WESTFIELD MASSACRE, the Los Angeles-based band featuring former DIVINE HERESY and SNOT singer Tommy Vext, has announced the addition of guitarist Ira Black (METAL CHURCH, LIZZY BORDEN, HEATHEN) to the group’s ranks.
WESTFIELD MASSACRE’s self-titled debut album is due on April 29 via Urban Yeti Records. The CD was recorded at Echelon Studios with producer Joseph McQueen.
WESTFIELD MASSACRE’s “Build Your Thrones” video can be seen below. The clip was directed by the Stephen Steelman of Brigantine Films and perfectly captures the band’s live performance ferocity mixed with an eye-popping storyline that will quickly suck you in.
Said Vext: “We aspired to make this [WESTFIELD MASSACRE] something theatrical and brought in very talented people to work on the album, the artwork and the music videos, which will be a short film trilogy.”
He continued: “I just wanted to take the music and make something bigger than just another metal band.”
Regarding WESTFIELD MASSACRE’s musical direction, Vext said: “There’s definitely a traditional American metal vibe, but we blend power metal, melodic death metal, metalcore all together to get an original flavor to our sound.”
Commenting on his choice of joining forces with an independent label like Urban Yeti, Vext said: “Signing with Urban Yeti has been an exciting experience. I try to go by a few rules in life. One of which is to go where the love is. I shared my vision with them and they were excited about it.”
He added: “Urban Yeti has really amazing ideas and approaches to getting our music out to an audience that will understand and support it. They are thinking outside the box. I want to be a part of that kind of thinking.”
WESTFIELD MASSACRE in 2014 released a video for the song “Darkness Divides”. At the time, the band’s lineup included former DIVINE HERESY and MORBID ANGEL drummer Tim Yeung alongside guitarists Bill Hudson and Rick Di Marco.
Regarding how WESTFIELD MASSACRE came up with its name, Vext told Metal Injection: “The WESTFIELD MASSACRE is a name I had come up with for a graphic novel idea. Coincidentally it turned out to also be the name of an episode of ‘American Horror Story’. In their episode, Westfield High is the stage for a school shooting.”
Catch WESTFIELD MASSACRE at the Whisky A Go Go on April 14, at “Ultimate Jam Night” on April 19 and on tour this spring starting April 26 nationwide as the support act for SEVENDUST and TRIVIUM at select venues and festivals.
WESTFIELD MASSACRE’s current lineup:
Stephen Brewer – Guitar
Ira Black – Guitar
Dio Britto – Drums
Tommy Vext – Vocals
Erik Tisinger – Bass
Source: Blabbermouth
