The original Vengeance lineup formed in 1986 in South Bay, CA and was made-up of Doug Thieme, Roger Dale Martin, Glen Mancaruso, Mike Betts (Neon Cross) and a girl singer named Sharon. The name of the band right up to their first gig was Sacrifice. Sacrifice was to perform their first gig with Barren Cross, Malacia and Neon Cross, but the name was changed to Vengeance a week before the gig. Glenn Rogers (Deliverance), who wrote much of the material on the band's first album came in later in 1986. In 1987 Pastor Bob Beeman brought together singer Roger Martinez and Vengeance. Guitarist Larry Farkas would replace Glenn Rogers well before their first album would be recorded. Farkas had also previously been with Deliverance, as well as Holy Soldier. The band was a Christian variation on the emerging thrash metal scene. They were one of the best thrash bands to come out of the Sanctuary Christian metal movement of the mid-80's. Shortly after their first album was released, they had a problem over the rights to the name as another band owned the rights to record under the name, but not to tour under it. They decided to change their name to Vengeance Rising to avoid confusion. Only one thousand copies of their first album were pressed to CD without the word "Rising" under the Vengeance logo. This lineup, considered by most to be the classic Vengeance Rising lineup, produced two successful albums that helped make them one of the few bands in the genre to cross over into the secular music scene. Band leader Roger Martinez became a pastor for Sanctuary, began producing teaching tapes about Christianity, as well as forming alliances with other big-name Christian leaders. After the "Once Dead" tour the band discovered that they were hopelessly in debt. Everyone but Martinez bailed and formed Die Happy, while Martinez scrambled to form another lineup and record a new album for Intense Records, as the band had already missed their deadline for a new CD. He found drummer Chris Hyde (Deliverance) and guitarist Derek Sean and continued forward with himself on guitar and bass. Roger released to more albums that sold relatively well, but did not do well enough to erase the huge debt he was left with from his former bandmates. Struggling with his faith, the strain of his situation, and feeling betrayed by his friends and former band mates, he vehemently turned from Christianity and the friends he had surrounded himself with and began announcing he was an atheist and began dabbling in the occult. He began to make tapes counteracting the tapes he made during his Christian career, and re-formed Vengeance Rising with a new lineup and a decidedly evil message. He built a website that renounced his previous output and posted articles about Christian leaders that were aimed at making them look foolish, but only proved to make Roger ridiculous. Roger began making death threats on people he claimed 'stabbed him in the back' including his friend Steve Rowe of Mortification, a band Roger helped get their first record contract. Roger claimed to release a CD called "Realms of Blasphemy" on Halloween of 2000, but this recording never actually happened and/or never surfaced. Former drummer Shannon Frye (Avenger of Blood) claims that Roger was impossible to work with and could not hold on to members long enough to even record a demo. When the tragic terrorist hijackings of 9/11/2001 happened, Martinez offered a free album from his site for military personal only to encourage the holy war against Christians he constantly talked about. Because of constant interviews and continued curiosity from metal fans and Christians alike, Martinez managed to keep the Vengeance Rising name alive years after the most significant part of his musical career despite not having released anything. All Music Guide lists two releases Realms of Blasphemy (2000) and Smoke Those Motherf**kers [EP] (2001), both of which I doubt ever existed. Over the years the various Vengeance members have been involved in various projects. Larry Farkas along with with ex-Accept vocalist David Reece formed a band called Sircle of Silence that release a couple of CDs. In 2002, Glenn Mancaruso and Larry Farkas, together with ex-Deliverance/Recon guitarist George Ochoa formed a modern rock band called S.A.L.T. In August of 2004 the original Vengeance lineup of Roger Dale Martin, Glenn Mancaruso, Larry Farkas and Doug Thieme, along with Ultimatum vocalist Scott Waters performed their first show in Anaheim, CA under the name of Once Dead, performing songs from both of the first two Vengeance albums as well as debuting a new song. This show was recorded for a DVD release.

Roger Dale Martin, Glenn Mancaruso, Larry Farkas, Roger Martinez, Doug Thieme

A couple of tidbits about the Human Sacrifice album:
1. The hand on the cover is the hand of Pastor Bob Beeman of Sanctuary International Ministries.

2. According to Roger Martinez, most of the guitar tracks on this record were recorded by Larry Farkas. However, speaking to Larry, he claims both guitarists played on this recording.

