Venomin James
Encyclopedia
Venomin James is a doom metal
/heavy metal
/rock
band formed in Kirtland, Ohio
in 2005. The band is currently signed to Auburn Records and Ripple Music.
frontman Brandon Abate on drums, to hand out to prospective members. Early in 2006, vocalist Jim Meador was added to the lineup, and the band began playing Cleveland area shows with Abate filling in on drums. Drummer Jared Koston was recruited in June 2006, and the band played a number of live dates to hone and complete their material. The band recorded their first full length album Left Hand Man throughout late 2006 and 2007, released on Kultland Recordings on September 18, 2007. Mastering was handled by Alan Douches (Mastodon, Converge, The Misfits) of West West Side Music in New Jersey.
The album garnered the band some attention among the underground doom, metal, and stoner rock
scenes, as well as radio play from local KROQ-FM
affiliate 92.3. College radio picked up on the band's retro/doom/metal sound, and college stations across the country began playing the album in moderate rotation. Local college radio personality, and creator of the respected "Metal On Metal" show, Bill Peters of WJCU 88.7FM, began playing the album on his show, starting a friendship with the band that would help begin their move toward the next level in the coming years. Bill Peters is also the president of Auburn Records, a record label based in Medina, Ohio
, that has released albums from Shok Paris, Breaker, Destructor, and Purgatory.
In late 2010, Ripple Music announced a vinyl reissue of Left Hand Man, to be released in early 2012. The vinyl release will feature a new mix and mastering, along with several bonus live tracks.
businessman and club owner, Phil Lara, promised financial backing for tour support and the recording and release of Crowe Valley Blues. When this deal fell through in a Cleveland scene-wide scandal, the release of Crowe Valley Blues was put on hold indefinitely.
With Lara's deal broken, the band was unable to fund the mastering of the album, again by Alan Douches.
At this point, Bill Peters stepped in, and offered to release Crowe Valley Blues on Auburn Records. Peters financed the mastering and manufacturing of the album, and secured worldwide distribution. Crowe Valley Blues was released in Europe in July 2010, with a US release following on September 14, 2010. The Auburn release of Crowe Valley Blues included the Death's Wings EP as a bonus, containing remixes, demos, and outtakes from Left Hand Man-era sessions, as a thanks to fans who had patiently waited for the album's release. Videos were filmed for the singles "Cosmonaut" and "Make No Mistake".
Reactions to the album have been positive, building upon the respect of the underground doom, stoner rock, and metal communities.
Crowe Valley Blues made Apple iTunes' "Best Metal Albums" of 2010, and Venomin James was named one of iTunes' "Best New Metal Artists" of 2010.
Despite ongoing treatments, Jared Koston died on 1 June 2010.
, The Spudmonsters, Red Giant, Years of Fire) to become Venomin James' touring/live drummer. Throughout the end of 2010, and into 2011, the band played a series of shows with Matthews to support Crowe Valley Blues, and in preparation of their appearance at the 2011 Wacken Open Air
Festival in Germany.
Venomin James performed at the Wacken Open Air Festival at 12:15AM, on 06 August 2011 to crowd of approximately 8,500 on the W.E.T. Stage.
Beginning in the summer of 2010, the band sifted through all the demo recording sessions for their third album, Unholy Mountain. Through this process, the band determined that the audio fidelity of the multitracked drums would allow for the last recorded performances of former drummer Jared Koston to be used in the creation of the new album. The band commenced recording throughout the end of 2010 and well into late 2011. Unholy Mountain will be released on Auburn Records in the spring of 2012 in Europe, closely followed by a US release.
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
/heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
/rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band formed in Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland is a city in Lake County, Ohio, USA. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census. Kirtland is famous for being the early headquarters of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Origins of Kirtland:...
in 2005. The band is currently signed to Auburn Records and Ripple Music.
Left Hand Man era 2005 - 2007
Venomin James was formed early Fall 2005 with Tomasz Scull, Erin Corcoran, and Joe Fortunato beginning to write songs while actively searching for a drummer and vocalist to complete the lineup. This core trio recorded a series of demos with Living Stereo/SidecarSidecar
A sidecar is a one-wheeled device attached to the side of a motorcycle, scooter, or bicycle, producing a three-wheeled vehicle.-History:A sidecar appeared in a cartoon by George Moore in the January 7, 1903, issue of the British newspaper Motor Cycling. Three weeks later, a provisional patent was...
frontman Brandon Abate on drums, to hand out to prospective members. Early in 2006, vocalist Jim Meador was added to the lineup, and the band began playing Cleveland area shows with Abate filling in on drums. Drummer Jared Koston was recruited in June 2006, and the band played a number of live dates to hone and complete their material. The band recorded their first full length album Left Hand Man throughout late 2006 and 2007, released on Kultland Recordings on September 18, 2007. Mastering was handled by Alan Douches (Mastodon, Converge, The Misfits) of West West Side Music in New Jersey.
The album garnered the band some attention among the underground doom, metal, and stoner rock
Stoner rock
Stoner rock or stoner metal is a subgenre of heavy metal, combining elements of psychedelic rock, blues rock, traditional heavy metal and doom metal. Stoner rock is typically slow-to-mid tempo and features a bass-heavy sound, melodic vocals, and 'retro' production...
scenes, as well as radio play from local KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM — branded 106.7 KROQ — is a commercial modern rock radio station licensed to Pasadena, California serving the Greater Los Angeles. The call sign is pronounced "kay rock." It is the flagship station of Loveline hosted by Dr...
affiliate 92.3. College radio picked up on the band's retro/doom/metal sound, and college stations across the country began playing the album in moderate rotation. Local college radio personality, and creator of the respected "Metal On Metal" show, Bill Peters of WJCU 88.7FM, began playing the album on his show, starting a friendship with the band that would help begin their move toward the next level in the coming years. Bill Peters is also the president of Auburn Records, a record label based in Medina, Ohio
Medina, Ohio
In the city the population was spread out with 29.9% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males...
