Hidden Gems & Guilty Pleasures: Vicious Blade (USA)
Photos by Samantha Stowe
Vicious Blade (Thrash Metal/Crust Punk, USA)
Vicious Blade is a five-piece crossover thrash metal band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, influenced by thrash metal, black metal and crust punk. Formed in 2019 by members of Castrator, Complete Failure, Eel and Don Caballero.
Boasting vocalist Clarissa Badini of death metal fiends Castrator, Vicious Blade have quickly become Steel City’s best extreme metal export supporting acts such as Municipal Waste, Ghoul, Raven, Tower, Spiter, Tombstoner, Frozen Soul, Obituary, and most recently heavy metal legends Anvil.
Forged from the Pittsburgh underground, relentless thrashers Vicious Blade released their first self-titled EP in 2020 via Our Ancient Future Records supported by a year of regional shows. The follow-up, »Siege Of Cruelty«, came a year later in 2021 which brought international press, festival dates, touring, and filming two music videos. Soon after, the band were asked to appear on Wise Blood Record’s compilation, »Faster Than The Devil 2«, alongside Blasted Health, The Gauntlet, and Bastard Cröss.
Vicious Blade’s debut full-length album »Relentless Force« was released on September 27th, 2024 via Redefining Darkness Records. »Relentless Force« is the band’s strongest work to date, firmly planting their flag as not just another Midnight clone like so many others, but as quality band and true force to be reckoned with.
Discography:
• »Vicious Blade« EP (2020)
• »Siege Of Cruelty« EP (Our Ancient Future Records, 2022)
• »Faster Than The Devil 2« Split (Wise Blood Records, 2023)
• »Relentless Force« Single (Seeing Red Records, 2024)
• »Death Blow« Single (Redefining Darkness Records, 2024)
• »Relentless Force« LP (Redefining Darkness Records, 2024)
Vicious Blade is:
Clarissa Badini – Vocals
Jeff Ellsworth – Guitar
Erik Wynn – Guitar
Justin Pelissero – Bass
Kevin Parent – Drums
FFO: Sacrilege, Hellripper, Midnight, Destruction, Venom, Slayer, Wraith, Bewitcher
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well