Exhorder

Exhorder

l-r Vinnie Labella, Chris Nail, Kyle Thomas, Jay Ceravolo
Background information
Origin New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Genres
Years active 1985–1994, 2008–present (currently on hiatus)
Labels Roadrunner
Associated acts
Website www.exhorder.com
Members Kyle Thomas
Vinnie Labella
Jay Ceravolo
Seth Davis
Past members David Main
Andy Villafarra
Chris Nail
Frankie Sparcello (deceased)

Exhorder is an American metal band from New Orleans, Louisiana. They are credited as the purveyors of the groove-oriented thrash sound later made famous by bands such as Pantera, Lamb of God, White Zombie, and Machine Head. Their debut LP was regarded as a large influence on the NOLA metal scene Initially active from 1985 to 1994, they have since reformed in 2008.

Biography

Early days (1985-1994)

Exhorder was formed in 1985 in New Orleans, Louisiana. After releasing several demos in the vein of pure thrash metal, they started to adapt more of a groove metal-oriented sound with their debut studio album, Slaughter in the Vatican, released in 1990. This sound was further developed by their second (and to date last) album, The Law, released in 1992. The band dissolved two years later.

Reunion (2008-present)

On May 9, 2008, it was announced that the band had reunited and had begun writing new material.[1] As of that day, the band's official Myspace page contains the reunited group's lineup as well as the headline "writing new material for the return of Exhorder".[2] They played their first reunion show on November 14, 2009 at Southport Hall in Jefferson, LA followed by another less than a month later on December 12, 2009 at City Club in Houma, LA. A reunion show with Crowbar at the Hangar in New Orleans on February 12 was their most recent performance to date. The lineup for all of these shows was the same as that of The Law album.

Drummer Seth Davis was on a clinic tour in 2010 when he was approached by the New Orleans metallers. Davis filled in for original drummer Chris Nail, and toured with Exhorder from early 2010 to late 2011, performing classic songs from the band's two albums - The Law and Slaughter in the Vatican. On March 22, 2011 bassist Frankie Sparcello died of unknown causes.[3] In the interim and in order to fulfill 3 show dates already booked, the band recruited local bass virtuoso Jorge Caicedo to fill in at the last minute.[4] The band also played Maryland Deathfest on May 28. The band has since been on hiatus.

Controversy

There has been controversy amongst Pantera's and Exhorder's fans over similarities between both bands' sound,[5][6][7] fueled by the success of Pantera and the obscurity of Exhorder.[5][6]

In disagreement with the opinion that Exhorder is "Pantera minus the good songs," AMG's review of Slaughter in the Vatican expresses that "perhaps a more accurate billing would be to call them Pantera without the major label backing."[5] They also point to the fact that the title of Exhorder's debut, along with the unsubtle album cover, "certainly didn't help [its] cause any."[5]

Exhorder lead vocalist Kyle Thomas has stated that he does not care about any of the criticism and is sick of seeing Exhorder's name tied to Pantera's.[6] He also stated that he and some members of Pantera were friends,[6][7] and that he mourns the loss of Dimebag Darrell.[7] Recently, Thomas suggested that while it is possible Pantera may have been influenced by his band, the members of Pantera "work[ed] a ... lot harder than [they] did."[6][8]

Band members

Former members
  • Kyle Thomas – vocals (1985–1994, 2008–2011)[9]
  • Vinnie LaBella – guitar (1985–1994, 2008–2011)
  • Seth Davis – drums (2010–2011)
  • David Main – guitar (1985–1988)
  • Andy Villafarra – bass (1985–1990, 2008–2010)
  • Chris Nail – drums (1985–1994, 2008–2010)
  • Jay Ceravolo – guitar (1988–1994, 2008–2011)
  • Frankie Sparcello – bass (1991–1994, 2010–2011; died 2011)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Demos

References

  1. ↑ "Reunited EXHORDER Working On New Material". BLABBERMOUTH.NET.
  2. ↑ MySpace.com - Exhorder - Kenner/Metairie/New Orleans, Louisiana - Metal / Death Metal / Thrash - www.myspace.com/exhordernola
  3. ↑ Blabbermouth.net. "BLABBERMOUTH.NET - EXHORDER Bassist Dies". Blabbermouth.net.
  4. ↑ H, Emily. "Exhorder Hires Talented Bassist Jorge Caicedo". metalunderground.com. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Slaughter in the Vatican review". Allmusic. Retrieved October 21, 2005.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Kyle Thomas Speaks Out on the Pantera/Exhorder 'Feud'". Blistering. Retrieved November 5, 2005.
  7. 1 2 3 "Former EXHORDER Frontman: We 'Lost An Innovator, A Warrior, And A Metal Nicolas Cage'". Blabbermouth.net. 2004-12-12. Retrieved November 5, 2005.
  8. ↑ Dave Larmore. "Interview with Kyle Thomas". Midwest Metal Magazine.
  9. ↑ Exhorder Vocalist Kyle Thomas And Guitarist Jay Ceravolo Quit The Band

External links

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