, that has released albums from Shok Paris, Breaker, Destructor, and Purgatory.
In late 2010, Ripple Music announced a vinyl reissue of Left Hand Man, to be released in early 2012. The vinyl release will feature a new mix and mastering, along with several bonus live tracks.
Crowe Valley Blues era 2007 - 2010
Immediately after the release of Left Hand Man, the band finished writing and recording the follow-up album, Crowe Valley Blues. In the fall of 2008 local Parma, OhioParma, Ohio
Parma is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It is the largest suburb of Cleveland and the seventh largest city in the state of Ohio...
businessman and club owner, Phil Lara, promised financial backing for tour support and the recording and release of Crowe Valley Blues. When this deal fell through in a Cleveland scene-wide scandal, the release of Crowe Valley Blues was put on hold indefinitely.
With Lara's deal broken, the band was unable to fund the mastering of the album, again by Alan Douches.
At this point, Bill Peters stepped in, and offered to release Crowe Valley Blues on Auburn Records. Peters financed the mastering and manufacturing of the album, and secured worldwide distribution. Crowe Valley Blues was released in Europe in July 2010, with a US release following on September 14, 2010. The Auburn release of Crowe Valley Blues included the Death's Wings EP as a bonus, containing remixes, demos, and outtakes from Left Hand Man-era sessions, as a thanks to fans who had patiently waited for the album's release. Videos were filmed for the singles "Cosmonaut" and "Make No Mistake".
Reactions to the album have been positive, building upon the respect of the underground doom, stoner rock, and metal communities.
Crowe Valley Blues made Apple iTunes' "Best Metal Albums" of 2010, and Venomin James was named one of iTunes' "Best New Metal Artists" of 2010.
Death of Jared Koston 2010
Early in 2005, Koston was diagnosed with Stage III Melanoma, which was removed from his left shoulder. A small tumor returned in 2008, and Koston again underwent surgery. In the spring of 2009, Koston again noticed a growth in his left shoulder, this time diagnosed with Stage IV Cancer stemming from Melanoma. The previous surgeries had not been successful in removing all the cancerous cells. From the summer of 2009 until late spring of 2010, Koston received chemotherapy as well as radiation therapy. Early in 2010, doctors discovered that the cancer had spread to his liver, bones, and into his brain. The metal community worldwide rallied around Koston, sending messages of support, and financial assistance for his medical treatment.Despite ongoing treatments, Jared Koston died on 1 June 2010.
Unholy Mountain era 2010-2011
Following the death of drummer Jared Koston, the band again recruited old friend Brandon Abate to step behind the kit for a few live shows to support the release of Crowe Valley Blues. In October 2010, the band was approached by drummer Eric Matthews (Pro-PainPro-Pain
Pro-Pain is a New York-based hardcore band formed in 1991 by vocalist and bass guitarist Gary Meskil and drummer Dan Richardson, both former members of Crumbsuckers. Debut album Foul Taste of Freedom was released in 1992, displaying hardcore punk and rap metal influences, after which the band...
, The Spudmonsters, Red Giant, Years of Fire) to become Venomin James' touring/live drummer. Throughout the end of 2010, and into 2011, the band played a series of shows with Matthews to support Crowe Valley Blues, and in preparation of their appearance at the 2011 Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air
Wacken Open Air is a summer open air heavy metal music festival. It takes place annually in the small town of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany...
Festival in Germany.
Venomin James performed at the Wacken Open Air Festival at 12:15AM, on 06 August 2011 to crowd of approximately 8,500 on the W.E.T. Stage.
Beginning in the summer of 2010, the band sifted through all the demo recording sessions for their third album, Unholy Mountain. Through this process, the band determined that the audio fidelity of the multitracked drums would allow for the last recorded performances of former drummer Jared Koston to be used in the creation of the new album. The band commenced recording throughout the end of 2010 and well into late 2011. Unholy Mountain will be released on Auburn Records in the spring of 2012 in Europe, closely followed by a US release.
Current
- Jim Meador - Vocals
- Erin Corcoran - Bass
- Tomasz Scull - Guitar
- Joe Fortunato - Guitar
- Eric Matthews - Drums (Touring Band)
Discography
| Release | Label | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Summer of Horror EP | Kultland Recordings | 2006 |
| Left Hand Man LP | Kultland Recordings | 2007 |
| Crowe Valley Blues LP/Death's Wings EP | Auburn Records | 2010 |
| Unholy Mountain LP | Auburn Records | 2012 |
| Left Hand Man LP Reissue 12" Vinyl | Ripple Music | 2012 |
Compilations
| Compilation | Track | Released by | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blowin' Smoke | "Desert Rider" | Stoner Rock Ohio | 2010 |
| Monuments of Steel II | "Cosmonaut" | Hard Rocker Magazine, Issue #17 | 2010 |
| The Soda Shop Comp Vol. 1 | "Cosmonaut" | The Soda Shop | 2011 |
External links
- http://www.venominjames.com
- http://www.auburnrecords.com
- http://www.ripple-music.com/