood, Enforcer
Enforcer (band)
Enforcer is a heavy metal band formed in 2004 in Arvika, Sweden.Enforcer plays and performs in a style very similar to older speed metal bands like Agent Steel, Exciter and Anvil...
, Hatred, Toxic Holocaust, and Warbringer
Warbringer
Warbringer is an American thrash metal band. The band formed in 2004. Warbringer is signed to Century Media Records. Century Media signed Warbringer after seeing them at a local show in LA. Originally, a Century Media rep was at the show to see another LA thrash metal band but decided to sign...
. They toured the US in August and September 2007 to promote the critically acclaimed re-release of Evil in the Night
Evil in the Night (Re-Released)
Evil in the Night is American thrash metal band Merciless Death's debut album, re-released on March 20, 2007 on Heavy Artillery Records with a new layout and cover artwork by Ed Repka .-Track listing:...
and supported At War in October 2007.
Some have guessed that the name "Merciless Death" comes from the song Merciless Death by Dark Angel
Dark Angel (band)
Dark Angel was an American thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California. Their over-the-top style earned them the nickname "the L.A...
. However, in an interview with Andy Torres in 2007 and available here, Andy said the band's name originated from a conversation with Dan Holder in which Dan came up with a possible name for the band “Merciless Onslaught” and Andy asked him about replacing the word 'Onslaught' with 'Death'. From that point on they called themselves “Merciless Death”.
Discography
- Annihilate the Masses (self released demo) (2004)
- Evil in the Night (Self Released)Evil in the Night (Self Released)Evil in the Night is American Thrash metal band Merciless Death's debut album limited to 100 copies. It self-released on May 5, 2006 at the “Thrasho De Mayo I” show held at the Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood, California with cover artwork by Andy and Cesar Torres.In an interview with Dan Holder...
(2006) - Evil in the Night (Re-Released)Evil in the Night (Re-Released)Evil in the Night is American thrash metal band Merciless Death's debut album, re-released on March 20, 2007 on Heavy Artillery Records with a new layout and cover artwork by Ed Repka .-Track listing:...
(Heavy Artillery Records, 2007) - Realm of TerrorRealm of TerrorRealm of Terror is American thrash metal band Merciless Death's second album, released on May 20, 2008 on Heavy Artillery Records with cover artwork by Andreas Marschall On May 9, 2008, the whole album became available for streaming on Heavy Artillery's website.-Track...
(Heavy Artillery Records, 2008)
Interviews
- Adversary Radio - Dan Holder, Andy Torres and Cesar Torres 2007
- Antenna - Andy Torres 2007
- Deaf Sparrow - Cesar Torres 2007
- Living For Metal - Dan Holder 2007
- Metal Rules - Dan Holder 2007
- Nocturnal Cult - Cesar Torres 2007
- Thrash Til Death - Cesar Torres 2008
Newspaper Articles
External links
- http://www.myspace.com/mercilessdeathMerciless Death's MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
Page] - Heavy Artillery Records Page