3. Glenn Rogers co-wrote some of the songs on the album. Glenn was one of the original guitarists for the band Deliverance and later went on to join Hirax.

4. Larry Farkas had performed with Deliverance and Holy Soldier before joining Vengeance.

5. Ultimatum covered "Burn" on their Mechanics of Perilous Times CD. Ultimatum performed a cover of this song live at the 2002 Extreme Martigras in California, in which Larry Farkas and Glen Mancaruso were also performing with their band S.A.L.T. Upon hearing it, Glen went backstage to meet Ultimatum and suggested that if Vengeance ever did a reunion that he should sing with him. In 2004 this reunion happened and Scott did indeed sing for them.

6. Faithbomb covered "Receive Him".

Vengeance Rising - Once Dead (Intense) 1989 1. "Warfare" (4:50) 2. "Can't Get Out" (3:50) 3. "Cut Into Pieces" (3:15) 4. "Frontal Labotomy" (4:05) 5. "Herod's Violent Death" (3:07) 6. "The Whipping Post" (8:40) 7. "The Wrath To Come" (2:43) 8. "Space Truck'in" (5:00) 9. "Out of the Will" (2:04) 10. "Arise" (4:50) 11. "Into the Abyss" (8:18) 12. "Among the Dead" (3:03) 13. "Interruption" (:50)

Larry Farkas performing the opening of "Into the Abyss".

On the strength of the first album I was first in line to buy the second when it was released. I picked up a copy and laughed at the cover. Not sure what was so funny about it, but at the time I found it humorous. (I know I have a weird sense of humor.) I didn't have a CD player in my car at that time, so I couldn't wait to get home to check it out. Get home, rip off the cellophane, popped the CD. in and BAM! "Our Father who art in heaven, hollowed by thy name. . .," came the growly voice over the thumping bass, before the actual song started. From that point on I treated my ears to one of the most pummeling experiences I had ever had. KILLER THRASH DISC! If you claim to like thrash and don't own this, you do not know what you are missing. "Warfare," "Can't Get Out," and "Cut Into Pieces" just don't let up, the speed and aggression matching or even surpassing the likes of Dark Angel or Death. (and that's saying a lot!) "The Whipping Post" and "Into the Abyss" are two epic speed metal songs. I was privileged to see Vengeance Rising on this tour and they pulled off both these technical songs perfectly while simultaneously doing windmills with their hair. "Space Truck'in" is a humorous rendition of the Deep Purple classic. My copy is autographed by Roger Martinez (vocals), Glenn Mancaruso (drums) and Larry Farcas (guitars). (I have a video bootleg of Extol doing "Warfare.") Step Cousin covered "Can't Get Out" on their "Experiments In Sound" CD.

Here is a bizarre story that happened during the tour for this album. I met the band on their tour in support of this disc and spent several hours locked inside of a club chatting with Roger Martinez. The band was scheduled to play the Sunshine Theater in Albuquerque with the Moshketeers opening the show. A local radio show called G-Rock had sponsored the show. However, on their way from their gig the night before, their van broke down. They didn't finally make it to the club until close to 1 AM. By the time they got there some of the fans had left, but many had stayed to watch a handful of local bands that played to fill in the time. (Combat Faith was one of the bands I remember.) By the time they got their equipment set up and Vengeance finally took the stage, they only had time to play about four songs. (One of which was a new song that was to be recorded for the next album, but never was.) Afterwards I stuck around to help the band break down and clear their equipment from the stage. In the meantime, the owner of the club decided he wanted 15% of the band's merchandise table sales and claimed he had a right to it. However, nothing in the band's contract stated this, so it became a big issue. The club owner locked us all in, waved a gun around, would not allow the band to take their equipment out of the club and called the police. It took several hours to clear up the issue, but in the meantime I got to spend the wee hours of the morning talking with Roger Martinez. I didn't hear all that happened with the situation, but in the end the club owner didn't get any of the band's table sales.'

"Once Dead" on vinyl, autographed.

A couple of tidbits about the Once Dead album:
1. Wal-Mart stores refused to carry this CD because of the cover art.

2. The original pressing of this disc has a song listed on the inside of the cover that never made it to disc called "K.K.L.A."" (Hmm, wonder if there is a bootleg floating around somewhere with that song?) The track was not listed on subsequent pressings.

3. Roger Dale Martin referring to Larry Farkas, "I have never seen anyone more serious about playing guitar as Larry Farkas. If he wasn't working, He was playing guitar. Every time that I went over to his house, even if I snuck over unannounced, He would be locked in his room playing guitar. Every time. The intro to "Can't Get Out" is a recording from that very room. 'Larry, there is somebody on the phone for you and I got to get my, I got to get my.........I Can't Get OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!" (quote taken from the Official Once Dead forum.)

4. According to Doug Theime, "Larry was recording himself while he was learning a couple riffs from Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Larry's brother Elmer was trying to leave, and Larry had someone on the phone for him, and he was parked behind Elmers van. I wrote the entire song based upon that tape, so it was fitting to have it start the song." (quote taken from the Official Once Dead forum.)

5. Step Cousin covered "Can't Get Out" on their "Experiments In Sound" CD. Ultimatum also recorded "Can't Get Out" on their "Lex Metalis" CD. (I also have a video bootleg of Extol doing "Warfare.")

6. "Once Dead" Promo Photo 1, "Once Dead" Promo Photo 2

Vengeance Rising - Destruction Comes (Intense) 1991 1. "You Can't Stop It"' (5:13) 2. "The Rising" (5:11) 3. "Before the Time" (2:57) 4. "The Sword" (3:15) 5. "he don't own nothing" (3:07) 6. "Countless Corpses" (5:31) 7. "Thanatos" (5:04) 8. "You Will Bow" (4:09) 9. "Hyde Under Pressure" (1:08) 10. "Raegoul" (6:51)

Roger Martinez 1992

I will admit that I liked this disc a lot when it came out, but in retrospect it doesn't hold water to either of the two discs that came out before it. I played it so much, however, that I have the lyrics to "Before the Time" memorized and can spout them off at any time. Weird how that happens, huh? Anyhow, there are a few choice thrash tunes on this one in the aforementioned "Before the Time" and "You Will Bow". Chris Hyde (ex-Deliverance) plays drums on this disc and is the focus of the joke song "Hyde Under Pressure." "Destruction Comes" featured a cool package with a sticker on the jewel case of an unharmed body builder covering the disemboweled body builder from the cover.

A couple of tidbits about the Destruction Comes album:
1. The original lineup did a photo shoot in front of the Jim Jones temple for this album. Unfortunately the original lineup split before the recording of this CD. It was their last photo shoot together.

2. Two songs that were to be recorded for this album ("The Wailing" & "The Contract") were played on the "Once Dead" tour but never recorded. There are several live bootleg copies of these songs floating around. "The Wailing" later showed up on the Die Happy debut CD under the name "Cage" with completely different lyrics and vocal melodies.

3. The original cover on "Destruction Comes" was censored so that you could not see the partially decaying body builder. On the outside of the jewel case there was a sticker placed of the same body builder with all his parts in tact. See photo above.

Vengeance Rising - Released Upon the Earth (Intense) 1992

1. "Help Me" (6:17) 2. "The Damnation of Judas ..... and the Salvation of the Thief" (3:14) 3. "Released Upon the Earth" (2:02) 4. "Human Dark Potential" (4:18) 5. "Instruments of Death" (3:46) 6. "Lest You Be Judged" (3:46) 7. "Out of Bounds" [instrumental] (3:27) 8. "Bishop of Souls" (5:24) 9. "Tion" (2:59) 10. "You Will Be Hated" (4:37)

Vengeance Rising Tour Lineup 1992. (L to R): Mike Wagel (bass), Daniel Cordova (guitars), Roger Martinez (vocals), Johnny Vasquez (drums), George Ochoa (guitars).

Vengeance Rising, or should I say, Roger Rising puts out their fourth CD. "Released Upon The Earth." This CD. is freaking fast, but still not grindcore as Roger was claiming their new sound was. Perhaps the vocals on some songs are a bit deeper and growlier, but the music is still thrash. Favorite cuts are "Human Dark Potential," "Released Upon the Earth," and "Bishop of Souls. Simon Dawg, who is listed as a guitarist on this album, is actually Jimmy Brown of Deliverance fame.

Former members of Vengeance performing as Once Dead, August 2004.
Left to right: Larry Farkas, Doug Thieme, Scott Waters, Roger Martin, Glen Mancaruso

Related Collections: Die Happy Deliverance Recon Sircle of Silence Once Dead

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