Friday night, The Zach Moonshine Show went full-on death metal assault, and Cleveland’s newest underground predators, Vicar Blood , were right in the heart of it. From their debut single “When War Comes” to crushing riffs, gut-punch grooves, and relentless energy, this episode was a masterclass in old-school fury meeting modern ferocity.
🎧 Listen to the full show with new releases and classics on Mixcloud:
https://www.mixcloud.com/thezachmoonshineshow/vicar-blood-unleashing-war-on-the-zach-moonshine-show-death-metal-domination/
From TikTok Riffs to Full-Blown Death Metal
Dan Gates, the mastermind behind Vicar Blood, shared how the band came together in a story that could only happen in the age of social media. “I always seem like I always have something going on… and Veda heard some riffs I posted online, and she said, ‘Let’s start a band.’ And that’s how Vicar Blood began,” Dan said during our live interview segment.
From that spark, the band quickly grew to include Steve Fernandez on bass, Will on guitar, and drummer Charlie, forming a lineup capable of bringing raw brutality with precision. They played their first show in December, opening for Castrator in Cleveland, and the response was immediate: “We couldn’t have asked for a better first show,” Dan said.
🎥 Check out the full interview segment on YouTube:
Writing, Recording, and DIY Metal
Vicar Blood isn’t just about shredding and growling—they’re hands-on with every aspect of their music. Dan discussed mixing, mastering, and crafting the perfect guitar tone:
“The first couple of songs were written in standard tuning, then I moved into drop A on my 7-string… ran it through my Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier and blended some IRs. Everybody in the band was really happy with it.”
This DIY ethic is part of what makes the band exciting: the music is uncompromising, yet thoughtfully produced. They’re planning a full-length album to release before Inkcarceration Fest 2026, and most of the music is already written.
🎵 Listen on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2z2db1kwtLa9i21SgU2gey?si=54d3ec949cb740f8
The Metal Journey
In our conversation, Dan also reflected on his musical upbringing, from skateboarding in the ’80s to discovering thrash and death metal, and ultimately carving his own path:
“Once I heard Reign in Blood … I just didn’t know that music could be that evil, that extreme. It hooked me for life.”
We talked about the tape-trading scene, early death metal influences, and the evolution of metal today:
“It’s mind-blowing—these new bands keep taking it to the next level. And it all goes back to Black Sabbath, you know?”
What’s Next for Vicar Blood
For now, the band is laser-focused on writing and recording their full-length album. Local shows are on hold—they don’t want to get distracted from crafting music that hits hard and leaves a mark. With Inkcarceration Fest on the horizon, it’s clear that Vicar Blood is aiming for nothing less than domination.
“If you’re interested in the band, go to vicarblood.com—everything you need is there, merch, music videos, all of it,” Dan told us.
Crank It Loud
If last night’s broadcast taught us anything, it’s that Vicar Blood isn’t here to play nice. They’re here to crush, to dominate, and to honor the spirit of old-school death metal while pushing it into the modern era. Whether it’s their riffs, their stories, or their gear nerding, they’re unapologetically metal.
🔥 Blast the full show, stream the interviews, and witness Vicar Blood in action:
Full Track List:
Battle Of The Bands Top Six Winners:
1 - NIKOLA'S CAGE - Chopped Up Jesus - (10,019 votes)
2 - Anima - Viral Nation - (6,005 votes)
3 - MYSANTHRIUM - GREAT SLUMBER - (4,457 votes)
4 - Mistress - Terrified eyes - (4,056 votes)
5 - Cruenta Venganza - Moon Base Massacre - (2,822 votes)
6 - Marie Catherine - No Tomorrow - (2,042 votes)
The Zach Moonshine Intro
7 - Ozzy Osbourne - Miracle Man/Sweet Leaf
8 - Dissonance - Induced Mentacide (Feat Ricky Myers from Suffocation)
9 - Negative Sixxx - AGONY
10 - Sküll - Who Killed The Rooster
Vicar Blood - Interview featuring When War Comes/Resist/Destruction
11 - Vitriol - Shame and its Afterbirth
12 - Testament - Meant to Be/Shadow People
13 - Zach Moonshine - Barbarian
14 - BDF - Bulldozing/Drinking The Blood Of Gods
15 - The Grand Myth - KILLER WHALE
16 - ROTTEN BLASPHEMY - Rise and Sin
17 - ROCK N ROLL VILLAIN SOCIETY - Captain America and the Army of the Damned
18 - NetherDred - Necrodancer
19 - Crymwav - Speak No Evil
20 - Black Reuss - Endgame
21 - Cyanate - Fade Away
22 - Aseptic - Lustful Butcher
23 - WAKAS - Invocación del Uku Pacha.
#VicarBlood #DeathMetal #ZachMoonshineShow #MetalDevastationRadio #WhenWarComes #OhioMetal #UndergroundMetal
Super huge thanks to the 113,384 metalheads that tuned in LIVE!
https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/28594/vicar-blood-unleashes-death-metal-fury-on-the-zach-moonshine-show?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger
