Brain Drill
Encyclopedia
Brain Drill is an American death metal band formed in 2005 from Ben Lomond, California. They are signed to Metal Blade Records
and released their full length debut album entitled Apocalyptic Feasting
on February 5, 2008. In support of their debut, disagreements were engaged and members began to leave, which lead to rumors that Brain Drill was disbanding on March 19, 2008.
Founding member Dylan Ruskin originally stated Brain Drill was finished when the other three band members left, but the group recovered with a full line-up once more. Steve Rathjen rejoined less than two weeks after leaving. Also, a new drummer named Joe Bondra (who was subsequently replaced by Ron Casey), and a new bassist named Ivan Munguia joined the band. Brain Drill released their follow-up full-length titled Quantum Catastrophe
in 2010 with this line up.
, Vital Remains
, The Faceless
, and other extreme metal
bands). After a few months of jam session
s, vocalist Steve Rathjen joined the band. The trio entered Castle Ultimate Studios with producer Zack Ohren and recorded their six-track EP
, dubbed The Parasites, during March and May 2006. Soon after the recording, Rathjen left the band and was replaced by former Dead Syndicate singer, Andre Cornejo. Former Vile bassist Jeff Hughell was added to the band as the new and permanent member. Rathjen then returned to Brain Drill as vocalist again.
's bassist, Alex Webster
recommended Brain Drill to Metal Blade Records
, who signed the band later that year. The group again entered at Castle Ultimate Studios with producer Zack Ohren; this time to work on their debut full-length, recorded during August 2007. Brain Drill's follow-up to their 2006 EP, Apocalyptic Feasting
, was released on February 5, 2008 by Metal Blade.
Shortly after the release of Apocalyptic Feasting, both members Marco Pitruzzella and Jeff Hughell left the band due to touring complications. Based on a statement from Dylan Ruskin that was posted on the group's Myspace
profile, it appeared that Brain Drill had split up. Soon after, the rumors were denied, and the band started looking for a new drummer and bassist.
was released on May 11, 2010. "Monumental Failure" premiered as streaming media prior to the album's release. A new song, "Beyond Bludgeoned", was released from the new record as the date grew nearer. A music video was later created for the song and is featured on Comcast
on-demand.
Former members
EPs
Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music...
and released their full length debut album entitled Apocalyptic Feasting
Apocalyptic Feasting
Apocalyptic Feasting is the second release and debut album by the technical death metal band Brain Drill. It is the last release by the band to feature bassist Jeff Hughell and drummer Marco Pitruzella before their departure from Brain Drill during 2008....
on February 5, 2008. In support of their debut, disagreements were engaged and members began to leave, which lead to rumors that Brain Drill was disbanding on March 19, 2008.
Founding member Dylan Ruskin originally stated Brain Drill was finished when the other three band members left, but the group recovered with a full line-up once more. Steve Rathjen rejoined less than two weeks after leaving. Also, a new drummer named Joe Bondra (who was subsequently replaced by Ron Casey), and a new bassist named Ivan Munguia joined the band. Brain Drill released their follow-up full-length titled Quantum Catastrophe
Quantum Catastrophe
Quantum Catastrophe is the second studio album by American technical death metal band Brain Drill, released through Metal Blade on May 11, 2010.-Background:...
in 2010 with this line up.
Formation and The Parasites (2005–2006)
Brain Drill was founded in 2005; originally meant to be a side project by guitarist Dylan Ruskin after parting from his main band Burn at the Stake. Ruskin began searching for a drummer, eventually finding Marco Pitruzella (former drummer of death metal groups, VileVile (band)
Vile is an American death metal band, formed in 1996 in Concord, California by guitarist Colin Davis and bassist Matt "Favor" Faivre, recruiting the rest of the band from the ranks of disbanded groups such as Lords of Chaos, Entropy, Sporadic Psychosis and Thanatopsis...
, Vital Remains
Vital Remains
Vital Remains is an American death metal band from Providence, Rhode Island formed in 1988.- History :Created in 1988 by guitarist Paul Flynn, Vital Remains' first line-up consisted of guitarist Butch Machado, vocalist Mike Flynn, bassist Tom Supkow, and drummer Chris Dupont. Searching for better...
, The Faceless
The Faceless
The Faceless is an American technical death metal band from Encino, California. They released their debut album, Akeldama in November 2006, and a follow-up, Planetary Duality, in November 2008.-History:...
, and other extreme metal
Extreme metal
Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. The term usually refers to a more abrasive, harsher, underground, non-commercialized style or sound nearly always associated with genres like black metal,...
bands). After a few months of jam session
Jam session
Jam sessions are often used by musicians to develop new material, find suitable arrangements, or simply as a social gathering and communal practice session. Jam sessions may be based upon existing songs or forms, may be loosely based on an agreed chord progression or chart suggested by one...
s, vocalist Steve Rathjen joined the band. The trio entered Castle Ultimate Studios with producer Zack Ohren and recorded their six-track EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, dubbed The Parasites, during March and May 2006. Soon after the recording, Rathjen left the band and was replaced by former Dead Syndicate singer, Andre Cornejo. Former Vile bassist Jeff Hughell was added to the band as the new and permanent member. Rathjen then returned to Brain Drill as vocalist again.
Apocalyptic Feasting (2007–2009)
In a 2007 interview, Cannibal CorpseCannibal Corpse
Cannibal Corpse is an American death metal band from Buffalo, New York. Formed in 1988, the band has released eleven studio albums, one box set, and one live album...
's bassist, Alex Webster
Alex Webster
Alex Webster is an American bass player, who is best known as a member of the American death metal band Cannibal Corpse. He is one of two current members who were of the original lineup of Cannibal Corpse, the other being drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz...
recommended Brain Drill to Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music...
, who signed the band later that year. The group again entered at Castle Ultimate Studios with producer Zack Ohren; this time to work on their debut full-length, recorded during August 2007. Brain Drill's follow-up to their 2006 EP, Apocalyptic Feasting
Apocalyptic Feasting
Apocalyptic Feasting is the second release and debut album by the technical death metal band Brain Drill. It is the last release by the band to feature bassist Jeff Hughell and drummer Marco Pitruzella before their departure from Brain Drill during 2008....
, was released on February 5, 2008 by Metal Blade.
Shortly after the release of Apocalyptic Feasting, both members Marco Pitruzzella and Jeff Hughell left the band due to touring complications. Based on a statement from Dylan Ruskin that was posted on the group's Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
profile, it appeared that Brain Drill had split up. Soon after, the rumors were denied, and the band started looking for a new drummer and bassist.
Quantum Catastrophe (2009-present)
Brain Drill entered Castle Ultimate studios with Zack Ohren in December 2009 to record their second album, to be released on Metal Blade Records. Quantum CatastropheQuantum Catastrophe
Quantum Catastrophe is the second studio album by American technical death metal band Brain Drill, released through Metal Blade on May 11, 2010.-Background:...
was released on May 11, 2010. "Monumental Failure" premiered as streaming media prior to the album's release. A new song, "Beyond Bludgeoned", was released from the new record as the date grew nearer. A music video was later created for the song and is featured on Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
on-demand.
Members
Current members- Ron Casey - drums (2009–present)
- Ivan Munguia – bass guitar (2008–present)
- Steve Rathjen – vocals (2005–2006, 2006–present)
- Dylan Ruskin – guitar (2005–present)
Former members
- Marco Pitruzzella – drums (2005–2008)
- Andre Cornejo – vocals (2006)
- Jeff Hughell – bass guitar (2006–2008)
- Joe Bondra – drums (2009)
Discography
Studio albums- Apocalyptic FeastingApocalyptic FeastingApocalyptic Feasting is the second release and debut album by the technical death metal band Brain Drill. It is the last release by the band to feature bassist Jeff Hughell and drummer Marco Pitruzella before their departure from Brain Drill during 2008....
(2008) - Quantum CatastropheQuantum CatastropheQuantum Catastrophe is the second studio album by American technical death metal band Brain Drill, released through Metal Blade on May 11, 2010.-Background:...
(2010)
EPs
- The Parasites (2006)